The Lima Rotary Club is returning to Zoom-only meetings.
As you know, I have fought to keep us meeting in person. After numerous phone calls, emails, and the never-ending messages from the Governor’s office, we are going to switch to Zoom only meetings for the next few weeks. Luckily, we have all gotten better at our Zoom knowledge, so I expect that we will still have time for fun, fellowship and learning. And we will all be a little safer! Please accept my apologies for the back and forth – your leadership team is doing the best we can with the information we have. I still hope that we will be able to do our Christmas party in person, and we will communicate any information over the next few weeks.
Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions. See you all on Monday!
WLIO Sports Director Jayson Geiser moderated the annual girls high school basketball preview. Four local coaches joined us virtually.
Vince Halliday, Coach of the Lima Senior Spartan Girls spoke about the season starting Saturday and featuring a good group of experienced players and four seniors. COVID tracing has limited all players at practices, so Vince was looking forward to a full practice today – the first time in two weeks. He spoke about developing the younger class members, still figuring out where to place younger players in this new season and adjusting his style of play. Their scrimmage with Spencerville told him a lot about his team.
Greg Ekis is the Spencerville Bearcats Coach and starts the year with some very experienced players, despite losing some talent with last year’s graduating class. Greg recognizes some great ability, depth of talent and leadership among the younger players. Two sophomores will see considerable play this year. He spoke of their scrimmage schedule being tough and challenging and how many games are outside the NWC in the WBL. Greg sees a major key to staying healthy and be well prepared for each and every game. His seniors are focused on capturing top NWC honors at the end of the season.
Nate Stant is the Delphos St. Johns Blue Jays Coach and he is blessed with six returning seniors who came in when he did. He likes this fun group of athletes who not only lead well on the court, but also in the school, the church, and the community. Scrimmaging top teams like Lima Senior, Anna and Ottawa Glandorf have allowed them to learn much and be challenged in the preseason. They are in the MAC but playing a number of games with NWC opponents. Nate is hoping that since they can’t fill the gym on game nights that the community will join them and cheer them on virtually.
Perry Commodores Coach John Berens is starting his season with four returning seniors. Unfortunately, another senior is already out due to a preseason injury. He has 16 girls total in his program this year – twelve are freshman and sophomores. This is the largest team he has had come out for basketball, so he is planning to also play a full JV schedule. John spoke of the excitement among his team members and within the high school for these athletes and the season. He had the pleasure to watch two of his girls perform in Cross Country this fall.
The Bath High School Interact Club remains dedicated to Service Above Self.
The Bath HS Interact Club has been working hard to find service projects which can be conducted safely and within the COVID-19 guidelines. Over the past few weeks we have raked leaves in Bath Township for elderly and disabled residents, we painted music stands for the Bath HS Band, and we assisted the Bath Twp. Road Department by removing flags at the local cemeteries in preparation for winter.
In other news, we are holding a Hygiene Drive in conjunction with the West Ohio Food Bank, and we are volunteering to help out with the Upwards Youth Basketball program.
This has been an unusual year but we still have a lot of kids who want to volunteer in our community and who believe strongly in SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
Thank you to the Rotarians who helped to frame walls for a house for Habitat For Humanity Saturday: Paul Swartz, Anne & Paul Meiring, John & Teresa Ficorilli, Aimee Bucher & Beth Seibert.
The annual Special Needs Christmas Party has taken on a new look this year due to the pandemic. The location has moved to Marimor School because the church is not allowing such events this year while we are on Level 3. It will be more like a drive thru or walk through party. Children and a parent will get their temperatures taken. If they pass, they will be allowed in the school where they will meet Santa and receive their personalized gift. They will then walk down the hallway past stations where they will receive book(s), a craft bag, a goodie back and a fruit basket. Before they exit, they will receive a picture of them with Santa. And then they go home. No lunch will be served and no entertainment. The participants will be divided alphabetically into four time slots to ensure there aren’t too many present at any one time. In the alternative, a family can choose to have their gifts delivered to their home. They will receive everything except a picture with Santa.
We need volunteers of all kinds. We of course need people to “adopt” a child and buy a gift for the child. If the child wants home delivery, we need you to come to school and pick up the fruit basket, craft bag, and goodie bag, and book(s) and then delivery to the home. If the child wants to come to the school, we will need 5 – 10 Rotarians at the school along with some Interact students. In deference to football, we are doing this all in the morning so you can be home for the game.
Lockdowns, social distancing measures, and self-quarantines have become a familiar part of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as a second wave of the virus threatens countries around the world. These measures can keep us safer, but also create feelings of loneliness and anxiety. We asked experts for advice on coping with these pandemic-related stresses and asked Rotary clubs what they are doing to help in their communities. Read more
This week's stories
SHARE this Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a global movement that encourages charitable giving at the outset of the Christmas and holiday season. Rotary and Rotaract members can take action this Giving Tuesday, 1 December, by making a gift to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund SHARE, which makes sustainable projects possible both on a local and global level. Learn more
What would you do?
Take part in the Rotary magazine’s “What would you do?” series by sending your answers to an ethical dilemma Rotary clubs face. Select answers will appear in the February issue. The latest question: In a survey and through club discussion, members said they wanted more flexible options for serving their community. You put a lot of effort into securing speakers from local organizations, but few members have signed up to serve. How do you encourage a better response from members? Send your answers to Rotary magazine
Visit One Rotary Center -- virtually
Check out our new virtual tour of One Rotary Center, Rotary’s world headquarters, which we are offering in place of in-person tours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DEI and you
Learn more about Rotary’s Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statement, what DEI means, and how you can put it into practice in this 15-minute course in the Learning Center.
Take a short survey to help Rotary International staff to better understand your content preferences. Your feedback will help to develop news and stories that matter to you. Take the survey now.
Apply to serve on the NEW Interact Advisory Council
Youth voice is vital in creating innovative, strategic, and lasting change for Rotary International.
Thanks to the new Interact Advisory Council, recently approved by President-elect Shekhar Mehta, Interactors and recent Interact alumni have a chance to serve at the international level and advise the Board of Directors of Rotary International.
Apply by Sunday, 20 December 2020 at 11:59 PM UTC-5 (Chicago Time).
Join Rotary International President Holger Knaack for a presidential conference series focused on opening opportunities for both Rotaract and Rotary members.
Through each of the three conferences, hosted by Rotaract and Rotary members in Brazil, Nigeria, and the United States, attendees will create meaningful connections, inspire collaboration between clubs, and introduce the broader Rotary community to the amazing work of Rotaract.
Did you know that Rotary International has a foundation? Because of The Rotary Foundation’s generous donors, our members were able to complete more life-changing projects last year than ever before. You can make a difference by helping people in need — from supplying equipment that protects health workers against COVID-19 to training peacebuilders who’ll work toward a future with less conflict. This work is necessary now more than ever, but we need people like you who will take action and help make these projects possible. It all starts with giving a gift to The Rotary Foundation.
Rotaractors, use this opportunity to make progress towards the new Rotaract Giving Certificate. Earn this special certificate when at least five members of your club contribute a minimum total of $50 or more to The Rotary Foundation over the Rotary year.
Share this newsletter on Facebook. Subscribe to this newsletter. Young Leaders in Action is a monthly source of news, resources, and event information for young leaders in Rotaract, Interact, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program, and New Generations Service Exchange and Rotarians who support them. Send questions and story ideas to newgenerations@rotary.org.
