Byesville Rotarians take on additional Christmas service project

Pictured: Larry Miller, Becky Brunner, Nellie Bichard, Tina Tonnous, Chuck Fair, Jim Vaughan, Phyliss Jeffries, Don Valentine, Evelyn Spring, Oziel Jeffries, Dennis Harding, and donations for their toys for kids project.

Mark your calenders:
December 13--Christmas food basket packing at Methodist Community Hall.
December 14--Christmas food basket distribution at Methodist Community Hall.
December 17--Club Christmas breakfast at meeting time and location--it is pot luck, everyone is bringing    something.
December  21--Breakfast with Santa at the Stop Nine Senior Center, 8:30-11:30 am. 

Members of the Byesville Rotary Club have volunteered to step in to provide toys to kids in the Rolling Hills School District. In the past, Byesville Rotary has worked with a second organization which provided gifts for kids whose families signed up for the Byesville Rotary Christmas Food Basket program. This year, that organization decided it was unable to provide gifts to children in the Byesville area. Byesville Rotarians chose to step in and insure over 80 kids would have gifts for Christmas.

The toy effort was not part of the club’s budget. Members of the club are working to raise funds to help support this effort. During the month of December, club members and members of the Meadowbrook Interact Club will be ringing bells and collecting donations at the Byesville branches of Peoples Bank and Advantage Bank. Byesville Rotarians hope that the local community will support their effort. Individuals and organization can make a donation toward this project by contacting Chuck Fair, Byesville Rotary President Elect, at 685-2069.

At the December 3 business meeting, members brought toys to donate to their toys for kids effort. The Meadowbrook Interact Club has volunteered to wrap the gifts and prepare the toys for distribution. In addition, Rotary club members have “adopted” individual kids and committed to insuring the kids have gifts under their trees this Christmas.

During the business meeting, club members finalized plans for their annual “Breakfast with Santa.” Funds raised by this event are used to support club service projects such as the Christmas food basket and Christmas toys effort.

“Breakfast with Santa” will be held Saturday, December 21, at the Stop Nine Senior Center in Byesville. Breakfast will be served 8:30 am through 11:30 am. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee will be served. Children under 5 are free. A picture with Santa is offered with the purchase of breakfast.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Everyone interested in giving back to their community is invited to join. Call Membership Chair Jim Vaughan, 740-260-2969, to learn more about the club. More information is available at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283

 

Byesville Rotary Fund dedicated to providing scholarships for Meadowbrook seniors

Pictured: Dennis Harding, Byesville Rotary President, Maribeth Wright representing Guernsey County Foundation and Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.

 

Bell ringers still needed to raise funds for the Christmas Food Basket program. Call Chuck Fair at 685-2069 to schedule a shift. Thanks.

Maribeth Wright representing the Guernsey County Foundation Family of Funds updated club members on the status of the Byesville Rotary Fund. She described that being part of the Guernsey County Foundation Family of Funds benefits everyone.

Wright explained that the Guernsey County Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the Guernsey community, both now and for generations to come. This goal complements the Byesville Rotary goal of helping Meadowbrook students get post secondary 2 or 4 year degrees.

Wright explained that the Foundation of Guernsey County is affiliated with the Foundation of Appalachian Ohio (FAO). The FOA provides administrative, investment and IRS services for over 20 local county funds. This collaboration allows Guernsey County Foundation and organizations like Byesville Rotary to concentrate their efforts on raising funds and building their endowments.

Building a foundation is a long-term process. Wright pointed out that many funds begin small and grow slowly through small donations. As an example, Wright described one fund that began with only $3500. The fund now holds $45,000 and has given away over $1.8 million.

The Byesville Rotary makes annual contributions to its fund which is dedicated to providing scholarships to local students. Funds raised by an annual golf tournament are dedicated to the club’s fund. As their fund grows, club members intend to increase the size and number of scholarships awarded each year. Over the past 27 years, Byesville Rotary has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to Meadowbrook and Mid East Buffalo Campus graduating seniors.

Wright encouraged Byesville Rotary members, friends of Byesville Rotary and anyone interested in supporting scholarships for Meadowbrook High School students to visit the Guernsey County Family of Funds website (http://guernseycountyfoundation.org/funds).

Over 20 different local foundations are represented on the site including the Byesville Rotary Fund. Wright pointed out that a secure online donation can be made by selecting the “donate” link associated with each fund.

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 Chair Jim Vaughan, 740-260-2969. More information about the Byesville Rotary can be found at:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283

 

Meadowbrook Interact RYLA attendee speaks to Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Dennis Harding, Byesville Rotary President, and Annie Kackley, 2013 RYLA participant and Meadowbrook Interact member.

Attention: Bell ringers are needed to raise funds for the club's Christmas food basket service project. Please call Chuck Fair to sign up.

Annie Kackley, a Meadowbrook Interact member, attended Rotary District 6690’s Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) held this summer at Otterbein. The academy consisted of 3 days of intense activity focused on developing leadership skills in young people.

RYLA activities develop leadership skills, citizenship, and personal growth. The RYLA experience aims to demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth, to provide training experiences for young people with potential leadership ability, to encourage leadership of teens by teens, and to recognize young people who are actively involved in service to their communities.

Kackley said participants were greeted with goodie bags and asked to turn in their phones and other electronic devices. RYLA participants were going to be asked to interact with each other with no distractions. She explained that face to face action started immediately. As soon as all 70 attendees arrived, each was given a questionnaire and told to try to meet each of the other attendees as quickly as possible.

Kackley’s favorite question was,”Where are you from?” She explained that Rotary District 6690 covers a large area and that meant there were lots of different types of people from many different backgrounds attending RYLA.

One of Kacklely’s favorite activities taught attendees about the importance of communication skills. Participants picked a partner. One partner was given a piece of paper and told to follow instruction given by the second member of the team on how to fold and tear the piece of paper. Team members discovered that each one defined instructions differently. For example, the instruction “Fold the paper in half,” can result in the paper being folded horizontally or vertically.

Kackley said one of the most meaningful activities occurred on the last day of the Academy. Each person was asked to write a personal theme for life. Themes were to reflect a person’s personal values. RYLA attendees were told their theme should be something they would want to read every day.

Kackley ended her report by stating that the 3 days of RYLA were amazing. She made many friends and they keep in touch. She says it feels good to know she has friends scattered throughout 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 Chair Jim Vaughan, 740-260-2969. More information about the Byesville Rotary can be found at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283