Garrettsville-Hiram Rotary met on September 22 at Cal’s II and closed the meeting by voting to make this their regular meeting place—at noon—until further notice.
Guest speaker for the day was Mark Tripodi of Cornerstone of Hope, a counseling center for grieving children, teens and adults, located in Independence, Ohio, with a new facility opening in Columbus. The center offers many programs : grief counseling, art therapy, support groups, school programs, bereavement camps, memorial ceremonies, education and training of grief counselors, a lending library, volunteer opportunities–all available on a sliding financial scale. All ages and need situations are welcome to interact with their licensed clinical professionals and/or peers, whatever brings the most support and healing. Summer youth support camps, crisis intervention team training, weekly and monthly sessions, a variety of therapies are all available. The group and their Tree House have appeared on Animal Planet.
After suffering a devastating family loss, Mark and his wife and family were unable to find help and support that met their needs with a schedule and a financial situation that fit their capabilities, they set out to establish a group, a community and a facility that would do for others what they wished had been available for them. Cornerstone of Hope has been the result, a light in the darkness of despair which overwhelms so many. Mark was accompanied by Francine Artiste a new-on-the-job facilitator for the group.
In other business, Tom Collins reported on Zad, the resident exchange student, who got to attend the recent climate change rally in New York, see Times Square, be amazed at the 300,000 people in attendance at the rally (“There is NO planet B”, “It’s getting hot in here. Take your coals off.” “Save the Humans”—message from a Panda)…AND score the winning goal in the Rootstown soccer game.
Tom also gave an update on the continuing consultations with the Mantua-Shalersville Rotary Club, the Garrettsville Garden Club, the Mayor of Garrettsville and the Portage County Park District for expanding and promoting the Headwaters Trail for the good of the entire community.
Rich Brown attended as a guest. He is a business contact of McCumbers-Brady Realty doing vital title work.
The Rotary-sponsored Roadside Clean-up will be on October 25.
G-H Rotary meets every Monday at noon at Cal’s II, Check them out.
