Background of the Stark County Sheriff’s Office – Dog Warden Division
Historically, the Stark County Sheriff’s Office – Dog Warden Division was set up to hold stray dogs for only 72 hours. Stray dogs were regularly euthanized if not claimed by their owner. However, over the past few years, the pound has changed for the better. These precious animals are now being held until they are adopted or pulled by rescue groups. The facility has a great group of staff, volunteers and followers networking these dogs. The Dog Warden Division is now considered a no-kill shelter as a result of all of the hard work.
Who we are
Friends of Stark Pound is a group of volunteers raising money towards the health and well-being of the dogs at the shelter. We allot a monthly stipend to the Medical Staff of the pound to use towards medicine and supplies not covered by the state. In doing so, this allows our vet team to provide procedures normally not offered at a shelter.
Below are some photos of Peter. Peter came in with cysts on his head and entropion, but our amazing vet staff was able to remove the cysts and repair his eyelid. Peter is now in a forever home.
In addition to supplies and medicines, Friends of Stark Pound also donates $500 towards vet bills for treatment of heartworm for any dogs that need it, once adopted. Friends of Stark Pound will also cover the spay/neuter fee for owner-redeemed strays, to help curb overpopulation.
We do more than just the medical cases
Friends of Stark Pound also provides shelter items as needed, such as soft foods, pill pockets, leashes, collars and more. Recently, we installed carports over the outside runs, which allows the dogs much needed outside time, even during inclement weather. We’ve also installed a run for small dogs, which allows the large and small dogs to remain separated. This helped to eliminate unneeded stress for the animals. Many dogs enter the pound with fleas and skin conditions. One of our latest purchases was a large groomer’s bathtub, helping the dogs get a jumpstart on a healthier life. Our goal is to have a positive effect on the health and well-being of our shelter dogs.
Peter, before surgery, cysts on his head and painful entropion Peter after surgery and no longer in pain
The Rotary office received a 'Thank You' letter from Majors Tom and Debbie Grace, Corps Officers with The Canton Salvation Army. They write:
"Friends ~ On behalf of The Salvation Army of Canton Ohio, I would like to thank the Canton Rotary Club for being a significant part of our Christmas Outreach. Due to your help we were able to provide Christmas to over 700 families as well as continue with our social services throughout 2020.
We are grateful for your willingness to stand shoulder to shoulder with us as we combat hunger and poverty in our community. It is an honor to have you as partners.
The Canton Rotary Club raised $420.00 for The Salvation Army this season."
Well, true to his word, President Elect Drew Pelger is ready to take the plunge...a "polar bear plunge", that is! Per your suggestions, PE Drew accepted the 'plunge' as his 'personal challenge' to encourage support for this year's Charitable Fund drive!
Since you Canton Rotarians generously supported his Charitable Fund drive, PE Drew has registered for the 17th Annual Polar Bear Jump, to be held at noon on February 29, 2020. Location is the Portage Lakes State Park Swim Beach at 5031 Manchester Rd., Akron, Ohio 44319.
PE Drew encourages all Canton Rotarians to come watch him 'jump in the lake', and freeze his, ahem, TOES off!
Be sure to save the early afternoon of Saturday March 7th for the Annual ROTARY CHALLENGE at the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon!
Shawn Dougherty is putting together one or two teams to raise money for JA and have FUN, ADULT BEVERAGES, PIZZA, AND GENERAL HILARITY. A number of Canton Rotarians have expressed interest in participating, and THE MORE, THE MERRIER! We hope to be competing against several other local Rotary Clubs, who, of course, want to beat the FINEST ROTARY CLUB IN THE WORLD! Please contact Shawn if you'd like to join the fun!
The Rotary Club of Canton has a long history of supporting Junior Achievement in our area, with both financial support as well as volunteer support of our members. Since Rotary's goals include supporting our young people as well as sharing our vocations and skills, it is a good fit for our club.
JA of North Central Ohio is seeking volunteers to present their JA Career Success curriculum to freshmen at McKinley High School over a seven week period starting February 18th.
JA Career Success teaches young people some of the 'soft skills' and personal skills needed to get and keep a job, particularly the Four C's: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity. Here's is a link to a description of this program:
Basically, one volunteer is needed in the morning and one in the afternoon on each of those dates to each teach 3 classes in succession. One 'session' of the curriculum will be taught each week.
I AM HOPING TO GET A 'TEAM' OF ROTARY VOLUNTEERS, who could possibly each take one or two of the sessions, rather than all seven dates, thus spreading the load, so to speak. Of course, if you're willing and able to cover the whole 7 week schedule, that would be great. You are also welcome to recruit your friends and co-workers to get involved.
JA's curriculum is designed to engage and educate young people, with group and individual activities and challenges. Volunteer training is also available.
If you have any interest, please contact me soon at rickt@kozmosgrille.com or 330-575-2870, or Brittney Wells at JA of North Central Ohio at brittney.wells@ja.org or 330-433-0063, ext 1.
At the January 24, 2020 meeting, President Mark Rojek welcomed the 50 members and 13 guests to the meeting. President Mark asked everyone to continue to keep Past President Dan Fuline in their thoughts and prayers as PP Dan continues to undergo medical treatment.
The Invocation was provided by Rotarian Jennie George.
Thank you to the Greeters for the meeting: Jeff Stem, Bill Maddox and Shawn Dougherty. Also, thank you to Rotarian Terry Barry who filled in at the Attendance Table for Rotarian Bill Liber.
Past President Craig Young held the winning 50/50 ticket worth $27.00.
Club Secretary Julia Dick welcomed the following guests to the meeting: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose; Graham Garner (guest of speaker); Alex Pavloff, Ben Kindel and Brandyn Neal (guests of VP Mark Clendenin); Rachel Cowley, Sherri McKinney-Frantz and Dallas Godfrey (guests of President Mark Rojek); Brook Harless (Plain Twp Rotarian/guest of Jim Thomas); Homer Richards (guest of PP Craig Young); Chylece Head (guest of Secretary Julia Dick); Richard Regula (Massillon); Jerry Snay (Stark State Organizational member, for Marissa Rohn).
The Rotary Club of Canton's Endowment Fund committee has selected five non-profit organizations to be recipients of the Endowment Fund's annual disbursement for the 2019-2020 year. President Mark was pleased to introduce the second of five disbursement recipients at the meeting, Sherri McKinney-Frantz, representing the non-profit organization "Friends of the Children's Network of Stark County, Inc". She was presented with a check in the amount of $750.00. This non-profit 501(c)(3), founded in 2004, has a mission to increase community awareness of the Children’s Network, and to raise funds in support of the Network. The Children’s Network of Stark County Child Advocacy Center (The Network), which was founded in 1987, is a community partnership of caring professionals working together in one location. The Network offers comprehensive, coordinated, investigative and professional services. Treatment and aftercare services are also available to children and their non-offending family members.
Vice President Mark Clendenin introduced and welcomed the speaker for the meeting, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. His topic was "The First Year in Office and the 2020 Elections".
President Mark concluded the meeting with the following announcements:
next week's speaker will be Melissa Loomis from "Friends of Stark Dog Pound"
please consider supporting President Elect Drew Pelger and his daughter, Brynn, as they take the "Polar Bear Plunge" on February 29, 2020 at noon. The location for this event will be the Portage Lakes State Park Swim Beach located at 5031 Manchester Rd., Akron. (*See story above for additional details)
If you have not yet done so, it is not too late to support President Elect Drew's Charitable Fund Drive!
The following will receive a makeup for attending the Tuesday, January 21, 2020 Board meeting: President Mark Rojek, President Elect Drew Pelger, Vice President Mark Clendenin, Secretary Julia Dick, Treasurer Tom Clevenger. Board of Directors were: Bill Liber, Jeff Scott, Steve Fettman, Justin Candea, Paula Mastroianni, Raquel Raderchak.
Mark Daniel Maloney President 2019-20 February 2020
Happy 115th birthday, fellow Rotarians and members of the family of Rotary!
Much has changed in the world since 1905. Then, the global population was roughly 1.7 billion. Today, it is 7.7 billion. There were 5 telephones per 100 people in the United States 115 years ago. In 2020, it is estimated that 96 percent of the U.S. population has a cellphone — and both China and India have more than a billion cellphones in use.
In the 115 years since Rotary was founded, seemingly everything has changed except Rotary values. We began, and remain, committed to fellowship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership. While our Service Above Self motto dates to 1911, the ethos behind those words had already been ingrained by Rotary's founders.
As the pace of change worldwide continues to accelerate, the need for Rotary service is greater than ever. It's one thing to read about service projects, quite another to see them in action and to see the grateful faces of people who have benefited from them. Rotary projects change lives and connect the world. And over the past year, I have seen some amazing Rotary projects in action.
Gay and I visited Japan's Fukushima prefecture last year. Few places in the world have had to deal with the kind of devastation that visited Fukushima in March 2011, when a tsunami touched off by an earthquake led to disaster at a nuclear power plant. But the story of Fukushima today is not one of destruction; it is one of hope and renewal. Rotary grants have helped improve access to medical and mental health care for victims of the disaster and reduced the isolation of these communities by sharing the experiences of people from other parts of the world who have also recovered from disasters. Our grants have also helped to foster self-motivation and encourage sustainable long-term community recovery across the region.
In Shanghai, I learned about the Careers in Care program. This helps migrant workers fill the need for skilled professionals in elder care facilities. After taking a course, trainees receive certification to boost their employment prospects, while the care industry benefits from an expanded talent pool. Rotary projects like this are successful because they address a local need, and they have the potential to attract local government funding to sustain their impact.
And in Guatemala, Gay and I went to Sumpango. Global grants there provide mechanical cows to produce soy milk; an improved water distribution system; water filters; clean compost latrines; family gardens; support for income generation; and training in WASH and literacy programs. The food items sold there not only provide nutrition to women and children, but also create a source of income for local women.
In every area of focus, and in every part of the world, Rotary projects are improving lives and helping communities adapt in a time of rapid change. As we celebrate another great year for Rotary, let us rededicate ourselves to strengthening the connections that make our service so impactful. We will make lives better as Rotary Connects the World.
January 31, 2020
.gif)
The Rotary office received a 'Thank You' letter from Majors Tom and Debbie Grace, Corps Officers with The Canton Salvation Army. They write:
Well, true to his word, President Elect Drew Pelger is ready to take the plunge...a "polar bear plunge", that is! Per your suggestions, PE Drew accepted the 'plunge' as his 'personal challenge' to encourage support for this year's Charitable Fund drive!.jpg)
.jpg)
Be sure to save the early afternoon of Saturday March 7th for the Annual ROTARY CHALLENGE at the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon!.jpg)
At the January 24, 2020 meeting, President Mark Rojek welcomed the 50 members and 13 guests to the meeting. President Mark asked everyone to continue to keep Past President Dan Fuline in their thoughts and prayers as PP Dan continues to undergo medical treatment.
The Rotary Club of Canton's Endowment Fund committee has selected five non-profit organizations to be recipients of the Endowment Fund's annual disbursement for the 2019-2020 year. President Mark was pleased to introduce the second of five disbursement recipients at the meeting, Sherri McKinney-Frantz, representing the non-profit organization "Friends of the Children's Network of Stark County, Inc". She was presented with a check in the amount of $750.00. This non-profit 501(c)(3), founded in 2004, has a mission to increase community awareness of the Children’s Network, and to raise funds in support of the Network. The Children’s Network of Stark County Child Advocacy Center (The Network), which was founded in 1987, is a community partnership of caring professionals working together in one location. The Network offers comprehensive, coordinated, investigative and professional services. Treatment and aftercare services are also available to children and their non-offending family members. 
.jpg)
Mark Daniel Maloney
