WEEKLY MEETING NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Posted by Rick Taylor on Aug 23, 2019
During the August 23, 2019 meeting, President Mark Rojek welcomed 52 members and 1 guest to the Club Assembly meeting. President Mark began the meeting by explaining the playing card each person received when they entered the building, saying, "I know many of you are wondering, 'Why am I stuck at this table'? I appreciate your cooperation in sitting in assigned seats. Later in this meeting, as part of our Club Assembly, we will be thinking about the future of our Club and the directions we want to travel. So there is a method to this madness....if you would please just indulge me for this meeting." 
 
Rotarian Lynn Hamilton provided the Invocation.
 
The greeters for the meeting were:  Dave Schrade, Sam Shaheen and Jennie George.
 
President Elect Drew Pelger and PP John Werren volunteered at the Attendance table.
 
 
Congratulations to Rotarian Nick Perini for having the winning 50/50 ticket worth $49.00! *Nick graciously donated the money back to the Club. Thank you, Nick!
 
 
Vice President Mark Clendenin filled in for traveling Club Secretary Julia Dick. Mark introduced the following guest: Karen Hrdlicka (Akron Rotarian).
 
The "Happy News" was provided by the following:
  • Jennie George - Happy her daughter was starting her freshman year at the University of Toledo;
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  • PDG/PP Dave Ewing - happy to have a visiting Rotarian from Akron at the meeting. Back in 1915, Akron was the inspiration that helped "kick off" the Rotary Club of Canton; (Editor's note: PPG Dave was NOT alive to at that time, though some may wonder!) 
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  • Terri Barry - very happy to announce her son passed all parts of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) certification;
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  • Karen Hrdlicka - Akron Rotarian - happy to promote the September 12th "Put Hunger in Park" food truck event at Hoover Park;
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  • President Mark Rojek - happy the move into his new office space was successful. His office was having an open house that evening in celebration.
 
President Mark then addressed the following items for the Club Assembly:
 
  • Dues announcement - if you have not yet paid your dues, please do so. You may call the Rotary office and provide your credit card information or send a check made payable to the Rotary Club of Canton at: 116 Cleveland Ave., Suite 307, Canton, OH 44702.
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  • Oktoberfest - our biggest fundraiser is approaching and we need everyone's help. Please consider a sponsorship or volunteering for this event.
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  • RubberDuck Fellowship game - a video was shown with President Mark throwing out the "First Pitch"
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  • Centennial Plaza Groundbreaking - taking place next Tuesday, August 27th at 3:30 pm in the "green space" aka Market Square aka Kresge Square....featuring Mayor Tom Bernabei, State Senator Kirk Schuring, David Baker from the HOF, as well as a number of other dignitaries from around our area and the country, kicking off the new Centennial Plaza. This is a once-in-a-lifetime investment in the City of Canton. The impetus for this venture was a $100k contribution from the Rotary Club of Canton Endowment Fund, that led to the original conceptual design of the area.  All Canton Rotarians are invited to attend to be part of this celebration of which our Club has played a significant role. *Please follow this LINK to view the invitation flyer
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  • Calendar of Events - President Mark noted the number of civic activities that are ingrained in our Club. Some are already completed. Many are well-established. Some are ad hoc. There is a part of the year (February thru April) where there are opportunities to do more events...if a project makes sense and can raise money for a good cause.  *Please follow this LINK to view the 2019-2020 Calendar of Events
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  • Character Counts Scholarship Overview - in concert with the YMCA of Central Stark County. In collaboration with Tim Shetzer CEO of the YMCA, and under the direction of Rotarian Mike Brown (also with the YMCA), Canton Rotary will contribute $2,500 this year and the YMCA, in coordination with the Mayfield Endowment, will contribute $3,500 this year, for a total of $6,000 in scholarship monies. Twelve (12) Character Counts Champions (two each month from October through April) will be honored at a Rotary meeting and will receive a $500 grant for post-high-school pursuits (college, trade school, apprenticeships, armed services, etc). These students will be selected in coordination with counselors and advisors at McKinley High School. As part of this enhanced program, we would like to pair up a Rotarian for each student honored with these scholarships. The Rotarian would meet the student at the meeting in which they are honored. Then he or she would serve as a key contact for the student in coordinating the scholarship. In addition, the Rotarian would potentially engage with the student as a mentor or advisor, perhaps taking him or her to an event and/or just being a friend and advisor. President Mark will be recruiting volunteer Character Count liaisons over the next few weeks.
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  • Priority for President Mark's Year: Member Recruitment and Member Engagement
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  • Change Exercise - President Mark did an exercise to show everyone how difficult making changes can be, asking everyone to please participate. He asked anyone wearing a belt to please stand. He then asked,  "How long did it take you to put on your belt this morning?" After many estimated times were offered, President Mark asked all those with a belt to take their belts off and then be seated. This process was quickly done by the members. President Mark then asked everyone to stand once again, but this time asked them to put their belts on from the opposite direction. The point of this exercise was that change, no matter how small, can be difficult. It takes a conscious effort and energy to bring about positive change. The status quo is easy. Our goal as Rotarians is to bring about positive change...and it can be fun. At this point President Mark did not want to exclude those members out who did not wear a belt, so he asked those remaining members to please stand up and cross their arms. He then asked them to cross their arms in the opposite direction. About 1/3 did it and held it reluctantly. Another 1/3 couldn't quite figure it out (future board members, I guess?)
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  • Survey - President Mark then turned everyone's attention to the survey portion of the assembly. He told us that his wife often tells him that he has an opinion on most things, even when his opinion is not solicited. He stated, "Here is a chance for all of you to give your opinion on our Club and it IS solicited. In front of you is a survey. We have done these before and sometimes it may seem that your comments are ignored. I will commit to you that your comments and suggestions will be read and that I will summarize the "findings" for you at a Club meeting in the near future. This could become a source of positive change for our Club".  *For those of you who were not in attendance and would like to provide your opinion via the survey, please follow this LINK . You can forward your survey to mark.rojek@raymondjames.com or to the Rotary office at info@cantonrotary.org.
President Mark concluded the meeting with the following announcements:
 
  • NO MEETING next week, Friday August 30th, due to the Labor Day weekend;
  • The Rotary office will be closed from Friday, Aug. 30th - Monday, Sept. 2nd. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 3rd.
  • Our next meeting on September 6th will feature keynote speaker U.S. Congressman Bob Gibbs, who will be updating us on events in Washington that impact our community;
  • SAVE THE DATE: Oktoberfest will take place on September 19th. Please submit your sponsorship commitment, if you can, to the office or Committee Chair Raquel Raderchak.
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The following Executive Board members will receive a makeup for attending the Board meeting on Tuesday, August 20, 2019: President Mark Rojek, Vice President Mark Clendenin, Treasurer Tom Clevenger, and Secretary Julia Dick.
 
The following Rotarians will receive a makeup for attending the Oktoberfest committee meeting on Wednesday, August 21, 2019: Raquel Raderchak, President Mark Rojek, PP Paul White, Kim Kroh, Alex Dowell, Dave Beule and Sergeant-at-Arms Bob Matthews.
 
The following Rotarians turned in a makeup either during Friday's meeting or via email: Phil Lattavo (Canton South), Jim Thomas (Jackson).