Renee Powell grew up in the East Canton area, learning the game of golf from her pioneering father, William, who built the course on which they lived, Clearview, in an era of racial discrimination. This past fall, she ascended to the top of the golfing world with her induction into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame.
Renee was just the second black woman to play on the LPGA Tour when she turned pro in 1967. Now retired, she is still teaching the game and continues to do great work.
Renee serves on the Board of Trustees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has worked as a golf analyst on TV. She has also penned instructional articles.
Renee has made 25 trips to Africa, as an inspirational woman and a teacher of golf. She has designed a line of golf clothing and taught the game to inner-city children.
Ms. Powell has written a children’s book and, during the past five years, she has established a cost-free rehabilitative golf program at Clearview Golf Club to help female military veterans. This program, taught by PGA and LPGA members, is what she will describe in her talk Friday.
Renee is a national treasure, right in our own back yard, and has had numerous honors bestowed upon her, which are far too numerous to mention here. (You can go to this link to learn more about Renee's many accomplishments and awards: https://www.clearviewgolfclub.com/reneepowell/)
Renee graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School, The Ohio State University, and Ohio University.
Golf continues to be her world. Renee lives at Clearview, a course with a long, narrow paved drive leading in and out on Lincoln Street (US RT 30) in East Canton.
Renee likes to serve others and is a member of the East Canton Rotary.
During the February 16, 2018 Rotary meeting, Rotarian Mike Brown introduced the February Character Counts recipients, Kyana Clark-Walker and Tyler MacDonald.
Kyana Clark-Walker, a 4.3 GPA student, has become a leader in service to her classmates during her senior year. Clark-Walker is proud to serve as President of Key Club, Treasurer of the Senior Class, and a member of McKinley Scholars. Service has been the source of her greatest joy this year. Wne she learned that a fellow McKinley student lost their home in a house fire, Kyana did not need prompting to begin to act on their behalf. She has partnered with Kiwanis and the Jackson Chapter of Key Club to raise funds to aid the student's family during this difficult time. We, the McKinley staff, are proud of the young woman Kyana is blossoming into and look forward to all the great things she will do as she continues her academic career at Xavier University.
Tyler MacDonald is a great candidate for Rotary Club Character Champion. He is a standout student that gives his all in everything he does. He has pushed himself academically, as seen through his GPA of 4.18 and class rank of 28 out of 419. Tyler has an impressive resume in his four years at McKinley High School, including as Captain and four year letter recipient of the varsity football team He is also Vice President of both the National Tech Honor Society as well as the Student Council, a National Honor Society member, a Project Lead the Way Pre Engineering student, and a member of the Varsity Wrestling team. Since Freshman year, Tyler started with advanced classes, and then quickly moved to AP and College Credit Plus courses. He has won the Charlie E. Bowersocks Award the last two years, which is given to the football player who displays the best character and Bulldog tradition. After high school Tyler plans on going to either Miami of Ohio or the University of Cincinnati to study energy efficiency mechanical engineering.When asked what he is most proud of, Tyler mentioned his community service engagements done through football. He has read to younger students, cleaned up around the community, planted flowers downtown, and fundraised for Josett Beddell Memorial Foundation, which supports breast cancer research. The McKinley staff is extremely proud of Tyler and we know he will represent McKinley High School and Canton City School District well in his next phase of life.
FINAL WEEK TO SUBMIT YOUR Nomination for Rotarian of the Year Award
As is our tradition, we are now inviting all Rotarians to nominate a fellow Rotarian to be recognized as Rotarian of the Year. Please take a moment to think of a person that you feel personifies the ideals of our club. Nominations require submission of a completed nomination form, which provides the criteria used to evaluate this important award. The deadline to submit your nomination is THIS Friday, March 2, 2018.
Please keep in mind that current Officers of the Club (Amanda Tietze, Michelle Mullaly, Mark Rojek, Suzette Matthews and Tom Clevenger), along with the past Award winners (PP Paul White, Dale Holwick, PP Mike Gregorek, PDG/PP Bob Pattison, PDG/PP Dave Ewing and PP Dan Matthews) are not eligible. All nominations will be kept confidential and we ask that you do the same. The award winner will be announced at an upcoming Rotary meeting.
You may download the Nomination Form here or pick one up at our regular meeting.
Completed forms may be returned to the Canton Rotary office (116 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Suite 307, Canton, 44702), emailed to the office at info@cantonrotary.org, or brought to a Friday meeting and given to Vice President Mark Rojek. Help us recognize those who have made our club the great club that it is!
At the weekly meeting on February 16, 2018, President Amanda Tietze welcomed the 48 members and 8 guests to the meeting. President Amanda welcomed back former Canton Rotarian Jack Brannen, who was filling in for piano player Bill Sparks
Rotarian Joe French gave the Invocation.
President Amanda then recognized Youth Exchange Student Sara Baldoni's birthday. The members serenaded (?) her with the "Happy Birthday" song. In recognition of Sara's birthday, the Club purchased butter pecan ice cream from Taggart's.
Secretary Suzette Matthews welcomed the following guests to the meeting: Lois DiGiacomo-Jacobson (speaker); Marty Jacobson (guest of Frank Fleischer); Sara Baldoni (Youth Exchange Student); Esiah Wyatt (McKinley High representative); Marcey MacDonald (guest of Character Counts); Marilyn Arnold (guest of Character Counts); Tyler MacDonald (Character Counts Champion); Kyana Clark-Walker (Character Counts Champion).
The "Happy News" was then provided by the following:
PP Dan Matthews - in celebration of having Marty Jacobson, a former Canton Rotarian, in attendance;
Shawn Dougherty - in promotion of the Canton Charge/Canton Rotary Fellowship get-together next Wednesday, February 21. If you do not attend the event you are still welcome to attend the dinner event at Desert Inn at 5:00 pm.
Joe French - in celebration of Sara Baldoni's birthday;
Kevin Heraghty - in thanks for the Taggarts ice cream treat in celebration of Sara Baldoni's birthday;
Kyana Clark-Walker (Character Count student) - in thanks for being at our meeting and receiving a Character Counts Award.
Rotarian Mike Brown introduced the February Character Counts Award winners, Tyler MacDonald and Kyana Clark-Walker. (*See story above).
Vice President Mark Rojek reminded everyone to take a moment to vote for "Rotarian of the Year". Ballot forms were available on each table and can be downloaded by visiting cantonrotary.org. Deadline to submit your nomination is March 2nd.
Vice President Mark then filled in for President Elect Michelle Mullaly and introduced her speaker for the meeting, Lois DiGiacomo-Jacobson. Lois spoke about the history of the arts in Canton from 1868 to the present.
President Amanda concluded the meeting by announcing next week's speaker will be Renee Powell, an East Canton Rotarian, who will speak on her Veteran's PTSD Program at Clearview Golf Course.
The following Rotarians turned in a makeup during Friday's meeting: Bill Maddox (North Canton); Ernie Schott (East Canton).
Renee Powell grew up in the East Canton area, learning the game of golf from her pioneering father, William, who built the course on which they lived, Clearview, in an era of racial discrimination. This past fall, she ascended to the top of the golfing world with her induction into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame.
Kyana Clark-Walker, a 4.3 GPA student, has become a leader in service to her classmates during her senior year. Clark-Walker is proud to serve as President of Key Club, Treasurer of the Senior Class, and a member of McKinley Scholars. Service has been the source of her greatest joy this year. Wne she learned that a fellow McKinley student lost their home in a house fire, Kyana did not need prompting to begin to act on their behalf. She has partnered with Kiwanis and the Jackson Chapter of Key Club to raise funds to aid the student's family during this difficult time. We, the McKinley staff, are proud of the young woman Kyana is blossoming into and look forward to all the great things she will do as she continues her academic career at Xavier University.
Tyler MacDonald is a great candidate for Rotary Club Character Champion. He is a standout student that gives his all in everything he does. He has pushed himself academically, as seen through his GPA of 4.18 and class rank of 28 out of 419. Tyler has an impressive resume in his four years at McKinley High School, including as Captain and four year letter recipient of the varsity football team He is also Vice President of both the National Tech Honor Society as well as the Student Council, a National Honor Society member, a Project Lead the Way Pre Engineering student, and a member of the Varsity Wrestling team. Since Freshman year, Tyler started with advanced classes, and then quickly moved to AP and College Credit Plus courses. He has won the Charlie E. Bowersocks Award the last two years, which is given to the football player who displays the best character and Bulldog tradition. After high school Tyler plans on going to either Miami of Ohio or the University of Cincinnati to study energy efficiency mechanical engineering.When asked what he is most proud of, Tyler mentioned his community service engagements done through football. He has read to younger students, cleaned up around the community, planted flowers downtown, and fundraised for Josett Beddell Memorial Foundation, which supports breast cancer research. The McKinley staff is extremely proud of Tyler and we know he will represent McKinley High School and Canton City School District well in his next phase of life..jpg)
FINAL WEEK TO SUBMIT YOUR Nomination for Rotarian of the Year Award.jpg)
At the weekly meeting on February 16, 2018, President Amanda Tietze welcomed the 48 members and 8 guests to the meeting. President Amanda welcomed back former Canton Rotarian Jack Brannen, who was filling in for piano player Bill Sparks
