Bethany Miller brings nearly twenty years of coast-to-coast nonprofit management experience ranging from direct-care social work to expert-level fundraising. Bethany joined the leadership team of RAHAB Ministries to support the organization’s mission to provide Christ-centered transformational services to those directly affected by sex-trafficking in Northeast Ohio. She is passionate about sharing the mission of RAHAB, the wide-spread reach of sex-trafficking, and how every one of us can share hope in broken places.
During the December 5, 2023 annual meeting of The Rotary Club of Akron, we had 53 members in attendance on site as well as online.
The members unanimously ratified the results of our election which are included in this edition of the Akrotarian. In addition, we received updates from Treasurer, Michael Gladys; Service Chair, Cyndi Kane; Foundation Chair, Doug Kohl; Membership Chair, Brian Kosarko; Grants Chair, Sandy Naragon and Chili Open Chair, Laura Smiley.
Your club has been active on the service front partnering with several organizations in the Akron community while our financial position remains strong.
Please see details about our service projects as well as sign up links for volunteering in this newsletter.
Thank you for your continued support of The Rotary Club of Akron.
The Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of Akron was conducted on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
A key purpose of our Annual Meeting is to ratify the election of Officers and Directors for the Club, the Rotary Camp Board, and the Akron Rotary Foundation.
Below are the election results ratified accordingly at the meeting:
Club, Foundation, and Camp Election Results:
Club
Executive Team7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025:
President: Nathanael "Thane" Billow
President-Elect: Katy Miller
Vice-President: Michael Gladysz
Secretary: Terry Dalton
Treasurer: Brian Kosarko
Directors 7/1/2024-6/30/2027
Paul Jarrett
Karen Hrdlicka
Cyndi Kane
Akron Rotary Foundation
Board Members term 1/1/2024 – 12/31/2026
Carol Marturano-Becker
Karen Hrdlicka
Laura Smiley
Akron Rotary Camp
Board Members term 1/1/2024 – 12/31/2027
Tim DelMedico
Michael Gallucci
Nick George
Pamela Kiltau
James Redmond
Minutes were respectfully recorded by Terry Dalton, Akron Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation have a longstanding commitment to the greater Akron community. Rotary is dedicated to causes that build relationships, improve lives, and create a better world—locally and globally.
The 2024 Grant Cycle is officially open! Grants between $1,000 and $15,000 will be considered via an application process which ends January 31, 2024. Projects must have an Akron Rotarian “sponsor” and must include direct volunteer service opportunities for Akron Rotarians. Akron Rotary doesn’t just write checks, we’re action oriented and live by the motto, “Service Above Self.”
ROTARIANS: Spread the word to impactful community service providers! Encourage them to apply by January 31, 2024, via the application link below. If you have questions, email
Thank you to all who have signed up to support Akron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program. There has been a change in the schedule for December and there is no program on December 18th, that event has been cancelled. The good news is that I have entered all the dates for 2024!
The State of Ohio has a 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee that ensures that students in grades K-3rd grade are provided with resources to get them to the appropriate reading level by the time they enter 4th grade and aren't falling behind. Akron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program puts a tutor in front of them to read books for one hour a week. This extra reading time gives our K-3rd grade mentees a little extra help making sure they are on track to meet state standards and be set up for success as they move into 4th grade.
One hour a week helps kids catch up! As a club, we have committed to send two Rotarians on Monday evenings from 4:45 pm - 6:00 pm, October 2023 thru May 2024.
Please e-mail me if you have any questions or would like to volunteer and the times are filled. We have the opportunity to add students from the waitlist if we have enough interest from our club. I will add dates for 2024 later in the year.
Akron Youth Mentorship K-3rd Grade Reading Program has started!
The State of Ohio has a 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee that ensures that students in grades K-3rd grade are provided with resources to get them to the appropriate reading level by the time they enter 4th grade and aren't falling behind. Akron Youth Mentorship's K-3rd Grade Reading Program puts a tutor in front of them to read books for one hour a week. This extra reading time gives our K-3rd grade mentees a little extra help making sure they are on track to meet state standards and be set up for success as they move into 4th grade.
Our club has committed to send 2 volunteers every Monday from 4:45pm-6:00pm.
This year Club members (and guests) will have the opportunity to participate in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign on two different dates and locations.
Below are details regarding dates, times, and locations. You can sign-up online to participate in these events. We need two Rotarians (or guests) to cover each hour of the day(s) we will be at each location. We are also seeking substitutes.
This is a great opportunity to get in the holiday spirit and spend time with loved ones, friends, and the local community near North High School and in West Akron.
The Salvation Army Meets Human Need Wherever, Whenever, However We Can!
The donations we collect by our Bell Ringing efforts will be used to support hard-working families stay in their homes, and provide food, shelter, and utilities to those in need in your community.
Every week, 100 students at Innes Community Learning Center receive packs of non-perishable food on Fridays to ensure they have enough to eat over the weekend. The Feeding Kids Backpack Project is provided by Open M and is partially funded by a grant awarded by the Akron Rotary Foundation. Food insecurity negatively impacts a child's ability to learn and grow.
Rotarians pack food on Wednesday and deliver it to Innes on Thursday. The school distributes it to the children to take home on Fridays.
This service project is so needed that it has been extended to the end of the school year. Open M Volunteer Link
Thank you to these most recent volunteers who packed the bags!
Location: Mason CLC, 700 E. Exchange Street, Akron, OH 44306
The Well CDC's Akron Hope project provides year-round support to its neighborhood elementary school, Mason CLC. This project received grant funding from the Akron Rotary Foundation.
One of the ways Mason CLC is supported is through Akron Hope's annual Holidays of Hope outreach that spreads joy to Mason CLC students, teachers, and families during the Holiday season. This is done by providing every student (250+) with a new, wrapped gift that gets hand delivered by volunteers.
Akron Rotarians are invited to help wrap 500+ gifts at this December Service Project opportunity.
The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation have a longstanding commitment to the greater Akron community. Rotary is dedicated to causes that build relationships, improve lives, and create a better world—locally and globally.
Sandy_Naragon@yahoo.com
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If you are interested in serving on the Service Projects Committee, please contact Cyndi Kane: 
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