Ground was broken Thursday morning for the Rotary Field of Dreams at UNOH...a completely accessible ball field that will allow those with disabilities to enjoy playing baseball. The Rotary Club of Lima is proud to support this field with a $100,000 contribution in honor of our 100th anniversary! Construction should be completed this summer so the field will be ready for play this fall. Donations are still needed. If you'd like to contribute, contact Tracie Sanchez.
We had a record turnout for our Spring Blood Clinic!
A record 675 people turned out for the Lima Rotary Club's Spring Blood Clinic Saturday. Lima Memorial Health System performed tests for thyroid, prostate cancer, diabetes, general health and more! Thanks to everyone who participated!
Bath Interact helped stage a mock crash to encourage students to drive safely.
Hi, my name is Alexis Ball and I am a class representative for the Bath Interact. I would like to update you on our final projects for this school year.
We just recently had our mock crash. Interact members dressed up as wounded teenagers and family members to stage a crash. This crash is to teach fellow high school students about good decisions regarding driving in the weeks leading up to prom. The mock crash was put on with the help of the Bath Fire Department and the Bath Police Department. The mock crash featured a student being life flighted away, another being taken away in ambulance, one being taken away in a hearse and a student being arrested. Students learned about the catastrophic impacts crashes and their choices can have on the students and families. Also recently we had a Good Decisions Assembly to further promote our Juniors and Seniors to make good decisions at prom. The assembly featured our school resource officer Damian Tibbs and Chief Joe Kitchen speaking about good choices. We also had our Interact advisor Ms. Beining and another student singing “Fight Song”. Ms. Beining also told a story of a friend of hers who was killed. We also recently elected our officers again. In closing we wanted to say that Bath Interact is very happy with all we have accomplished this year, and we cannot wait to see what impact we will have on our school and community next year.
Here are the highlights from the May 10 board meeting...
Call to Order
President David Runk called the meeting to order with the following members present: Jill Ackerman, Esther Baldridge, Harold Bischoff, Paul Crow, Anne Decker, Peg Ehora, David Frost, Tracie Sanchez and incoming Board Members Susan Hubbell and Jeff Tracy. Also present was Secretary Rita Brown.
Attendance Report
Rita Brown shared the Attendance Report for April. Membership increased in April to 182 with the addition of four new members and one resignation. The Club held four meetings with 43.30% attendance by club members.
Past-Presidents’ Lunch
The Past Presidents’ Luncheon will be held on Thursday June 2nd this year.
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard will be held June 27th, the last Monday of June. Since 2009 - 2010, the Club has acknowledged individual club members for Club, Community, International and Vocational Service and in 2014, those awards were renamed for past presidents who represented those avenues of service in our daily lives. Those now include the Rex Perry Club Service Award, the Rudolph Community Award, the Goodnight International Service Award and the Wemmer Vocational Service Award. This year, it is appropriate that the club add a Youth Service category and accordingly, the Board discussed selecting a past member to honor by naming the youth service award after that person. Rita Brown suggested naming the award for former Lima Rotarian Peter Hulsken. Hulsken was named an honorary charter member and served as Santa for the Children’s Christmas Party for 25 years. Hulsken also set up a trust in his estate that the Rotary Foundation currently manages – The Hulsken Fund. It pays a major portion of the Children’s Christmas Party each December. Esther Baldridge made a motion to name the new service award the Hulsken Youth Services Award and Frost seconded the motion. Board approved. President David Runk will be asking club members to nominate fellow club members for the 2015 - 2016 awards over the next couple of weeks. The Board will discuss and select winners in each category at next month’s Board Meeting.
President’s Report
The District Assembly will be held this Saturday at the University of Findlay. Several members of the Board are planning to attend.
Runk indicated the Water Testing kits have been delivered. Jay Begg is managing the effort and has the kits. The tests will be done in five assigned areas within the Ottawa River Watershed. The results will be submitted to BGSU for testing.
Interact / Rotaract - Runk announced 18 students at UNOH have signed up to participate in the proposed Rotaract club. Club member Lisa Hummel is pushing to complete
the development plan. The club could certify a new Rotaract Club before July 1st.
President-Elect Report
David Frost announced that Paul Swartz has been nominated to become the Club’s Vice President for the 2016 – 2017 fiscal year and has accepted the position. Esther Baldridge made a motion to approve the nomination. Tracie Sanchez seconded the motion. Board approved.
Frost presented the 2016 - 2017 Table of Organization found in Club Runner. Committee Chairs and co-chairs have been named for every committee. .
Frost also discussed the STRIVE program and indicated there is a great deal of information on the web. The STRIVE program is currently active in the District. It is a children’s mentoring program. A plan is currently being developed to have the Lima City Schools be the test pilot for students at the high school level.
Education – Catheryn Sarno is chairing the committee. During Frost’s year in office, programs will include Educational Minutes focusing on various topics regarding Rotary.
Anne Decker suggested the Social Media Committee be renamed the Public Relations Committee. Heather Rutz and members involved with the media will be asked to join the committee. The goal is to alert media and have more media coverage at Rotary events.
The 2016 - 2017 Budget – Kevin Bill, Sanchez and Frost met to establish a budget. Currently it is a work in process but the committee has outlined it at this time. It will be presented at next month’s board meeting.
Vice President Report (Service Projects)
Tracie Sanchez presented the Vice President’s Report
Local Projects
Blood Clinic - Saturday’s event had receipts of $40,426.00 and was a record for the Blood Clinic. Lima Memorial Hospital reports 675 patients attended. Once all bills are paid, Sanchez will report the profit so payment can be made to the Foundation.
Abilities Baseball Field – The ground breaking event will be Thursday May 12th at 11 AM at the UNOH Field Site. All Rotarians are invited. Dr. Jarvis and Esther Baldridge will each speak. Media coverage has been arranged by UNOH.
Memorial Day Parade – the float has been arranged and will include seating for any Rotarian who would prefer to sit. Bags will be stuffed with Rotary pencils and candy donated by Carl Berger and Dave Cockerell. Tee shirts will be ordered. Rotary Club Member and Veteran Amy Rode will ride on the Grand Marshall’s float and will be participating in the wreath laying at the VFW.
Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing – Matt Otto reports that sponsorships are going well. He is encouraging everyone to get their teams together and to submit them for planning. Members will be asked to encourage other businesses and friends to put teams together and to attend. The Board discussed various options for media coverage including putting it on the Community Calendar of the Lima TV station, advertising it on RTA buses and putting it in the bus shelters, asking members to include it in their business publicity, and placing it on the District website.
Lima Locos – Rotary Day at the Park will be June 18th. Anheuser Busch will also be a sponsor that night. We will have a banner on the outfield fence that will be up for 3 years. We will receive 50 tickets and can buy extra for $2 each. More details will follow. Runk indicated speaking with Rotary Foundation President Scott Shafer and they mutually agreed that the cost will be covered from the Club’s Operating fund as it is promoting the club vs. Foundation.
Social Sub-Committee. Peg Ehora has assigned the following committee members to organize the events.
Monthly meeting at the Met – Annette Swisher, Catheryn Sarno and Maria Sanko
Westgate Family Day – Tim Sielshott, Drew Fields and John Ficorilli
Rally in the square – Jim Osmon and Andy Wannemacher. Cost of the event will be paid by the Lima Rotary Club.
Mystery Monday’s - Kelli Delong, Amy Rode and Carol Buettner
Parades – Peggy Ehora and Tracie Sanchez.
International Service Update
Harold Bischoff presented the following report for International Service.
Costa Rica Medical Mission club program is scheduled for August. The President of the Celina Rotary Club, Melissa Smalley, is arranging the program and will be coming to our meeting. Dr. Pikja will be invited to speak also.
MESA Bike Ride - Catherlyn Sarno spoke at Rotary about the event. On the day of the event after the club program, a check in the amount of $1000 - $1500 for MESA Operating Expenses will be presented to them. The source of this money will come from Club Members. In addition a check for $5,000 from the Lima Rotary Foundation will be presented for the MESA Warehouse
Honduras Water Project - Bob Ruehl is very near to submitting the international grant application as the money is all in place. One more fund raising project will be done to raise the final $7500. Frost advised the board that the club will have a new member, Dr Ramesh Vedula, an oncologist with Memorial hospital has just relocated to Lima and has requested an opportunity to join the Lima Rotary Club. Dr. Vedula has never been a Rotarian but indicated he wants to get involved in the International Program.
New Business
Application – The following application was received.
Jacque Daley Perrin
Jacque is joining St. Rita’s Hospital. Bischoff made a motion to approve the application. Crow seconded the motion. Board approved.
Resignations were received for the following.
Dave Anderson
Jim Fenton
Greg Winegardner
Bill Power
Ackerman made a motion to accept the resignations with regret. Decker seconded the motion. Board approved.
Baldridge made a motion to adjourn and Ehora seconded the motion. Board approved.
The West Ohio Food Bank provided more than 2.5 million meals to families in our 11 county area in 2015.
Mary Lane was our fellowship of the day, and she shared Mother's Day observations with the club. Carol Buettner was our Member Spotlight, and she shared her story of being raised on a farm in Landeck - attending Bluffton College, and over 20 years in the banking industry. She now works at Superior Credit Union...
Our recent Blood Clinic looks to be a record breaker - details will be coming soon.
Jay Begg is heading up a new local project - providing water testing for area waterways monitoring the blue green toxic algae. More info to follow...
In honor of our Foundation's centennial year - we are selling private labeled wine. Pick up a bottle at the next meeting.
Our speaker was Linda Hamilton, director of the West Ohio Food Bank. A major regional hub for food distribution in an 11 county area - the Food Bank serves over 72 local agencies in helping feed the poor and disabled. There are just 12 food banks in Ohio - and only 200 nationwide. Through buying power, pickup of food close to expiration date and the economy of scale - the food bank turns each dollar donated into over 8 meals for the hungry - an amazing display of money well spent...
We heard an emotional plea from the recipient of a liver transplant for all of us to consider becoming organ donors.
Today was a very busy day.The meeting started with the Sgt. at Arms report where Bob Ruehl gave intros to the many guests in attendance and then urged everyone about supporting the Rotary Blood Clinic on Saturday. In all seriousness it is a great value and it is the second biggest source of revenue for the club. Andy Farley gave all in attendance a background of his career.
Next, Dave Frost reminded all that we needed to fill out the Membership involvement sheets that were left on the table and then made happy dollars available for all who wanted to share exciting events that were going on in their world. Next, our Rotary MESA bike tour team gave us some insights on the June 11th through 16th 328 mile upcoming tour. We certainly wish Becky and her team the best of luck. Following Becky was Jesse Lowe with a report on the Rotary sponsored Drum Line. Jesse shared some emotional stories of challenges that some of the drum line participants are faced with and how the Rotary's sponsorship of this worthy program has helped some of these young people deal with them. It was also interesting to find out that the drum line only accepts students that have a B or better GPA.
And then we moved on to our main speaker - Don Melillo. He shared his very interesting story of how he received an organ transplant to save his life. He told us how he celebrates 2 birthdays - his natural birthday and his second birthday when he was dying and received an organ transplant. Don is a great promoter of the Donate Life Ohio organization. Donate Life encourages us all to please become an organ donor. We do not realize how many people that are near end of life that could be saved if we all donated our organs when we pass. We can easily register to become a donor at www.donatelifeohio.org. I know that is the next thing I am going to do when I finish this.
Walk with the Lima Rotary Club in the Memorial Day Parade!
The Rotary Club will have a Memorial Day Parade float. Please join fellow Rotarians along with family members walk in the parade on Monday, May 30th. We will meet in the Northland parking lot, look for the float at 9:00-9:30 a.m. The parade starts at 10:00. If you can not walk but want to ride on the float please contact Tracie Sanchez 419-296-1338 or tsanchez@limapallet.com or Peggy Ehora peggy.a.ehora@dom.com. We will be handing out candy and Rotary pencils to the spectators. Our own Amy Rode, a woman veteran, will be riding on the Grand Marshall float and will also be part of a wreath laying event for fallen soldiers at the VFW Hall following the parade. Please join us to walk in the parade and for the wreath event!
Rotary will be sponsoring a “Lima Locos- Rotary Day at the Park” on June 18th at 7:30pm. This will be a fun day for Rotarians and family members to watch and support our local baseball team. We are sharing this day with Anheuser Busch so we promise it to be a fun event! Tickets are available. Please contact Tracie Sanchez, David Frost or David Runk for more information.
Lima Rotary is sponsoring Rally in the Square July 15!
The Rotary will be working the Rally in the Square on July 15th with the band Electric Circus. We will be serving the beer, collecting the money and issuing wrist bands. Please join us for a fun evening of community service and fellowship! Contact Andy Wannemacher, Tim Sielschott, Peggy Ehora or Tracie Sanchez for information to volunteer!
The next social evening is on June 28th at the Met on Main Street from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. This counts as a makeup meeting. Please feel free to bring a spouse, friend or guest to this fellowship and networking hour. Cash bar and snacks!
You can promote your business, cause, or hobby with promotional items, flyers, signs, etc. It costs $40.00 for the appetizers to have fun and fellowship! Contact Annette Swisher, Maria Sanko or Catheryn Sarno. Next social meeting will be June 28th from 5-6 p.m. sponsored by Dave Frost of Fidelity Builders Supply Inc.
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