League of Women Voters has a long history of fighting for voting rights.
Since the nation’s founding, voting has been a right that’s evolved and broadened, said Candy Newland, president of the Lima area League of Women’s Voters.
Newland, speaking Monday to Lima Rotary Club, said there have been six amendments to the Constitution concerning voting, from establishing the Electoral College to providing women and blacks the right to vote.
The league formed in 1920, as two separate suffrage organizations merged, the same year as women won the right to vote. Since then, the organization’s focus is educating voters. Locally today, the group does that in multiple ways: voter guides printed before each election, an online version of the printed guide, Vote 411, an elected officials directory, and issues forums, Newland said.
The group also advocates for voters’ rights. For example, the league was involved with a recent successful attempt to revamp the process of creating voting districts, lessening gerrymandering by a party in power.
In other Rotary business Monday:
Russ Thomas exchanged his red badge for a blue one.
The Lima Rotary Foundation presented three checks, for $2,000 to Allen County DARE, $2,000 to Soldiers of Honor Boxing Gym, and $3,865 for three community programs put on by Lima Symphony Orchestra.
Allen County Fairgrounds General Manager Bob Fricke has the typical fair love story.
“I met my wife through the fair,” Fricke said. “I was an Elida guy raising hogs, and she was an Allen East girl raising rabbits.”
It’s certainly not the first, nor last, time love bloomed between 4-H kids at the Junior Fair. But since then, Fricke has also maintained a love affair with the fair itself, and told Lima Rotary Club on Monday he loves when fair time comes around.
The 168th annual fair will include all the traditional events, Fricke said, and entertainment headliner Darci Lynne, “America’s Got Talent” winner. The event also includes some new events, including a stunt motorcycle show, and a BMX bicycle stunt show. And some old rides, including the Gravitron, will get a makeover.
Several days of the fair will also feature the DreamShip Hot Air Balloon, designed by children of United States’ military heroes, presented by the Rite Aid Foundation and KidCents, in partnership with Folds of Honor. People will be able to take tethered rides in the hot air balloon, and proceeds benefit families of fallen or disabled service members.
“We have a special story to share,” Fricke said. “The fair connects people, and there’s something for everyone.”
Movies in the Park presents Black Panther August 25.
We had a great turnout for the summer's first Movie in the Park, Wonder. And now the Lima Rotary Club is pleased to present Black Panther, Saturday, August 25 at dusk at the Rotary Pavilion in Faurot Park. Please bring your family and join us, and be sure to thank our wonderful sponsors who make Movies in the Park possible.
The first roundtable program is scheduled for September 10 with past presidents of the Lima Rotary Club.
On Monday, September 10, we will have our first Education & Program Committee roundtable panel discussion. We will kick off our roundtables with a panel discussion by past Rotary presidents. They will discuss their experiences as past Lima Rotary presidents. It will certainly be interesting.
The second roundtable on October 1 will be a gathering of police chiefs in our area. This will be an arresting () panel discussion on the issues and programs. Please send your questions to Chuck Wolfe before September 15.
Our third roundtable on Monday, October 29, will feature area religious leaders discussing their faith and pressing community issues that exist. Lima has a diverse religious community and you have an opportunity to hear and meet them. This promises to be uplifting program. Submit your questions by October 15.
Have you heard about the Cross Egypt Challenge? What an amazing way to experience Egypt with fellow Rotarians!
We are also happy to renew our invitation to you and the members of your prestigious and respectful club to learn more about, and share our Rotary organized initiative, "Cross Egypt Challenge" that aims to promote tourism to Egypt and to prove that Egypt is still safe for tourism. May we, and you be the inspiration to more prosperous Rotary projects that help our communities around the world.
The world as we knew it is rapidly changing, and Egypt has been suffering from bad media and is being looked at recently as a dangerous place to visit. However, the reality of things is: Egypt remains a very safe country to visit.
This affects Egypt largely, a country depends highly on tourism as a main source of income. We as Rotarians from this side of the globe feel it is our duty to let our fellows worldwide know that Egypt is still a marvelous and safe place to travel to, and to enjoy some of the best sights in the world. We send a strict and honest assurance message to our fellows everywhere that the situation in Egypt is very safe and we invite you to experience this first hand by taking part in our initiative: Cross Egypt Challenge which was also featured in the January 2017 issue of the international "Rotarian Magazine" - please click here to read the Rotarian article-
Cross Egypt Challenge is an international cross-country motorcycle and scooter adventure tour conducted throughout the majestic and fascinating Egypt. Participation is not only open to Rotarians but also open to any interested rider, their accompanying spouses and friends from around the globe who wish to visit and explore this marvellous country in a unique way.
This amazing Rotary project started in 2011 and for the past 7 years, Rotarians and riders from over 40 countries took part in the adventurous challenge. This year the challenge will start on October 11 and will last for 10 days and will include some of Egypt's top attractions and off the beaten track destinations.
A normal practice we conduct during Cross Egypt Challenge is an annual "Sahara Rotary Meeting" where visiting riding Rotarians along with Rotaracts from our organizing team conduct an official Rotary meeting in the Egyptian Desert – please view attached image -, a practice that we happily repeat at each new season.
Cross Egypt Challenge provides a very rewarding and challenging experience for participants from around the globe as it combines the best of adventure travels and extreme sports. The 2018 season of Cross Egypt Challenge will include one of the best routes in the history of the challenge and will pass through many of Egypt's finest spots including modern cities, coastal resorts, historical sites, Egyptian western and eastern deserts and Egypt's Nile Valley.
I invite you, your club and the members of your club to support our initiative by:
Register for the rally, and ride or join a fellow rider in our chase vans this October in Egypt to enjoy a once in a life-time experience (a motorcycle and scooter rental option is available for international participants). Direct link to the registration application which can be completed in 5 minutes is: www.crossegyptchallenge.com/registration.html
Share the news about Cross Egypt Challenge with your fellow members and even friends in your circles, and invite them to ride and explore Egypt this October.
Spread the news out to your local community and local press to promote this Rotary initiative, and the image of Rotary worldwide.
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