Akron Rotary Club President & Induction of Officers/Directors
Your 2023-2024 Club Officers and Directors:
Executive Team 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024:
President: Tom Knauer
President-Elect: Thane Billow
Vice-President: Katy Miller
Secretary: Terry Dalton
Treasurer: Michael Gladysz
Sergeant-at-Arms: Connor Jarvis, CFP®
Directors 7/1/2023-6/30/2026:
Laura Horovitz, Gerry Kiefer, Liv Pilon, Cheryl Warren
Directors 7/1/2022-6/30/2025:
Hugh Alpeter, David Hall, Dave Miller, Rima Muakkassa
Directors 7/1/2021-6/30/2024:
Doug Kohl, Katerina Papas, Mike Shearer, Laura Smiley
It’s a Wrap Rotary Club of Akron President Lynda Farkas
2022-2023
The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to President Farkas as she wraps up her year as President of the Rotary Club of Akron. Lynda began her remarks stating “June marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in Rotary, a bittersweet time to reflect as we look ahead to 2023- 2024 Rotary year. View the meeting/presentations - click here
2022-2023 District Governor David Jones was on hand to help present a 50 year Rotary Membership Crystal to Roger Read (shown with wife Sally) and a District Community Service Award to the Rotary Camp accepted by Camp Director Dan Reynolds. (These awards were presented at the District Conference in April, 2023 but Roger and Dan were unable to be present at that time to accept them).
Lynda personally thanked each and every member for their dedication and service to our Akron Rotary club. Lynda commented that “it’s been an exciting and a challenging year of moving from Bounce Innovation Hub on South Main to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church here on South Union. The Club had to increase our luncheon costs to cover the gratuity, room rental and food with a minimum of 25 members buying lunch each week. We did it – together and offered a wider buffet menu thanks to the endeavors of Angelica George & Lauren Nemeth, from Tangier’s!”
President Lynda proceeded to highlight the various successes the Club achieved during the 2022 -2023. Some of those achievements were:
Our annual February Chili Open/ raised over $360.000.00 to assist campers to enjoy time at the camp.
15 scholarships of $1,000.00 each were provided through the Akron Rotary Foundation to students from Akron Public Schools.
$15,000.00 from the Akron Rotary Foundation was awarded to three outstanding Akron community organizations. Photos below with Lynda Farkas and Doug Kohl are (L-R): Beth Boggin & Julie Carneal, Open M; Dan Reynolds, Akron Rotary Camp; Jen Meade, The WELL
We sponsored an outbound student to South Korea and welcomed an inbound student from Spain.
One of our own, Julie Brandle, will be District 6630 District Governor during the 2023 – 2024 Rotary Year.
Club members volunteered over 155 hours at the Akron-Canton Food bank.
Additional hours were provided with Rotarians volunteering for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign in December.
President Farkas concluded her remarks with the following: “So, here we are, the end of the “Imagine” Rotary year, 2022-2023. Last July, when I began my year as Club President, I asked if you recalled the lyrics of Beatles legend, John Lennon, back in 1971– ‘you may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us and the world will be one!’
Remember: ‘Changing the world is indeed in no one else’s hands but our own, and helping those in need is what defines and will continue to define Rotary and its Foundation in the years ahead.’”
Incoming President Tom Knauer presented President Lynda with flowers, a Past President pin and plaque. She then removed the 2022-23 theme banner and had Tom place the 2023-2024 banner on the podium.
We donated over 30 pairs of shoes & boots to needy children under our Akron Rotary Club name's. Sincere appreciation to our membership for helping an "International Children's Need."
Saturday July 15th will be our “Rotary Day at the Tournament"
We are targeting Saturday July 15th for Akron Rotary Day. I know that a number of us have already purchased tickets and look forward to attending.
The attached promo code ensures that approximately $20 of every ticket purchase, which is good for any day, will go directly to the Akron Rotary Foundation. The promo code is “AKRONROTARY23”
Calling all Akron Rotarians, please join us for a Thursday evening Summer Camp cookout at Akron Rotary Camp (4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319). Come and enjoy a burger or hot dog with our campers and camp counselors, as well as take a tour of our camp facilities. You are welcome to bring along your family, co-workers and/or a colleague. It is also a great opportunity to introduce someone new to Rotary Camp.
Akron Rotary Camp’s 100th Summer Camp Season is in full swing, and our campers are having lots of fun and making memories to last a lifetime! We have been the main project of the Rotary Club of Akron for 100 summers. The Club’s support of the Chili Open Golf Classic helps to make it possible to offer financial assistance to families in need. Allowing their child, the opportunity to attend camp, enjoy the outdoors, discover their abilities and succeed beyond their dreams!
Please join us and help us celebrate the 100th summer of Rotary Camp!
What: Thursday Evening Camp Cookouts
When: June 22, June 29, July 13, July 20, July 27, August 3
5:30pm to 7:00pm – dinner is served at 6:00pm
Where: Akron Rotary Camp, 4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, OH 44319
If you are unable to attend on a Thursday evening, please reach out to Mella Castner, (mellac@akronymca.org or (330) 644-4512 x3206) to schedule a visit during summer camp.
Akron Rotary Camp ∙ 4460 Rex Lake Drive ∙ Akron, Ohio 44319 ∙ (330) 644-4512 ∙ gotcamp.org
REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND END POLIO NOW GUARDIANS GAME ON AUGUST 17, 2023 VS. DETROIT TIGERS
Once again we are planning an End Polio Now Guardians game on August 17, 2023 against the Detroit Tigers. We will be in the Terrace Club for fun, food, and auctions along with drawing the winner of the Paul Harris /First Pitch.
We are also able to parade pregame on the field after missing several years.
As you are planning your Rotary club’s summer activities, please keep this in mind. It is a great opportunity for fellowship and FUN.
Rotary International has long held the fight to eradicate polio as it’s signature fundraising effort. Over $6,000 was raised during the July 13, 2022 End Polio Night at the Cleveland Guardians baseball game versus the Chicago White Sox.
Last year more than 300 Rotarians in District 6630, along with those is Districts 6600 and 6650 were in attendance.
Each received an End Polio Now t-shirt along with their ticket to the baseball game. Congratulations to Dean Thayer of the North Hampton-Cuyahoga Valley Club who was chosen to throw out the first pitch. The fun continued in the Terrace Club as raffle baskets with autographed jerseys, bats, baseballs and other great prizes brought in over $1,800. Special thanks to the Guardians own Bob Dibiasio, who came by to visit. with Rotarians during the event. Bob’s visit helped ease the sting of the Guardians loss to the White Sox, 2-1.
As 2022-2023 Rotary International President Jennifer Jones reminds us, “ As long as polio exists somewhere, it’s a threat everywhere.” With that in mind and with our commitment to “ Service Above Self” Rotary will continue this important mission throughout the coming year.
See the District 6630 flyer below and sign up now for August 17, 2023.
Pictured:
Dean Thayer of Rotary Club of North Hampton-Cuyahoga Valley throws out the first pitch at Rotary’s End Polio Now Night at Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox 2022.
Once again we are planning an End Polio Now Guardians game on August 17, 2023 against the Detroit Tigers. We will be in the Terrace Club for fun, food, and auctions along with drawing the winner of the Paul Harris /First Pitch.
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