Byesville Rotary impressed by Mid East Building Trades Housing Project

Pictured: Tom Cusma, instructor Mid East Buffalo Campus; Clayton Elliott, Mid East Building Trades student; and Chuck Fair, Byesville Rotary President.

Tom Cusma and Clayton Elliott from Mid East Buffalo Campus spoke to club members about the 2015 Building Trades Housing Project being completed by students in the building trades program. Tom Cusma, the instructor, has been a teacher for 16 years—4 of those years spent at Mid East Buffalo. This year he was recognized as the “2015 Instructor of the Year” for Ohio. Clayton Elliott is a junior in the building trades program.

This year Cusma’s students are building a custom home. Cusma explained that his program differs from other building trade programs in that the students do not have to pick a specialty when they enter the program. Instead, each student will be exposed to all aspects of the building trades from reading a blueprint through building walls, wiring and plumbing the home, building the kitchen cabinetry from scratch, and putting on the final touches like painting.

Elliott explained that each project begins in the classroom where students practice the skills they will need by building a practice project in the lab. He pointed out that the building project teaches students how to work together to get the job done. For example, it takes a team to get all the drywall up on the walls and ceiling. Cusma added that students who have mastered a skill often share their expertise with other students.

Cusma explained that there is a lead time of about a year in order for someone to submit a request for a Mid East building project. The request first goes to the school board which must approve the project. The individual or business must provide all materials plus 10%--15% of the project cost.

The custom-built home will be moved to its final site by May 15. The students will travel to the site to finish the project by adding elements such as the gable ends and the basement stairs.

During the monthly business meeting, Larry Miller, chair of the Scholarship Golf Tournament reported that the golf outing was very successful this year. The fund raiser brought in over $2700 to be used to support the club’s scholarship program.

Chuck Fair reminded club members that the Changing of the Guard Dinner is Thursday, June 25. Fair also announced that the dates of the chicken BBQ fundraisers are May 16, June 27, July 18, August 15, and September 19. Club members were asked to reserve at least one of the dates and volunteer to help cook and sell chickens.

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.

Byesville Rotary supports “Maria’s Message”

Pictured: Nancy Gress, supervisor Guernsey County Children’s Services; Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary President Elect; Elissa Mallett, case worker Guernsey County Children’s Services. 

Note: The Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held this Sunday, May 3. Register now by contacting Larry Miller 740-439-7606. Funds raised at this tournament will be used to support scholarships for graduating Meadow Brook seniors.

Chuck Fair, club president, reported the “Maria’s Message” event went well. Byesville Rotary donated $500- to help pay for bus transportation needed to take Meadow Brook sophomore, junior, and senior students to Prichard-Laughlin Civic Center to attend Dom Tiberi’s inspirational “Maria’s Message” which is aimed at discouraging distracted driving.

Fair thanked Byesville club members Becky Brunner, Nellie Bichard, and Shana Fair who joined him at the event to help seat students and to pass out goody bags to each student attending.

About 1200 students from Meadow Brook, Cambridge City, Mid-East Career and Technology Center, and Buckeye Trails attended the program. AVC Communications live streamed the program to each high school so that freshman could see the program.

Offering the program in Guernsey County was the inspired idea of Deputy Chad Kerns of the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Kerns is currently assigned to Rolling Hills School District as the School Resource Officer.

Speakers at the weekly club meeting were Elissa Mallett, case worker, and Nancy Gress, supervisor, from Guernsey County Children’s Services. Gress pointed out their organization was celebrating April as Child Abuse, Neglect, and Prevention Month. Mallett informed club members that the 515 pinwheels displayed at the courthouse represented the number of child abuse cases their organization investigated in 2014. Gress stated that this is a huge number compared to the size of Gurnsey County.

Gress explained that one of their responsibilities was to identify at risk children and place them in safe homes until the problems endangering the children could be resolved. Gress stated that their first choice was to place at risk children with relatives. The second option for temporary placement was with foster parents.

Gress explained that if the problem endangering a child could not be resolved, the agency worked to find adults willing to adopt a child. Currently, Child Services has 14 children who need adopted. For more information about the services provided by Child Services, contact 740-439-5555 or www.guernseycountycs.org.

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.

Byesville Rotary scholarship program celebrates 29th anniversary

Pictured: Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary club member and cook; and Larry Miller, Chair of the Byesville Rotary Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, enjoying hot dogs at the turn during the 2014 tournament.

Larry Miller, chair of the Byesville Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament, reported that during the 29 years the club has sponsored the golf scholarship tournament over 70 Meadow Brook graduates have benefited from the club’s scholarship program. To date the club’s annual Scholarship Golf tournament has raised almost $66,000 for scholarships.

Miller pointed out that community support of the golf tournament has been an important part of its success. This year the tournament will be held Sunday, May 3, at the Wildfire Golf Course in New Concord. Miller asked club members to help recruit sponsors and golfers who would like to join Byesville Rotary Club members in investing in the future of local young people.

For a $100.00 contribution, a company, organization, or individual can sponsor a hole at the event. Donations are not limited to cash. Prizes or gifts displaying a company's name are also appreciated. This event is the club’s only fund raiser for scholarships. All proceeds are directed to the scholarship fund.

Golfers can support scholarship funding by forming 3 person teams. The fee is $55.00 per player; $165.00 per team. Miller pointed out that this year the club is offering an “Early Bird Special.” Golfers who register by Saturday, April 24 will get a $5.00 discount per golfer. First Place prize is $300.00 and Second Place is $200.00. Registration begins at 7:30 am with a shotgun start at 8:00 am. Hot dogs and beverages will be available at the turn. Dinner will be catered by TJ's Market.

Miller invited people interested in becoming a sponsor or in registering a team to contact him at 845 Wheeling Ave, Cambridge, Ohio, or at 740-439-7606