Leslie Doan Lesley Doan is the new Executive Director of Tiqvah Hands of Hope. Although new to this Executive Director position, she has always had a passion for at-risk children. Lesley graduated from the University of Toledo in 2005 with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, and shortly after graduation moved to Columbus to begin her teaching career at a charter school for at risk children. Early in her career, while continuing to teach, Lesley continued her education on a part-time basis to pursue a Master’s degree at The University of Scranton in school administration with the goal of becoming a school principal. Lesley worked in various teaching and administrative positions within the school, but after six years felt God calling her to start a preschool at her local church. Lesley approached her church leadership who confirmed this calling, and in the fall of 2012 Eastpointe Christian Preschool started with Lesley as director. Two years into this new adventure Lesley’s husband took a job 2 hours away from Columbus and their family moved to Massillon, Ohio. Lesley decided to take a break from her career and stay home for a season with her young children. After a couple of years at home with her children Lesley began to feel God stir her heart once again for something new, and prayed asking God for direction. Around this time, fall of 2016, Lesley heard about the Executive Director position at Tiqvah opening up, and after much prayer and consideration she applied for the position and was hired in at Tiqvah February 1, 2017. Lesley’s long-term goal for Tiqvah is that it continues to make a meaningful impact on the body, mind, and soul of all the students and families served by Tiqvah. She also hopes to instill a sense of God’s love in them that will remain with them well beyond their years at Tiqvah.
In her personal life when she is not spending time with her Tiqvah family, you will find Lesley performing all the duties that come with having four children, as well as spending time with friends, family, and enjoying the beautiful world God has given us.
Karla Dennis Karla Dennis first came to Tiqvah Hands Of Hope 3 years ago, having spent the past 20 years in Tokyo, Japan where she ran her own Kindermusik business, taught preschool and worked in Children’s and Youth Ministries, each for more than 10 years. A certified Youth Fitness Trainer, she first came to Tiqvah as a running coach and a volunteer in the Yellow classroom. She soon became the Yellow Team Leader. There she began to truly understand the wide range of unique challenges that children, especially children of poverty, face daily. This led her to pursue various Trauma and Family Relationships' training, which she continues today to better serve these children and their families. She became the Site Director of Tiqvah in January of this year, where her duties now include overseeing the day to day operations. Her top priority is seeing that each child’s individual needs are met.
At the March 10, 2017 meeting, Rotarian John DeWees (sponsor) introduced the newest member, Ashleigh Abrigg, to the Rotary Club of Canton.
Ashleigh Abrigg was born and raised in Canton, Ohio, and now resides in Louisville, Ohio. She attended Canton City Schools until her freshman year, when she transferred to Canton Central Catholic, from which she graduated in 1995. Ashleigh graduated from Stark State College and Kent State University, with majors in Human and Social Services and Sociology.
Ashleigh previously served as a caseworker for Stark County Jobs and Family Services, as a Patient Navigation Specialist for Dr. Brian McClain at V101 Management, and is currently the Director of Sales and Marketing at The Canton Regency, which is an independent assisted living and memory care community.
Ashleigh was a co-host for the morning show with Gary Rivers on News Talk Radio WHBC 1480. She loves to box, as well as play on her kickball team on Monday nights at Price Park and Kent State Campuses (spring, summer and fall league).
She is the proud mother of three children, Jonathon (20), Andrew (16) and Olivia (13). Jonathon is a sophomore at Kent State University and Andrew and Olivia attend Louisville City Schools.
During the District 6650 Conference on April 7-8, a gift basket from each Club in the District will be auctioned off. The Rotary Club of Canton is accepting donations for it's gift basket, "A Night in Canton".
So far we have had two bottles of Gervasi wine donated by Past President Virginia Neutzling. Please consider making a donation to this worthwhile endeavor. You may drop your donation off at the Rotary office, located at 116 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Suite 307, Canton, or you may bring donations to a Friday meeting.
*All donations must be received in the office no later than Friday, March 31st.
The Rotary Club of Canton will once again hold its semi-annual Health Screen & Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 29, 2017. This event will be held at Mercy Medical Center, Mercy Hall Auditorium, 1320 Mercy Drive N.W., Canton 44708.
A 12-hour fast is recommended for those being tested to achieve more accurate results. In addition to the blood screenings, Mercy Medical Center service lines will be offering additional free health screenings and educational materials.
Registration for this event is available on the Rotary Club of Canton's home page or by clicking this LINK. You may also contact the Rotary office for assistance with Registration. Please click on thisLINKto view the flyer and the descriptions of available tests.
The "Change of Venue" Committee would like to remind everyone that the Rotary Club of Canton will hold its regular Friday meeting on March 24, 2017, at the Alex D. Krassas Event Center located at 251 - 25th Street N.W., Canton, 44709.
As Committee Chairwoman Amanda Tietze informed everyone at a past meeting, Greg and Joyce Triner, owners of Meyer's Lake Ballroom, will soon be retiring and the JRC Adult Day Center, located in our old meeting space at Meyer's Lake Ballroom, will be purchasing the building and using it entirely for their services to the senior community.
Frank Lavin, former US Ambassador to Singapore and Under Secretary of Commerce, will speak on his book 'Home Front to Battlefront' Tuesday, March 21st. The free program, sponsored by the Stark County Library, will be at the Palace Theater.
The event starts with a meet and greet at 5:00 pm, with Lavin's talk at 6:30. This will be followed by a question and answer session and a book signing. The book, 'HF2BF', is based on letters sent by Lavin's father and former Canton Rotarian, Carl Lavin, during WWII. The book's foreword is by Henry Kissinger.
At our weekly meeting on March 10, 2017, President Craig Young welcomed the members and guests to the meeting. President Craig reminded everyone about the passing of longtime Rotarian and Past President Jason McCoy, and announced that Jason's services would be held on Saturday, March 11th, at Lamiell Funeral Home.
Rotarian Mark Shaffer then gave the Invocation.
Vice President Michelle Mullaly filled in for a traveling Suzette Matthews. Michelle welcomed the following guests to the meeting: Dr. Leonard Knell and Dr. Harvey Cohen (guests of Jerry Ortman); Rollin Seward (City of Canton Director of Community Involvement & guest of Mayor Tom Bernabei); Homer Richards, Rita Burchett, Ryan Young and Kirt Conrad (guests of President Craig Young).
The "Happy Bucks" news was then provided by the following:
Mark Clendenin - Congratulations to Kent State University and the University of Akron for advancing to the MAC Finals;
PP Virginia Neutzling - was happy to be sitting with everyone at her table. She also stated the snowfall from last night was very pretty when she woke up;
Bruce Schorsten - was happy for the great journey this week for local high school basketball teams, especially North Canton Hoover Vikings vs Jackson Polar Bears;
President Craig Young - was very happy Mayor Bernabei and Kirt Conrad, from SARTA, werein attendance at the meeting. President Craig also welcomed Rollin Seward to Canton, Ohio.
Rotarian John DeWees (sponsor) then took to the podium to introduce the newest member to Canton Rotary, Ashleigh Abrigg (*Please see story above for Ashleigh's Biography);
President Craig then introduced the speakers from Habitat for Humanity, Courtney Brown and Aaron Brown.
President Craig concluded the meeting by reminding everyone about next week's speakers, Leslie Doan and Karla Dennis, from Tiqvah Helping Hands. He also reminded the members about the upcoming Fellowship outing to the Canton Charge game on Tuesday, March 14th, with a pre-game Happy Hour at Desert Inn.
The following Rotarians will receive a makeup for attending the New Member Orientation meeting held on Friday, March 10th: Past President Rick Taylor, Past President/Treasurer Tom Clevenger, Rotarian Theresa Blocher and Rotarian Mark Shaffer.
The following Rotarians turned in a makeup during Friday's meeting: Mark Shaffer (Canton South); PP Scott Sandrock (North Canton, Millersburg); PP Virginia Neutzling (North Canton); PP Curt Werren (Plain).
Be prepared to welcome spring at the 2017 District 6650 Conference on April 7th and 8that Northeast Ohio’s fabulous destination location, the Avalon Inn and Resort in Warren, Ohio.
A stellar program that features, fun, fellowship and inspiration has been planned with you in mind.
No boring speeches, no long-winded presentations, no mind-numbing programs! Just a fun and fast-moving day and a-half where we enjoy each other’s company, have some fun, and learn something along the way. All of this at a reasonable price.
To view a hard copy of this year's District Conference registration form, click on this LINK
To register for this year's District Conference, click on this LINK
Forty years ago, the Rotary Club of Duarte, Calif., admitted three women members, in violation of the Rotary International Constitution. As a result, the club's charter was terminated by RI.
Undeterred, the club's members continued to meet. They put an X over their Rotary insignia, made themselves new pins, and dubbed themselves the Ex-Rotary Club of Duarte as they continued to fight for the right of women to serve as Rotarians. Ten years later, a restored Rotary Club of Duarte sent Sylvia Whitlock, Rotary's first female club president, to a presidents-elect training seminar. Not long after that, in 1989, Rotary's Council on Legislation permanently ended Rotary's status as a men-only organization.
Today, with more than 240,000 women in our clubs, Rotary is stronger than ever. We are women and men from nearly every country of the world, serving our communities in more than 35,000 clubs. At the club level, we need men and women of all backgrounds, ages, cultures, and professions; internationally, we need clubs in every city, country, and region of the world. The better our clubs reflect their communities, the better we can serve them. Our diversity is our strength.
It is difficult for most of us to imagine today why anyone argued so strongly against the idea of women in Rotary. Looking back, I think that opposition came from a simple resistance to change. Rotarians loved Rotary the way it was and couldn't imagine it any other way.
We still love Rotary as much as we ever did. We love the friendships and connections we make there, and the ability Rotary provides us to serve humanity. We believe Rotary has tremendous value in our own lives and in the world at large. And we recognize, more than ever, that for Rotary to continue to grow, it needs to embrace the world it serves – in all of its diversity, all of its variety, and all of its evolving needs for service.
The Rotarians of today owe a debt of gratitude to the Rotarians of Duarte 40 years ago. Their determination, persistence, and enduring goodwill set the stage for the organization we have become: Rotary Serving Humanity.
Leslie Doan Lesley Doan is the new Executive Director of Tiqvah Hands of Hope. Although new to this Executive Director position, she has always had a passion for at-risk children. Lesley graduated from the University of Toledo in 2005 with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, and shortly after graduation moved to Columbus to begin her teaching career at a charter school for at risk children. Early in her career, while continuing to teach, Lesley continued her education on a part-time basis to pursue a Master’s degree at The University of Scranton in school administration with the goal of becoming a school principal. Lesley worked in various teaching and administrative positions within the school, but after six years felt God calling her to start a preschool at her local church. Lesley approached her church leadership who confirmed this calling, and in the fall of 2012 Eastpointe Christian Preschool started with Lesley as director. Two years into this new adventure Lesley’s husband took a job 2 hours away from Columbus and their family moved to Massillon, Ohio. Lesley decided to take a break from her career and stay home for a season with her young children. After a couple of years at home with her children Lesley began to feel God stir her heart once again for something new, and prayed asking God for direction. Around this time, fall of 2016, Lesley heard about the Executive Director position at Tiqvah opening up, and after much prayer and consideration she applied for the position and was hired in at Tiqvah February 1, 2017. Lesley’s long-term goal for Tiqvah is that it continues to make a meaningful impact on the body, mind, and soul of all the students and families served by Tiqvah. She also hopes to instill a sense of God’s love in them that will remain with them well beyond their years at Tiqvah. 
Karla Dennis Karla Dennis first came to Tiqvah Hands Of Hope 3 years ago, having spent the past 20 years in Tokyo, Japan where she ran her own Kindermusik business, taught preschool and worked in Children’s and Youth Ministries, each for more than 10 years. A certified Youth Fitness Trainer, she first came to Tiqvah as a running coach and a volunteer in the Yellow classroom. She soon became the Yellow Team Leader. There she began to truly understand the wide range of unique challenges that children, especially children of poverty, face daily. This led her to pursue various Trauma and Family Relationships' training, which she continues today to better serve these children and their families. She became the Site Director of Tiqvah in January of this year, where her duties now include overseeing the day to day operations. Her top priority is seeing that each child’s individual needs are met.
Ashleigh Abrigg was born and raised in Canton, Ohio, and now resides in Louisville, Ohio. She attended Canton City Schools until her freshman year, when she transferred to Canton Central Catholic, from which she graduated in 1995. Ashleigh graduated from Stark State College and Kent State University, with majors in Human and Social Services and Sociology.
During the District 6650 Conference on April 7-8, a gift basket from each Club in the District will be auctioned off. The Rotary Club of Canton is accepting donations for it's gift basket, "A Night in Canton".
The Rotary Club of Canton will once again hold its semi-annual Health Screen & Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 29, 2017. This event will be held at Mercy Medical Center, Mercy Hall Auditorium, 1320 Mercy Drive N.W., Canton 44708. .jpg)
The "Change of Venue" Committee would like to remind everyone that the Rotary Club of Canton will hold its regular Friday meeting on .jpg)
At our weekly meeting on March 10, 2017, President Craig Young welcomed the members and guests to the meeting. President Craig reminded everyone about the passing of longtime Rotarian and Past President Jason McCoy, and announced that Jason's services would be held on Saturday, March 11th, at Lamiell Funeral Home..png)
Be prepared to welcome spring at the 2017 District 6650 Conference on April 7th and 8that Northeast Ohio’s fabulous destination location, the Avalon Inn and Resort in Warren, Ohio..jpg)
John F. Germ, President 2016-17