Welcome to The Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio

We meet on
Tuesday at NOON

Doors open at 11:45am
 

Weekly Club Meeting Location
Exception: February 7, 2023 - see below

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

129 South Union Street
Akron, OH 44304
$20.00 per person
includes buffet lunch by Tangier Catering
_________________________
 
Virtual Option for standard weekly meetings
 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 989 441 809
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,989441809# US (New York)
+13017158592,,989441809# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meet Our 2022-23
Club President
Lynda Farkas

 

 

 

View Calendar of
Weekly Speakers
& Our Events

The Club Board of Directors meet the
2nd Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m.
Board meetings are open to Club members. 
Click here to join board meeting virtually
____________________________

Subscribe to our eBulletin

View Historical eBulletins

____________________________

Join Our Conversations

Image  Image
 
____________________________
 
Interested In Joining a Rotary Club?
Visit rotary.org/join
to find a  club in your area.
Image
The Chili Open is the fund raising arm of The Rotary Club of Akron that takes place annually on the first Saturday in February. 
All proceeds of the event go to the Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.

Presented by Wayne Homes

www.chiliopen.net
330-644-4512

The 2022 Akron Rotary Chili Open Golf Classic

Saturday, February 4, 2023 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm |Hale Farm and Village

2686 Oak Hill Road • Bath, Ohio 44210

 SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS GUIDE BUY RAFFLE TICKETS HERE

 
Our Speaker Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Steven J. McGarrity, Esq.

Executive Director, Community Legal Aid

 
Steven McGarrity has served as the Executive Director of Community Legal Aid since 2017.
 
Mr. McGarrity has over 25 years of legal experience with Legal Aid. He began with the organization as a staff attorney in Canton, Ohio in 1997, focusing his practice on family law and consumer debt. In his time with Legal Aid, he has held various management positions, including nine years’ as Associate Director, where he oversaw all client services, outreach, and technology.
 
Mr. McGarrity has presented nationally on innovative approaches to delivering legal services using technology, and on measuring the long-term impact of legal aid in the lives of individuals served. He currently serves on the advisory committee of OhioLegalHelp.org, an online legal resource tool for Ohioans.
 
Mr. McGarrity serves on the Board of Managers for the Ohio Poverty Law Center and the Akron Summit Community Action Board of Directors and is a member of Class 37 of Leadership Akron.
 
A California native, Mr. McGarrity received his B.A degree from California State University, Northridge in 1992. He went on to earn a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1996. In 2015, he was named a Where Health Meets Justice fellow through the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership.
 

 Get Involved

Change Your Community


Change your community with us by volunteering on a local project or attending a community event.
Email our Service Committee Chair.

Partner With Us


We work with groups and organizations of all sizes to accomplish even more.
Email our Service Committee Chair.

Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives with a global organization.  
Email our International Exchange Chair.
 
News and Activities
Volunteer at the Chili Open!
Posted by Douglas Hausknecht
Volunteer at the Chili Open!
February 4, 2023 ∙ Hale Farm and Village
 

Volunteer at the Chili Open! 
February 4, 2023 ∙ Hale Farm and Village 

Dear fellow Rotarians,

The 33rd Chili Open is fast approaching and we will need all hands on deck to make this a successful event for our guests! Join us for a fun day of volunteering, friendship and celebration of all the good work that Rotary is doing in our community! 

The Chili Open will be held on February 4, 2023 at Hale Farm and Village. Set-up day will be on Friday, February 3rd. We need volunteers for both Friday and Saturday! There are various places to help, - indoors and outside. Please dress for the weather! Lunch will be provided on Friday too! 

We are using Signup Genius for the Chili Open so it is simple to include family, friends, other Rotarians and Rotary prospects as volunteers.  

Saturday Volunteers will be able to park at Old Trail School and can take the YMCA shuttle bus to Hale Farm. 

Thank you for your Service Above Self!  Please sign up here to volunteer for a shift or two! 

Please reach out if you have any questions, hauskne@uakron.edu. See you at the Chili Open! 

Dr. Doug Hausknecht 
Volunteer Chair, 2023 Chili Open 

CHILI OPEN UPDATE - January 25, 2023
CHILI OPEN UPDATE - January 25, 2023
The Chili Open is only days away and we need your support to make this year’s event successful! Thank you to those who have supported with sponsorships, raffle tickets, auction and door prize items! To-date we have raised $248,425 towards our goal of $350,000!
 
We need your help with the following:
 
RAFFLE TICKETS
Please turn in your raffle tickets as soon as possible to the Camp office. If you still need help selling, reach out to family, friends and business colleagues. For only $20 you stand a chance to win some great prizes! Tickets can also be purchased here.
 
WAGON OF GOOD CHEER
The Silent Auction will feature Dr. Rob’s "Wagon of Good Cheer!" Help us fill the wheelbarrow with any donation of unopened bottles of spirits, mixers and wine.
 
DOOR PRIZES
Do you have a holiday gift that is just not what you wanted? Did you get a gift or gift card that you will never use? Did you receive a gift that you already have? Please consider donating these new gifts to the Chili Open. We can always use them in the auction or for door prizes at the Chili Open!  
 
ONLINE AUCTION
We are also still in need of items for our online auction. Food and activity baskets, sports memorabilia, golf packages, or family entertainment packages make great auction items.
 
If you know of anyone that will be able to donate something, please let us know. If you need someone to pick up any items, please call or email Amanda at Akron Rotary Camp (330.644.4512 / amandaw@akronymca.org), and we would be happy to make those arrangements. 
 
 
Thank you in advance for your donations to help make the Chili Open a continued success to benefit Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs!
 
See you at the Chili Open!
Jeff Sheeks and Cindy Kane
2023 Chili Open Golf Classic, Co-Chairs
 
Andrew Thorn - Rhythm and Roots Farmer Presentation
Posted by Terrence Dalton
The Rotary Club of Akron enjoyed listening to Andrew Thorn during our January 24, 2023, Club meeting.  Click here to view the presentation.
 
Andrew works full time as a software developer, but his drive to spend time outdoors with his family resulted in the start of Rhythm and Roots Farm. He and his wife are passionate about people providing for themselves and others. They started the farm in Copley about 2 years ago with their three young children, with the intention of providing healthy pastured-raised poultry and pork for their family and others as well. 
 
Andrew began his presentation with a slide that said “It all starts…. And ends with chickens”  What started with only a few chickens has ended up with about 3,000 chickens.  About 100 of these chickens are raised for egg production.  The other chickens are for sale. He sells about 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of chicken every year. He also has about 16 pigs as well as goats, ducks and turkeys to name a few.
 
Why Chickens?
  • There are health benefits with chickens raised on real healthy grass pasture and without the use of chemicals.
  • Easy for the Family, farm sitters
  • Ease of care for land and feeding them with free-range eating
  • Ease of conversion to meat, ease of turnover and raising them, ease of cost, etc.
Why Pigs?
  • Pigs convert meat just as well as chickens, if not more
  • They can handle their swampy land easily and without illness
  • They very rarely get sick and are easily treated if so
  • Bacon
Andrew stated they raise two types of pigs.  One type is the Mangalitsa.  These pigs originated from Hungary and were near extinction.
 
What the does future look like for the Rhythm and Roots Farm?
For the past couple of years, Andrew and his wife were looking to double their business each year as the demand grew; however they find themselves scaling back at this time for several reasons:
  • Rising costs for feed and butcher costs (availability of butchers is a challenge with long waiting times)
  • Slow growing market
  • Family time balance (Andrew’s wife works two jobs and they “home school” their children
  • Farm work vs their other jobs work balance, labor costs
They hope to continue to grow, particularly with an increase in the number of pigs that they will be raising.  They are looking at:
  • New customers and new ways of delivery
  • Consistency and customer service
  • Ultimately, they just want to share their joy of growing their own food with others, and hope that others would want the same.
They have partnered with Market Wagon www.marketwagon.com to market more of their products, but also sell products directly from their business. Market Wagon offers delivery to all of northeast Ohio. https://shop.marketwagon.com/collections/vendor/4115.  You can order directly from Rhythm and Roots Farm by visiting their website at https://rhythmandrootsfarm.com or  contacting them at rhythmandrootsfarm@gmail.com  or text/call them at 330.234.3753.
 
Yours in Service,
 
Terry Dalton
Club Secretary and Scholarship Chair
Thank you for your support for Light for Ukraine
Posted by Susan Colville-Hall
Thank you to everyone for their generous donations to "Light for Ukraine". Our Club has raised $320.00 to date.
 
What is "Light for Ukraine"?
Our own Claudine Schooley, now in Bakersfield CA, is co-chairing "Light for Ukraine”, a Rotary project to send portable solar lamps and chargers to villagers and city folk who face prospects of living in the dark.  The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast is in charge.  Let us join them to light up Ukraine.  The special Rotarian rate for 1 lamp and 1 charger is $40, supplied by a nonprofit organization in Santa Barbara, “Unite to light” www.unitetolight.org
 
Join me and several others from our Rotary Club of Akron.  If you wish to contribute, bring cash or check to our club meeting send check to Mella at camp. 
 
Contact William Black, Director of International Services, Rotary Club of Bakersfield, P.O. Box 22013, Bakersfield CA 93390 or Claudine Schooley (805 796-8351)
 
Donation is tax deductible.
 
Susan Colville-Hall
Summit County Astronomy Club
The observatory is a great place for ages 7 and older.  All our programs are free and open to the public. To receive notices when the observatory is open, please join the free site www.meetup.com.  Under “Groups” search for Summit County Astronomy.  Being that the facility is weather and volunteer dependent, this is the best way to keep informed.  The SCAC also welcomes groups with advance planning for presentations about space before general programs.
The SCAC is also a James Webb Space Telescope official site and will be hosting several events related to this amazing telescope.
The Bath Township Trustees help build the walk of planets by the observatory.  It is 1.3 miles from the Sun to Pluto.
 
The Fairlawn Rotary Observatory
4160 Ira Road, Bath Ohio
OFF-SITE MEETING - Feb. 7th at BLU-Tique 
Posted by Gerry Kiefer
Get ready to go off site for a Tuesday meeting February 7, 2023. 
 
 
Even if you do not plan to eat you must RSVP. 
 
We will be providing a box lunch and you have a choice of what you want.
 
 
Parking:  40 S. High St. $2.00 /hr at a $7.00 max
Food Options:  Choice of Chicken, Turkey or Veggie Wrap  includes chips and cookie
$20.00 per person
Non-Eaters: $5
RSVP deadline:  January 30, 2022 (we must turn in the food on Feb 1).
 
BLU-Tique, Akron is a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. 

Join us to see and hear about his amazing establishment.
 
Ginny Wojno will be picking up your parking fee - just turn in a receipt to her.
   
 
BLU is more than a color, it's an attitude; an attitude of gratitude. We are grateful to be a part of the downtown Akron business and thriving arts district; a place where culture, art, dining, music, and diversity seamlessly blend to create an experience like no other. 
 
Join Our Conversations . . .
ImageImage
Sponsors

Upcoming Speakers

Steven J. McGarrity, Esq., Executive Director
Jan 31, 2023 12:00 PM
Community Legal Aid
Community Legal Aid
Tony Troppe at BLU-Tique Hotel
Feb 07, 2023 12:00 PM
OFFSITE MEETING AT BLU-Tique Hotel - RSVPs Required
Cyndi Kane, Jeff Sheeks, James Redmond
Feb 14, 2023 12:00 PM
Chili Open Wrap Up
Nathanael Billow, Executive V.P. & Treasurer
Feb 21, 2023 12:00 PM
Billow's Funeral Homes & Crematory
Welby Broaddus, Owner Broaddus Business Solutions
Feb 28, 2023 12:00 PM
Leading the Blind without Vision Mission
Suzie Graham
Mar 07, 2023 12:00 PM
Downtown Akron Partnership
View entire list...
Club Events
Club Information
Rotary Links
 

Celebrating Over a Century of Service in the Akron Community!

 
The History of The Rotary Club of Akron
 
Honoring the Past.  Driving the Future.
 
April 5, 2014 Centennial Celebration