Welcome to The Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio

Join Us at a Meeting

We meet each Tuesday

We begin promptly at Noon

(we suggest arriving at 11:45 am to allow
time for check-in and to get your lunch).

Portage Country Club

240 North Portage Path | Akron, OH  44303

Tel: 330.644.4512

$13.00 per person for lunch
  VenueMap Venue Map

Meet Our Club President
John Margida

 

View Calendar of
Weekly Speakers
& Our Events

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Join Our Conversations

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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.
 
 
 

Club President's Message

John Margida

member photo
Dear Rotarians and Friends of our Club-
 
We had an awesome meeting this past Tuesday! We heard from Claudine Schooley, who along with her University of Akron students gave us an update on the International wheelchair project that they have been working on.
 
We also heard from our President-Elect Patrick O’Neil. Patrick, as part of a new program we have been doing at our lunches, gave us some input on his family, business, and why he became a Rotarian. We will continue to do these “Get to know you” as we progress in the coming months.
 
Another thank you goes out to our speaker, Karen Hrdlicka, President & CEO Vantage Aging. Karen informed us about the services of her company that include - Workforce Solutions, Meals on Wheels, Behavioral Health, and Home Wellness Solutions. This was informative regarding as we get older, what to look for and what is out there that is given to us and services we can use.
 
We look forward to exciting meeting next week as we celebrate the 2019 Chili Open with Wanda Whipkey and Dr. Rob McGregor as our lead speakers.
 
Sincerely - 
 
John Margida, Club President
 
Join Our Conversations . . .
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RYE Students Overnight was Educational & Fun!!
Posted by Susan Colville-Hall
On Feb 2nd and 3rd Akron Rotary Camp was the scene of an invasion of curious and interesting young people who are becoming citizens of the world.  From District 6630 there were eight Inbound students (including our own Ana from Spain and Sotaro from Japan) and eight probable Outbound students including Patrick Culliton (host brother of  Sotaro).  And the wonderful addition of Drew Vargo (N. Royalton) who spent last year in France gave us the maximum learning potential for intercultural sensitivity training and learning.   Serious cultural content juxtaposed with Brian Chima’s charming games made for a wonderful experience at the camp.
 
Kudos to Emily Patterson, Brian Chima and Susan Colville-Hall for heading up the training and to Doug Hausknecht, Joe and Tamara Mora for a sumptuous breakfast Sunday morning.  Bob Heydorn, District RYE Chair, and Pat Kelley, District Outbound Chair were responsible for the weekend.   
 
 
 

Tremendous People in Action!!
Posted by Amanda Warner

Thank you for helping us raise over $283,000 to benefit Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.

February 2, 2019 was a beautiful winter’s day at Hale Farm and Village with over 550 golfers and volunteers attending the 29th annual Chili Open Golf Classic, presented by Wayne Homes. 
 
The day was a huge success and with your help, we raised over $283,000 benefiting Akron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needs.  Annually, the net proceeds from the Chili Open will provide financial support to families in need. We are committed to never letting a family's personal financial resources prevent a camper from attending Rotary Camp. Last year, Akron Rotary Camp provided over $240,000 in direct financial assistance and served 1,900 children through their summer camp and year round respite programs, where campers can enjoy many traditional activities including swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, sports and games, team building and more.
 
We are extremely grateful to all Rotarians, sponsors, donors and volunteers who have helped make a difference in the lives of our campers through this year’s Chili Open! Because of your generosity and support, we will be able to provide meaningful opportunities to the campers and their families regardless of their ability to pay.  Congratulations also to all the winners of the Raffle Prizes and Closest-to-the-Pin contest.  We sure hope you enjoy your prizes.
 
A big thank you to all the committee members for all your efforts and support to make this a very successful event.  Your hard work and commitment surely means a lot to us.
 
Save the date for the 30th Anniversary of Akron Rotary’s Chili Open Golf Classic that will be held on February 1, 2020.  It is going to be big celebration.  
 
Hope to see you there!
 
Dr. Rob McGregor and Wanda Whipkey
Co-Chairs, 2019 Chili Open Golf Classic

John Daily, A True Rotarian, An Accomplished Athlete!
Posted by George Rooney on Jan 08, 2019

[Following a series of referee whistles to position the swimmers]

"Take your mark"

[Then the starting signal, and they're off!]

 

That's competitive swimming, something that is near and dear to John Daily’s heart.      

John Daily is a most interesting man, and has lived a most interesting life.  I recently had the pleasure of meeting with John for some hours at his home.  My purpose was to gather some information regarding his swimming prowess; but, in doing so, I learned so much more. For sure, among John’s accomplishments are those in the area of swimming, but there is much, much more, so I’ll first provide a brief sketch of John’s life.
 
Shortly after John’s birth in Cleveland in December 1927, his family moved to Detroit. The Great Depression soon followed, and, to survive, the family moved to Colorado Springs CO, to Richmond CA, back to Colorado Springs, on to Columbus (where John spent his younger school years through part of grade 3), and finally back to Detroit, where John spent the rest of grade 3 through 12.
 
Upon graduating from high school in January 1946, on the heels of WW II, John enlisted in the Army, where he served 1-1/2 years and was discharged in 1947 as a PFC. John then attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University), studying Park Management and Municipal Forestry, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry.  Along the way, John enrolled in ROTC for his junior and senior years, which seems prescient, as South Korea was invaded in 1950.  Upon graduation in 1951, John also received his Army officer commission as a 2d Lt, and served for another 2 years in the Korean War before being discharged as a 1st Lt in 1953.
Read more...

Thank you to CREW Greater Akron!
CREW Greater Akron - Commercial Real Estate Women, an affiliate of the international CREW Network, is dedicated to providing informative programs and seminars, creating meaningful business relationships and opportunities, facilitating local and national networking, supporting community development and fostering professional development and career advancement of its members.  Membership in CREW is comprised of industry professionals who work in the Commercial Real Estate space, including construction, brokers, lenders, and architects just to name a few.
 
Each year CREW holds a holiday luncheon in conjunction with BOMA - Building and Office Management Association.  Members of CREW nominate non-profits in which they are involved.  The slate of nominees is then presented to the membership for a vote.  Julie Brandle, CREW President (Rotary Immediate Past President) nominated our Rotary Camp.  The Camp won the nomination and received the proceeds of the luncheon, totaling over $5,700. This year's luncheon, was held this past December with both Dan Reynolds and Mella Castner attending on behalf of the Camp.  Dan gave a wonderful presentation to tell the Camp story.
CREW members will be invited this summer to attend one of our Camp Cookouts to see how their group's donation benefits our Camp.  Thank you CREW Greater Akron!
 
Pictured at check presentation:  L to R - Amy Palmer, SJL Management, CREW Holiday Luncheon Chairperson - Mella Castner, Rotary Camp - Julie Brandle, Metis Construction CREW President.

Legacies of Success
 
On Saturday, January 19th, 15 Interact students from North High joined Rotarians Ben Heckerman and Vincent Munnerlyn, in helping to renovate a home for an immigrant family. The kids accomplished a ton by removing trash, old furniture, carpeting, and tile floors. They were able to entirely fill a large dumpster. There was so much excitement among them that they can hardly wait to be involved in painting the home in the next 6 weeks.
 
Ben and Vincent were a huge help in making use of their general contracting skills and providing leadership for the day. The best part of it all was that these hearty souls were able to accomplish their work just before the blizzard hit.
 
Legacies of Success is a local non-profit that specializes in buying fore-closed homes and restoring them. They then identify an immigrant family that is getting rooted in Akron and help them through education and training to purchase their first home. It is a wonderful work that Legacies of Success is doing for the North Hill section of Akron!
 
Yours in Service - 
Steve

Interact Students Visit Fort Romig
Posted by Steve Buie
 

 

 

 

Our North Hill Interact students and Rotarians had a great time visiting the Salvation Army Hydroponic Farm - Fort Romig.

 

Dubbed Fort Romig, the facility is at at 2205 Romig Road.

 

Fort Romig is a learning center for children in the group's Learning Zone, ages 18 months to 12 years old, who attend preschool, after-school and summer programs. 

 

They now have a 5,300 square foot hydroponic growing operation designed in collaboration with Crop King of Lodi, Ohio, and the Ohio State Agricultural Extension Office.

 

They produce over 20,000 pounds of tomatoes and 19,000 heads of lettuce each year.  Proceeds are divided in thirds between a scholarship program for kids, the Salvation Army's Community Table mobile feeding program and Fort Romig programming.

 

There are many great photos from the day ... click here to view all the photos both Cyndi Kane and Steve Buie took at the event!

Community Assessment Builds Relationships
Posted by Claudine Schooley on Dec 12, 2018
Since July 1st 2018, community assessment is mandatory for any global grant application with Rotary International. Leading a community assessment in the country where Rotary Club project is being developed is not always an easy task but it is a guarantee that relationships will be built between the involved Rotary clubs and their partners in country. It is my hope that telling you the story of the Ukraine community assessment from our Akron Rotary club, will help any club to fathom the great benefits of such a task. The first step for our Akron club was to gather enough volunteers, interested in our project of developing a new type of pediatric wheelchair and in exploring transportation in Ukraine for wheelchair users. We started a new committee composed of 5 professionals in marketing and surveys, willing to work together to start investigating the sustainability of our project. How not to be impressed with the high level of proficiency of this new team: two retired professors from the University of Akron in entrepreneurship and languages specialists, one director of marketing study company and a student in anthropology with MPH in epidemiology? All of them have a heart for people with disabilities and the desire to extend their high level of skills to Rotary international projects. My first experience was to build relationship with them and to know them better. Following the general guide lines from Rotary international, we decided to start working on the questionnaire that would be used in Ukraine. First, we needed to collect data and statistics concerning people with disabilities in Ukraine, then to determine who will fill up the questionnaire. Accessing statistics in Ukraine from the government was not simple. It was not like "you just ask". You need to find the people who care enough to navigate for you the country administration and bureaucratic system to obtain information. We live in a world full of statistics and surveys (good and bad), and some categories of population, like hidden people with disabilities, are more difficult to contact then other. How do you engage with those who tell you "we don't have people with disabilities in our country!"? You have to keep in mind that you are dealing with a different culture than yours. Some of our questions could not be answered.
 
We had to face unexpected barriers with our project like virulent opposition from a Rotarian who did not like that our main partner in Ukraine was a godly woman. Religion, and political opinions become obstacles to avoid. Ukraine is a country at war and we found a lot of hurt and divisions. Community assessment is a great tool to understand better the culture of the country.
 
The best of all is when community assessment becomes a tool to help people in a specific situation. Let me explain what I experimented. Home visits of families affected by disability were part of my program in the city of Bila Tserkva. I was explaining the questionnaire to the mom of Pauline, a 14-year-old girl affected by cerebral palsy, when the mom talked about a problem she could not solve. The building the family was living in had a very poor and dangerous ramp for wheelchair users. Pauline's mom was able to mobilize other families in the building to give money to build a new ramp, accessible for wheelchairs. The project was stopped, not because of a lack of money but because they could not obtain the authorization from "the jack", the person responsible for all work in their building. They could not reach him. The next day I asked Nita our partner in Ukraine, what can we do to help Pauline's mom? Nita knew a lawyer who would talk to "the Jack" and she assured me he would not be an obstacle any longer. She will make sure that Pauline get her new ramp.
 
Finally, I know very well that there is no respite for the one who cares for the poor, the orphan and disabled. This community assessment in Ukraine was a great adventure and will be a great addition to our Global Grant. I want to thank those who participated for their efforts and dedication.
 
Submitted with love and peace by Claudine Schooley, member of Akron Rotary club.
Picture of Pauline in Bila Tserkva – Ukraine
Picture of kids with disability – Orphanage in Bila Tserkva - Ukraine

District RYE Students Capture Spectacular Images
Posted by Susan Colville-Hall on Dec 12, 2018
Our District 6630 Rotary Youth Exchange students had an assignment to work in pairs to capture the best image of “Winter in Ohio - Local natural wonder.”  The photos were taken at The Akron Rotary Camp.  Our students have shown so much creativity!!  
 
 
by Ada Bícego (Brazil) and Jacob Weitman (Outbound)
by Patitta Kitcharoenchai (Thailand) and Gwendolyn Estep (Outbound)
by Lea Lafond (France) and Natalie Sadkova (Czech Republic.)
 
by Ana Crespan Fontenla (Spain) and Austin Brewster (Outbound)
 
by Jacob Scharnweber (Germany) and Eduardo Nunes Machado Flore (Brazil)
 
by Sotaro Yamaski (Japan) and Patrick Culliton (host brother of Sotaro)

Weekend at Camp for Youth Exchange Students
Our breakfast crew from the Rotary Club of Akron prepares vittals for the District 6630 Rotary Exchange Students Overnight Training weekend.  8 Inbounders, 4 Outbounders and 2 Rebounders and  the RYE training team were present.  Wow!  What a gourmet delight!  Thank you, Emily Patterson, Jacinto Núñez, Laura Fink and Doug Hausknecht.  How nice to wake up to enjoy eating in the U.S.
Sotaro Yamaski and Patrick Culliton (Sotaro’s new host brother work on a cultural grid activity. 
 
Jacob Weitman signs Ana Crespan Fontenla’s flag as RYE students share in internationalizing this event.
 
Ana team and Sotaro’s team compete in tower building contest using spaghetti and marshmallows in which each team member was assigned a different cultural role to assume during the project.  The end goal was to build the tallest, sturdiest tower while behaving under cultural norms that might be foreign to the student. 
 
 

Upcoming Speakers

North High School Interact Kids
Feb 26, 2019
Partial Scholarships & North High School kids
View entire list...
 
Club Events
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Our Sponsors
 
What Our Members are Saying
 
 
 
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