Pastor Michael Wallace has joyfully served as the associate pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio, for the last seven years.
Michael is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College, where he double majored and received a BA in Spanish and Music; Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity; Cleveland State University, where he received his MA in Spanish linguistics; and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, where he received his ThM in Old Testament.
Before coming to Canton, Michael served in music ministry for almost a decade in various worshipping communities around Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He has also sung with several different ensembles, including the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and the High Holy Day choir at Temple Israel (Canton).
Michael currently lives in Canton, Ohio with his wife of ten years, and their three beautiful children: Theophilus (8), Genevieve (6), and Nathaniel (3). Starting in July, the entire Wallace family have a semester abroad in Barranquilla, Colombia while Michael has a sabbatical from the church. During this semester, Michael will teach Systematic Theology at the Reformed University, Courtney will teach English, and their children will attend the Colegio Americano. They are looking forward to this new adventure and all improving their Spanish together.
For those of us who are joining our Friday meetings via Zoom, a new link has been created to use starting with this Friday's meeting. The old link will no longer be active so please save this new link for future reference. Thank you and we'll "see" you Friday!
As we hope you know, this Friday & Saturday is the District 6650 Annual Conference, and an opportunity to honor and thank our own Michelle Charles for sacrificing her time to serve as District Governor this past year.
Friday night is a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to have some fun, hear some great music, and hang out with fellow Rotarians from all over our district!
So stop by Centennial Plaza after 6:00 PM to celebrate Rotary and honor District Governor Michelle!
(PS: if you are available this Saturday, please consider volunteering to help at the District Conference at Embassy Suites in North Canton, on Freedom Avenue, off of Shuffel. Help is needed from 7 AM till around 4 PM. Contact VP Jennie George if you are able to help.)
Canton Rotarians, we invite you to join us at Centennial Plaza every Thursday between 5 and 7 PM for Happy Hour!
We've had a pretty good turn out the first two weeks, with some Canton Rotarians, plus some Plain Township Rotarians, including Bob & Cathy Schaffner, current Plain President Trey Wackerly and DGE Rich Tirpak!
You can stop in for a few minutes or for the whole time! (BTW, these are taking the place of our every-2nd & 4th-Wednesday Canton Rotary Evening Social Meetings for the summer.)
See the list below for performers. I can tell you that Vic & Gary the first week and Mary Jean Pusateri last week did a GREAT JOB, and performed some great rock, folk rock, and country rock from the 60's & 70's!
SO COME ON OVER TO CENTENNIAL PLAZA ON THURSDAY EVENINGS! BRING FAMILY, FRIENDS, ENEMIES, ROTARIANS FROM OTHER CLUBS, POTENTIAL NEW ROTARIANS........THERE'S ROOM FOR ALL!
On Saturday June 3rd, a cadre of Canton Rotarians braved the heat & blazing sun to help the Stark County Community Action Council provide family fun and assistance at their "Grab, Go & Grow Baby Shower" at the William Hunter Center on Mahoning Road in the Northeast end of Canton.
There were a whole bunch of expectant moms, plus other family members, and, especially, children that were entertained, engaged, educated, and provided with information, assistance, clothing, toys, prizes, and an opportunity to win valuable baby "equipment", from car seats to baby gates to baby "bath tubs" to diapers and everything in between.
Along with Canton Rotary Co-Chairs Sue Marzano, Emily Callan, and Kara Bond, Rotarians Bob Matthews, Tim Furbay, Larry Pitts, and Rick Taylor also helped out. Emily's daughter, Morgan, also volunteered. We helped with set up, registration, games, construction of bird feeders, tear down and just about anything that they needed help with! Here's some photos of the event, as well as some of our intrepid Rotarians in action!
Kara Bond & Paula Mastrioanni - Bird Feeder Building
On June 3rd, Immediate Past President Mark Clendenin, led our "Backpack the Bus" project to collect food and dollars for Stark Hunger Task Force's Backpack program to feed Canton City School children who may not get enough food to eat at home. Our efforts help them feed 500 kids per week during the summer, when they can not get meals and snacks at school.
Mark's project raised over $4,000 for the Hunger Task Force Backpack program, with $1,000 from the Rotary Club of Canton Charitable Fund, as well as $545 from individual Rotarians. A grant from District 6650 provided the rest, plus covered expenses, including the purchase of food for the program. Besides the dollars raised, 7 bags of groceries were donated, including some from Canton Mayor Tom Bernabei, and Canton Police Chief, John Gabbard.
On that Saturday afternoon, at Centennial Plaza, Mark was joined by his wife, Tracie, Rotarian Steve Fettman & wife, Jodi, District Governor Elect Rich Tirpak, Rotarian Rick Taylor, and Hunger Task Force Executive Director, Stephanie Sweany, to stuff 100 "backpacks" to be distributed to Canton City kids in need.
Rick Taylor and Steve & Jodi Fettman Load Backpacks with Food
Mayor Bernabei, Chief Gabbard, Tracie & Mark Clendenin, & Stephanie Sweany
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS/BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2023 -24! SPECIAL MEETING! On Friday June 30, 2023, we will have SPECIAL FRIDAY MEETING of the Rotary Club of Canton to install the incoming officers for 2023 -24, and recognize and thank the outgoing officers and board members. We will have a little bit of a special meal that day, with Mr. Mike's serving us 10 oz., Frenched Pork Chops, (and chicken for our kosher members).
WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE STEPPING UP TO POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY TO MOVE OUR ROTARY CLUB FORWARD!
CANTON ROTARY GOLF OUTING: We have decided to combine our golf outing with Plain Rotary's golf outing, in order to have enough golfers for a shotgun start. New date is August 23rd with a 9 AM shotgun start. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
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