Rotary Radio International With Host - Dave Diffendal

In this episode, Rotarian Bill Phillips, Past President of the Rotary Club of Lawrenceburg, TN talks about a legacy project of helping in the Honduran town of Choluteca.  What started as a clean water project grew into serving the needs of those in the community by bringing electricity, 2 schools and a church.  Also, Anglea Spease talks about her time as Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise, Elk Grove president and what they are doing to help youth in the community through physical education initiatives.

Derek Fullerton, of the Bloomington North Rotary, starts the program today discussing how their club is giving time and resources to the Nyaka AIDS Orphans School, in Uganda.  Next, Brian Bethune, of the Cleveland Rotary brings us up to speed on this year’s Art Cares Annual Benefit, for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.  Finally, Michael Bargas, of the Dancing Wheels Company & School, invites you to their gala event and performance “Rock That Rolls”. More information on the topics from all three of our guests at www.bloomingtonnorthrotary.org, www.aidstaskforce.org & www.dancingwheels.org  

Rodger Sansom  & Tom Brandt, from the Port – Summit Rotary Club, have us at RRI hook and they hope to reel you in as well, to their Annual Bass Fishing Tournament.  For twelve years they have not only collect a boat load of big fish stories, their efforts have led to thousands of dollars in proceeds benefiting the Portage Lakes Rotary Kids Camp.  The bass tournament is just one of the many initiatives Rotarians in Port – Summit have going though.  Veterans day recognition, annual scholarship contests, food bank volunteering, 4 -Way Speech Contest, Fly the Flag Project and a host of others activities are making their community a better place. For more details about the May 10th Bass Tournament or any of the other great give back projects going on at the Port – Summit Rotary Club, visit their website at http://www.porsumro.org    

Dana Ness, from OhioGuidestone talks about this great organization that is built on a solid foundation of experience and expertise – rooted in faith and a legacy of serving children and families for 150 years.    In 2012, OhioGuidestone founded an innovative new charter school in Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood - Stepstone Academy.  With an innovative approach to education and high goals for achieving academic success, Stepstone Academy has been able to help our scholars overcome significant barriers to education.  Even with low projections for success, we increased our student’s average ranking from the bottom 10% to between the 63rd and 77th percentile nationally for both reading and math.

The Grid Earth Project is an organization started by Audrey Cochran and her husband to provide solar powered lights to families in need.  Listen as Audrey talks about how a small light with big "power" has the ability to raise children out of poverty by giving them light to study by. This simple yet profound gift is changing lives through the world.

Young professionals committing to one of the largest community organizations in the world are both inspiring and motivating.  In the first half of the show, listen to John Beidrzycki talk about how joining Rotary has not only expanded his sphere of influence, but helped him to give back to the community that he cares about so passionately.  In the second half, Kate McKenzie from the Rotary Club of Randwick, NSW, Australia talks about the opportunities that exist to expand, develop and grow Rotary Clubs through online exposure.  Specifically, the “Rotarians on Social Networks Fellowship” or ROSNF – very cool!

Getting involved and staying involved is to some a way of life.  Glenda Lowe has been committed to giving back since her youth and has is impacting the Conneaut club and surrounding community in a great way. Listen to stories of Alpacas, Duck Derbys, and making a difference in the community in this week's Rotary Radio International.

The people at ORMACO (Ohio Regional Music, Arts, and Cultural Outreach), beyond having a huge acronym, have huge hearts.  ORMACO is a non-profit focusing on music, arts and cultural outreach for Northeast Ohio. The organization has several components with the mission of educating and enriching people’s lives. Learn more at - www.ormaco.org and find more podcasts like this at the Rotary Radio International homepage - http://www.rotaryradiointernational.libsyn.com   

Kathy Eilers from the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and Lennie Stover of the Rotary Club of Cleveland talking about urban renewal. When the power of Rotary comes to together, leveraging the assets of Club members, great things are possible.  In this episode, listen to Kathy and Lennie talk about two different land conservation projects.  In Milwaukee, for their Centennial Celebration, the 370 member strong Milwaukee Rotary Club took on 40 acres of previously underutilized green space and turned it into a world class Arboretum.  In Cleveland, the Cleveland Rotary Club is doing a very similar project, converting track side unused green space into walkable parkland.

Rotary Radio International was happy to have guests Andrew Bennett & Evan Ishida, of Knowledge Post and Engage Cleveland.  Andrew and Evan are well know as key pillars in the young professional community in Cleveland.  Through Engage Cleveland, they are attracting, engaging and retaining young, diverse talent in Greater Cleveland by connecting young professionals, employers, civic and non-profit organizations.  More information about the outstanding initiatives underway at Engage Cleveland can be found at www.EngageCleveland.com.  

Night at the races – February 1st, 2014.  Safety Town – traffic safety education for children.  Food Pantry – feeding hundreds of people every month.  Second Annual Backyard Games – July 19th, 2014. Featured guests included Rob Previte, Ned Bergen, Jim Hyde, and Bob Wilson.

What started as one person’s dream has grown into one of the most impactful programs for youth with disabilities in Northeast Ohio.  In this episode listen to Erin Figueira, Chris Garr, and Bob Vitko talk about how partnering youths of all ages and abilities has changed lives.

Willoughby Club President Ken Graham and Cleveland's Storyteller Dan Ruminski talk about Autism and what the Willoughby Club is doing to help combat this debilitating disorder.  The Willoughby club is purchasing iPads for distribution to those with Autism as well as organizations that work with autistic individuals.  Their largest fundraiser will be an evening with Dan Ruminski - Cleveland's Storyteller - telling about the history of Cleveland during the gilded age.

In the first half of the show, we talk with Los Irizarry about the Greater Lawton Rotary Club's 94 year old legacy project - the longest running Rotary project in the world.  In the second half we talk with Bill Zobus about Dictionarys, Mutt's and how Rotary makes a difference.

Young professionals Justin and Elizabeth Pagnard have a passion for helping people.  Both in their professions and through their involvement in Rotary, hear why Rotary is an organization that changes lives!

In this episode, Meryl Johnson, Rotarian and Youth Advocate talks about how she has worked with youth most of her life to foster ideals of leadership and community involvement.

Patricia Ellins - Wellness Strategist and member of the Rotary Club, Cleveland Ohio.  Talks about great ways to get healthy and stay healthy over the holidays.  Additionally, she talks about the Cleveland Club's Project YESS and her experiences with health and wellness with youth.

Shelter box provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters, at the time when they need it the most.  Shelter Box is a Rotary Partner, and this show talks about how shelter box is helping those in need with specific focus on the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda. 

District Governor Bob Johnson, District 6630, talks about the power of Rotary, how he got involved and what this holds for his district - 6630.  Matthew Burnett from Duquesne University is committed to providing clean water and all its associated benefits to individuals that need it.  He has a great story!

In the first half of the show, Diane Fejes and Leah Boltz talk about the 90x2020 program.  90x2020 is an effort to increase graduation rates in Anchorage Alaska and Rotarians are helping at the grassroots level.  By working with Junior High students through a number of different vehicles, over 90 Rotarians are giving back to improve their community.  In the second half, Hector Manley shares his amazing story of overcoming adverisity with the help and committment of great Rotarians!