The March 5, 2018 meeting of the Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram saw a nearly full house of members and a guest—Deb Blake. Since it was the first meeting of the month, business was the order of the day and this included the following :
The club is interested in encouraging more bike-friendly activity in the village like the recent Road Apple Roubaix and to that end is considering more bike racks and/or other such amenities in town.
Tom Collins brought news from the village council, which is considering updates for the park playground. Rotary is interested in co-operating but not until there is some tangible planning for the project. President Amy Crawford has suggested consulting with Julie Piccone Beach, who was part of the planning for the playground/park in Ravenna. G-H Rotary will be inviting the mayor, members of the village council, chamber of commerce to seek resources and organize planning for the project.
The semi-annual roadside clean-up is coming in April. Once again, the possibility of lighting the falls by the Boardwalk came up as an attraction to encourage visitors and business.
Dues are due.
Ted Lysiak reported on a busy and upbeat week for James A. Garfield Schools, including the boys basketball big sectional contest, the girls, bowling team finish at state, high school wrestlers advancing, Garfield’s Maplewood state qualifiers, the Garfield Band’s I at state, the Father/Daughter Dance at the elementary school—most fantastic yet, Tyler Klouda’s continued triumphs in indoor track. The spring musical—“Meet Me in St. Louis” is upcoming on March 22, 23 & 24. The annual “Night at the Races” fund-raiser is also on the calendar. Garfield is a happenin’ place.
The March 12, 2018 meeting of the Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram covered a wide range of business items, including the following :
The annual Dictionary Project will be enacted on Wednesday, March 14 at 2 : 50 p.m. when third graders at the James A. Garfield Elementary School will each get a dictionary of their very own, courtesy of the Rotary club. There is a world beyond electronics and these students will be able to access this freely. Look it up.
Aaron King has indicated that the Rotary Community Projects fund may be in line to benefit from the 50/50 monies that accompany the Queen of Hearts drawing at Sky Lanes soon…a win/win situation, for sure.
John and Amy Crawford attended the PETS (Presidents-Elect-Training-Sessions) activities in Columbus recently, hearing speaker Jim Tressel as well as making contacts and connections for advancement of the local club, which is doing pretty well, thank you very much. They observed a younger, more diverse crowd in attendance–energy welling up to assert itself in many communities.
Speakers in the offing include Larry Lohman from the Kent club and Tony Ramos from NOPEC, with Sabrina Christian Bennett, Portage County commissioner, waiting in the wings.
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly) is approaching, applications are being sought from James A. Garfield High School.
On March 25, Palm Sunday, exchange students from District 6630 and students from the Garfield InterAct Club will be enjoying an afternoon of bowling at Sky Lanes.
There was discussion of the possibility of presenting Santa’s sleigh–from the Christmas Gift Delivery Project–during the Grand Parade at SummerFest; it’s being refurbished and spiffed up for its next holiday appearance. How will the Jolly Old Elf look in surfer-cool beach jams?
And speaking of Santa Claus, Amy Crawford read a letter from Mike Keas, who is being transferred to the Ellet office of Geauga Vision. He’s hoping to maintain connection with the local club and it will be happy to reciprocate. Mike will be missed, but in true Santa fashion he left gifts. Ho, Ho, Ho!
