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.
President Pat O'Neill inducted Philip Williams as a new member during our April 14th virtual meeting. Philip was sponsored by Dr. Rob McGregor. New to the Akron area, Philip now works as Director of New Business Development for United Way of Summit County. He describes himself as a data driven problem solver and likes to use Six Sigma ideologies and is willing to share those skills. With his prior employer, he volunteered and lead Junior Achievement Bowl-a-thons and volunteered for many events with the Cleveland Food Bank.
The purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please be sure to email me (click here) with any news you would like placed here.
CONGRATULATIONS
Metis Construction Services Receives EDGE Certification.
Metis recently received EDGE re-certification through the State of Ohio' Equal Opportunity Division.
The EDGE (Encouraging Diversity, Growth, and Equity) program establishes an annual goal for state agencies, boards and commissions, as well as guidelines for state universities in awarding contracts to certified EDGE businesses.
The EDGE program is designed to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in obtaining state government contracts in the following areas: construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services. The EDGE program does apply to construction contracts. The State of Ohio developed the program because it recognizes the need to encourage, nurture, and support the growth of economically and socially disadvantaged businesses to foster their development and increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace.
If you have a project that requires a percentage be EDGE, Metis can certify that at 100%.
Please reach out to Julie Brandle, President at jbrandle@metisconstruction.com or visit online at metisconstruction.com for information on how Metis can assist you in meeting EDGE required percentage on your next project.
Zoé Mayeur, from Brussels, Belgium, spent the 2019-2020 exchange year with the Rotary Club of Akron. Because of the current Covid-19 pandemic, she left April 5 to return home to ride out the rest of this storm with her parents and older sister Fanny. In her own words, “The trip was not easy but I made it home. I am quarantining with my parents and my sister so I enjoy my time with them, we go on bike rides, we cook, we talk.” Like most people in the time of Covid-19, her parents are not working. Normally, Zoe’s mother serves as a Federal Ombudsman for the Belgium Parliament. Her father is a criminologist in charge of helping prisoners who are released find jobs and then he follows up on them in their work.
While in Akron, Zoé was enrolled in classes at Stow Munroe Falls High School. Eager to try something new, she started playing the clarinet in the marching band and participated in cross-country and track and field. She said she“likes playing on a team because of the team spirit.” Zoé especially enjoyed marching in the Brown’s Game in the fall when the SMFHS band played at halftime. She now understands Americans’ enthusiasm for football! Due to her curiosity and eagerness to discover new things, Zoé made friends in her classes, in the band, in the SMFHS Interact Club and in her sports. Consequently, she was able to take advantage of many opportunities to experience American culture, through Rotary, her school and her host family.
Her host parents, Jen and Richard Carroll, generously opened their doors and hearts to Zoé and treated her like one of their own children, of which they have two - Audrey and David. Audrey was our Outbound Exchange Student to Germany last year. Zoé spent a lot of valuable time with her new family and celebrated the ordinary things of American life. One of her favorite experiences was going to Puerto Rico during Winter Break with her family to enjoy the warmth of one of the U.S.’s Caribbean territories. And life was not too boring after the orderfor “shelter -in-place” was issued. The kids enjoyed playing games, watching movies and cooking.
District 6630 Exchange students have been using Zoom to connect for the last 3 weeks, thanks to Shelia Hedrick who connects us all. Before her departure, Zoé took time to demonstrate a no-cook dessert recipe made with Belgium cookies (biscuits) and whipped cream, it was so delicious looking!!! She “was happy to share one more thing about [her] before leaving.” Wish we could have tasted it!
Zoé has been a wonderful ambassador for Belgium and a delightful visitor to the U.S. Like Elin, she was so looking forward to the Eastern trip to visit Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. in March, and to meet other RYE students. A disappointed ambassador to say the least, Zoé took the cancellation in stride as well as news of no summer Western Trip to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Colorado and California, understanding that personal safety comes first. So Zoé, too, will miss so many of the spring cultural events such as Prom, our Rotary 6630 Conference, and graduation as well as summer prospects of fun in the sun.
Zoé’s “goal this year was to be immersed in a new culture with people who don’t necessarily think like [her] and learn from them and to share [her] Belgium culture with them. We can say that she more than accomplished this goal. And she is still eager to help us learn more about Belgium. We hope to connect with Zoé using Zoom one day soon to see her smiling face and listen to her charming voice again and learn more about Belgium culture. Her greeting to us: “I miss you and the rest so much... Stay safe!”
A short email to update you on the “Coin Boxes” and to pleasantly remind you to keep saving your change – even while we are not meeting – this will help ease the “overflow” in your home Piggy Banks! We can still collect through May 31st, 2020!
Hope you will join me and put forth the good deeds of our Akron Rotary Club.
Lynda Farkas
A note from the Akron/Canton Food Bank:
“Thank you for collecting coins for the Harvest for Hunger Campaign! Collections are happening now through May 31st. I am copying Joe May to this email; he works with Elizabeth Bartz (our Harvest for Hunger Co-Chair) at State & Federal Communications, Inc. and their team will be happy to come by and pick-up your coin boxes once you are finished collecting. There is nothing posted on our website as this is an initiative conducted by State & Federal Communications, Inc. Please let me know if you need any other information.
Thank you again for helping to feed people and fight hunger,”
Sara
Sara Myers // Corporate Relationship Specialist
AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK main 330.535.6900 // direct 330.436.3175 350 Opportunity Pkwy, Akron, OH 44307
Over the next three months, our District, along with our fellow districts in Zones 30/31, is participating in a Paul Harris Society Campaign. Choose to join today.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation. Contact me with an questions.
To join Zoom Meeting on your computer - click on this link https://zoom.us/j/989441809 and follow the directions.
Enter this Meeting ID when/if prompted: 989 441 809
PLEASE be sure you test your audio when prompted to do so. If you do not have audio capability on your computer you can call you in on the phone for the audio feed (see below call in information) but please use only one form of audio connection - either your computer or phone - otherwise there will be feedback).
2. JOIN BY PHONE
-- You can join by phone to listen and participate - even if you do not log in on the computer you will be able to hear and participate by phone.
-- This is also useful for anyone who does not have computer based audio capability on their computer.
-- Note: If you use your computer audio DO NOT use the phone audio or there will be feedback.
Dial one of these numbers:
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
Then you will be asked to enter Meeting ID which is: 989 441 809 - you will then be prompted to press the # key
Your health and safety is important to us.
If you or someone you know wants to share news/thoughts with us email us (click here).
Our thoughts are with all of you and our sincere appreciation goes out to every individual working to help keep us safe and healthy.
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Zoé Mayeur, from Brussels, Belgium, spent the 2019-2020 exchange year with the Rotary Club of Akron. Because of the current Covid-19 pandemic, she left April 5 to return home to ride out the rest of this storm with her parents and older sister Fanny. In her own words, “The trip was not easy but I made it home. I am quarantining with my parents and my sister so I enjoy my time with them, we go on bike rides, we cook, we talk.” Like most people in the time of Covid-19, her parents are not working. Normally, Zoe’s mother serves as a Federal Ombudsman for the Belgium Parliament. Her father is a criminologist in charge of helping prisoners who are released find jobs and then he follows up on them in their work. 
