Which president refused to recognize Thanksgiving?
Thomas Jefferson was famously the only Founding Father and early president who refused to declare days of thanksgiving and fasting in the United States. Unlike his political rivals, the Federalists, Jefferson believed in “a wall of separation between Church and State” and believed that endorsing such celebrations as president would amount to a state-sponsored religious worship. Read more.
What does the poem, 'Mary had a little lamb,' have to do with Thanksgiving?
The first official proclamation of a national Thanksgiving holiday didn’t come until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln called for an annual Thanksgiving celebration on the final Thursday in November. The proclamation was the result of years of impassioned lobbying by "Mary Had a Little Lamb" author and abolitionist Sarah Josepha Hale.
How did a botched Thanksgiving order lead to the TV tray dinner?
In 1953, an employee at C.A. Swanson & Sons overestimated demand for Thanksgiving turkey and the company was left with some 260 tons of extra frozen birds. As a solution, Smithsonian reports, a Swanson salesman ordered 5,000 aluminum trays, devised a turkey meal and recruited an assembly line of workers to compile what would become the first TV tray dinners. A culinary hit was born. In the first full year of production, 1954, the company sold 10 million turkey TV tray dinners.
At our Zoom meeting on November 20, 2020, President Drew Pelger opened the meeting by welcoming a total of 27 Canton Rotarians (both 'live' at John's Bar and virtually via Zoom); our speaker, Stephanie Sweany from the Stark County Hunger Task Force and her guest, John Alge.
Becky Clark, who filled in for our Club Secretary Paula Mastroianni, presented some interesting historical facts for the day and informed us that the first head of state to address a Rotary convention was U.S. President Warren G. Harding at the ST. Louis gathering in 1923.
Becky also received "Happy Bucks" from PDG, PP Dave Ewing, PP John Werren, Paul Hervey, President-Elect Mark Clendenin, Julia Dick and Jim Blake.
Announcements:
President Drew reminded everyone about our club's "Brew Card" event.
Past President Michelle Charles gave a short update on the club's Pack The Bus project (see articles below).
James Boggs introduced our speaker, Stephanie Sweany, from The Stark County Hunger Task Force.
It's that time of year - yes, the Holidays, but also when we raise funds and deliver food to Canton City School kids to help ensure they and their families have enough food and other essentials.
We will once again be supporting Allen Elementary - now called Patrick Elementary.
Unfortunately, with the pandemic numbers increasing and showing no signs of slowing, Pack the Bus will look a little different this year. We will not be doing an in-person collection.
Instead, I am asking you to consider donating money so that we can purchase needed food and supplies to be delivered directly to the school. We do have the District Grant money this year, but anything additional, of course, will certainly help.
If you wish to donate money - or if you know someone who might - please click here. It will take you to our Canton Rotary donation page. Fill out the form and at the bottom, where it asks where you would like to have the funds directed, select "Other", then type into the box "Pack the Bus". Please make your donation by November 30th.
In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy! I miss you all.
Since our annual Canton Rotary Oktoberfest was cancelled due to COVID, we are selling the Canton Rotary Brew Card to raise funds for the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund.
The Brew Card provides discounts on food and/or merchandise at nine (9) local and regional breweries and brewpubs.
These cards are valid through June 30, 2021, so as vaccines roll out and folks feel it is safer to visit these breweries, the cards will still be valid!
Brew Cards are on sale now for only $20 via the event page on our Facebook page or through Eventbrite (see link below).
Make a difference this holiday. Shop for gifts at smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7353867 to generate donations forCanton Rotary Charitable Fund.
For those members who shop on Amazon, we ask you to instead go to the website Smile.Amazon.com to make your purchases. The Canton Rotary Charitable Fund is now a charity you may choose on this site and 0.5% of your purchase will go directly to the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund.
There is still time to make your reservation for the Rotary International Convention in June 2021. I know that it is difficult to think ahead to a time outside of the pandemic when you may be able to travel again. Hopefully, though, you will find yourself on a plane headed for Taipei in June!!
This month's Rotarian magazine has a great article about Taipei, so make sure you check it out!
December 15th marks the last day to receive your pre-registration discount. Make sure you sign up by then to receive the most money off your registration fee. Hotels also fill up fast, so you need to put your registration in quickly.
Finally, District 6650 is the ONLY district in Zone 30 that does not have a single reservation for the upcoming convention. I hope that at least a few of you can sign up before the deadline on December 15.
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