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The Akrotarian
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Our Mission:
An inclusive, action oriented service organization, Akron Rotary improves our community
and the world while having fun and building friendships.
Our Vision:
Together, we aspire to make a lasting, positive impact in the lives of those
in our Akron community and beyond.
Our Next Meeting:
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
at Noon
Presenter:
Doug Kohl
The Akron Rotary Foundation
About Doug: Strengthening the community through planning, collaboration and philanthropy in social service and the arts has been my career focus. Throughout a full career of successful not for profit leadership I've developed a unique perspective on board development, governance, planning and philanthropy.
Founded One Candle Consulting to help those in the non-profit sector combine their love of mission with healthy business practices, primarily in the areas of board development, working with volunteers, fund raising and executive director coaching.
Formerly, the Chief Development Officer of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland, serving 6 counties in NE Ohio with a budget of over $30 million and serving over 145,000 men, women, and children annually with 12 branches and 6 program centers. Primarily responsible for philanthropic endeavors and government relations as part of the CEO's leadership team.
Retired in March 2016 as CEO of the Akron Area YMCA. Over $50 million in capital improvements and more than $5.0 million in annual giving have provided me the unique ability to share best practices and knowledge with others. Strength through collaboration is the key to growth, working with communities, hospitals and government agencies to enhance services to area residents.
RSVPS REQUIRED
This allows us to set up socially distanced seating and have enough meals.
For the last 70+ years, our Club has sponsored an event to bring Christmas cheer to children with autism and other life challenges at the S.U.P.E.R Learning Center. This year, we have “Great Expectations” for the event, and we need your help to make it happen.
As in the past, Santa Claus (Bill Manby Jr.) will be delivering presents to the children and there will be a brief concert with the children singing to the group. This year, we are also looking to support a special project for the children and will be sharing details soon. You can help make this event SUPER by attending the event and/or by making a financial donation.
We have decided to take a one-year hiatus on participating in the Salvation Army Bellringing Event to double down on our support for the kids at the S.U.P.E.R Learning Center. Over the next few weeks, you will be hearing from Lyn Godwin (Founder of the Center) and Bill Manby Jr. as they share more details about the event and how you can participate.
Date: Thursday, December 16th
Time: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Santa will be delivering presents from 10-12 and 2-3)
Location: S.U.P.E.R Learning Center, 1584 Wilson Avenue Akron, OH 44250
Please contact one of us if you would like to participate so we can plan for the event. It would be great to have the gym filled!
Set up will be round tables with linens, china, great food, wine, and some spirits. Our team of Rotarians has been hard at work to create a time of fun and fellowship for our membership.
This event will Not be offered virtually - however, all members will receive attendance credit for this meeting as we understand the challenges many are still facing with in-person meetings. So those with perfect attendance do not need to worry about their perfect attendance status.
My hope and desire is that those of us who are free in heart and mind without violating a personal conviction, would make every effort to attend the luncheon on the 21st.
Yes, these are trying times, and yes, (a hearty yes) we are overcomers!
Our College & Career Academy Partner North High School is having an in-person Career Expo Thursday January 13th from 8:30am-11am. They are looking for professionals from the area of Entrepreneurship and Marketing (they already have a small business owner and social media marketing), or something in the area of technology, whether working on an actual system or designing apps/websites, etc. to represent and talk about their company to students.
I am looking for 1-2 volunteers in any of those spaces to help give some insight into potential careers to the North students.
Please email me at josephmariomicale@gmail.com to let me know if you’re interested and able to help with this ASAP.
We find ourselves in good shape as a result of the continued thread of solid leadership. Pat O’Neill, Rob McGregor, the Risk Committee, and your Rotary Board have done an outstanding job of keeping our club physically safe and in the black. We are continuing our climb up and out of COVID into the new, emerging world. Time will tell how long the climb will be.
Rob McGregor, Jacinto Nunez, and Karen Hrdlicka led the charge for recruiting the next round of leadership for the club officers, the Board, new members to the Foundation Board, as well as details surrounding new Camp Board members. We are blessed to have such a deep well of competent leaders.
Here is a summary of what I shared with the club.
I asked - So, how are we doing?
When I shared my vision for leading our club back in July, I had 3 goals in mind.
Build and expand our efforts with Diversity and Inclusion.
Service, service, and then more service.
Strengthen the relational and communication bonds between the club, the camp, and the foundation.
Here’s an update:
Diversity - We are gaining ground in Diversity and Inclusion. We are making and building strong relational ties. The Lebron James I Promise School and their Family Foundation with Michele Campbell and Erika Mayer. Katy Miller, Dr. Rob, myself, and Dan Reynolds, Mella, and Mike Gallucci, President of the camp board are working to help I Promise families. You will be hearing more about this with an event or two coming AFTER the Chili Open. Currently, we are working on what those events might look like.
100 Black men – we heard from Michael Irby, President, last week and the wonderful mentoring program they have going on with young black men in the city. Also, the new work they are beginning in expanding to Akron University students.
Be the Match – Dale Smith from The Rotary Club of Mentor, shared 4 weeks ago about their Bone Marrow match registry. We are looking to work to raise awareness and participation since the black population only has 28% matches. The white community has greater than 80%.
Service – We have been wise to stay outside and work with new Rotarian, Tina Boyes, who heads up the Kenmore CDC -Community Development Corporation.
We have done a Kenmore beautification day with trash pickup and gardening. 100 Black men joined us with 11 of their crew. We also had 3 days of painting 3 different storefronts along the Boulevard. The painting made a huge aesthetic difference.
And last week, we were involved with Christmas decorations for one of the offices on the Boulevard.
Lots of new life is springing up in Kenmore and our support of Tina and the Kenmore CDC is raising community pride and ownership. There will be more opportunities to serve in Kenmore in 2022.
Strengthen Relationships – We have had lots of quality conversations going on between the club, the camp, and the Foundation.
Camp has been working to help strengthen the club. The camp allowed the club to use Interest $ from their investment with the Foundation for the last 5 years. This helped to increase the presidential spend for other service projects from $4,000 a year to $15,000 a year. They also made the decision to provide weekly Rotary meeting management at no cost, thus saving the club over $10,000 a year. Lastly Dan, Mella, and Camp Board chairman, Michael Gallucci have committed to using the camp and their resources to help hurting/ traumatized children from the I Promise School, as well as other hurting children from the city. You will be hearing more details in the next couple of months.
The Foundation has been nothing but supportive of the club and the camp. Their heart and vision is to support both avenues to increase service with meaningful impact to Akron and the surrounding community.
Per the recommendation of board member, Karen Hrdlicka, we are looking to conduct a meeting of all 3 Boards sometime in early Spring to further enhance our synergy and see best how we can collectively impact more children, their families, and our city. We are gaining greater critical mass in our union.
Now, about our upcoming Holiday/Christmas Luncheon on December 21st. Please reach out to Colleen Iacianci, Brian Chima, or Cheryl Warren to confirm your reservation. We will be meeting from 11:30-1:00 and we have a wonderful time planned at Bounce Innovation Center. Good food, nice desserts, wine, spirits, and great fellowship. BTW, round tables, linens, china, Christmas/Holiday music (not with live performers) and shared Christmas memories. Please make your reservation now so we can let our caterer know. The cut-off date for reservations is December 17th.
Please invite your spouse or significant other. This is a time for us to celebrate!
We are excited to share that we will be back on the grounds of Hale Farm & Village at 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, Ohio.
Attendees will have the opportunity to golf, participate in putt-putt and hole-in-one challenges, enjoy some Whitey's Premium Chili, arctic beverages and much more!
Our Auction, will continue to be online this year. It will open for a week beginning on January 28, 2022 6pm and will conclude on February 5th at 1:30pm.
Text chiliopen22 to 76278 to register for the auction.
Please be sure to check back for updated information closer to the event.
Your participation in Akron Rotary’s Chili Open Golf Classic presented by Wayne Homes will help serve more than 1,800 children and adults along with their families with a wide range of developmental and physical disabilities and mental health disorders through our day, overnight and year round respite camp programs.
At Rotary Camp, campers are provided the opportunity to experience traditional camping activities, develop relationships, learn life skills and create memories that last a lifetime. When campers leave Rotary camp at the end of each session, they not only leave with lifelong memories and friends, but they often show more independence as well as a greater understanding of themselves and their abilities.
About Doug: Strengthening the community through planning, collaboration and philanthropy in social service and the arts has been my career focus. Throughout a full career of successful not for profit leadership I've developed a unique perspective on board development, governance, planning and philanthropy.
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