RYLA students speak to Byesville Rotary about leadership

RYLA stands for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. This program, sponsored by local Rotary clubs, trains high school students in leadership, citizenship, and personal growth. The Byesville Rotary sponsored Brittany Shelton and Brooke Aleshire at the first annual District 6690 RYLA Youth Conference held at OU in Athens.

In order to qualify for sponsorship, Brittany and Brook submitted an application which included a brief essay describing why they would be an appropriate candidate for the conference and submitted a recommendation from a school administer.

Brook and Brittany were clearly enthusiastic about their experiences at the conference. They explained that RYLA is an intensive training program for young community leaders. The 21/2 days they spent at the conference were packed with hands on activities designed to help students develop character, self-confidence, and self-esteem. They also worked on developing leadership and problem-solving skills.

Their favorite part of the conference was the American RYLA Idol activity. Teams of students were challenged to do a skit dealing with one of the 6 pillars of character: caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, fairness, or citizenship. The skits were goofy but everyone learned a lot about each of the pillars. Because the skits were interactive, the students learned to think on the spot in order to respond to unexpected questions and situations.

Brittany and Brook both felt that training like that offered at the RYLA conference helped changed how they approached life. They both feel they are more pro-active and willing to get involved in activities.

They have convinced the Meadowbrook Interact club to sponsor a “Purple Pinkie Day” to raise funds to help eliminate polio. Each $1.00 donation will pay to immunize 1 child. Donors will have their pinkies colored purple to represent that child that their dollar will help immunize.

The 2012 RYLA Youth Conference will be held July 19-21, 2012. Attendees will be limited to 96 students. Based on Brook and Brittany’s experience at the first conference, Byesville Rotary intends to continue to sponsor Meadowbrook student attendance at the 2ed RYLA Conference.

Byesville Rotary has begun working with the Cambridge Salvation Army to provide Christmas food baskets to local families. Byesville will announce dates for Rolling Hills School District families to register for baskets in the near future.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.

Rotary District Governor speaks at Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Front row: Brent Rosenthal, District Governor, Brooke Aleshire, Trilyn Treherne, Tessa Bickford, Brittany Shelton. Back Row: Tany Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President, Karli Tellep, Jessica George, and Sharon Miller, Interact Advisor.

During his visit to Byesville Rotary, District 6690 Governor Brent Rosenthal, emphasized Rotary values are meant to be acted upon. He explained that the 2012 year’s theme, “Reach within to embrace humanity” is meant to remind Rotarians everyone shares similar needs, problems, and dreams. The goal of many Rotarian service projects is intended to help alleviate or solve shared problems and needs.

Gov. Rosenthal is challenging Rotary clubs in district 6690 to focus on providing service in two areas. He reminded club members that club members are Rotaries most important customers. A club’s members transform club values into action and spread the value of service out into the community. Clubs have a responsibility to engage their members in service projects by tapping into each member’s passion for service. In practice this means that each club must provide different opportunities for members to become involved. Rotary allows each club the flexibility to define for itself what areas of service members would like to pursue.

His second focus is reducing hunger in Ohio. Governor Rosenthal would like each Rotary club in within the club’s service area to identify at least three service projects addressing the problem of hunger. District 6690 is very diverse including both the richest and poorest zip codes in the state. Hunger is a problem in every community in District 6690. He stated that he is proud that Rotary is one of the few organizations in the world that is able to respond to this type of need

Byesville Rotary Club has focused on hunger for many years. The club supports an annual Christmas Food Basket program which provides food to between 200—250 families each year. The club also makes a donation to a local food pantry each month and has supported the summer school lunch program.

DG also announced to club members that district is interested in helping individual clubs let their communities know what service projects the club is involved in. The district is providing grants to clubs to support a public relations effort. He encouraged Byesville to consider applying for a grant.

Governor Rosenthal was introduced to the officers of the Byesville Rotary sponsored Meadowbrook Interact Club, a service club for students between 14-18. The Meadowbrook Interact Club is one of only 30 in the District.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.

Byesville Rotary hears about local international company

Pictured: Chuck Fair, Speaker Host; John Kasinecz, Plant Manager Island Aseptics; and Tanya Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President.

John Kasinecz, plant manager of Island Asceptics, stated that this company which is based in Byesville, has an international business. Products made in the Byesville plant are shipped to 15 countries in the western hemisphere as well as South Africa and China. One of the reasons for choosing Byesville for the plant location is the easy access to two major interstates.

The plant, located at 100 Hope Road in Byesville, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 51 weeks a year. Six processing and 11 packaging lines are located in a 163,000 square foot space. The local plant has 100 full time employees. Kasinecz explained that business is seasonal. In March through August, production increases. During the high production months, the plant employees 250 people.

International headquarters for the company is located in Walpole, Massachusetts. The headquarters houses the marketing and sales staff. The Byesville plant has the operational expertise and produces products such as beverages, smoothies and bar mixes, and fruit juice concentrates.

Kasinecz pointed out that Island Aseptics is currently the leader in the production of frozen drink concentrates and mixes. The company’s expertise enables them to produce sterile—aseptic—beverages or mixes, put the product into a sterile package, and seal the package so that the beverage will last indefinitely and will not need refrigerated. Getting all the steps exactly right is vital. Island Aseptics prides itself on their quality control and ability to produce products that meet quality standards.

Island Aseptics provides products to restaurants, schools, and the military. This business is bigger than the food business. Some of their customers include Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurants, Royal Caribbean International Cruise Lines, Applebee’s, Olive Garden and Red Lobster, Wal-Mart, Gatorade, Welch’s, ALDI, Kroger, Del Monte, and Procter & Gamble. Byesville residents will have enjoyed one of the company’s products if they ever ordered a fruit smoothie from McDonalds.

Tanya Hitchens reminded club members that next week’s meeting will be a membership breakfast and that the District Governor will be visiting. All club members were asked to invite a prospective member to the breakfast.

Sharon Miller, Interact club advisor, introduced Trislyn Treherne, Interact club secretary, and Karli Tellep, Interact club treasurer. Trislyn and Karli spoke to the club about their school and Internet activities.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.

Chicken BBQ CANCELED

The chicken BBQ scheduled for September 10 has been canceled.

Meadowbrook Interact club officers visit Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Sharon Miller, Interact Advisor; Tessa Bickford, Interact President; Jessica George, Interact Board Member and Interact Photographer; and Tanya Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President.

Announcements:
-- NYC Red Eye trip has been canceled.
-- Please remember to register for the District Seminar on Saturday,
September 24---http://www.district6690.org/index.php?id=13137

Teresa Bickford, President of Interact, and Jessica George, Interact Board member and club photographer, gave a brief report to Byesville Rotary about Interact plans for the coming year.

The club is considering several types of service projects for the coming year. Interact clubs are expected to complete at least two community service projects a year. Club members are considering the following projects for 2011-12—Pennies for Polio, raising money for a Shelterbox, helping the Byesville Rotary collect and distribute food for the Rotary’s Christmas Food basket program, and sponsoring a talent show.

Interact clubs are Rotary’s service clubs for young people ages 14-18. Rotary clubs sponsor Interact clubs in order to encourage the development of leadership skills and personal integrity, encourage an appreciation of individual responsibility and hard work in young people.

The Meadowbrook club is sponsored by the Byesville Rotary Club. Interact clubs are self-governing and self-supporting. Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community.

The members of the Meadowbrook Interact Club are joining the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service. There are more than 10,700 Interact clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas with members totaling almost 200,000 young people.

At the Rotary business meeting, Tanya Hitchens reminded members that the District Governor will visit the club at the September 20 meeting. A membership breakfast will also be held on the 20th. Current members are asked to invite prospective members to the breakfast. Reservations for the breakfast are needed by September 13. There will also be an evening reception on Monday or club members to meet the District Governor.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.

Local business topic of Byesville Rotary meeting

Pictured: Dennis Harding, Byesville Rotary guest speaker.

Guest speaker for the meeting was Dennis Harding who was asked to present some information about his employer—Fabri-Form.

Harding is native to area. Both he and his wife attended Meadowbrook High School. He went on to get a degree in mechanical Engineering at the University of Akron and continued his education by getting an Executive MBA at OU Lancaster.

He is a long time employee at Fabri Form. He began as a production supervisor and worked up to a managerial position. Currently he is the purchasing and materials manager. Fabri Form has corporate headquarters in New Concord and plants in Byesville and Indiana. Harding reported that Fabri Form employs between 40-60 people in Byesville and another 40-60 in New Concord. The company has been able to maintain business during the recent recession by being flexible and changing as the market changes. In 2009, the business began to grow again and currently growth is strong.

Fabri-Form supports several local service activities such as a Relay For Life Team and the local Red Cross Blood Drive.

Harding explained that Fabri-Form is a private company and was established in 1943 in Byesville. It is still owned and managed by the second generation of the founders .The business originally fabricated and formed plastic parts. During WWII, the company manufactured fighter plane carapaces for the war effort. More recently, the company manufactured face masks for astronauts including John Glenn and produced fire shields for fighter pilots.

Harding reported that at present the company has 3 product lines. The company produces a custom transport packaging which is the size of a standard pallet and can be reused. The second product line manufactures original equipment components such as parts for semi-trucks. This line helped Fabri-Form become a tier 1 supplier for several large truck manufacturers such as Freightliner. In a third line, Fabri-Form makes packaging that is designed to contain a product in such as way that the product will not shift or move during shipping.

Tanya Hitchens, club president, reminded members of several important dates and activities. The Red Eye trip to NYC has been cancelled for this year. The club is supporting a Red Cross Blood drive September 7 at Stop Nine Church of Christ Youth Center in Byesville. Because Hurricane Irene led to cancellation of many blood drives, blood is needed. Club members were encouraged to donate. The club will be holding a chicken BBQ Saturday, September 10 and workers are still needed. Monies raised from the BBQ will be shared with Byesville Volunteer Fire Department.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.