Rotary International President Gordon McInally signed an Operation Pollination Partnership earlier this year with District Governors from Michigan and northern Indiana. District 6650 Governor Rich Tirpak signed a Pollinator Resolution on Oct. 18 during his official visit to the Rotary Club of Warren. Ohio was the first state in which all Rotary district governors and their boards, representing more than 200 clubs, signed a pollinator resolution.

Why are these events significant?

High-level Rotary leaders sign these nonbinding documents to encourage the clubs they represent to engage in Operation Pollination. The reasons are clear:

An Operation Pollination goal is to increase pollinator habitat throughout the world. Rotary is an important partner in this endeavor. Rotary is renowned for its volunteer service to benefit communities. Rotary has designated the environment as the seventh Area of Focus. The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) supports the goals of Operation Pollination.

Local club presidents engage by signing Pollinator Pledges, which state in general terms the activities their clubs will undertake. Planting seeds, restoring meadows, and painting murals as public educational projects are some examples. “No judgment is ever made,” says Christopher Stein, a member of ESRAG and employee of the U.S. National Park Service. “It is based on capability and capacity. Operation Pollination is not a prescription. It is a framework.”

Project participation matters more than project size. “All of these clubs signing pledges will make a difference,” says Elayne Bozick, past president of the Rotary Club of Youngstown and District 6650 Governor-Elect 2024-25. “We all have the power to do something in our own backyards.” A district-wide environmental committee is being established now to build on Operation Pollination planting activities, educational programming, and public messaging, she added. Christine Cope, past president of the Rotary Club of Warren, will lead the committee.

Support for Operation Pollination extends well beyond the Midwest. Clubs in Australia, Ontario Canada, England, India, Mexico, Portugal, Scotland, and Wales currently are involved.

To obtain pollinator resolutions and pledges, go to https://esrag.org/operation-pollination/

 

Trunk or Treating at Sweet Vintage Memories in Liberty

Meet the Candidates Night

 

The club held its annual Warm Coats at the Louisville YMCA to give away for students preK-5th grade that have been identified by Louisville City School’s Care Team as in need of assistance. $3500 was raised thanks to our community partners and donors. This money provided 156 coats, hats, and gloves to children in need who live in the Louisville area.

The club with both the Louisville City Schools and YMCA for a sidewalk project to provide a safe passage from Louisville Middle School and High School to the YMCA. The club donated $17,500 toward the installation of 3 sections of sidewalk to give students a direct path whose property abuts both schools. The sidewalk has not only provided a direct, safe, clean passageway for students, it’s placement between the high school softball practice fields and YMCA’s flag football fields have made these community events accessible for people with disabilities and parents with young children in strollers..

 

 

Halloween parade...Rotarians braving the dreary weather