An evening of fine food and drinks, elegant dessert, and chances to win money and prizes is offered to the public on March 5 at the Maronite Center. For the past twenty years, the Rotary Club of Austintown has used this wonderful social event as its primary fund raiser to local, national and international service projects. Tickets for the event are $150. per couple, which includes the dinner for two, quality refreshments, and many opportunities to win part of the $2000. in cash prizes. Another mini board raffle will also give more chances to win at only $25. a ticket. Tickets are still available for the event which begins at 6:30 p.m. Local projects that might be noticed are giving dictionaries to all third graders in public and parochialschools in Austintown and Jackson Milton, the Celebration Grove at Austintown Park, scholarships to Fitch students, support of the Interact Club at Fitch, and help for the Rescue Mission and Salvation Army. International projects include the Polio Plus program to eliminate the disease in the world, water projects in India and El Salvador, and a local group traveling to Guatemala in January that spent over $7000. repairing and equipping an orphanage in dire need. Susan Leetch is the current President. Pictured are some of the Austintown Rotarians preparing for the ticket sale: left to right Dr. Mitch Dalvin, Dr. Michael Cafaro, Brian Laraway, and Melissa Crowley
Jan. 31, 2011 Susan Leetch called the meeting to order, Karl Rein provided the invocation, led Pledge and God Bless America. Ron Carroll, song leader, chose Battle Hymn of Republic. Visitors were Jennifer Connolly, third visit, from Briarfield, also Atty. Bob Price from Boardman. Susan thanked Ram Kasaganti for arranging the lunch and tour of YSU Business School. Leadership Training in Akron on April 2, Ron Carroll will represent us, any additional are welcome. Taste of Austintown tickets are due now, Susan will collect them and money to turn in. Susan mentioned the Rotary Credit Card that helps our treasury too, from Bank of America, she has applications. We received thanks from Rescue Mission for dictionaries and from Fitch scholarship winners in 2010. Chuck gave Rotary Minute about wind power, now only 2% of world's energy but hope for 20% in next 20 years, first used for sailboats. Robin Stock fined anyone who didn't have both Rotary pins on, and Gary for picking on blonds (worth it) Brian Laraway returned to us today looking good, reported on attending the Poland Chili Open auction. We collected enough money today to raffle off a Reverse Raffle ticket, Frank Santisi won. Mike Cafaro conducted a complete synopsis of the Reverse Raffle, and encouraged all to sell out the last 18 tickets. He thanked Tony for handling decorations, Mitch for refreshments, Frank for shrimp and strawberries. He also encouraged anyone holding tickets to return them by Feb. 14 or face the wrath of the Laraways (yeah, plural)