ROTARY MOURNS LOSS OF
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR
Greenfield Rotary Club was saddened to learn of the passing of George M. Waddell on Jan. 17, 2010 at the age of 93.
While still a young man, Mr. Waddell served as Rotary District Governor in 1951-52, and to this day he is the only member of the Greenfield club to hold that high office. In addition to visiting and serving the clubs in the district, Mr. Waddell attended international assemblies and conventions and remained active in the local club through his time in Greenfield. In the 1990s he relocated to Mt. Dora, Florida, but he continued to visit the club whenever he could and remained involved in many community activities.
George Waddell was widely known for his active lifestyle that focused on spiritual pursuits, physical fitness and lifelong search for knowledge. He embodied the ideals of Rotary and contributed to the life of community through philanthropic endeavors and participation in many forms of service. Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” fit Past District Governor Waddell like a glove. In recognition of his many contributions to Rotary, the club made George Waddell the first recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship in 1985.
The Greenfield Rotary Club extends its condolences to the Waddell family.
SHOW CHOIR ENTERTAINS CLUB
The McClain Show Choir entertained the Greenfield Rotary Club in December with a selection of Christmas songs and other numbers. In appreciation, the club presented director Loretta Flora a check for $250.
TIGER COACH GIVES PROGRAM
Brent Eaton, coach of the McClain boys varsity basketball team, was a guest at Rotary recently and talked about his team’s outlook for the 2009-10 season. Pictured L-R are Rotary President Eric Borsini, Brent Eaton and Rotarian Blain Bergstrom, who arranged the program.
COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SUPPORT
ANNUAL NEEDY KIDS RADIOTHON
The Greenfield Rotary Club's annual Needy Kids Radiothon raised more than $18,000 Wednesday, Dec. 2 to be used for the purchase of Christmas gifts for area kids this holiday season.
Rotarian Barb Barton said the total at the end of the radiothon stood at $18,080, a total that was “really amazing given the state of the economy."
She is hopeful that in the coming days and weeks additional funds will be received. Last year, the radiothon brought in roughly $15,000 and additional donations raised the total to more than $20,000.
"We were nervous (Wednesday) because we didn't want to have to turn children away, but now we're confident that we'll be able to serve all the children in the Leesburg and Greenfield schools who need a brighter Christmas this year," Barton said.
More than 300 children benefit from the Rotary's effort each Christmas. Barton said that this year she knows there will be more. And, the community's support will help the Rotary achieve its goal of assisting all the local families in need this season.
"I was a bit overwhelmed because there were so many businesses and individuals who supported us through the radiothon," Barton said. "It makes you feel so good to live in a community where so many people give."
Highlights of the 2009 radiothon included a donation of $4,000 from the Greenfield Eagles. Dick Fagan of the Eagles Aerie made the presentation to Barton and Charlie Stevens, who chaired the project for Rotary.
Another sizeable donation of $1,000 was presented by Kenny Curry on behalf of the Greenfield Antique Tractor Club.
Children under the age of 12 can receive Christmas gifts, but parents must first fill out an application, available at all Greenfield banks, WVNU and The Letter Shop. Birth certificates are required and parents need to bring a photo ID on distribution day.
The Rotary purchases all gifts locally and will help distribute those gifts Thursday, Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon and 3-6 p.m. at 345 Jefferson St.
"A big, big thank you goes to all of the people who support us each year and who supported us this year," Barton said.
Donations may be mailed to Needy Kids, P.O. Box 329, Greenfield, Ohio 45123.
EXCHANGE STUDENT SPEAKS TO CLUB
Naiel Jaboreen, exchange student from Israel who is staying with Cathy Rivas and family this year, gave an interesting program at Rotary on Dec. 3 about life in Israel and the comparisons and contrasts with life in America. He is pictured with Rotarian Peter Quance.
TREASURE HUNT A SUCCESS
Greenfield Rotary’s first-ever Treasure Hunt had a successful debut Nov. 14, as teams of fun-seekers competed for prize money while following clever clues in search of treasure.
The team of Larry and Cindy Hayes emerged victorious in the competition, and all the teams reported having a great time. Other teams participating included Merchants National Bank, Greenfield Schools, Adena Greenfield Medical Center, Mary Hafer and Friends, and Chris and Michelle Dodds.
The club is hopeful that more participants will take part in 2010 as this will add to the fun and the fundraising.
Some photos from the event can be seen at the Poor Man’s Photography website:
www.poor-mans-photography.com
The 2009 Paul Harris Fellows of the Greenfield Rotary Club are Chuck Miller and Mike Penn. L-R: Chuck Miller, District Gov. Hans Berkel, Mike Penn and Greenfield Rotary President Eric Borsini.
Rotary shows appreciation
at annual dinner meeting
Buyers of limited-edition prints and other supporters of Greenfield Rotary Club were honored at the club’s annual appreciation dinner Oct. 15, 2009 at Buckeye Hills Country Club.
President Eric Borsini welcomed members and guests to the annual event, which featured a delicious meal of prime rib or chicken.
Festival chairman Jim Weller pointed out that the theme of the 2009 Wheels of Progress Festival was “Together All Things Are Possible,” and he pointed out that much of the money that Rotary donates to good causes such as Mitchell Park, dictionaries for third graders, academic, artistic and athletic programs and various community projects comes from the proceeds raised at the festival auction. The bulk of that money comes from the sale of the limited edition prints created by local artist Tammy Wells.
The 2009 print buyers included the Home Building & Loan Company, Sitterle Insurance, Dr. Richard Mizer and Cristy Hill Mizer, Adena Greenfield Medical Center, Fifth Third Bank, Leesburg Federal Savings Bank, Greenfield Research, Corner Pharmacy, Paul and Mary Wisecup and Merchants National Bank. Representatives of all the print buyers were on hand for the appreciation dinner.
Other special guests recognized at the appreciation dinner included current District Governor Hans Berkel and his wife Mae of Centerville, Tammy Wells, the artist who created the prints for the Rotary auction; Charles and Rita Shonkwiler of the Greenfield Antique Car Club; and Greg Miller and Kenny Curry of the Antique Tractor and Machinery Club. The club also expressed thanks to Jim Weller, longtime chairman of the Wheels of Progress Festival, his daughter Annette Weller for designing the programs for the evening, and Jackie Gardner for organizing the evening’s activities.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of two new Paul Harris Fellows, so named in honor of the man who founded Rotary in 1905, as a way of paying tribute to their many contributions to Rotary. Pat Hays, who made the presentations, pointed out that 2009 marks the 25th year that the club has been honoring club and community members in this way, and that $1,000 is donated to the Rotary International Foundation for each Paul Harris Fellow – money that is used to provide clean drinking water and other essential services in underdeveloped countries.
The Paul Harris Fellowship recipients for 2009 are Chuck Miller and Mike Penn.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by Bregette McCloskey, a gifted singer who blended country, Christian and other styles into a pleasing presentation.
At the end of the evening door prizes were given away by Jackie Gardener, who organized the program for the evening.
District Gov. Hans Berkel and singer Bregette McCloskey are pictured during the 2009 appreciation dinner at Buckeye Hills Country Club.
OUR CLUB
The club sponsors the annual Wheels of Progress Festival during the third weekend of July each year, and is involved in many community projects. On a national and international level, the club participates in many projects for the benefit of others.
PROJECTS
"He profits most who serves the best." So says the Rotary motto, and our club has fun serving the community. The Rotary Club of Greenfield owns and operates the Ralph W. Phillips Recreation and Civic Center, home of the Greenfield Head Start Program and the scene of many community activities, including basketball games, Christmas parties and the McClain High School All-Night Party. Proceeds from building rentals help pay the operating expenses, but the club supplements its income through spaghetti dinners, the Wheels of Progress Festival and other activities to keep this valuable community center operating.
Each spring the Greenfield club joins forces with the Hillsboro Rotary Club to raise funds for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults. This organization offers assistance to Highland Countians in need without the red tape often associated with charitable organizations. The annual radio-telethon in March has raised more than a million dollars since its inception in the early 1970s. Funds are expended for wheelchairs, hearing aids, orthopedic devices, transportation vouchers and a host of other uses. In addition to the telethons there is a gospel sing. Highland County is proud of this amazingly successful program of people helping people.
As Christmas nears, Rotarians get involved in the Needy Kids Program, which helps provide food baskets and presents for those in need. Some 400 families received assistance last year.
As fundraisers, Greenfield Rotary sponsors a pair of spaghetti dinners each year -- one during football season and one during the basketball campaign. The club also sponsors the annual Wheels of Progress Festival during the third weekend of July. Funds from these and other projects are returned to the community through the above activities and other projects and donations.
If you would like to know more about Rotary, contact any member of the Greenfield club.
For more Rotary information visit:
www.rotary.org (official site for Rotary International)
www.rotary6670.org (official site for our Rotary District)
R.I. honors local club
Greenfield Rotary Club received several honors from Rotary International in 2008. According to then District Governor Pat Edwards, the Greenfield club was the only club in the district ever to receive four Presidential Citations in a one-year period. The club’s honors included the following:
BEST COOPERATIVE PROJECT: Telethon to support Highland County Society for Children and Adults, presented to Greenfield Hillsboro clubs
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: For renovation and continuing sponsorship of the Ralph W. Phillips Community Recreation and Civic Center.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD: For Greenfield club’s sponsorship of Needy Kids radiothon to help needy children and their families at Christmas.
The club also received a ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL CITATION AWARD.
The Rotary District 6670 newsletter congratulated all the clubs and individual Rotarians who demonstrated their support of the ideals and mission of Rotary to attain these awards, stating “You embody this year’s motto, “Rotary Shares.”
