Byesville Rotary swears in new officers

 Pictured: Jan Wilson, Treasurer; Larry Miller, Board member and Master of Arms; Chuck Fair, 2016-17 President; Shana Fair, Secretary; and Tony Adams, Rotary District 6690 Assistant Governor.

Pictured: Jim Vaughan, Byesville Rotary Rotarian of the Year.

Byesville Rotary held its annual Changing of the Guard Dinner to swear in the club officers for 2016-17. Tony Adams, Assistant District Governor, attended the dinner and swore in the new club president. Officers for 2016-17 are: President--Chuck Fair; President-Elect—Rhonda Stemmer; Secretary—Shana Fair; Treasurer—Jan Wilson; Board members—Debbie Mead, Becky Bruner, and Larry Miller.

Shana Fair, outgoing president, thank various members of the club for their support of club projects during her term. She presented each with a handmade pottery mug filled with chocolate. Club members recognized were Dan Navicky, Nellie Bichard, Don Valentine, Larry Miller, Evelyn Spring, Oziel Jeffries, Jan Wilson, and Dennis Harding. Fair announced that her President’s Project to support literacy raised enough money to provide a book a month for 20 children from infancy to age five. The money raised was donated to the United Way, the local provider for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library project.

Shana Fair announced that club members elected Jim Vaughan as Byesville Rotarian of the Year. Vaughan was selected because of his work on the club’s signature Breakfasts with Santa and with the Easter Bunny; his service as Santa Claus at the Santa Breakfast, his efforts to collect non-perishable food for the Christmas Food Basket program, his support of the club’s chicken BBQ’s, and his service as Membership Chair.

New president, Chuck Fair, spoke about his goals for the coming year. Fair stated he plans to develop a community project for the Village of Byesville. Plans for the community project are being developed by a club committee. He also wants to revise the club by-laws so that they will reflect recent changes in the Rotary International rules. His third goal is to work on developing membership. He will also continue the club’s traditional projects which include a Christmas Food Basket program, scholarships for Meadowbrook graduating seniors and a health screening in partnership with Southeastern Med.

The dinner was held at the Cambridge Country Club. Club members Nellie Bichard, Jan Wilson and Tanya Hitchens planned and organized the festivities.

Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.

Moose the Wonder Dog visits Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary President, Moose the Wonder Dog, and Risa Radecke, Pound Partners.

Risa Radecke stated she first met Moose at the Guernsey County Dog Shelter. Radecke became a foster mom to this puppy who was considered a “foster failure.” That was 8 years ago. Radecke pointed out that Moose is an example that most dogs dropped at the shelter are potentially great pets.

Moose exemplifies that a good owner can make all the difference in a dog’s life. Moose is now a columnist for the Jeff and a beloved, well-behaved pet of the Radecke family. He entered the 4-H obedience competition at the Ohio State Fair and, by successfully meeting all requirements, was recognized as a “Canine Good Citizen.” He also serves as ambassador for Pound Partners,

Radecke stated that Pound Partners is a non-profit organization providing support for the dog shelter and helping find good homes for dogs without families. In the eight years of its existence, Pound Partners helped the shelter reduce the euthanasia rate from 97% to 2%. The organization also raises about $40,000 a year to cover vet bills for the shelter dogs. With help from The Kenneth A. Scott Foundation, Pound Partners is able to insure all dogs adopted from the shelter have been vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped.

Pound Partners also raises money used to provide supplies for the shelter, verifies that adoptive owners will treat their new pet well, and recruits volunteers to be foster parents. Radecke pointed out the group has begun outreach to schools to educate students about approaching and greeting dogs. Pound Partners’ goal is to reduce the number of dog bites in Ohio which has the 2ed highest number of reported bites in the country.

Radecke stated that the bulk of the funds raised by Pound Partners are raised through the organization’s “Wags to Riches Thrift Shoppe.” She reported that the shop is currently closed for a facelift and reorganization. When the shop reopens, Radecke said that it will sell gently used items with a focus on clothing. The shop will no longer accept furniture or upholstered items. All items must be donated when the shop is open. More information about Pound Partners and the “Wags to Riches Thrift Shoppe” can be found at www.poundpartners.

During the business meeting, Chuck Fair, chair of the chicken BB, announced that the club’s first chicken BBQ of the summer will be Saturday, June 11, at Rotary Gazebo in Byesville.

Connect with Byesville Rotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting.