Spring has sprung! All around you can see fresh growth. Seeds are sprouting and gardens are growing anew.
We planted important seeds for Rotary growth at our District Conference in April.
We chartered the first Rotaract Passport Club in the world.
We had great sessions on the Rotary Action Plan with wonderful interaction - I even heard some people on Friday evening say that they were going to attend the same sessions on Saturday just because they were that motivating.
On Saturday morning Patrick Longano zoomed in from a District Conference in Indiana to inspire us to start companion clubs. The Zoom was barely over before I had requests for the recording - which you can find here. Several clubs have already asked to have follow up calls with Patrick to get moving on their own. (I am trying to connect with Patrick to schedule these.) An important point that Patrick made was that companion clubs are just as important for small clubs as larger ones because it provides potential members options. The more options we give potential members, the more likely that we will have a fit with them.
Later on Saturday we officially launched our Membership Toolbox which you can find here on our website. The toolbox has four sections - 1. Planning, 2. Attracting and Engaging New Members, 3. Engaging New Members, and 4. Experienced Member Engagement. Each of these sections have great information to address each of these important topics and downloads to save or reduce administrative work so that you can focus on the member, not the screen.
We planted these seeds in April. It is now up to you to water and nurture these seeds of ideas that will enable your club to grow. You must take these ideas and use them to lead your club's growth so that this wonderful organization that we love can grow so that we can bring service and fellowship to countless more people who want to make the world, their communities and themselves better.
We are People of Action. Now is the time to act to grow your club.
Sure, there is still time and more events, but it's not to early to get started on filling in your A.Z. Baker Service Award form. Your club and members have probably already achieved many of the activities.
This coveted award will be presented to all clubs that qualify.
The required points must be achieved by May 31, 2025.
The deadline for receipt of the form is June 6, 2025.
To encourage a reaching out in total service and the "development of resources" on the part of all clubs in District 6630, the A. Z. Baker Service Awards were established in 1978 at the recommendation of then District Governor James P. Banks, and by action of the District Board of Trustees. This award honors our own "Mr. Rotary," A.Z. Baker, from the Rotary Club of Cleveland who served as Rotary International President in 1955-1956. His dedication and commitment to Rotary truly exemplified SERVICE ABOVE SELF and this award was designed to honor his memory by encouraging all clubs in the district to participate in each of the Avenues of Service which are the foundation of club activity.
ALBERT Z. (A.Z.) BAKER
He was born in 1890 in Whitesboro, Texas, and was named Albert after his father and Zachary after General Zachary Taylor. He attended county schools in Tennessee (the log cabin kind), graduated from Sparta (Tennessee) High School, and then enrolled in the University of Tennessee. He hoped to be an engineer, but the Great Depression dictated that he leave school. He later studied law at the John Marshall Law School of Ohio Northern University and was admitted to legal practice in 1922. He married Grace Anderson and they had twin girls and one son.
Albert Z. (A.Z.) Baker joined the Rotary Club of Cleveland in 1929 and his Rotary classification was "Stockyards," as he was President and General Manager of the Cleveland Union Stockyard Company. He was also President of the American Stockyards Association and Director of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. He was a Member of the Cleveland Bar Association and Delta Theta Phi, the legal fraternity. He served as a trustee of Baldwin Wallace College and as an Advisory Board member for the Salvation Army. He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Auto Club and as Director and Deputy Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. In 1939, he was elected a Director; in 1940, Vice President; and in 1941, President of the Rotary Club of Cleveland. In 1942-43, he was elected District Governor of District 158.
At the international level, A. Z. served on many Rotary International committees. In 1946, he was chairman of the R. I. Convention Committee, for the meeting at Atlantic City; in 1948, he was a Director from Zone 2 of R.I. In 1949, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the R.I. Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Aims and Objects Committee. In 1949 and 1950, he was a member of the Convention Committee and a member of the Youth Committee and an alternate member of the Nominating Committee for President of R.I. In these roles, A.Z. made many significant contributions to the development of area conclaves and conferences at which Rotarian leaders from throughout the world discussed future plans for Rotary International as an organization and whereby many policies and procedures were developed under his leadership.
In January of 1955, A. Z. was nominated to be President of Rotary International. Though he had been reluctant to allow his name to be placed in nomination, A. Z. Baker was elected President of Rotary International on June 2, 1955 at the Golden Year Convention held in Chicago.
A.Z. set many records for travel in his Presidential year. The whole world, and not merely the Rotary frontiers, became his work ground. He carried Rotary leadership in person to the clubs of the entire Orient; he traveled more thousands of miles in Africa than any other R.I. President. The infinite good he did for Rotary everywhere with his quiet manner and disarming smile was recorded in media around the entire world. They chronicled the acceleration of A.Z.’s Rotarian visits back and forth across hemispheres and oceans, his record of attendance at international and district conventions, and various other ways in which the imprint of a fine leader becomes a blazed trail.
The theme for President A. Z. Baker's year was "Develop Your Resources." Following his year as President A.Z. served longer than any other Rotarian as a member of The Rotary International Foundation and of the International Council on Legislation. He served four years as Foundation Chairman, far more than any other person previously had. During his chairmanship, The Foundation celebrated its 50th Anniversary in Cleveland in December of 1966.
The World of Rotary was saddened on March 16, 1976, with the passing of A. Z. Baker. He had been a Rotarian for 47 years and had been a tower of strength in giving leadership to Rotary, having held every important post in Rotary at the Club, District, Zone, and International levels.
It's time to start planning for your changeover ---- this webinar series will help you get ready for the new Rotary year. also get a sneak peek at Nova - see all dates below and how to register.
Get Ready for the New Rotary Year! 🎉
Our annual Changeover Webinar Series is back - running from May 20 to June 3, and it's designed to help you start the new Rotary year strong with ClubRunner.
Whether you're part of a club or district, these sessions are tailored to your role, so you get the most relevant tips, tools, and updates to succeed in the year ahead.
Discover what's new in ClubRunner
Brush up on key features and best practices
Set your leadership team up for success
Ask your questions during the live Q&A with our Product Specialists
Can't make it live? No problem! All sessions will be recorded and shared!
A Sneak Peek at Nova 🚀
We're also excited to feature Nova, the modernized version of ClubRunner - now in open beta!
Join us for a live walkthrough of Nova's sleek new design, intuitive navigation, and powerful new features. Clubs have already made the switch and shared invaluable feedback that's helping shape the future of ClubRunner.
Come see how Nova is evolving - and why we think you'll love it.
Join us on Tuesday, June 3 at 6pm Eastern Time for an in-depth webinar where we'll:
We're actively working on bringing Nova to the district level. Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming beta release. Interested in early access? Join our beta group and be among the first to explore Nova for districts.
We're excited to support you in the new Rotary year and beyond.
The Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Club recently presented a donation to the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in Bay Village, Ohio, in support of its Wildlife Gardens Education and Renovation Project. Catherine Timko, Executive Director of the Center, was on hand to receive the check and provided Rotarians with an exclusive sneak peek at the ongoing work. The tour highlighted the exciting transformations underway, which aim to enhance visitor experiences and improve habitats for native wildlife.
A History of Collaboration
This donation continues the Rotary Club’s long-standing partnership with the Center. In 2005, the Club funded the creation of the Rotary Centennial Garden, a welcoming feature at the entrance that has become a symbol of community collaboration and environmental education. The Club’s ongoing support reflects its commitment to enriching local resources and fostering connections between people and nature.
Transforming Wildlife Experiences
The Wildlife Gardens Education and Renovation Project is a $1.9 million initiative designed to improve outdoor exhibits and rehabilitation structures. The upgrades will create more natural habitats for resident animals that cannot return to the wild due to permanent injuries. Visitors will enjoy closer encounters with these animals while learning about wildlife rehabilitation efforts.
Community Impact
The Lake Erie Nature & Science Center offers free admission and serves over 100,000 visitors annually. Its programs inspire curiosity about the natural world through hands-on learning experiences with live animal ambassadors. The Wildlife Gardens renovations will further enhance these efforts by providing immersive environments that foster environmental stewardship.
A Shared Vision
The Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Club’s donation underscores its dedication to supporting initiatives that benefit both people and nature. By investing in projects like this one, the Club ensures that future generations can continue enjoying meaningful connections with wildlife while learning about conservation.
This partnership exemplifies how collaboration can positively impact communities and ecosystems.
The Albert Frank Memorial Golf Outing that is being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cleveland on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Coppertop Golf Course. Since you were a hole sponsor, golf prize sponsor, or food sponsor at one of our previous memorial outings, I wanted to give you first "dibs" on being a sponsor for this year's event.
For those of you who did not know Albert Frank, let me tell you a bit about him. A native of Laage, Germany, young Albert moved to America with his family and proudly became a citizen of the United States. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland for some 19 years. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow.
In his professional life, Albert worked for Richard L. Bowen & Associates, a firm offering integrated architecture, planning, engineering, and construction management services. In his personal life, Al fully embraced the Rotary motto of "Service above Self" serving as a volunteer firefighter for the City of Stow and as a member of the National Ski Patrol at Boston Mills.
Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Club Art Fest Celebrates 5th Anniversary—Join the Fun!
Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 26, 2025, as the Westlake-Bay Village Rotary Club hosts its 5th Annual Art Fest—a vibrant celebration where creativity and community service come together. Set on the scenic lawn of the Westlake Porter Public Library in Westlake, Ohio, this event is more than a showcase of local talent—it’s a fundraiser that fuels meaningful change right here in our community.
Event Highlights
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Westlake Porter Public Library lawn, Westlake, Ohio
Admission: Free, with plenty of free parking
Features:
- Over 60 artists displaying and selling their work
- Food trucks
- Beer and wine garden
- Live music performances
Making a Difference
Proceeds from Art Fest support Rotary initiatives, including youth scholarships, educational programs, and local nonprofit organizations, helping us make a real difference in the lives of our neighbors. For event details and photos from last year’s celebration, visit: http://www.westlakebayvillagerotaryartfest.com
Meet Our Featured Artist
This year’s featured artist is internationally recognized JoAnn DePolo, celebrated for her expressive cityscapes, serene waterscapes, and bold abstract works. Attendees will have the chance to meet JoAnn in person and experience the creativity that has inspired art lovers across Northeast Ohio and beyond. Learn more about JoAnn at: http://www.joanndepolo.net
Get Involved
Artists: Interested in exhibiting your art? Applications are still open—registration materials are available on our website.
Sponsors: Want to support the cause? We’re accepting individual and corporate sponsorships. Details and forms are available online.
Join the Celebration!
Whether you’re coming for the art, live music, food trucks, or the opportunity to give back, we look forward to welcoming you to this special milestone celebration!
On Jan.29, 2025 following their monthly Board of Directors meeting, the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlfield held their first Maple Splash Raffle (MSR) drawing for the monthly "Instant Winner". This year's raffle was changed to award 2- $500 Instant Winners instead of one $1000 winner in last year's drawings. The MSR committee felt that it was better to have 2 winners than 1 and most folks would be just as happy winning $500 as they would with $1000.
The first two winners were Donna Borsi and Dave Kleve. Their $500 checks will go out on 1/30/2025. This drawing marked the kick off for the long list of winners from the MSR. The main drawing and MSR Festival will be on July 12 of this year at Century Village where we are planning bigger and better facilities and even more participants. Fun is the main goal of the MSR Festival and offers an opportunity to learn about many non-profits that offer a multitude of services to Geauga residents.
The excitement of the attendees when the winners are drawn and announced is electric along with announcement of the MSR 50/50 raffle winner. This is a separate drawing and last year handed a $7000+ check to an overwhelmed purchaser of a $5 - 50/50 ticket go to maplesplashraffle.com to learn all that the raffle has to offer, including our "Outdoor Adventure" ticket and money saving ticket bundles.
The MSR is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield and funds all club operations throughout the year and also our generous donations to over 30 non-profits that serve Geauga County. Last year these donations totaled over $90,000. As our raffle continues to grow we expect profits to increase this year as they have every year to date. The club continues to receive many thank yous and letters of appreciation from their sponsors for the great visibility and increased traffic the raffle has given them. Buy some tickets and join the fun and become a winner of one of our dozens of great prizes including that beautiful Ford F-150 pick-up from Preston Ford.
Bob Johnson, PDG
Secretary - BMR
Giving back to the community by bringing people together and working toward an event which raises awareness of local needs, encourage local unity, and brings in funding for non-profit organizations.
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We have an exciting event this year and and are opening our online auction to everyone - it includes some very unique packages and products! 
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