eSpoke - May 13, 2022 (May 13, 2022)

The Scoop - May 9, 2022

Posted by Anne Decker on May 13, 2022

Ohio's new gun law takes effect June 13.

Senate Bill 215 permits qualified adults in Ohio to carry concealed guns without a license. Allen County Sheriff Matt Treglia and Allen County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Destiny Caldwell explained the new law at Rotary on Monday. Caldwell told us that the law has two significant changes from current law: It has changed the requirement that individuals stopped for a law enforcement purpose must promptly notify the officer that the person is carrying a concealed handgun. Under the new law, an individual stopped for a law enforcement purpose must only notify the officer if the officer asks if there is a concealed handgun. It allows an otherwise qualified adult to carry a handgun in a concealed manner without first obtaining a concealed carry license. A qualified adult is one who is 21 years of age or older and who is not legally prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm.

Sheriff Treglia told us that if you were denied a permit to carry concealed in the past, you still will not be allowed to carry concealed under the new law. He says the duty is on the individual to know whether they meet the requirement to be considered a “qualified adult” and ignorance of the law is not a defense.

Plunge For Polio

Posted by Derek Stemen on May 06, 2022

Are you ready to take a plunge for polio?

We are closer than ever to eradicating polio and we're asking Lima Rotarians to help with our first ever Plunge for Polio event.

At our May 23rd club meeting, we will be selecting Rotarians to sit in a dunk tank to raise funds for polio. If you do not want to be selected to sit in the dunk tank, then you can purchase an immunity ticket for $20 at our next club meeting. Thank you for helping us eradicate polio by taking a Plunge for Polio.

Reverse Raffle

Posted by Anne Decker on Apr 14, 2022

There are fewer than 50 tickets left for Thursday's Jay Begg Reverse Raffle. Get yours today!

The Lima Rotary Club's Jay Begg Reverse Raffle takes place on June 2 at the Allen County Fairgrounds. It's a fun night with games, dinner, silent auction, great fellowship, and your chance to win part of the $10,000 in cash prizes that will be handed out. It's also a big fundraiser for the Lima Rotary Club so we encourage you to buy a ticket even if you can't attend. Tickets are just $100 and are available from Katy or Cat.

Board Highlights

Posted by Anne Decker on May 13, 2022

Here are the highlights from the May 10th board meeting.

Call to Order Jeff Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald called the meeting together at 11:36 A.M. with the following Board Members present: Jeff Fitzgerald, Carol Buettner, Lesley Fry, Joel Mengerink, Derek Stemen, Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, Andy Wannemacher, Andy Farley. Also, Secretary Anne Decker and Treasurer Dan Best were present.

Secretary’s Report Anne Decker

Approval of the April 12, 2022 Board Minutes

Farley made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 12, 2022 meeting as submitted. Buettner seconded the motion. Board approved.

Attendance Report for April 2022 Anne Decker

Three new members joined the club and one member resigned. Membership is down -2 for the year. April attendance was 42.63%. The month ended with 137 active members and 5 honorary members.

President’s Report Jeff Fitzgerald

Selection of Club Vice President

Farley made the motion that Demi Burden be appointed Vice President of the Lima Rotary Club. Fry seconded the motion. Board approved. Burden will move up the chairs and become president of the Lima Rotary Club for its 2024-2025 year.

Avenues of Service Awards

The board reviewed nominations for the annual Avenues of Service Awards and selected the winners. They will be announced at the Changing of the Guard on June 27th.

Spring Blood Clinic

Fitzgerald announced that there were 252 attendees at the Spring Blood Clinic. That number is consistent with the number who attended the Fall Blood Clinic, but is less than half of the attendance the clinics had prior to COVID. It was recommended that additional advertising be done on television, radio, social media, and through the Chamber of Commerce. The amount of money raised from the event is not yet known.

Reverse Raffle Update

More than 100 tickets have been sold for the Jay Begg Reverse Raffle on June 2. Katy and Cat are working hard to sell all 200 tickets. Setup at the fairgrounds will likely be during the day of the event. The price of meals has increased nearly $10 per person over last year’s cost. Nutrien has offered to pay the additional cost.

Social Meeting Update

There are no social meetings scheduled at this time.

Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee will award 14 scholarships at the May 23 meeting. Wannemacher requested 5 minutes at that meeting for Bart Mills and Marc Wright to promote Lima’s Juneteenth celebration. Board agreed.

New Treasurer Discussion

No club members have volunteered to fill the club treasurer’s role when Dan Best leaves it at the end of this Rotary year. Best agreed to continue those duties for a couple more months until a new treasurer is found. He will contact Tracey Regula and see what it would cost to have her accounting firm take over the job.

Jerry Lucas Picture Raffle

The winning raffle ticket for the autographed Ohio State Buckeyes photos from Jerry Lucas will be drawn at Changing of the Guard on June 27^th. Tickets will continue to be sold for $20 until that time. The club will split the proceeds from the raffle 50/50 with Lucas’s educational program.

Toledo Rotary Inquiry About Dues Structure

The Toledo Rotary Club contacted the Lima Rotary Club to inquire about our club’s dues structure as it considers raising dues. Best discussed this with them. Toledo Rotary currently has a tiered dues system with one price for members under the age of 40 and a higher price for members over the age of 40. Meals are additional and are paid by members at each week’s meeting.

Printed Membership Directory

Richard Warren requested the club begin printing membership directories as it did in the past. The board does not think that is a good idea due to the cost and the constant changes in membership.

Juneteenth

The Lima Rotary Club will not meet on June 20^th due to the new federal holiday, Juneteenth. The Civic Center will not be open that day and would have to open just for the club and pay overtime to its staff if we chose to hold our meeting that day. The club traditionally does not meet on federal holidays.

Board Reports All Board Members

Empowering Girls Committee

Fry reported that the Empowering Girls Committee met on May 9 with attendance from several community members. They are still in the fact finding stage, trying to determine what services are needed to help local girls and how the club can go about filling those needs. The Lima City Schools has stated that there is a need for feminine hygiene products among some of the students. Stemen suggested that the committee see if it is eligible for a district grant.

PolioPlus Fundraising Campaign

Stemen reported that Plunge For Polio will take place on May 23 with him in a dunk tank during the club meeting. Members can purchase balls to throw at him. If members don’t want to be in the dunk tank they can purchase immunity tickets for $20 prior to the meeting. It is expected that this event and the proceeds from the quarterly Rottery drawing will bring the club to its $5,000 PolioPlus goal for this year.

Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing Update

Wannemacher reported that many sponsors are already committed and the committee is currently working on signing up teams for the August 17^th outing.

District Dues Increase

Stemen received a letter from Rotary District 6600 stating that Rotary International dues will be increasing $4.00 per member in the 2022-2023 year and $3.50 per member for the 2023-2024 year. District 6600 will not increase dues next year and will evaluate the situation the following year. This led to a discussion about the need for the Lima Rotary Club to raise dues since the club has no extra funds to cover the increase. A committee of Best, Farley, Stemen and Decker will meet on May 23 to discuss the amount of the dues increase likely to be required. In the meantime, Fitzgerald will contact Milano’s and Farley will contact the Civic Center to see if they will be increasing their costs to the club next year.

Treasurer’s Report Dan Best

Best reported that the club’s total income year to date is $88,499.10, slightly above the same period last year. The club’s YTD expenses are $81,525.18, leaving the club with a net income of $6,973.94, down $23,827.62 from the same period last year. The club’s working capital is $20,016. Farley made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. Wannemacher seconded the motion. Board approved.

New Business

Applications Anne Decker
The Lima Rotary Club has received the following new member applications:

Sheila Miller – Care Access Patient Access Liaison

Troy Elwer – New Allen County Fair Manager

Scott Neth – Premier Bank Vice President Commercial Lender

Erin Hardesty – New United Way Director
Kendra Dilts – The Springs of Lima Executive Director

John Payne – Lima Municipal Court Magistrate
Stemen made a motion to approve all six new member applications. Buettner seconded the motion. Board approved. Their orientation is scheduled for May 25, 2022.

Resignations

None at this time

Farley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 12:57 P.M.

Respectfully submitted

Anne Decker, Secretary

Golf Outing

Posted by Anne Decker on Apr 07, 2022

Join us for the Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing on August 17 and support our scholarship fund.

Please join us for a fun day of golf, games, and Rotarian camaraderie. This year marks the 22^ndanniversary of the annual Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing. It will be held on Wednesday, August 17^th at Hidden Creek Golf Course with a rain date of Wednesday, August 24^th.

Last year we had 29 teams competing and raised $39,910, all of which went to benefit the Rotary Foundation Scholarship Fund. The Rotary Memorial Scholarship Fund selects persons who live or work in Allen County who are in pursuit of a degree or certification and will attend a school or college in Allen County. The intent of the scholarship is to encourage Allen County employees and residents to work and plan for their futures within our county. As of April 2022, the Rotary Memorial Scholarship Fund has helped 1,125 adults to continue their education and to pursue their dream. These scholarships total over $852,250. Degrees or certifications can be achieved at the Apollo Career Center (Adult Education), Bluffton University, Rhodes State College, The Ohio State University at Lima and the University of Northwestern Ohio. All residents who live in and employees who work in Allen County are eligible.

Dental Hygiene

Posted by Bob Ruehl on May 13, 2022

Rotary members and Rotarian dentists support dental hygiene in their communities.

Disease prevention and treatment is one of Rotary International's areas of focus, but dental hygiene, which plays an important role in the well-being of the individual, is sometimes forgotten. This is the reason why Rotary clubs take action all over the world to provide information and care to all.

Many ailments, far beyond the digestive system, are caused by poor dental hygiene. They include painful tendonitis, worsening heart problems, and diabetes. Prevention is the first step to take, because it is "better to be safe than sorry."

Oral hygiene awareness

An oral hygiene awareness campaign has recently been carried out by the Rotary Club of Casablanca Atlantic for students of the Aoulad Cheikh school in Dar Bouazza, Morocco. Initiated in partnership with the Association marocaine de prévention bucco-dentaire (Moroccan Oral Prevention Association), this campaign has reached a thousand children. The children attended classes given by practitioners and now understand the importance of regular and proper toothbrushing. On this occasion, some students received emergency care. Speaking on a Moroccan television channel, Dounia Oudghiri, president of the Rotary Club of Casablanca Atlantic, claimed that children had avoided cavities. "This is an important project that guarantees long-term dignity; we are planning other campaigns," said Oudghiri.

In France, Rotarians are addressing the same issue, such as the Rotary Club of Camembert which helps first-graders at a school in Normandy learn about oral hygiene. A dental surgeon and her assistant explain to the children the importance of taking care of their teeth. According to the practitioner, "It is very useful in view of the oral health of some children who need care." The Rotarians give each child a cup with a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

Prevention is not only for children, but also for underprivileged adults; 160 kits including toothbrushes and toothpaste are offered by the Rotary club of Narbonne to people without housing. Prevention is only a first step, and providing care is another area in which Rotary members are involved.

Caregiving

Robert-Michel Nétus is a stomatologist and a member of the Rotary Club of Delmas Centre in Haiti. He volunteers to provide dental care in areas that lack health facilities. He drives to meet patients in need, driving on uneven roads, often through areas with criminal activity. Supported by his club, which provides him with gas, medicine, materials, and supplies, Robert-Michel says, "My real passion is to give my patients their smile back through dental care." This is a passion shared by many French dental students who travel throughout the world to care for under resourced populations on a voluntary basis. To support such initiatives, the Rotary Club of Tonneins in southwest France organizes a local craft beer show in which a dozen brewers showcase their production. The project proceeds fund students from the dental school of Bordeaux who will travel to Madagascar to put their training into practice under the supervision of seasoned professionals. But goodwill is not enough if there is insufficient equipment; so, Rotary members take action to help practitioners work in the best possible conditions.

Free equipment

In Senegal, the Rotary Club of Dakar Millennium offered a new dental chair to the Mame Louise Gomis health facility during a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Gorée.

This equipment now provides the island population with the opportunity to receive treatment locally. This care is made possible by dentists who come from the mainland three times a week. The Mayor applauded the club saying, "This gesture is of high philanthropic significance from the Rotary Club of Dakar Millennium which has carried out other projects benefiting Gorée." At the other end of the African continent, the Rotary Club of Djibouti gave some equipment to the hospital of Tadjourah. The dental ward at this facility has been fully reequipped by Rotary members. The entire Republic of Djibouti is plagued by the overconsumption of khat which, in addition to sweetened drinks, causes serious dental problems. This donation now allows patients to be treated without having to cross the Gulf to go to Djibouti.

Rotarian dentists are involved in many activities related to their profession. They promote their profession not only through humanitarian projects, but also during career days with the goal of providing information to high school students. They know how to offer their skills and share their passion. They are professionals who are committed to the spirit of service, the spirit of Rotary.

Did you know? 645 dentists subscribe to Rotary Mag, the French regional magazine. The dental profession is one of the most represented in Rotary, with half of French-speaking clubs having at least one dental surgeon among their members.

Rotary In Review

Posted by Bob Ruehl on May 13, 2022

Rotary In Review: A Roundup Of Rotary Stories

European Rotaract clubs organize to help Ukrainian refugees

Across Europe, Rotaract members are using digital tools to share information and coordinate efforts to help people affected by the war in Ukraine. By routing communications through the European Rotaract Information Centre (also known as Rotaract Europe), a multidistrict information organization that serves clubs in more than 40 countries, these young members are using the power of Rotary’s global network to direct aid where it’s needed most. Read more about this effort and learn other ways Rotary is responding to the Ukraine crisis.

This week's stories

Rotaract members win Service Above Self award

Members of Rotaract are now eligible to be nominated for Rotary service awards, including the Service Above Self Award, Avenues of Service Award and The Rotary Foundation’s District Service Award, Citation for Meritorious Service, and Distinguished Service Award. Maria Valentina Martinez Belo and Ignacio Gonzalez Mendez are the first Rotaractors to receive the Service Above Self Award and will be among 133 recipients who will be honored at this year’s Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, USA. Read their stories.

Staff Corner: John Hewko

In this month’s Staff Corner column, Rotary magazine profiles John Hewko, Rotary’s General Secretary and CEO. Read more about Hewko including his connections to Ukraine.

Rotary project around the globe

From clothing drives for the needy in Alberta, Canada, to classroom improvements in Cambodia, Rotary clubs are taking action to improve local communities worldwide. Read a roundup of global service projects from Rotary magazine.

Interact

Posted by Bob Ruehl on May 13, 2022

Interact: Unlocking Young People's Potential

y Valentina Rigamonti, member of the Interact Advisory Council 2021-22, Rotary Youth Network team member, President of the Interact Club of Vigevano Lomellina (Italy, District 2050)

When I first learned about Interact clubs, I had an inexplicable gut feeling that joining was the right choice to make and that it would lead me to other opportunities. Life is all about taking the right risks and being conscious of the fact that things do not always go as you expect. Luckily, sometimes things exceed every expectation.

Interact is a global movement that changes the world and prepares young people to organize meaningful services to help their communities. I joined my local Interact Club in 2017, became president in 2021, and served in the first-ever Interact Advisory Council, representing over 369,000 Interactors in 151 countries. The Interact Advisory Council is made up of current Interactors and recent Interact alumni and was created to celebrate the voices and perspectives of Interactors and to help shape the strategic direction of the program.

I can sum up my Interact journey in one concept: the limitless expansion of my comfort zone. I am a proud Interactor because it made me grow as an individual. It has broadened my horizons, taught me failure and success, expanded my vision, and helped me acquire social skills.

In joining Interact, I stepped outside of my comfort zone into a fear zone, marked by insecurity and fear of failure; however, once I understood that I do not live to satisfy other people’s expectations, I could finally move to a new and exciting learning zone, where I can finally be free and improve myself. Interact was the key factor of my growth.

There are several memorable service projects I have participated in as an Interactor. My club volunteered for three months in a soup kitchen, and we cooked a surprising amount of 356 meals. We also partnered with a local radio to interview five Interact Clubs around the world. At school, we painted our school entrance and sold reusable water bottles to reduce the plastic consumption in our secondary school.

Small changes can have a big impact. We see a world where Interactors are empowered: we are tomorrow’s Rotarians, citizens, leaders, innovators, and game-changers.

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of blog posts in celebration of Youth Service Month. Learn more about how Rotary is developing the next generation of leaders.

Kenya

Posted by Bob Ruehl on May 13, 2022

Calling Rotarians to help break the cycle of poverty in Kenya.