Over the past few months, we have been exploring Rotary International President Mark Maloney’s goal of developing membership through new and innovative ways. We have already reviewed membership results in District 6630 for the 2018-2019 Rotary year, during which time the district lost a significant number of members. This is a trend we will reverse. There is some good news to share. As of September 30, 2019, our District has gained 29 new members this Rotary year. In fact, Rotary throughout the world has gained 24,919 new members since July 1, 2019.
Your District Team also intends to implement a second substantial and highly developed membership development program. We recently joined Zone 30/31. These Zones have developed an intense membership development initiative to reverse what has been a substantial decline in membership.
This Initiative is based on the premise that there is an overwhelming number of strategical and tactical ways for clubs to increase their membership. The corollary is also true—there is an overwhelming amount of information regarding these strategies and tactics. The result is often a scattered and ineffective approach, and in some instances because of the overwhelming nature of the choices, nothing is done at all. To solve this problem, our new Zone has developed a facilitated program that is both well designed and well organized. At the District level, we are in the process of recruiting, on a pilot program basis, six to eight “facilitators.” Their job will start with training from the Zone 30/31 Membership Institute Team on this new program. The program is designed around the dual goals of attracting new members and retaining existing members.
In the process of developing this program, the team in Zone 30/31 has selected 12 “Attraction Strategies” and 12 “Retention Strategies.” The selected strategies all have a history of successful implementation.
Once our District 6630 facilitators are selected and trained, they will be reaching out to a small group of clubs who agreed to participate in this program on a pilot basis. As previously noted, we are looking for clubs to volunteer for this program, and the only requirement is that you are truly interested in increasing your membership.
The facilitators will work with your club’s team (hopefully three to five members) in reviewing the attraction and retention strategies to select three strategies from each category that your club feels are most beneficial to membership development. Further, these lists are not closed lists—you can add your own strategies. Once the six strategies are selected, your club’s team will assign a member to be the champion for each selected strategy. You will then work over the course of the next two years to first develop a plan to implement these strategies, then carry them out and finally monitor your progress. The district facilitators will stay connected with you to provide advice, assistance, and to collect data.
The ultimate goal is to develop usable data that will quantify both successful and unsuccessful strategies. We will use that data and experience as we move forward to ramp up the program and involve additional clubs in the District.
In the interim, if you have any questions about this program, feel free to contact District Membership Chair and PDG Jim McKee or myself. As a team, we spent a substantial amount of time at the Zone conference in Fort Wayne on October 11th and 12th, becoming conversant with this program, and working on the formulation of our District’s plan to utilize it. However, to make it work, we need your active and enthusiastic participation. I also ask you to contact us if your club is interested in being a pilot club.
Both the Second Annual Tri-District Membership Summit and our Zone 30/31 Membership Initiative are a critical part of this District’s strategic plan to secure our future by attracting people of action. Attracting and keeping people of action is the most effective way to expand our reach and impact as well as community participation. We look forward to working with you on this in the coming weeks.
As with any goal that is worthwhile, success will take careful planning, sustained effort, and time. However, and as I have said to many of you, if we approach this problem as an exceptional and cooperative team having fun and doing good, we will “reach the top of the mountain.”
If your Club subscribes to ClubRunner create an event within ClubRunner and mark the event to be shown on the District. It will then appear in this area for the Bulletin and on the District home page.
Congratulations to our District 6630 First Lady, Linda Reyes for her lifetime achievement award she received from the Cleveland Clinic. You are an amazing, gifted and incredible woman. What a tremendous accomplishment!
The following was shared: "Your work ethic is second to none and it’s great to see your hard work pay off. We are so lucky to have you, and proud to call you Mom. Love you! Michael Schoolcraft and Sharea Schoolcraft
The District leadership team is very excited about the opportunities for networking, sharing and fun that you, as your club leader, will have at your workshop at 7:30 am on November 23, 2019 at The Akron Rotary Camp. I am happy to let you know that registration is now open on the Rotary District 6630 website.
There is no charge for PETS-1; however, please complete the registration. We will then know you are attending and be prepared with proper seating, materials and food at Rotary Camp.
If you have any challenges with accessing the district registration page, contact PDG and webmaster Cheryl Warren at 330-495-9814 – she graciously works with clubs and each of us whenever we ask. I would be happy to assist in answering any questions you may have.
Enjoy this beautiful fall weather. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Polio still needs to be eradicated as there are still cases of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rotary International feels there are 5 reasons to eradicate polio. They are:
To Improve lives
To invest in the future
To improve child health
To save money
To make history
All great reasons which not only address the effects the illness has on children but their parents, village or city and the financial burdens on the economy of the area in which they live. Wouldn’t it be great to make history by getting rid of polio in the world?
October 24th, World Polio Day, is just around the corner and your club’s plan for hosting an event should be well underway. All clubs in District 6630 should be planning an event for World Polio Day. It can be as easy as collecting all of the “ Happy Dollars” in October designating that money for World Polio Day. The Rotary Club of Strongsville is participating in that event. Or you can organize a concert like the Rotary Clubs in Reggio Calabria, Italy are doing. Whatever you are doing, please register the event with Rotary International so the Rotary World can applaud your contribution.
Help eradicate polio world wide—Celebrate World Polio Day on October 24th. And remember—we are this close!
The Rotary Clubs of Detroit, Ann Arbor, & Windsor 1918 and The Wayne State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies is hosting Peace in the Streets Conference in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario Canada on October 25-26,2019. Rotarians, Rotaractors and their families in your Club and District are welcome to participate. This is the second year our District 6400 and Wayne State University has sponsored this event. Here is the link for more information: http://www.a2rotary.org/event/peace-in-the-streets/
Notes from the District 6630 Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Committee.
We are already a third of the way through the Rotary Year. Our ability to make a difference in the lives of others is both finite and substantial. One of those ways to make an impact is the continuous development of existing and future club leaders. How are you evolving in your leadership style? Who are you involving in your leadership journey? Who will be in line to take over when your formal position ends, and what have you done to help prepare them?
I strongly encourage you to visit the Learning Center on Rotary International’s website to find courses that can help you and that you can share with others (https://my.rotary.org/en/learning-reference). An additional bit of information can make the difference in recruiting one more member, running a successful club meeting, or making a lasting impact through service.
Julie Brandle was honored to accept the position of AG upon the request of 2019-2020 District Governor John Reyes. The South Summit Cluster includes the clubs of Akron, Fairlawn, Barberton, Green, Port-Summit and Tallmadge. Julie is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Akron, having served her club in a variety of roles including, Chili Open Chair, Public Image Chair, Diversity and Inclusion Chair, and DG Club Representative. At the District level you may know Julie for her service as District Conference Chair for the past 4 years and previously District Public Image Chair.
Julie is the President and Founder of Metis Construction Services, a female-owned commercial general contractor located in Kent, Ohio. Metis performs renovations, ground-up construction, and facilities maintenance throughout Ohio with a particular focus in camp, office, restaurant, and retail segments. Metis employs 56 team members, including two registered architects who provide our clients with in-house design/build capabilities. Metis has been featured by Crain’s Cleveland Business in 2019 as #28 in women-owned companies and #18 in construction companies and is a recipient of the Cascade Capital Growth Award, Medical Mutual Pillar of Community Service Award, GACC SBC Emerging Business Award, AFPNEO Small Business Leadership Award, Black Pages/Summit Magazine Business Advocacy Award and successfully completed ScaleratorNEO. Metis is certified through NWBOC as a female-owned and operated business.
With over 25 years’ experience in sales, marketing, and public relations, Julie oversees these areas of expertise for Metis along with being an integral part of the management team that designs and manages the overall business strategy.
Julie volunteers with Rebuilding Together, Habitat for Humanity, and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, where she is a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award and the Thanks Badge for exemplary volunteer service to Girl Scouts. She serves as President of the Board of both Portage Development Board for Economic Development and CREW Greater Akron-Commercial Real Estate Women. Other current board service in addition to Rotary, includes the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, Akron Urban League, Akron Civic Theatre and the Coleman Foundation. Julie is a graduate of Goldman Sachs 10k Small Businesses and Leadership Portage County.
Julie graduated from Bowling Green State University with a double major in Interpersonal and Public Communication and Soviet Studies. She resides with her husband Steven, Metis EVP of Construction Operations, in Brimfield Township. Their daughter, Kimberly, is a Junior at Bowling Green State University Intervention Specialist Education major and a summer camp counselor at the Rotary Camp for children with special needs.
This year Aurora High School Interact club has over 160 members. The students are already hard at work planning Interaction Day which will be hosted at Aurora High School on Saturday November 2nd from 9 am to 1:00 PM. Please plan on having your Interact club attend.
This is my 13th November as a Rotarian and as I reminisce about my start in Rotary I can’t help remember a special project our club sponsored. I joined Rotary because it offered me an opportunity to give back. I know many of you did for the same reason! Anyway, the project was a schoolhouse for handicapped children in the Dominican Republic. It may me feel so proud to be a part of an effort so far away to help children far less fortunate than mine. Every time we had an update from our partner club I felt honored to be a contributor and that my club was involved!
Over the next 13 years my club had many projects both international and local and I experienced the same feeling of helping, even in a small way. I know today, these projects which are carried out by clubs across District 6630 are funded by me and you through our commitment to giving. A large percentage of our donation to TRF comes back to the district to fund our local and International projects. What other charity offers an opportunity to direct your donation to a project you are personally involved? I believe being a Rotarian is a commitment of service and giving and that is why I chose to be the 2019-2020 TRF Fundraising Chair for our district. I ask that all Rotarians make a donation this year if you haven’t in previous years and also, increase your donation if you gave in 2018. Your club will be highlighting the TRF sometime in November. I am proud to be a partner with you in supporting TRF! Thank you!
25th Anniversary of Service with its Community Partners
Gathered around the Rotary Burr Oak Tree, which is planted on the southwest lawn of Medina's Historic Public Square, Medina Sunrise Rotary celebrates its 25 Years of Service with some of its Past District Governors, fellow Rotarians from Brunswick and Wadsworth, Community Partners - The City of Medina Parks Department, The Children's Center of Medina County, the U.S. Army National Guard, and Rotary Youth Exchange Student from Brazil - Sergio Neto.
"The Burr Oak Tree came from the Morgan Park, Illinois, home of Paul Harris who founded Rotary in 1905," said first president of Medina Sunrise Rotary - Becky Shotwell. "It was little more than a 12" sprig when the City of Medina received it in the 1990's and, taking root in the community, now stands proudly at nearly 48 feet tall on Public Square. The Medina Sunrise Rotary Club returns each year in the fall to watch the sun rise over Medina, note the growth of our Rotary tree, and renew our commitment to making a difference in the lives of children in our community and beyond, through our time, talents and treasures."
"Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For 25 years, Medina Sunrise Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects," stated President Shail Jain. From literacy and peace to children's parks, water and health initiatives, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to making a difference in the lives of children in our community and beyond through our time, talents, and treasure. We are part of Rotary International, a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Join us. Rotary Connects the World!
Thank you to our Community Partners, all our Rotarians, and thank you MEDINA!
PHOTO CREDIT BECKY SHOTWELL (L to R):
Becky Shotwell, Toby Butt, Roger Hassler, Dr. Mike Davanzo, Jack Young, Anna Guy-Leach, Dr. David Loeper, Sergio Neto, Marsha Pappalardo, COI David Lariviere, Supt. William Koran, SSG Kevin Clark, Janet Newcomer, Kevin Lauterjung, Dr. Shail Jain, Dennis Powers, Julie West, David Sheldon, Frank Festi, Kevin Wermer, Dr. Than Jain, Brendan Rose, Ed Jakubick, Robert Starcher, Dr. Reid Miller, Dale Huefner, Jansen Wehrley, Paula Knizner, Supt. Kent Morgan, Supt. Daryl Kubilus, Rich Pace
As we head into another recruitment period for the next class of LEADERSHIP 6630 I would like to take a minute to celebrate the success of this committee. I have been a Rotarian in the RC of Burton-Middlefield and a member of District 6630 for over 30 years. I am constantly amazed at how this district and its leadership step up to solve problems and accomplish tasks that seem too big to overcome. Our incredibly successful Centennial Celebration, our unique A. Z. Baker Award, our Foundation fund raising drive during the Centennial Celebration, Rotary International officers that have come from this district and other accomplishments and achievements too numerous to mention give our district 6630 a distinct level of importance.
Since 2014 we have also had a very successful training program called LEADERSHIP 6630. This is a yearly (calendar year) group of Rotarians who have shown an interest in becoming more involved in Rotary above their club level and positioning themselves to step into a program or committee that excites them at the district level. It is not a classroom training as such but concentrates on exposure to all aspects of Rotary and provides speakers from various committees that speak at the LEADERSHIP 6630 meetings while encouraging the class members to reach out on their own to attend various committee meetings, fund raisers and simply visiting other clubs to expand their Rotary horizons. Members are not expected to move into a district position immediately but to do so at their own pace and schedule. The success has been amazing! In the six years the program has existed they have had 49 graduates. These include 2 District Governors, 2 AG Coordinators, 11 AGs, one membership chair, 2 Interact/Rotaract chairs, one Youth Exchange leader, one RYLA chair, 8 Grant Committee members, 10 District Conference Committee members, 2 Rotary Peace Fellowship Committee Members, one 4-WAY Speech Contest Chair and numerous club presidents. This certainly does not represent all of the dedicated Rotarians who have stepped up and accepted a district level assignment. But it has made a District Governor’s job of staffing their committees much easier and has identified a great deal of talent that may not have been recognized otherwise.
Rick Pollak, 2019/2020 president of the RC of Cuyahoga Falls is to be commended for leading the LEADERSHIP 6630 group since its inception and making the necessary adjustments over the years to make it more productive and successful. As we head towards the next new LEADERSHIP 6630 class that begins 1/1/2020 please contact Rick if you or someone you know exhibits the ambition that makes these class members stand out and show the promise of helping lead District 6630 into the future.
Berea Rotary President Bob Huge and District Governor John Reyes present Jo Ann Solnick with the Unsung Hero Award for her enthusiasm and volunteerism for Rotary projects. Jo Ann is Berea Rotary’s secretary and all-time cheerleader. Congratulations, Jo Ann!!
SPECIAL HALLOWEEN PROGRAM
The Rotary Club of Berea presents
Author Tine Hreno
Tuesday, Oct. 29
6:30 p.m.
Colony Room, BW’s Strosacker Hall
125 Tressel St., Berea
On 19th Century horror writers
Mary Shelley (“mother” of Frankenstein)
Bram Stoker (Dracula)
Edgar Allen Poe (quoth the Raven ‘Nevermore’)
Tine Hreno currently has an exhibit at the University of Akron’s Hower House Museum
Berea Rotary President Bob Huge and Judy Stull hosted the club’s annual clam bake on September 24. Catering was by the Corkscrew Tavern of Medina. Rotarians and guests dined on clam chowder, broth, a dozen clams, chicken, corn on the cob, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes and date and nut cake from Dick’s Bakery in Berea.
Thanks to Bob Huge and Judy Stull for hosting Berea Rotary's annual clambake.
Enjoying the clam chowder are Judy, Bob, Sandy Hammer and Diane White.
PDG Corner: Bev Skrzynski, Jim McKee and Dave Skrzynski.
Save up to 15% on standard car rentals booked in the United States through Hertz. In addition to these savings, Rotary will earn a 2% rebate on your qualifying purchase.
October 24th, World Polio Day, is just around the corner and your club’s plan for hosting an event should be well underway. All clubs in District 6630 should be planning an event for World Polio Day. It can be as easy as collecting all of the “ Happy Dollars” in October designating that money for World Polio Day. The Rotary Club of Strongsville is participating in that event. Or you can organize a concert like the Rotary Clubs in Reggio Calabria, Italy are doing. Whatever you are doing, please register the event with Rotary International so the Rotary World can applaud your contribution.
ate from our partner club I felt honored to be a contributor and that my club was involved!
