‘Twas the night of December 5, and all through the House not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were……. Wait, Wait, Wait, that’s not right. Let’s try this again. You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and….. No, No that is not it either.
I think you all will agree with me that December 5th was a magical evening. On this night, we came together to enjoy each other’s company, to support the Rotary Foundation, to recognize our Clubs and Fellow Rotarians and friends, and did I mention that we helped out some very special youth?
Now are you still trying to figure out what this MAGICAL event was? This was of course our Annual Foundation Gala. Our theme this year was “Holidays Around the World.” This theme was a dedication not only to the Diverse Cultures within Rotary, but maybe even more importantly our Youth Exchange Students. On this evening, we invited all of our inbound Youth Exchange Students to join us in celebration.
The evening started out with some fellowship intertwined with great food and drink(s). During this time we had several wild and crazy fellows interrupting everyone to inform about the wonderful Silent Auction. Everyone, do you remember that AWESOME desert table for the Desert Dash? If you do, raise your hand real high, come on higher, HIGHER. On second thought put your hands down, that person next to you is looking at you strangely. An event like this always needs a great MC, Master of Ceremonies if you were not sure, and boy did we have one! Why don’t we all give Steve Warren a big hand. I love the enthusiasm, but you can stop clapping, that person next to you is really wondering what is going on.
I had better get back to the script, otherwise 'you know who' is going to be calling me.
Along with the fellowship, we had fun with our silent auction, live auction and, RAISE those hands again if you remember that Desert Dash. I am sorry, I did it again. Put your hands down. Guess what, we raised over $10,000 between these three, and all of this will be given to The Rotary Foundation. Remember in three years half of this will come back to our District and be put towards grants that our Clubs do.
Hold the presses, do you remember the “Two Amigos” and what fun they had? Put your hands down, this was a rhetorical question. Of course they are our Past District Governor Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski and Governor John Reyes, and they were judging the Costume and Ugly Sweater contest. The Costume 
Contest was won by one of our Exchange Students. The Ugly Sweater Contest was won by Rich Cole, Rotary Club of Port-Summit. He has now won this three years in a row. I am, here and now, putting a challenge to all Rotarians to step up their game and at least give Rich a run for his money.
Contest was won by one of our Exchange Students. The Ugly Sweater Contest was won by Rich Cole, Rotary Club of Port-Summit. He has now won this three years in a row. I am, here and now, putting a challenge to all Rotarians to step up their game and at least give Rich a run for his money.How about those International themed center pieces on the tables? Each and every one of those was made by the youth at S.U.P.E.R Learning Center in Lakemore. S.U.P.E.R. is Ohio's leading cognitive development center and autism school. I hope all of you had the chance to bid on those center pieces. ALL the money raised from these sales went directly back to help those youth at the center. Thank you for your support. You in the back, you can put your hand down now.
The best part of the evening was yet to come.
To me it is always very special when we can recognize clubs and Individuals. On this December 5, 2019 we did just that. These recognitions were based around giving to the Rotary Foundation for the Rotary Year 2018-19. During this year, we were inspired and guided by our District Governor Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski, Rotary Club of Cleveland.
We start our recognitions with 53,000 Points of Light Polio Eradication Major Donor Induction Ceremony. Twelve clubs were recognized for contributing at least $1,500 to the End Polio Now Campaign. PDG Beverly was assisted by special guest Keven Kelly who is the Major Gift Officer for The Rotary Foundation, and the Grandson of Arch C. Klumph, Frederick T. “Rory” McGuire, Rotary Club of Cleveland (shown in photo). Thank you to all of our clubs and Rotarians that have contributed to ENDING Polio. That night we recognized clubs that had: one, In the EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) campaign raised an average $100 per person per capita; second, for having 100% of club members donate to the Rotary Foundation. Those clubs who achieve 100% member giving to the Annual Fund were rewarded with this opportunity to present a Paul Harris Fellow to an individual who has made a difference in the community.
PDG Beverly had some special help in presenting these recognitions. Helping PDG Beverly were the following; PDG Bob Johnson, 2018-2019 Chair, District 6630 Foundation, Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield; Jim Lechko, Chair, 2019-2020, District 6630 Foundation, Rotary Club of Lakewood-Rocky River; Rick Pollak, Member, District 6630 Grants Committee, Rotary Club of Cuyahoga Falls
OH by the way, that individual(s) that was wondering why you kept putting up your hands and clapping for no apparent reason, take a minute and introduce yourself and Rotary, and do not forget to invite them to your next club meeting.
In recap the reason that we hold events like this is to recognize our District, our Clubs, and most importantly Our Members. How do we measure the success of this event? Is it by the over $10,000 that was raised through the Dessert Dash, Silent and Live Auctions that will be given to the Rotary Foundation? Is it by the awards and recognition's handed out? Is it by the over 200 Rotarians, Spouses and Friends that attended? Maybe it was by those beautiful center pieces made by the youth at Super Learning Centers, and the donations that were made to help those students. I believe the answer is simple, we use our 4-Way Test and our motto "Service Above Self". Does this event meet and exceed the 4-Way test, Absolutely! We recognized our Clubs and Rotarians for devoting their lives to Service above Self.
What our committee dedicated their time to over the past few months was to help everyone celebrate what Rotary is all about!
As our theme this year was "Holidays Around the World," I have found the best way to say thank you.
Foundation Gala Committee
DGN Larry Lohman, Chair, Rotary Club of Kent
Richard Cole, Rotary Club of Port-Summit
Lynda Farkas, Rotary Club of Akron
Dan and Becky Garry, Rotary Club of Painesville
Tracy Jemison, Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield
PDG Bob Johnson, Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield
Jim Lechko, Rotary Club of Lakewood-Rocky River
Sharon Lerch, Rotary Club of Cleveland
PDG Jim McKee and Linda Boardman, Rotary Club of
Northampton-Cuyahoga Valley
DGE Pat Myers, Rotary Club of Hudson Clocktower
DG John and Linda Reyes, Rotary Club of Akron
Randy and Celeste Rininger, Rotary Club of Port-Summit
PDG Beverly and PDG Dave Skrzynski, Rotary Clubs
of Cleveland and Berea
Jerry Smith, Rotary Club of Cleveland
PDG Cheryl Warren, Rotary Club of Akron
Yours in Rotary Service
Larry Lohman, DGN