Ben is a board member of Akron Cooperative Farms, an urban farm in the North Hill community. The mission of ACF is to transform underutilized land into urban farms for community gardens and entrepreneurial enterprises designed to strengthen the social and economic fabric of Akron through agriculture.
The farm consists of over four acres of land and is designed to be self-sufficient and to provide healthy produce, purpose and employment for gardeners.
Ben is the President of Auxin Group Wealth Management and has been helping individuals and families for nearly two decades. He is a lifetime trustee of the Akron Children’s Museum, and founder of the Outdoor Classroom in Akron, in addition to his involvement with Akron Cooperative Farms. Ben resides in Bath, with his wife, two sons, and a dog.
Jack Harig, a member of Warriors Journey Home, received the recognition award, "Carroll 'Gene' Stalnaker Got Your 6" at the annual Gala dinner on Saturday 16 September at The Venue in Tallmadge, Ohio.
The "Carroll 'Gene' Stalnaker Got Your 6" is presented annually to individuals or organizations who have gone "above and beyond" expectations in supporting our veterans homecoming.
Jack stepped up and stepped in when Ernie Liska. of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, was tragically killed in an accident.
The Warriors Journey Home Circle of Trust meeting at HTLC would be without a leader had Jack not assumed the leadership role. Jack continued to reach out to veterans through the Valor Court of Summit County, and kept the HTLC Circle engaged.
Jack has served the greater Akron Community through selfless giving of his time and talents.
He continues to place service before self.
Thank you Jack, for your military service, your leadership and your ongoing commitment to helping others.
Photo:
Jack Harig with keynote speaker Major General Dan Hahn, US Army (retired)
Looking for energetic thoughtful leaders to help propel our club forward!
It is once again time for nominations for our Akron Rotary Board of Directors (Need 4) , Vice -President(Need 1) to get in our queue to succeed Tom Knauer, Thane Billow and Katy Miller. Treasurer and Secretary positions nominations are also accepted.
Self-nominations are welcome.
Any active member who has been in our club for at least 2 years is eligible.
Nominations will be solicited at every club meeting in September or feel free to email me as Chair of the nominating committee at RMcGregor@AkronChildrens.org
OPEN M is a Christian non-profit organization that serves more than 50,000 individuals annually with food, health and employment services—all intended to create pathways out of poverty. OPEN M leverages a community alliance of churches, businesses and volunteers to offer programs to those in need.
Open M received grant funding from the Akron Rotary Foundation for its Feeding Kids Backpack Project. Our service project with Open M has started! Weekend meals will be packed for 100 low-income and food insecure students for Akron's Innes Middle School.
We are booked for a total of 6 days so far in September and October. Check out thevolunteer link to see where volunteers are still needed!
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend our morning meeting on Friday October 13th from 7:30am to 9am at the Akron Family Restaurant.
President Knauer will provide club business updates and report on our recent service projects. I will provide the latest update for upcoming service activities.
I look forward to a casual meeting focused on fellowship and seeing those of you who cannot always attend a lunchtime meeting.
Please note: This is NOT in lieu of our regularly scheduled meeting(s).
DG Julie Brandle and DGE Dale Smith are planning several Pours and Pints to End Polio around the district to celebrate the success to date in our fight to eliminate polio from our planet.
There will be no cost to attend - you will be responsible only for the food and drink that you purchase from the venue. We will be having a 50/50 raffle at each event.
These will be held 5:30-8:00pm at these locations:
Sept 28 Forest City Brewing 2135 Columbus Road Cleveland Oct 5 Hoppin Frog 1680 E. Waterloo Rd Akron Oct 12 Winery at Wolf Creek 2637 S. Cleveland Massillon Road Barberton Oct 19 MadCap Brewery 1422 Mogadore Rd Kent Oct 26 Beerhead 8003 Crile Road Painesville Nov 9 Green Valley Brewing 53 Milford Drive Hudson
The Club was honored to host Summit County Executive, Ilene Shapiro, and several members of her staff at our September 19, 2023 meeting.
Ilene Shapiro is an American businessperson and politician. She has served as the Executive of Summit County, Ohio since August 1, 2016. Her predecessor Russell M. Pry died in office on July 31, 2016. She was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and is currently serving a four-year term that ends in December 2024. Previously, Shapiro was a member of Summit County Council for ten years and Council President for three years. Prior to her time in public service, Shapiro was a businesswoman.
Before her time on County Council, Shapiro was a businesswoman and a small business owner. She was an executive at First Merit Bank and the Summa Health Foundation. She later became an entrepreneur, and created a beauty supply company and consultancy firm based in Akron. Shapiro was the head of Shapiro Consulting, a business consulting firm.
Summit County has over 540,333 residents and is the 4th largest of Ohio’s 88 counties. In the county are 31 communities made up of 14 cities, 8 villages and 9 townships.
With a County budget of over half-a-billion dollars, Shapiro kicked off her presentation “Big things are going on” talking about what she does as County Executive and then shared information about the projects that are taking place in the County.
What does our County Executive Ilene Shapiro do?
Her role is facilitative, strategic, & relationship driven
Chief administrative, budgetary and contracting authority for the County
Manages 10 departments:
Admin. Services, Admin. & Public Info, Community & Economic Development, Finance & Budget, Human Resources, Law & Risk Mgmt., Job & Family Services, Medical Examiner, Public Safety and Sanitary Sewer Services.
Big things are going on!
Dispatch Center
Broadband
Opioid Lawsuit and Funds
Local HWAP, Lead Abatement, Home Repairs
Local economic and workforce development
Age-Friendly Akron-Summit
Summit County Animal Control
County Executive Shapiro shared information about these specific projects:
Our shared environment and water!
Summit County sits on the continental divide that separates the Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds!
Sewer and stormwater systems across the watersheds impact all 31 communities, including Akron!
In Springfield, our reclamation facility is sending water to the Tuscarawas River that is cleaner than the river water!
We have planned investments for stormwater, sewer in Peninsula, Springfield, Lakemore, Bath, and more!
The Springfield facility has seen 74% increased efficiency.
The removal of the Gorge Dam will allow our Cuyahoga River to flow freely.
She is working with Akron on possibly amending the EPA Consent Decree.
Preventing youth violence!
Akron’s Youth Violence Prevention Plan & Upward Mobility Plan
Denico Buckley-Knight is leading the charge on Akron’s Youth Violence Prevention Program alongside community orgs such as United Way. This aligns closely with our Upward Mobility Plan!
We are working closely to support them wherever we can, especially when it comes to collaboration, mentorship and securing future grant dollars!
Early support is KEY to helping our youth!
New dispatch center that will house Akron’s operations!
The Summit Emergency Communications Center (SECC) is up and running.
State-of-the-art regional dispatch center that will serve 300,000+ residents.
Will house Akron dispatch services separately, but under the same roof!
Partnership between Summit County, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Tallmadge and may expand to include Copley Twp. and more!
Always an opt-in project with capacity for ALL
Ribbon-cutting on October 6th!
The Sojourner Truth Project and Plaza!
Memorializing the site of Truth’s iconic speech, commonly titled “Ain’t I a Woman”
Longstanding movement to honor her re-ignited by the Centennial Suffrage Committee
Towanda Mullins has strung together an incredible coalition! County contributed a total of $300,000.
Truth’s legacy is one of justice and equality for people of all races and genders, but especially Black women and girls.
Property Values 101
All counties adjust property values every three years; current cycle includes Summit County and 12 others
State Tax Commissioner dictates how properties are appraised, numbers are currently based on one year of sales data
State asked for 34% increase
A change in value is NOT proportional to a change in taxes
What does this mean for me?
Property value letters mailed out August 2023
Property tax bills mailed out January 2024
Property values can be contested starting January 2024 by filing a complaint with the Board of Revision
If you want to look up your property value, file a complaint, or have questions, see the Summit County Fiscal Office at fiscaloffice.summitoh.net or call 1-888-388-5613.
Open M received grant funding from the Akron Rotary Foundation for its Feeding Kids Backpack Project. Our service project with Open M has started! Weekend meals will be packed for 100 low-income and food insecure students for Akron's Innes Middle School.
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