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News from Around the District

APRIL 2025 DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
 
 
Registration for our District Conference will be ending in just a very few days.  If you have not done so, please register now - our District Conference is for everyone!  Want a few reasons why you should go?
 
Want to learn ways to reduce your anxiety and find more joy in life and through service?  Join us for Friday lunch!
 
Want to know more about how to grow your club, gain positive insights to improve mental health, promote your club or even add a new service-based club to our district?  Attend our Learning Assembly sessions Friday afternoon and/or Saturday morning!  And - there will be no Powerpoint - these are discussion sessions to share ideas, not lectures!
 
How about a fun evening with drinks, food, fellowship and The Magic of Rotary at your table with Magician Rick Smith Jr?  Join us for our Friday evening Social!
 
Want to understand how students are serving our communities and what they think about key issues?  Join our Celebration of Youth at our lunch Saturday!
 
Have questions about Clubrunner or Youth Protection?  We will have open door sessions Saturday afternoon just for that!
 
Need to know more about how disparate organizations in Northeast Ohio can work together to create synergy in service?  Join our dinner Saturday evening.
 
Want to learn about successful projects and speakers to take back to your club?  Visit our House of Friendship in the Atrium Friday or Saturday!
 
Want to meet and celebrate with other Rotarians across our district and beyond?  Join us for any of the social events or meetings!
 
Please join us for our Rotary District Conference of Clubs April 25 and 26 at the Cleveland Marriott East. 
 
 
 
Dale Smith
District Governor 2024/2025
Rotary International District 6630
Past-President
Rotary Club of Mentor
The Magic of Rotary
 
330-968-7683
 
 
A.Z. BAKER SERVICE AWARD FORM - FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 6th
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.
 
 
ABOUT THE A.Z. BAKER SERVICE AWARDS
 
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.
 
image
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.
GET YOUR CLUB DATA READY FOR THE 2025-26 ROTARY YEAR
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:
 
  • Showcase Nova's powerful features
  • Highlight the latest updates
  • Share our rollout plan and what to expect
Nova for Districts is Coming Soon!
 
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.
 
Warm Regards,
ClubRunner Team
DISTRICT-WIDE INTERACT PROJECT AND HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
 
The Interact clubs in our district elected to support cancer patients going through chemotherapy as their district-wide service project this year, and they need your help! We are making care packages for patients of the Cleveland Clinic, and will be dropping off all care packages at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. We would love to make this project even more successful with your support. 
 
We are asking Rotarians to consider putting together additional care packages, either as individuals or as a Rotary Club. Alternatively, Rotary clubs can donate money to their sponsored Interact clubs and the Interact students can put together the care packages themselves. Please coordinate with your club presidents and fellow members to see if your club can help make a difference in a chemo patient's life!
 
Interact students have put together a list of items to include in each care package based on consultations with staff at the hospital as well as cancer patients currently going through chemotherapy treatments. We anticipate that the cost of each care package will be between $80-$100. 
 
Some of the items we suggest including in the care packages are: 
  • Healing lotions for dry skin (unscented)
  • Puzzle books to pass the time during treatments along with pens and pencils
  • Hard candies to help bring moisture to the mouth (especially ginger flavored to help with nausea)
  • Mouth rinse to help with dry mouth (specifically suggested by a chemo patient)
  • Electrolyte drink powder packages
  • Fuzzy socks and warm blankets to help keep patients warm
  • Wooden utensils and a plastic reusable water bottle (metal can leave a bad taste in the mouth of chemo patients)
Here is a full list of suggested items, including a basket to package everything, with links to products on Amazon: Chemotherapy Care Package Items
 
Some clubs may want to consider creating an Amazon Wishlist to share with club members to diffuse the cost of these items (most individual items are $10 and under). We hope to create as many care packages as possible with your help!
 
All care packages should be completed by the annual District Conference of Clubs on April 25th-26th. Please send any care packages to the conference with your club members by the Youth Luncheon on Saturday, April 26th. 
 
Please consider participating in our Interact Service Project. We hope to see everyone at the youth luncheon at the District Conference on April 26th! 
 
Thank you, and don't hesitate to reach out to me at Chelsea.Talty@westg.org with any questions. 
 
Chelsea Talty
District 6630 Interact Chair
CLEVELAND CLUB FUN SOCIAL

Sometimes, Rotarians just want to have fun.

The "Mayor's Mansion" at Western Reserve Historical Society - Cleveland History Center was the perfect setting for our club social. Thank you to everyone who joined us. It was fun to "get into character" and guess WHO for this suffrage era game.
 
Want more information?  Reach out to rotarycle@gmail.com
 
 
 
BEREA ROTARY SENDS 3 TO DISTRICT SPEECH CONTEST
Photo L-R:
Berea Rotary President Dave Skrzynski congratulates the 4-Way Test Speech contestants, Jaylin Marotta, Elizabeth Chen and Christina Calvis.
 
The final rankings were so close, Berea Rotary decided to send all three contestants to the District 6630 Four-Way Test Speech Contest on April 12. 
 
The three Berea-Midpark High School students are Christina Calvis and Jaylin Marotta, both seniors; and Elizabeth Chen, junior. Elizabeth has represented Berea Rotary for the past two years.
 
Their speech topics were interesting and varied. Christina talked about embarrassment and how most people are very afraid of being embarrassed in public. They are obsessed with being “cool.” But this also could be a learning experience, Christina said.
 
Elizabeth spoke of another obsession – numbers. We are bombarded with IQ. BMI, movie ratings, SAT scores. Teacher salaries are based on student scores on state tests. Just because it’s easy to use, doesn’t mean we should.
 
Jaylin’s topic was politics. There is a reason your mother tells you to never discuss politics at the dinner table. Jaylin went on to discuss ways to talk calmly to someone with whom you disagree.
 
Celebrity judges this year were Berea Fire Chief Terry Ledwell and Berea Police Lt. Tom Walker.
ROTARY CLUB OF NORDONIA HILLS SPONSORS ANNUAL STEM EVENT
The Rotary Club of Nordonia Hills School partnered with Nordonia High School to present the 4th Annual STEM Event, celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.   This event brought together students, local vendors, and professionals in the field to enhance students’ understanding of the possibilities of future careers.  It is the Club’s desire that this event would inspire the next generation of thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators through hands-on activities and exposure to various careers. 
 
Over 25 vendors with 67 guests from all over Northeast Ohio were present to show students how their business or career is part of the STEM education program.    Traditional displays by Eaton, Minority Tech Alliance, Swagelok, and Air and Space Force demonstrated hands-on activities and projects that they work with every day.    Other vendors, not necessarily associated with STEM, such as Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners, CropKing, Inc. and Ohio Department of Transportation also demonstrated their work and activities to encourage students to other possible career opportunities. 
 
Companies and organizations set up exhibits showcasing the latest advancements in STEM. Demonstrations include virtual reality experiences, robots, and environmentally sustainable technologies.   These exhibits allowed students to have the chance to interact with professionals, gaining valuable advice and mentorship.
 
Throughout the day, approximately 470 students visited the STEM center to interact directly with the vendors present.   However, the highlight of the day was the Robotics Challenge.  Where 14 students pared in four groups, formed teams to design, build, and program robots that competed in various tasks. This challenge was able to encourage teamwork, technical skills, and creative problem-solving.
 
The next day, a Science Teacher at the High School forwarded an email to the Principal, Louise Teringo, from one of the parents of a student.  The parent said: “Thank you for arranging the STEM Day for the students.  I imagine my daughter is pretty quiet in class and wanted you to know that she walked away from that day genuinely interested in several of the fields that she learned about.  We typically don't get much out of her when it comes to "how was your day?" but on that day, she had a lot to say about potential careers. It led to great discussion about pros and cons of different types of work, work/life balance, pay, etc.  Thanks for facilitating this day.”
 
The Rotary Club of Nordonia Hills and the Nordonia Schools regularly partner in many programs throughout the year such as recognizing Students of the Month, providing Scholarship, sponsoring students to attend the RYLA program and the 3rd grade dictionary project.   For more information about our STEM Event, please contact Lateef Saffore, Chair at lysaffore@gmail.com.
 
 
WESTLAKE-BAY VILLAGE ROTARY CLUB STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP WITH LAKE ERIE NATURE & SCIENCE CENTER
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.
YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE - THANK YOU FOR UNITING TO HELP WITH THIS CAUSE
I want to thank you all for your support of the Soles4Souls donation campaign for shoes for the disadvantaged youth in Ohio. They will now be recipients of a new pair of shoes due to your generosity.  Although we did not win the competition, we did something better.  Due to your aggressive donations, we were still ahead of all districts by the beginning of the conference.  This caused all the other districts to step up their donations, resulting in the largest donation total in AOP history.  In total, all the Ohio districts donated $50,503 for shoes.  This will supply 2,525 pairs of shoes throughout Ohio to kids that sorely need them.  We were 500% over our goal, mainly because of YOU!  Thank you again for all your donations.  A slide show can be viewed here to show the impact of your generosity.
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
 
Bob Oborn
Rotary International District 6630 Governor Elect (DG 2025-26)
Past Club President (2013-2014)
Home Club: Rotary Club of Stow -Munroe Falls 
Tel 330.801.0159 | RoRotary20252026@gmail.com
SHELTERBOX EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN THAILAND
The Crisis in Myanmar and Thailand
 
Myanmar and Thailand were struck by a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake, causing widespread destruction. The earthquake, which occurred at 06:20 GMT on Friday, 28th March, was followed by a significant aftershock of 6.4M. Tremors were felt as far as China, with the epicenter in central Myanmar. More than six million people experienced intense tremors, leading to buildings reduced to rubble, missing persons, and destroyed homes. Thousands are now displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Both Myanmar and Thai authorities have declared states of emergency and requested international aid. Vulnerable people in these countries are homeless and in dire need of emergency shelter. They need your support.
 
 
ShelterBox's Response
ShelterBox has been in contact with Rotary leaders in Myanmar and Thailand. A team is deploying to Thailand to coordinate efforts and determine how best to support those affected by the earthquake. Your support is crucial in making this response possible. Our priority in these early stages is search and rescue, and we anticipate significant damage closer to the epicenter in Myanmar.
 
Why Support ShelterBox?
With over 25 years of experience, ShelterBox is an expert in providing emergency shelter after disasters. We have responded to dozens of major earthquakes including Morocco, Türkiye, Syria, Nepal, Japan, Haiti, and several Southeast Asia countries after the 2004 earthquake and resulting tsunami. We have provided shelter to over 3 million people. We won’t stop until we see a world where no one goes without shelter after a disaster.
 
Your help is vital
Please consider donating today. In these uncertain times, your support is more valuable than ever. Your generosity can make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by this crisis and around the world. You can help equip people with essential emergency aid items, enabling them to survive and rebuild their lives. Thanks to the kindness of our supporters, we can assist people in places like Gaza, Mozambique, Yemen,
Burkina Faso, and many more.
 
To donate and learn more please visit: Earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand - ShelterBox USA
 
Your generosity makes a world of difference, thank you for caring,
 
Bill Tobin
Rotary Relations Manager, ShelterBox USA

ShelterBox USA
Bill Tobin
Rotary Relations Manager

d: 1 (805) 203-8668
m: (916) 616-6973
w: www.shelterboxusa.org
JUNE 10th MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING
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. 
 
Edward G. Thomas
Professor of Marketing Emeritus
Cleveland State University
330-225-0069
e.thomas@csuohio.edu, edthomascsu@gmail.com
 
JULY 26th ART FEST HOSTED BY WESTLAKE-BAY VILLAGE ROTARY
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!
 
MEDINA BUILDS COMMUNITY
Lafayette Township Fire Chief Brian Cavanaugh and Ohio National Guard Sergeant First Class Jeff Cain met for a Lenten Friday lunch at Grande Cafe & Roastery to catch up on the excellent cooperation and training within Medina County's emergency management team.
 
Included in their vision for the future of Medina, they shared successes of the ongoing professional relationship both officers have had with the schools and Medina County Career Center. Chief Cavanaugh and Sergeant Cain emphasized the importance of continuing to build their mission of community, partnerships, and service through education and career development with young people here in Medina County.
 
PHOTO (L to R):
Chief Brian Cavanaugh, Kelly Foote, SFC Jeff Cain
JULIE WEST AND KAREN MELTON ATTENDED PEACEJAM: Contact Julie to Speak at Your Club!
This past June, Karen Melton, fellow Cleveland Rotarian, and I visited Rotary Peace Fellow Wisdom Addo in Ghana, his homeland, to experience his annual PeaceJam Youth Leadership Conference in Accra and visit the future site of the West Africa Center for Peace Foundation outside his home village. We also were treated to a Welcoming Ceremony in his home village. We have a Power Point presentation about our visit that we would love to share with your Club.
 
Our District has been connected with Wisdom since we first recommended him for Rotary’s Peace Scholar program over 10 years ago. He attended our 2023 District Conference, where he was the keynote speaker for Friday’s luncheon and a co-presenter for a District Leadership Assembly session on Peace and Conflict Resolution. This past November our Rotary Club, joined by several other clubs in our District, funded a one-day PeaceJam Conference for youth in upper West Ghana. The work Wisdom and his team are doing in Ghana, and beyond, is outstanding.
 
Contact Julie West to schedule our visit to your Club: jwest@ameritech.net or 216-392-6771.
Welcoming Ceremony
 
Several of the Conference attendees with keynote speaker Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee
 
Welcoming Ceremony, includes the village dignitaries, Wisdom Addo, Karen and Julie West, and others helping with the Youth Conference
AURORA HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT NEWS
Aurora High School Interact Club invited our Rotary Club of Aurora members to join us for a Game Night Social at Aurora High School on Jan. 29th. We had pizza and snacks and enjoyed a lot of laughs!
 
ROTARY CLUB OF CLEVELAND CELEBRATES TOP CMSD STUDENTS
Another outstanding Thesmacher High School Recognition Day was presented by the Rotary Club of Cleveland’s Youth Services Committee. Each year, the club recognizes and congratulates the top seniors from CMSD schools. They're leaders in their schools who have worked hard to accomplish their goals. Students are placed into focus groups, sharing with Rotarians and other local leaders the challenges they (and their fellow students) face each day, along with great insight as to how we as a community can help solve the issues that are ultimately roadblocks to their success. We were all listening. As Rotarians, we are committed to get busy in helping them overcome obstacles like lack of mental health resources, school safety, and access to hands-on training.
 
The event also includes the Workforce Development Showcase, where local technical colleges and trade businesses reach out to students, offering an alternative path to a career. This was a huge success with more than 20 organizations speaking directly to students.
 
Thank you to Kurt Russell, the Council of Chief State School Officers and 2022 National Teacher of the Year, from Oberlin High School. His motivational keynote address to the students was powerful and inspirational. Thank you to all our Rotarians and community members for joining us in celebrating these amazing students!
 
Yours in Rotary Service - 
 
Tina Ingraham
Rotary Club of Cleveland
District 6630 Public Image Chair
NORTHEAST OHIO ROTARY CLUB HOSTED WINTER SOCIAL & SERVICE PROJECT
On Saturday, February 22, the Rotary Club of Northeast Ohio (E-ClubNEO) met at Dietz Floral in Cuyahoga Falls for their annual winter party.
 
After some excellent snacks and an exciting club meeting, the group got busy on their latest service project… making blankets for “My Very Own Blanket“ to be distributed in Northeast Ohio.
 
Watch your email and social media for information on the Club’s upcoming Food Drive and an opportunity, later this spring, to enter a unique raffle that is certain to entice collectors and consumers of Kentucky barrel-aged beverages.
 
BURTON-MIDDLEFIELD CLUB HOSTS 4-WAY TEST SPEECH CONTEST
On Wednesday, 3/5/2025, The Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield (BMR) held its annual 4-WAY TEST speech contest in the main dining room at Welshfield Inn.  The speeches by high school students are based on Rotary’s 4-WAY TEST of how, as Rotarians, we conduct our personnel and professional lives.  The test is made up of 4 questions we should ask:  “Is it the truth?”,  “Is it fair to all concerned?”,  “Will it create good will and better friendships?” and “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”.  The students pick a topic for their speech and develop it around these four questions.  Wednesday, March 5th. brought three students from Berkshire High School to the weekly Rotary meeting to present their speeches.   India Martin, a senior; Camden Hedrick, a senior and Whitney Davis, a sophomore were the contestants.  India spoke on safety in schools.  Camden spoke on industrial farming and the negative repercussions and Whitney spoke on the strong need for Title IX rules in women's sports.  As usual all presentations were well thought out as presented by the students.  The crowd in attendance was blown away by the quality and professionalism of the speeches.  All three ladies amazed us with their maturity.  Once again faith in our youth was restored. 
 
The entire program for the evening was set up by Rotarian Dave Terrill who is the club’s Youth Service Director.  Dave also coordinates our RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) which this year will be held at Hiram College and is open to junior and senior high school students.  This is a Rotary leadership camp that brings together students from all over northeast Ohio.  There is also the Rotary World Community Service camp held in Wisconsin that local high school students sponsored by BMR can attend to learn leadership and peace centered skills held in early June.
 
All of these activities, coupled with our very strong scholarship offerings continue to keep BMR on the leading edge of youth support in Geauga County.  We offer scholarships to seniors at Berkshire and Cardinal along with Auburn Career Center for students to continue their education.  In addition, BMR offers an endowed scholarship through Kent State Geauga for multiple students to further a career in nursing.  This scholarship continues to grow through support from our Maple Splash Raffle profits and this year may support scholarships for three students.  Contact the scholarship director at Kent for further information.
 
Anyone with a desire to join our active and successful club and join in the support of these programs and many others that the club supports is asked to contact us through:  burtonmiddlefieldrotary.com.  Don’t forget to purchase those Maple Splash Raffle tickets and support this amazing work and maybe take home a great prize on July, 12th. 2025 at our Maple Splash Raffle Festival.
 
Photo (Left to Right):
Larry Fox (BMR President),  India Martin (Senior), Camden Hedrick (Senior), and Whitney Davis (Sophomore) 
 
Yours in Service -
 
Robert Johnson
Secretary
Burton-Middlefield Rotary
MEDINA SUNRISE ROTARY 4-WAY TEST SPEECH CONTEST WINNERS
Cloverleaf High School entered 5 talented students to compete this morning in the 4-Way Speech Contest of Medina Sunrise Rotary: Leah Archer, Joe Armogida, Zack Brownson, Vanessa Monhemius, and Asa Stephens. Vanessa and Zack were selected and have the opportunity to compete with other students from northeast Ohio in the Rotary District #6630 final competition to be hosted by Springfield High School on April 12.
 
All five students are from Mr. Joel Shurance’s AP Literature class. The study of challenging subject matter through literature helps breed the empathy and courage needed for the students to tackle relevant, and real-life topics that exemplify the Rotary’s Four-Way Test. The students have the autonomy to select topics that pertain to their interests. After much research and drafting, students are able to use rhetorical strategies to convey their true feelings on the topic.
 
 
PHOTO(L to R):
Judge Bill Hutson, Joe Armogida, Vanessa Monhemius, Dr. Bob Hlasko, Leah Archer, Zack Brownson, Asa Stephens, Mr. Joel Shurance, Dr. Daryl Kubilus, Jr.
A NEW APPROACH TO RI PRESIDENTIAL THEMES:  2025-2026 ROTARY THEME AND HOW TO USE IT IN YOUR MATERIALS
The long history of a Rotary International President launching a theme for their presidential year is going away in 2025-2026. This decision was made by the RI Board of Directors at their October 2023 Meeting. 
 
The rationale behind the decision is based on the importance of standardizing branding and communications.  The presidential themes were to be used only for internal communications to motivate Rotary members. However, too many clubs and districts used the theme as a logo to promote Rotary projects and events to the public. Additionally, the themes changed every year, and some clubs and districts preferred promoting a past theme over the current theme due to personal preference. This causes confusion with helping the public understand the focus of Rotary and what we stand for. 
 

Our Message

One of the most important things we can do to tell our Rotary stories in an effective, compelling way is to make sure we all use consistent and unified messaging. You can use the president's message for 2025-26, Unite for Good, to inspire members, participants, and the public with an idea that aligns with our Action Plan and calls on us to work together. Using the presidential message in your club and district communications helps to convey Rotary’s global impact and create stronger recognition of Rotary’s name in our communities and with potential service partners. It can help people understand who we are and what we do and might even inspire them to join us.

Visual Messaging

Logo lockup templates

Remember, your official club and district logos are the primary way to promote Rotary in your community, but you can visually incorporate the presidential messaging by joining your club or district logo in a lockup with the message on assets such as:

  • Club and district newsletter templates
  • Rotary email signatures
  • District conference materials (badges, invitation templates, logos, etc.)
  • Backgrounds for online meetings

Create or update your club, district, or zone logo lockup by using our templates.

Presidential messaging graphics

Ready to use graphics

Download the presidential message graphic and use it in your club communications. There are also graphics you can use on your club websites and social media channels.

Presidential messaging graphics 
Presidential messaging graphics for use on club and district social media channels

Other Ways to Share

Incorporate the presidential message when speaking with your clubs, districts, and your community. Incorporate our annual message by using it in communications such as:

  • Club and district presentations
  • Conversations with potential partners and donors
  • Interviews on podcasts, TV, or radio
  • Social media content and blog posts

District and Club Themes or Messages

Clubs and districts should use the Rotary-wide presidential message rather than creating their own theme or message so we can all speak with one voice. Any other themes that clubs and districts have developed should now be replaced by the annual presidential message or retired.

BURTON-MIDDLEFIELD MAPLE SPLASH 2025
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.

 
BEST PRACTICES FOR ORGANIZING EVENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN AND YOUTH (A Supplemental to the RI District 6630 Youth Protection Policies and Procedures Manual)
The District 6630 Youth Protection Committee has been working to assist Club Youth Protection Officers in their efforts to assist club planning and execution of safe youth related activities. The District Website already contains detailed video presentations, as well as power point downloads of the September 18, 2021 youth protection training seminar. The actual policy and procedures manual is also contained on the District website.
 
In an endeavor to assist in using the policies and procedures manual a subcommittee of the District Youth Protection Committee has created the Best Practices for Organizing Events Involving Children & Youth (click here) for your review, study and use.
 
I would like to thank Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski and her subcommittee for their efforts in preparing this document.
 
On a different topic, District Youth Protection Officer Carrie Malotte and her team of Assistant District Youth Protection Officers have been working diligently to implement the District’s Youth Volunteer Management System, including the Youth Protection Course which is part of the system. If your club is one of the dozen or so clubs who have not responded to District Youth Protection Officers attempted contacts please do so (Carrie can be reached at CarrieMalotte@Westfield-bank.com)
 
Sincerely,
 
John L. Reyes
Rotary International District 6630 Youth Protection Committee Chair
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Mark Your Calendars for These Events!
2024-2025 District Leadership
2025 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

OUR CAUSES

The collective leadership and expertise of our 1.2 million members helps us tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, locally and globally. We are united by common values and vision for the future as we sharpen our focus with targeted specific causes that will reach communities most in need.

We have identified specific causes to target to maximize our local and global impact. At the same time, we understand that each community has its own unique needs and concerns.
Through  and other resources, we help clubs focus their service efforts in the following areas.

PEACEBUILDING AND CONFLICT PREVENTION

Today, 42 million people are displaced by armed conflict or persecution. Through our partnerships with several leading universities, Rotary Peace Fellows develop the skills to strengthen peace efforts, train local leaders to prevent and mediate conflict, and support long-term peace building in areas affected by conflict. We provide up to 100 peace fellowships per year at Rotary Peace Centers.

DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

More than 100 million people are pushed into poverty each year because of medical costs. We aim to improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in underdeveloped areas. Our members educate and mobilize communities to help prevent the spread of major diseases such as polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. Many of our projects ensure that medical training facilities are located where the workforce lives.

WATER. SANITATION, AND HYGIENE

More than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. At least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water. Our projects give communities the ability to develop and maintain sustainable water and sanitation systems and support studies related to water and sanitation.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

At least 7 million children under the age of five die each year due to malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. To help reduce this rate, we provide immunizations and antibiotics to babies, improve access to essential medical services, and support trained health care providers for mothers and their children. Our projects ensure sustainability by empowering the local community to take ownership of health care training programs.

BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY

Sixty-seven million children worldwide have no access to education and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and develop opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also help strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.

SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT

Providing our members more ways to bring about positive change in the world.

Community Minded People Like You and Me
If you like talking and tweeting about issues that matter
in both your local community and communities abroad,
come and see how you can join the conversation at Rotary
and do something to make a real difference in the lives of others.