Please welcome Michael Irby who was inducted as a new member on May 10, 2022. Michael was sponsored by Steve Buie (photo below).
Michael J. Irby worked for Akron Public Schools as an educator and administrator for many years. He has coached college and high school football for over 40 years. Mr. Irby participates in the community. He is the President of 100 Black Men of Akron, Inc. which is a local chapter of the 100 Black Men of America that focuses on mentoring, education, health, and financial opportunities/outcomes to the Black community. In addition, Mr. Irby is a Board member of the Akron Municipal Court’s COMPASS (Compassion, Opportunity, Mentoring, Purpose, Assistance Survival, Stepping forward) Program with Judge David Hamilton, member of Mayor Daniel Horrigan’s Ambassadors Program, member of Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett’s Advisory Committee, Board of Director for the African American Association Board, and Chair of Trustees at Macedonia Baptist Church.
Michael is retired and enjoys working out, working in the yard, and mentoring youth. He has two sons, Michael II and Daniel, and is married to Angela.
The Rotary Club of Akron and the Akron Rotary Foundation celebrated our first Celebration of Youth Scholarship Dinner on April 25, 2022, at the University of Akron’s College of Business.
Fifteen Akron Public School Seniors were recipients of a $1,000 scholarship from the Akron Rotary Foundation. This year, APS had 56 students apply for the Rotary scholarships. After reviewing those applications, fellow Rotarians interviewed the remaining 40 students to select the 15 recipients.
Students honored at the event were: Arts, Media, and Communications Pathway: Noria Nuru – Firestone Community Learning Center, and Benjamin Riddle – Firestone Community Learning Center; Business, Marketing, and IT Pathway: Jessica Causey – North High School, Jose Garcia – North High School, Kayla Suansing – Ellet Community Learning Center, and Kayla Vinson -Kenmore/Garfield High School; Health and Human Services Pathway: Amya Evans – Kenmore/Garfield High School, Javiena Fry – Buchtel Community Learning Center, Keyasha Hasley -North High School; Manufacturing, Engineering, and Skilled Trades Pathway: Noah Klein – STEM High School, Rashaad Simmons – STEM High School, Sage Waehler – STEM High School; and Public Service Pathway: Keniya Trice – Buchtel Community Learning Center, Keira Mothersbaugh – Ellet Community Learning Center, Karley Scott – East Community Learning Center.
Our Keynote Speaker was Rachel Tecca, Assistant Superintendent/Chief of Leadership and Learning. Ms. Tecca congratulated those students present and provided information to those Rotarians in attendance about the College & Career Academies and Pathways. Ms. Tecca encouraged Rotarians, who are interested, to become involved with the various pathways. The career pathways are always looking for new businesses to partner with the Akron Public Schools to give students true life experiences relevant to their career interests.
An evening surprise for the students was a State Board of Education, Certificate of Commendation, presented by Mr. Tim Miller, State Board of Education Representative for District 7.
Special thanks to our Rotary Club of Akron Scholarship Chair, Terry Dalton and his committee making this event so very special!
Annually, Akron Rotary selects one recipient for its District Matching Grant!
The 2021-22 recipient is the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance. and is being used to help present Music on the Boulevard.
Volunteers are needed before and at the event! See info and volunteer links below.
The Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance in partnership with Akron Civic Commons and the Rotary Club of Akron are excited to announce the return of Kenmore First Fridays to the historic Kenmore Boulevard business district. The events will kick off June 3 with live music.
Kenmore First Fridays will take place every first Friday of the month beginning June 3 and will continue through Sept. 2. The free events will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature live music, vendors, family activities, food trucks and an outdoor beer garden with a rotating cast of breweries that include HiHo Brewing Company, Lock 15 Brewing Company and Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. See the full schedule below:
June 3: The Shootouts with Akronauts, plus Oddmall: The Great Grassman Gathering
As promised, our next Rotary Social will be at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 27th at Silver Lake Country Club for our semi-annual Scotch, Bourbon and Cigar Night!
As a member of Silver Lake, I have attended this event multiple times and it is something I wanted to share with you all considering Doug Green from the Cigar Lounge is the one providing the cigars this time.
With plenty of room on the lower outdoor patio, tables will be reserved for us to enjoy each others' company along with some great whiskies and cigars!
With two options to choose from, each one includes a limited buffet of heavy appetizers and (3) drink tickets. The only difference would ne if you want cigars.
Option 1 (Food and Drink Tickets Only): $32.00 per person
Option 2 (Food, Drink Tickets, 4 Cigars): $83.00 per person
Please RSVP to me directly by Friday May, 20th with you option EMAIL: dm1652@hotmail.com
Payment will be due at the event via cash or credit card and any no shows will be billed.
Summer is here and what better way to celebrate than a first summer camp cookout at Rotary Camp with our campers and staff! We are looking for volunteers to help serve dinner on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
We will eat in the Pavilion, (weather permitting), and volunteers are responsible for setting up the buffet line, serving dinner and clean-up afterwards. Come with friends and family and enjoy the evening with us!
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. Note that information is posted only with permission of the individual(s).
CONGRATULATIONS STEVE BUIE
Steve was pinned as an official member of 100 Black Men.
The 100 Black Men of Akron, Inc. Mission is to improve the quality of life within our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans.
They are committed to the intellectual development of youth and the economic empowerment of the African American community based on the following percepts: respect for family, spirituality, justice and integrity.
The organization seeks to serve as a beacon of leadership by utilizing our diverse talents to create environments where our children are motivated to achieve and to empower our people to become self- sufficient shareholders in the economic and social fabric of the communities we serve.
Please check your email for your annual dues statement.
They were emailed electronically April 15th.
If you do not have it please reach out to Cheryl Warren at 330-495-9814 and she will resend it to you. We sincerely appreciate your help to ensure your dues are paid before June!
The Rotary Club of Akron had the pleasure of listening to Cynthia Snider — well known in the community as a fundraiser, media relations professional, and advocate for the arts at our Tuesday, May 19 Club meeting. Ms. Snider has been the Executive Director of Tuesday Musical Association since March 2020. She served as interim director since September 2019.
Ms. Snider presented information on the history of Tuesday Musical Association as well as some of the events that will be occurring during the 2022-2023 season.
On November 9, 1887, Celia Baker, wife of George Baker — a prominent businessman who was president of the Akron Electric Light and Power Co. — invited a group of women with “proven musical ability” to her home at 610 E. Market Street, Akron. They named themselves as the "Tuesday Afternoon Club."
For more than 100 years, Tuesday Musical’s members programs were hosted in the city’s stately private homes. Once Gertrude and Frank Seiberling completed their country estate, Stan Hywet Hall, in 1915, it became a favored venue for the club’s activities. Still today, Tuesday Musical’s members meet monthly for performances and refreshments in venues throughout the community, including Stan Hywet Hall.
A few decades after forming, Tuesday Musical expanded its mission to present concerts by world-acclaimed musicians. Global greats over the past 134 years have included such musicians as Leontyne Price, Imani Winds, Van Cliburn, James Galway, Renee Fleming, Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Beverly Sills, Yo-Yo Ma, and many more.
Tuesday Musical has expanded even more to offer robust education and community engagement programs. Today Tuesday Musical takes nearly all their guest artists beyond the concert stage and throughout NE Ohio to share their talents and inspirations with children and adults of all ages.
Annual Scholarship Program:
Tuesday Musical’s annual scholarship competition is widely recognized as the best of its kind in Ohio. Since starting the competition in 1955 with support from generous donors and volunteers, Tuesday Musical has awarded nearly 700 scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 to talented students embarking on careers as music educators and performers.
Snider joined Tuesday Musical in September 2015 when, after 31 years, she retired from The University of Akron (UA) where she directed communications, community engagement, development, special events, and other initiatives for UA’s programs in the visual and performing arts. She also worked closely with UA’s EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall.
Concerts:
Each season, Tuesday Musical scans the best of what’s out there and invites a series of artists to create a unique, endlessly enjoyable experience unique to our region.
Balanced between well-known, celebrated names & those that fly under the radar – you’ll enjoy a hand-selected variety of artists, styles, and genres. Plus, they bring you behind the music by letting you get to know the artists.
Free Tickets for All Students
Complimentary Student Ticket Program
Tuesday Musical Association invites all students to attend their concerts at no cost. It’s easy through the ticket voucher program, supported by generous donors. Here's how:
Receive a ticket voucher through your school, a private music teacher, at the Student Ticket Table the night of the concert or the Tuesday Musical office at 330-761-3460.
Redeem the voucher at the Student Ticket Table located in the EJ Thomas Hall Ticket Office Lobby on the night of the concert.
BONUS for parents/adult companions: If a parent/adult wants to purchase a reduced-priced companion seat, both the student and the adult should go to the Ticket Window nearest the Student Ticket Table to obtain both the free student ticket and purchase the adult ticket. Parent/adult companion tickets are $15.