Welcome to The Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio

ALL IN-PERSON MEETINGS SUSPENDED
DUE TO COVID-19

Our Club is currently hosting
online meetings using ZOOM.
Please see the list of meetings below you may wish to join.
 
Click on respective meeting and you will see instructions to join us.
You have the option to join via your computer or just by phone if you prefer. 

Meet Our 2019-2020
Club President
Patrick T. O'Neill

 

View Calendar of
Weekly Speakers
& Our Events

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Our Speaker May 26, 2020
 
Michael Shearer, Executive Editor
Akron Beacon Journal/BeaconJournal.com
With more than 25 years of editing experience across Ohio, Michael Shearer currently serves as editor of the Akron Beacon Journal and regional editor for Gannett’s USA TODAY Network in northern Ohio. He’s responsible for coordinating newsrooms in 10 markets beyond Akron, including Canton, Wooster, Kent, Mansfield and more.
 
Shearer moved to northeast Ohio in 2017 to serve as regional editor for GateHouse Media, which acquired the Beacon Journal in 2018 and merged with Gannett in December 2019.
 
Shearer previously served as Executive Editor of the Media Network of Central Ohio, a group of 10 daily Gannett Co. media sites, from 2009 to 2016 while also serving as the top editor of The Advocate in Newark, Ohio, from 2000 to 2016.
 
A graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Shearer has won numerous awards for editorial writing, including first place in 2018 from the Ohio APME and Best of GateHouse (Division B) for 2017.  Shearer won a Gannett President’s Ring in 2009 for a news restructuring project.
 
He is married to Greta with two sons, Ryan, a recent college graduate working in Pittsburgh, and Kyle, a student at Penn State University. They reside in Kent.
 
Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/989441809  
Join by phone - See Below Phone Numbers
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)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

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.
 
 

Akron Heart Ball Goes Virtual
The Greater Akron Virtual Heart Ball is coming to you!
 
When: Friday, June 5th @ 7pm EST/ 6pm CST / 4pm PST - program will last approximately one hour
 
Where: Online via Zoom. Attend from the comfort of your home
 
As you prepare for the big night, we wanted to share some exciting details regarding the 2020 Akron Virtual Heart Ball that will be held on Friday, June 5, 2020 beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST.
 
Here is what you can expect during our time together:
 
  *   Powerful stories from local survivors and a real-time Open Your Heart appeal
  *   Information about how the AHA is responding to and caring for our at-risk friends from COVID-19
  *   A LIVE AUCTION!
  *   Exclusive opportunity to hear about the impact of your dollars and how the American Heart Association is investing in cutting-edge research and treatments
 
 
 
You will also receive a reminder email 30 minutes before the start of the program. Please feel free to share this link to invite your family and friends to join you!
 
Would you like to Open Your Heart and make a gift in advance (click here)?  OR you can text AkronHeartBall to 41444
 

Cloth Collection for Masks
Posted by June Ring on May 19, 2020

Some masked do-gooders were out last week leaving out, picking up, and dropping off fabric for mask making! Thank you Akron Rotarians for 10 donations with 6 drivers, totaling approximately 10 to 12 bags for www.gahss.org.  Mahananda Luitel thanked all for the donations! If you come up with more at a later date reach out direct to their website. Thank you!!

June Ring

Julie Brandle, June Ring and Mahananda Luitel
Ginakaye Maddox & Tom Knauer
John Daily
Amador & Shannon Gonzalez
Cyndi Kane
Michael Wilson from the Akron Canton Foodbank and June Ring

Stewart's Caring Place Hope Walk Wrap-Up
Posted by Colleen Iacianci on May 18, 2020
I just wanted to send a note of thanks for donations from some of our Rotarians to Hope Walk at Home benefitting Stewart's Caring Place. We were so thrilled with the positive response from our supporters and ended up exceeding our goal! It truly takes a community to support the work of all the wonderful nonprofits and businesses in our area and I'm so thankful for your support.Our goal was $40,000. We had over 700 people participate including folks from California, Indiana, and Georgia and raised over $47,000. I've attached some photos from our Selfie Scavenger Hunt as we encouraged people to enjoy walking in their own neighborhood or favorite park! Here are some of the Rotarians who participated.
 
Colleen M. Iacianci
 
Amanda Warner & Family
June & Dan Ring
Tamara & Joseph Mora

Save the Date to Honor President O'Neill
Please plan to join us as we honor our
2019-2020 President
Pat O'Neill
 
We will continue to update this event based on
State of Ohio guidelines for gatherings.
 But please save the date ...
Pat deserves a great send off for the wonderful
job he has done as our President!!!
 
We will announce details when available.
 
June 26, 2020
6 pm - 9 pm
Akron Rotary Camp

Providing Comfort During Covid-19
Posted by Nathanael Billow on May 01, 2020
This past weekend, while observing the national debate over returning to work, it dawned on me that many people may be eventually returning to work to the realization that some of their co-workers have died. I know that our club has lost Rotarians (like my grandpa) in the past month and I know countless other members have been impacted.
 
Our governor Mike DeWine has began making preparation to reopen the state of Ohio and get us all back to work. Accordingly, I feel that it is appropriate to share the attached article, which is written by Dr. Alan Wolfelt. He is the most preeminent American writer on the topics of death, grief and healing.
 
I hope Dr. Wolfelt's words provide comfort and encouragement to everyone in our Rotary Club as well as get back to work. Can you please distribute to the larger Rotary Club?
 
Thanks!
 
Nathanael M. Billow
Executive Vice President & Treasurer
The Billow Co.
85 N. Miller Rd.
Fairlawn, OH 44333
(330) 867-4141
 
 
Condolences in the
Time of COVID-19
 
Guidance for
Conveying Your Love and Support
 
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
 
 
When someone dies—of COVID-19 or any cause—during this pandemic, their loved ones are being left to grieve in especially harrowing circumstances. They may not have been able to be by the dying person’s side in the hospital or long-term care facility. They may have been prevented from spending time with the body, which we know helps mourners say hello on the path to goodbye. And due to social distancing mandates, they have probably been unable to gather with friends and family to provide each other essential mutual support.
 
For these and other reasons, it’s a terrible time for loss. It’s a terrible time to be grieving.
 
If you would like to support a grieving person during this time, you might feel unsure about what to say or do. After all, many of the time-honored methods of demonstrating your care and concern—such as attending the funeral, or stopping by the family’s home to offer an embrace and your presence—aren’t options. Yet you can still be a light in this dark time. The five principles that follow will guide you.
  1. Get in touch, and stay in touch.
To convey your love and support, video calls are the best substitute for face-to-face conversations. Voice calls come second. After that, emails, texting, and social media work too. And don’t forget the power of the handwritten note! Depending on how close you are to the family, I recommend reaching out to the grieving person at least once a week in the coming months—and even more often than that in the beginning.
  1. Be an exemplary listener.
On video calls or the phone, try to listen most of the time. When you do talk, validate what the grieving person has said to you. In their isolation, they still need their experience witnessed and affirmed. They still need to feel heard and understood. By actively and attentively listening, you will be giving them this gift.
  1. Say what’s on your heart.
Especially in challenging death circumstances, it can be difficult to know what to say to the grieving family. It’s always OK to say, “I’m so sorry,” “You’ve had to endure so much,” and “My heart is breaking for you.” Keep in mind that the word “condolence” comes from the Latin condolens, meaning “to suffer with another.”
 
Be genuine, but please refrain from advice-giving, judging, and sharing your own loss stories and religious viewpoints unless you are asked. What I’ve learned from my work as a grief counselor and educator for more than forty years is that what you say is often less important than how you say it. As long as you are genuine and focused on the grieving person’s experience and worldview, your empathy will come across.
  1. Listen to and share memories.
In the early days after a death, grieving people are usually consumed by shock, attending to tasks related to the death, and integrating the reality of the circumstances of the death. But after some time has passed, they are often ready to start thinking about the life of the person who died. You can be someone who listens to the stories they want to tell and, if you have your own memories of the person who died, shares them with the grieving person. Remember that the love lives on, and the memories live on. You can support the grieving person by honoring this.
  1. Consider the love languages.
In his landmark 1995 book The Five Love Languages, author Dr. Gary Chapman introduced us to the idea that human beings feel cared for by others in five primary ways:
 
• receiving gifts
 
• spending quality time together
 
• hearing words of affirmation
 
• being the beneficiary of acts of service
 
• experiencing physical touch
 
With the exception of physical touch, whose lack is indeed a great hardship right now, all of these remain ways you can support your grieving friend or family member in the weeks to come. For example, you can send a gift of flowers, food, or self-care items, such as books or a candle. You can still spend quality time together, online or on the phone. By mailing cards and sending texts, you can share words of affirmation. And you may be able carry out or arrange acts of service, such as dropping off a home-cooked meal, mowing the lawn, or running errands.
 
I hope you will use some of the ideas in this article to reach out to your grieving friend or family member—as well as healthcare workers, emergency services personnel, funeral home employees, and others you may know who are confronting overwhelming illness and death during the pandemic. Most of all, I hope you will keep in mind that it matters less what you specifically say or do and more that you simply make efforts to get and stay in touch. If you genuinely care and you find active ways to express your empathy, the grieving person will feel your support, even from a distance. Remember that the death of someone loved is a shattering experience. Lead with your heart and be gentle, loving and compassionate in all of your helping efforts.
 
About the author
Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., is an author, educator, and grief counselor. He serves as Director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition and is on the faculty of the University of Colorado Medical School’s Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Wolfelt has written many bestselling books on coping with grief, including Grief One Day at a Time and First Aid for Broken Hearts. Visit www.centerforloss.com to learn more about grief and loss.

Rotary's Alliance With Toastmasters
As part of our alliance with Toastmasters, we’re offering new communication courses to help you grow your networks, improve your skills, and increase your impact in the community. Visit Rotary’s Learning Center on a personal computer or iPad tablet to take the first two courses (Note: courses can't be accessed on mobile devices):  
  • Develop a speech — Learn how to write compelling speeches that take into account your topic, audience, and goal.
  • Deliver a speech — Explore the effect your voice and body language can have on your audience.
These courses were developed by Toastmasters International; they include assignments to help you put your new skills into practice and peer evaluations to help you grow through collaboration. It may take a little longer to complete these courses than some of the courses in the Learning Center, but we believe it’s worth it. And as many of us are staying home due to the global COVID-19 epidemic, you can take the courses and complete assignments from home. To learn more, watch our new video.

These courses are just one of the many ways we’re investing in Rotary and Rotaract members. Practicing and improving your skills can help you succeed in your personal and professional endeavors. And using your skills within Rotary and Rotaract strengthens our clubs and increases our impact.

Please note that all Rotarians and Rotaractors with My Rotary accounts will have access to these courses. If you don’t have a My Rotary account, learn how to create one.

Share your feedback by completing the evaluation at the end of each course. Your input helps us develop new and better courses. And watch for more courses to be available later this year.

Learn more about Rotary’s alliance with Toastmasters at rotary.org/toastmasters. If you have any questions, write to toastmastersalliance@rotary.org.

Thank You Dr. McGregor
Dr. Rob McGregor was our presenter April 14th and provided us with an amazing, heartfelt presentation about Children's Hospital Response: Being Safe in Today's Environment.  
 
He is the "Incident Commander" at the hospital and provided some inspirational quotes along with the important chart below to help us all think about who we want to be during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Dr. Rob also said,  "Be courageous, Be the storm - socially distance and wash your hands. Keep connected and strive to move past fear to learning and growth!   Virtual hugs and handshakes for now.  We WILL grow and move past this! Be well my friends!"
 
Quote from Amy Triano - with the non profit Hold the Door Open says: "Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something else is more important than that fear."
 
Quote from Curt Cronin Navy seal friend reminds me of his favorite quote -"Fate whispers to the warrior "You are not strong enough to weather the storm...The warrior whispers back ; "I am the storm!"
 
We want to express our sincere appreciation to Dr. McGregor and each of the first responders for all they are doing to keep us healthy.
 

Rotary Camp Update
Posted by Dan Reynolds on Apr 01, 2020
Dear Fellow Rotarians!
 
Greetings from the budding shores of Rex Lake!
 
I am sure many of you are not surprised; camp is unusually quiet these days! Due to the COVID-19 outbreak we have cancelled programs from mid-March through the end of April.  We will continue to follow the guidelines from Governor DeWine and his team as when to consider reopening.  Our camp team is planning out different scenarios as to what camp will look like this summer.  Our goal is to begin providing meaningful programs to our campers and families as quickly and safely as possible.  Today, we are still planning on moving forward with summer camp as scheduled; we are hiring counselors and planning programs. 
 
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to the camp team.  We appreciate your support and love for our campers.  We look forward to seeing you at camp this summer for a Thursday Cookout and other events. 
 
If there is anything that you need, please do not hesitate to contact me. 
 
Be well!
Dan
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What Our Members are Saying

Upcoming Speakers

Michael Shearer
May 26, 2020
Akron Beacon Journal

Michael Shearer is the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com and a regional editor for GateHouse Ohio

Highly successful executive editor and business leader with extensive media experience. Known as an innovative and skilled communicator with a track record of growing digital readership on emerging platforms.

Jacqui Flaherty-Ricchiuti
Jun 02, 2020
Meet the CEO Series: Keep Akron Beautiful
Jim Mullen
Jun 09, 2020
Meet the CEO Series: President & CEO of United Way
Mike Solosky
Jun 16, 2020
Haven of Rest Ministries
Doug Piekarz
Jun 23, 2020
Meet the CEO Series
Patrick O'Neil
Jun 30, 2020
Addressing the Club
View entire list...
Club Events
Our Recent eBulletins
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