It is as true today as it was a year ago — Rotary Opens Opportunities.
We had the opportunity to see the slogan for the 2020-21 year put into action many times.
And, while Holger Knaack, who has served as international president for the past year, admits that he had no idea of how quickly we would be confronted with issues brought on by COVID-19 when he chose that as his theme in January 2020, he is glad to see that Rotarians around the world embraced those challenges and have helped to open a new path forward.
We had several opportunities during the past year to see that slogan in action. Our meetings are now held in the Jeffco Center, a building that has been used in the past to offer training that allowed hundreds of area residents to have the opportunity to learn a skill and become more involved in their community.
Mike Zinno, the superintendent of the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, offered details of how the programs there had been transformed to ensure the people his agency served could have even bigger roles in the world around them. Thanks to the sponsorship of Mike Mehalik, Zinno became our newest member in June.
When we were able to meet in person, our programs covered a wide range of topics — from details about how the process would work in a presentation from the Ohio secretary of state's office during the run-up to the November election, to the work being done by Blue Stream Farms with aquaponic farming — which opens educational opportunities to students from across the Tri-State Area — to an instructional session on lacrosse by Rotarian Pete Rosaschi, who coaches the sport at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Through our Service Above Self Scholarship program, we were able to help four local high school students who are preparing to begin their college studies.
Those in-person meetings are important — there's no better way to get to know people than by being able to share a meal and conversation. That just wasn't possible all the time this year, but we were able to maintain a regular meeting schedule through Zoom. Successful use of that online option certainly opened opportunities for this year and into the future.
Knaack's theme is one that was easily embraced, and it is a perfect lead-in to the theme of the 2021-22 Rotary year: Serve to Change Lives. Shekhar Mehta, who will serve as international president this year, has said he chose that theme as a reminder that serving changes not only the lives of other people, but also our own.
Mehta laid out his plans for the coming year during Rotary's International Assembly in February. He asked that this year's focus be placed on empowering girls through education, resources, services and opportunities that will ensure that future generations of women leaders will have the tools they need to succeed.
He also tasked incoming district governors to look for ways to attract new members. And, yes, find ways to accomplish those goals while continuing efforts to eradicate polio, fight COVID-19 and serve local communities.
That's a big challenge, but, as Knaack wrote in the June edition of Rotary magazine, this past year has reminded us that we must be nimble, adaptable and creative. He added that Rotary clubs around the world must continue to move forward — and not fall into the trap of going back to the way things were before the pandemic.
Things around us will continue to change, but it will be important for all of us to remember that Rotary will continue to open opportunities and provide the chance to serve others and, in the process, improve the lives of everyone around us.
A MESSAGE FROM ROBYN HILL
Literacy Project Exploratory Committee
Rotary international is dedicated to causes that build international relationships and improve lives by promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, and supporting education. With regard to the latter, literacy is one of the main areas of focus. Reading is a vital skill in the classroom and the workplace. Access to books, and especially reading for pleasure, have been linked to greater academic success, as well as important job/life skills such as critical thinking and empathy. The purpose of this committee is to explore the possibilities for a local, hands-on literacy project to be funded and implemented by the members of the Steubenville Rotary Club.
The following are suggestions that were offered at this week’s meeting (all within the space of about 20 minutes!) and offer starting points for discussion. Please review this list and notify
Robyn Hill of your interest in being part of this committee. She can be reached at
robynhill@gmail.com or via text/VM at 760-845-8728.
Raising Readers with Rotary: Purchase low-cost high interest books and collect gently used books that can be redistributed to young readers via school-based book fairs or other means to be determined.
Rotary Readers: In conjunction with a school, schools, or libraries, create a schedule for Rotarians to read to children and possibly engage them in an extension activity.
Literacy Display/Contest: In partnership with a school or public library, fund the purchase of books related to an important Rotary theme, such as peace or clean water, to facilitate the creation of a public display. This exhibit might also be offered in conjunction with a Rotary sponsored art, writing, or photography contest.
Backpacks: Provide the Urban Mission with new or gently used books to be distributed during the Back-to-School Backpack program.
Imagination Library: Work with the Jefferson County libraries to increase membership in the free Dolly Parton Imagination Library Book Club.
Books and Barbers: Provide new and gently used books to businesses with young clientele, such as barbers and hair salons.
Books for Tots: Provide new and gently used books to organizations that provide services to young children, such as Preschools and Head Start.
Books for Speakers: Rather than a coffee cup, donate books to local school libraries on behalf of our speakers, allowing them to sign a bookplate that denotes their name and business or organization.
Newspapers in Education: promote a project for Interact students to create and publish a monthly or quarterly “Kids’ Page ” that can be used in local classrooms.
Thank you for your interest in this new opportunity for “Service Above Self”!
