In September, Rotary’s emphasis is placed on Basic Education and Literacy. What many of you already recognize and I have surely learned is that this area is one of focus for the Clubs in out District.
Dictionaries, scholarships, aid to libraries, and providing classroom supplies are projects that abound in District 6650. The RI theme is understood, appreciated, and executed very well by our members!
And, I thank you all.
In the Clubs I have visited so far ( and in the Clubs I am still looking forward to visiting), I have been sharing the message that one of my goals this year is to increase our District’s impact on Polio eradication.
As well, I have asked Clubs to educate their communities of what Rotary has accomplished for polio eradication. Our District will be doing the same! This October, we will be having a District project,
The Purple Pinkie Project.
After inoculating children for Polio, the volunteers dye the children’s pinkie fingertip purple, to identify the vaccinated. In homage to this mark, we will be offering donut sticks with purple icing in one dozen
boxes; and all profits will be going to Polio Plus! As I have previously said, I cannot have a successful year unless the Clubs have successful years. As well, this cannot be a successful project without the help
of the Clubs. I am hopeful that each Club will purchase a minimum of four dozen donuts for sale or distribution as the Club sees fit. As well, we will need volunteers to help with distribution and delivery of donuts
to our Clubs. Complete details will be furnished to the Clubs in the very near future.
“Fall is the best time to think about spring wildflowers,” says Gavin Switzer, the owner and lead designer of NextNature, a landscape design and environmental compliance company. Switzer, a new member of The Rotary Club of Youngstown, offers fall planting advice for anyone who wants to join Operation Pollination in restoring pollinator habitats. Switzer also offers free consultations to Rotarians who want to install pollinator patches in their backyards. Email him at GSwitzer@nextntureenvironemntal.com.
Q.What can I do this fall to prepare a pollinator patch for planting next spring?
A. I recommend planting native plants in the fall because they have a chance to take root before the winter frost. Because they are perennial plants, they will grow larger every year.
Q.Are seeds a good choice at all times, or in certain seasons?
A. Seeds are also a good choice for fall planting. This has the same benefits as planting plugs. Giving roots ample time to grow is always beneficial. I recommend September - November and April - June, although some seeds need to cold stratify over winter. Be sure to consult with your seed vendor before planting.
Q.What costs should I anticipate before starting a pollinator patch in my backyard?
A. There are several costs when correctly planting a pollinator patch in your backyard. The first is the removal of existing turf grass. The most cost-effective way is to grab a shovel and dig it up by hand. The middle range is chemical treatment. I do not recommend doing this unless necessary, however, this is an effective treatment method. If using chemicals, then always wear the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and follow all safety guidelines listed on the bottle. The most expensive would be to rent or purchase a “sod cutter.” This will strip the sod leaving bare soil.
Seed mix is cost-effective but will look more random than plugs. Plugs are expensive, but you can plant them in clusters to give a more intentional traditional landscape look.
Extra costs include mulch and topsoil.
Overall, you can use different strategies, depending on the size of your planned plot. I recommend starting small to determine if you like it, and then expanding it over time.
Q.How long does a pollinator patch to become established?
The beauty of pollinator patches is, when grown from plugs, you can control the density of planting. Every year it will change and develop. To start a patch from seed and fully develop it, you are looking at a 2-4 year process. With plugs, you will get an instant pop of green.
Q. Where can I get information about which native plants to include in my project?
For species identification, I prefer the iNaturalist app. To see if a plant is native to your area, the USDA Plant database is a great tool. Several Youngstown Rotarians are very knowledgeable with plants including Elsa Higby, Elayne Bozick, and me. I use Prairie Moon as a vendor for plugs and Ohio Prairie Nursery and Ernst Seed for seed mixes.
32 local clubs had applied for local district grants totaling $50,584. Below is a table of Clubs and projects receiving grants based on requested funding and club donations made 3 years ago, per-capita giving using our traditional methods.
ALLIANCE Appliances for Habitat for Humanity
AUSTINTOWN Homeless Veterans Food Program
BOARDMAN Teaching Life Skills to Students
CANAL FULTON Baseball Field Pavilion
CANFIELD Update Village Gazebo
CANTON Pack the Bus – Food/Clothing for Children
CANTON SOUTH Preschool Education/Literacy Libraries
CORTLAND Sustainable Butterfly Garden
DENNISON Dennison Project
DOVER Operation Warm Coat
EAST LIVERPOOL Butterfly Garden/East Liverpool Community Center
GIRARD-LIBERTY School Food Pantry
HOWLAND Food Pantry
HUBBARD High School Scholarships
JACKSON TOWNSHIP Community Scholarships
KINSMAN Refrigerator for Kinsman Library
LAKE TOWNSHIP Tree Planting Hartville/Lake Community
LOUISVILLE Sustainable Butterfly Garden
MALVERN Support for Historic Jail Project
MINERVA Senior Center Outreach
NILES Holiday Meals and Dictionary Project
NORTH CANTON Better Together Bereavement Camp
ORRVILLE Orrville Rotary Scholarship Program
PERRY TOWNSHIP Perry Food Pantry Support
PLAIN TOWNSHIP Picnic Shelter
POLAND Operation Warm Coats
SALEM 3rd Grade Dictionary Project
STEUBENVILLE Service Above Self Scholarships
STRUTHERS Planting Native Trees in Park
WARREN Dictionary Project
WOOSTER High School and College Scholarships
YOUNGSTOWN Rich Center for Autism
ON THE LINE
Though a person is the District Governor for only one year, the road to and through the position is a bit longer. District Governor, Nominee Designate; District Governor Nominee; District Governor Elect; District Governor; Immediate Past District Governor; Past District Governor. Accepting the appointment is a six, and sometimes seven, year commitment. As such, it is a good idea to know who is coming along, as well as who has already passed through the line.
ROTARY DISTRICT 6650
DISTRICT GOVERNOR ELECT: Elayne Bozick (DG, 2024-2025)
Elayne is a life-long resident of northeast Ohio. She is an alumna of Youngstown State University graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with post-graduate work at Kent State Universit
While continuing her association with YSU as an adjunct instructor in the Art Department and Supervisor of the Technical Writing Lab in the English Department, she founded Clovis Graphic Design Studio in Poland, Ohio.
She currently works with Berkshire Hathaway Stouffer Realty with Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) and Professional Property Stager (PPS) designations.
Elayne has been a member of the Rotary Club of Youngstown, Ohio since 1991, and served as Club President in 2004-05.
Elayne is a member of Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) and an Operation Pollination Global Ambassador.
Elayne believes in the ideal of service. Within her community she serves on the board of Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District, Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Coitsville Township Zoning Board of Appeals, YWCA’s Women’s Art committee, and is a member and past Treasurer of the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society.
Elayne is a master gardener and an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist “restoring habitat one square foot at a time”. Her art interests include watercolor, acrylics, alcohol inks, photography, ceramics, and collage. She is an avid reader and yoga practitioner.
She and her husband Lawrence live in Coitsville, Ohio where they continue to renovate their home and “work in the garden”.
Q & A ….
1) What would be your ideal vacation location?
Lakeside, near hiking trails - and a good winery.
2) What was your most memorable Rotary moment?
Meeting Johnathon Majiyagbe in Osaka.
3) When you were 10 years old, what did you think your occupation would be?
Anthropologist.
4) What is your favorite dessert?
Fruit pie - any and all!
5) What TV program or type of programming does Larry (your husband) like to watch and you
cannot tolerate?
Sports on a Sunday afternoon when it is gorgeous outside!
ROTARY MONTH THEME
Polio Plus is one of our District Governor Rich Tirpak's main focuses...
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
SAVE THE DATES
This year's All-Ohio training for Rotary Club Presidents Elects will take place in Columbus
Friday, March 15, and Saturday March 16, 2024
Registration open dates to be determined in the near future.
Please watch for that announcement.
Prior to that weekend District 6650 PE's will be invited to meet their "classmates" throughout the state as we all participate in three virtual training sessions leading up to the event.
To assure your club's PE receives an invitation, please send all PE 2024-25 information to: emsbozick@gmail.com
All virtual training sessions will be held from 6:00-7:00 p.m. as follows:
SAVE THE DATES:
October 11, 2023
November 8, 2023
January 3, 2024
There will also be FOUR District 6650 ONLY virtual trainings:
SAVE THE DATES:
September 27, 2023 - My Rotary and Clubrunner
October 18, 2023 - 6650 Membership in 2024-25
November 15, 2023 - 6650 Foundation What You Need to Know
January 10, 2024 - 6650 Clubs Public Image
Elayne M.S. Bozick
Rotary Club of Youngstown, Ohio
DG 6650 2024-25
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Famous Rotarians
Incoming 6650 Youth Exchange Get Together 8-2023
Youth Exchange Students 2022-2023...goodbye and good luck!
The ‘22/’23 Inbound students successfully completed their year and the return of Rotary Youth Exchange. Special thanks to clubs Canfield, Howland Twp, Jackson Twp, Louisville, North Canton, Wooster, and Youngstown for hosting in the year Rotary re-started exchange.
RD6650 Youth Exchange is now excited to introduce the ‘23/’24 Inbound students to east-central Ohio, and thankful for the participation of additional clubs Champion, East Canton, Millersburg, and Salem. DG Rich Tirpak helped the district youth exchange committee welcome Inbound students and host families to the August 19-20 orientation and over-nighter generously hosted by Boardman Rotary. The eight new Inbounds were treated to bowling, family games, and an American-style cookout – complete with a campfire and S’mores at BSA Camp Stambaugh.
All district Rotary members and clubs are asked to spread the good news about Rotary Youth Exchange. The Outbound student application for the ‘24/’25 school year is now open. Students aged 15-to-19 at the time of departure in August 2024 are eligible to apply. Please share the application link with anyone who is interested and may benefit from such an extraordinary study abroad experience: https://yehub.net/OER-obapp
District committee members are available to talk or meet with prospective student applicants and their families. Please have them contact District Youth Exchange Chair Brent Rice/Wooster Rotary (d6650rotaryyouthexchange@gmail.com; 330-749-7120) or Co-chair Bill Wood/Louisville Rotary (wmawood@juno.com; 330-284-4779). Likewise, the district committee is happy to discuss how to engage your club with Rotary Youth Exchange by having a discussion with club leadership or by giving a club program. Your club’s engagement could include sponsoring an Outbound student; hosting an Inbound student; organizing, or providing support, for a monthly over-nighter; etc.
DISTRICT CLUBS IN ACTION
Please share your club’s stories by the 1st of the next month for inclusion in the next monthly bulletin
email: rotarydistrict6650@gmail.com
ALLIANCE ROTARY
AUSTINTOWN ROTARY
BOARDMAN ROTARY
CANFIELD ROTARY
Canfield Rotary sponsored a rooster to celebrate 175 years of Canfield Fair and raided $4,750.money for Canfield Fair Foundation.
.
Good friends, good food, good wine, good music, and perfect weather
CANTON & PLAIN TOWNSHIP ROTARY
What a great day for our golf outing!
CANTON SOUTH ROTARY
DENNISON ROTARY
MINERVA ROTARY
NORTH CANTON ROTARY
SALEM ROTARY
The opening of The Salem Rotary Family Sports Center, their Centennial gift to the community, which offers a wide range of healthy, family-oriented activities. The park also provides handicapped accessible activities. Nearly $250,000 was raised thanks to generous Rotarian donors.
Clean-up Day
STRUTHERS ROTARY
SUGARCREEK ROTARY
YOUNGSTOWN ROTARY
The first Rotafloat event ...RCY members kayaked on the Mahoning River and toured downtown development projects with Mayor Jim Iudiciani Sr.
ROTARY…WHAT WE CARE ABOUT
ROTARY LEADERSHIP
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