The Rotary Club of Canton was well represented at this year's District 6650 Conference at the beautiful Avalon Inn located in Warren, Ohio. In attendance were: President Amanda Tietze; President-Elect Michelle Mullaly; Vice President Mark Rojek; PDG/PP Bob Pattison; PDG/PP Dave Ewing; and Inbound Youth Exchange Co-Chair Amy Mustafaga.Seven Canton Rotarians were remembered through a candle lighting memorial service honoring their contributions and service to Rotary. Those honored were: PP Don Coen, Pat Gannon, Ralph Regula, Jim Lockshin, John DeWees, Reich Watterson and John Schumacher.
Canton Rotary received two awards:
- The Roland Luhman Award for 'Best Community Project' for the Pocket Park Project (submitted by Chairperson PP Craig Young)
- Bryce Kendall Award for 'Best Club Avenue Project' for the Backpack/Pack the Bus program (submitted by Chairperson Michelle Mullaly)
Canton Rotary also received a certificate for donating $1,000 towards Polio Plus this year. We ended the conference with a fun talent show by the exchange students, featuring our very own exchange student, Sara Baldoni. Sara and her partner lip synced to songs from the movie "Grease". The day finished with a very moving video of all the exchange students and their time together here in the U.S.A. The new outgoing exchange students received their jackets and pins in preparation to go off for a year in their host countries.
If you have never attended a District Conference, I highly recommend it to all Rotarians. You will meet great people from other clubs in our distirct, hear great speakers, and come back recharged, with a greater love and appreciation for Rotary.