Derek Gordon currently serves as the Director of Canton Parks since being appointed by the Canton Park Commission in May of 2013. He has been tasked with modernizing the department and is currently guiding the Park and Recreation Departments through a merger and levy campaign. Derek was responsible for leading the Parks through their first ever successful park levy in November of 2013 and has spearheaded the redevelopment of Mother Gooseland, the reconstruction of the Stadium Park Walking Track, and the creation of the Gervasi Station Trailhead along with a variety of other park upgrades and improvements. He has also helped facilitate partnerships around the community leading to the BikeSmart program, the Kayak Canton program, all while leading the Parks through their first master planning process since 1980.
Derek was born in Canton, Ohio and graduated from McKinley High School in 2003. After graduating from Mount Union in 2007, he began working in the Mayor's Office for the City of Canton where he lead the acquisition negotiations for the Canton Charge, implemented the Greener Corners recycling program, and negotiated the lease and redevelopment of the new Thurman Munson Stadium baseball complex. Derek recently completed his Master's of Public Administration degree from Kent State University and is engaged in a variety of non-profit and volunteer leadership roles throughout the community and currently serves as a board member of the United Way of Greater Stark County, Mercy Medical Foundation, and Canton Harbor High School. Derek has received recognition for his volunteer efforts as the DeHoff Emerging Philanthropist for 2013, a ystark! 20 under 40 recipient, and was named One to Watch by Inside Business Magazine.
He enjoys these volunteer opportunities with his wife Emily and his son Zeke. They currently live in Canton with their dog Archie.
The Rotary Club of Canton will once again present our annual Health Screen & Wellness Fair on Saturday, November 7, 2015. This year's event will be held at the Mercy Hall Auditorium, 1320 Mercy Drive N.W., Canton, 44708 from 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
All testing will be provided by Mercy Medical Center Laboratory services. To register in advance for these screenings click on this LINK, or call the Canton Rotary office at (330) 452-2882 (Monday, Tuesday & Thursday between 8am - 4pm). To conveniently register online, visit cantonrotary.org.
We gladly accept cash, check and credit card - VISA and MASTERCARD.
*A 12-hour fast is recommended for more accurate results. Walk-in appointments are also welcome.
In addition to the blood screenings, Mercy Medical Center service lines will be offering additional FREE health screenings and educational materials. LifeShare Community Blood Services blood mobile will also be on-site for blood donations.
The upcoming McKinley/Massillon joint rally Rotary meeting will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015 at the Meyer's Lake Ballroom in the Ballroom. We would like you to consider now if you will be attending and if you are planning to bring a guest to this meeting. We will need to have a head count to provide for seating and food purposes.
You may contact the Rotary office and RSVP for this event. The Rotary office number is (330) 452-2882. Thank you for your consideration to this matter.
Each October is the annual fund drive for the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund. As Rotarians, we all subscribe to “Service Above Self”. The annual Charitable Fund drive is a way we can all follow the Service Above Self motto. The annual drive is critical to having the funds to support our traditional local projects such as: Rotary Scouts, Philomatheon Society, Sister Rotary Club in Dominican Republic, Junior Achievement, Stark County Library, Exchange Students (inbound and outbound), Project Warm and many more. We recently have not been able to grant funds to all the worthy programs and charities that we would want to support.
I feel we are at a critical stage for our Rotary Club, a point where we need to show the community we are a valuable asset to the future growth of Canton and are an integral part of the change in Canton. One way to accomplish this is to have projects branded under Canton Rotary that are visible and recognized by the city and everyone who visits. For Canton Rotary to be able to make an impact that is permanent and branded in Canton, we need a healthy charitable fund.
I ask that each Rotarian donate to the Charitable Fund this year. While no donation is too small, we are asking that each Rotarian donate at least $100. If you cannot donate $100, please donate $25 or whatever amount you are able. Personally, I am doubling my donation from previous years, and ask everyone to do the same if possible.
We made a nice splash with our Canton Rotary Oktoberfest, let’s keep the momentum going with this year’s Canton Rotary Charitable Fund drive. Our goal this year is $15,000. Please join me in this journey so when we say we are “The Finest Rotary Club in the World” we know that each and every one of us is a part of making that claim true.
At our weekly meeting on October 9, 2015, President Paul White asked if any Rotarian was planning on attending the joint McKinley/Massillon rally meeting on Friday, October 30, 2015, to please contact the Rotary office with your intent as well as any guest(s) you plan to bring. We need to have an accurate head count to provide for seating and food.
President Elect Craig Young asked members to consider making a donation to the Charitable Fund Drive. The annual drive is critical to having the funds to support our traditional local projects. The goal this year is $15,000.00.
Club Secretary Michelle Mullaly welcomed our guests to the meeting: Justin Candea and Rotarian Richard Regula (Massillon).
The "Happy Bucks" news was then presented by the following Rotarians: Tom Clevenger was happy to announce that while in attendance at the University of Akron Football game he saw fellow Rotarian Dave Schrade and his wife, Barb, on the "Kiss Cam"; Rick Taylor gave high marks for the food served to him at The Canton Brewing Company; Richard Regula was pleased that while cleaning out his parents place in Washington D.C. he found out their home is valued substantially higher than when originally purchased; Bruce Schorsten asked everyone to please keep his ex-wife in their prayers. She needs to undergo brain surgery; Dave Beule was happy to announce The Canton Brewing Company would be brewing 1883 lager from the original recipe.
The following Rotarians turned in a makeup at Friday's meeting: Mark Clendenin (Canton South and Plain); Jerry Ortman (East Canton) and Tom Sinclair (North Canton).
Join us on 23 October for our third annual World Polio Day event. We’ll be streaming live from New York City, so tune in at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time to watch a global status update on the fight to end polio and take part in the conversation. Guests will include Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, celebrity ambassadors, polio survivors, and others.
Derek Gordon currently serves as the Director of Canton Parks since being appointed by the Canton Park Commission in May of 2013. He has been tasked with modernizing the department and is currently guiding the Park and Recreation Departments through a merger and levy campaign. Derek was responsible for leading the Parks through their first ever successful park levy in November of 2013 and has spearheaded the redevelopment of Mother Gooseland, the reconstruction of the Stadium Park Walking Track, and the creation of the Gervasi Station Trailhead along with a variety of other park upgrades and improvements. He has also helped facilitate partnerships around the community leading to the BikeSmart program, the Kayak Canton program, all while leading the Parks through their first master planning process since 1980.
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The upcoming McKinley/Massillon joint rally Rotary meeting will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015 at the Meyer's Lake Ballroom in the Ballroom. We would like you to consider now if you will be attending and if you are planning to bring a guest to this meeting. We will need to have a head count to provide for seating and food purposes.
Each October is the annual fund drive for the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund. As Rotarians, we all subscribe to “Service Above Self”. The annual Charitable Fund drive is a way we can all follow the Service Above Self motto. The annual drive is critical to having the funds to support our traditional local projects such as: Rotary Scouts, Philomatheon Society, Sister Rotary Club in Dominican Republic, Junior Achievement, Stark County Library, Exchange Students (inbound and outbound), Project Warm and many more. We recently have not been able to grant funds to all the worthy programs and charities that we would want to support..jpg)
At our weekly meeting on October 9, 2015, President Paul White asked if any Rotarian was planning on attending the joint McKinley/Massillon rally meeting on Friday, October 30, 2015, to please contact the Rotary office with your intent as well as any guest(s) you plan to bring. We need to have an accurate head count to provide for seating and food.
Join us on 23 October for our third annual World Polio Day event. We’ll be streaming live from New York City, so tune in at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time to watch a global status update on the fight to end polio and take part in the conversation. Guests will include Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, celebrity ambassadors, polio survivors, and others.