Jennifer Meek Eells is the Executive Director of the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board, overseeing the operations of OhioMeansJobs, the innovative employment and training centers located in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties in Ohio. In her role, she helps area businesses meet their workforce needs by being a single source for employers to access potential employees. Her organization also provides job seekers with meaningful education and training to meet the dynamic and growing needs of employers in our region. The vision of Jennifer and her organization is to support the economic prosperity of our communities and their citizens.
Jennifer has a strong background in business and human services. The is a graduate of Stark State College, has a BS in Business Administration from Walden University, and MS in Counseling Studies from Capella University. Her diverse work experience includes being the deputy director of the Workforce Initiative Association and program administrator for Stark County Job and Family Services.
We will be accepting food donations for the Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown during our designated Rotary meeting THIS FRIDAY (10/20). Please find attached the flyer which was sent with the following letter which explains what the Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown is all about. Please follow this LINK to view the shopping list and dates that volunteers are needed. To sign-up as a volunteer please visit www.thanksgivingbasketscanton.org.
The Rotary Club of Canton received the following letter dated September 15, 2017, from Rabbi Jon Adland of Temple Israel, Reverend Dr. Erwin Smuda of St. Paul's Episcopal and Reverend Donald King of St. Michael's Catholic Church regarding the Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown on November 18, 2017. The letter reads:
"Dear Neighbors ~ We are writing to ask your financial support of our 2017 Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown project. Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown is a 501(c)(3) that unites faith communities and civic organizations in Canton, Ohio to support the underserved population with food at Thanksgiving. The program is hosted by St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 425 Cleveland Avenue S.W., Canton, OH 44702.
In years past, Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown fed over 5,000 Stark County residents, all done through donations and volunteer efforts. It will cost approximately $25,000 or $5 per person to make this program work. We really need your help. A brochure is enclosed that explains this program in more detail as well as the volunteer opportunities.
If you would like to make a monetary contribution, large or small, it will positively impact our downtown neighbors in need. Your donation is 100% tax deductible and should be made out to Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown and mailed to:
Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown
P.O. Box 8032
Canton, OH 44711
If you would prefer to make a donation of food, just contact us at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 330-492-3119 ext. 226. We truly appreciate any support you can provide."
Polio Plus day is Tuesday, October 24, 2017. To help do our part the Rotary Club of Canton will have a donation form available for Rotarians on Friday, October 13th. The Club's guest for the day will be Gerhardt Zimmermann. Gerhardt, who he himself contracted Polio in his youth, will discuss the benefit of being vaccinated as well as the continuing efforts to eradicate Polio.
Below please find a news article written for Rotary International by by Ryan Hyland and Teresa Schmedding entitled "At the Rotary International Convention, global leaders and key donors affirm their commitment to ending polio". The article reads:
"With polio on the brink of eradication, nations from around the world and key donors pledged more than $1 billion to energize the global fight to end the paralyzing disease.
The historic pledges of new funds at the Rotary Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, will go toward drastically shrinking the $1.5 billion gap in the funding that the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative say is needed to reduce polio cases to zero worldwide.
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said ending polio would be one of the world’s greatest achievements.
"Polio is the thing I spend the most time on. Everyday I look at my email to see if we have a new case," Gates said. "I'm very inspired to be part of this. I'm also very humbled."
Rotary International President John F. Germ announced that Rotary would increase its commitment and raise $50 million per year over the next three years. Rotary has raised more than $1.7 billion to fight the disease since 1985.
“Right now, every time a new case is identified, it really could be the last one the world ever sees,” Germ said.
Gates told the crowd of nearly 24,000 that, starting 1 July, his foundation will extend its 2-to-1 match to cover up to $50 million in donations to Rotary for each of the next three years. The match and donations to Rotary would add up to $150 million per year over the next three years, which will add up to $450 million to the fight.
Twenty-seven countries, organizations, companies, and individuals pledged $1.2 billion at the Rotary International Convention in June. The United Kingdom pushed the total to $1.3 billion with a $130 million pledge in August.
The new funding will go toward polio eradication efforts such as disease surveillance, responses to any outbreaks, and the vaccination of more than 400 million children annually.
Rotary International photo: Bill Gates, co-chair of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and RI President John Germ share the recent news about their partnership in the fight to eradicate polio.
To view the list of Pledges, please click on this LINK.
The Rotary Club of Canton will once again join the efforts of the Salvation Army in its annual Bell-ringing. Rotarian James Boggs will be chairing this event and he will have sign-up sheets available during Friday meetings for members to volunteer.
We will be manning the kettles at Buehler's Fresh Foods located at 7138 Fulton Drive N.W.. Each time slot will consist of TWO Rotarians manning the kettle for an ONE HOUR shift.
The following time slot has space for ONE Rotary volunteer:
- 11am - 12 pm
- 6-7 pm
- 7-8 pm
Please contact Rotarian James Boggs at (412) 558-6671 if you would like to volunteer for one of these times.
The upcoming Canton/Massillon Rotary joint rally meeting will be held on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Alex D. Krassas Event Center located at 251 - 25th Street, Canton.
We would like for you to consider now whether you will be attending and if you are planning to bring a guest to this meeting. We will need to have a head count to provide to the caterer for adequate food and seating for everyone in attendance NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 23RD!!
You may contact the Rotary office and RSVP for this event or see Lauri/Barb on Friday. The Rotary office can be reached at (330) 452-2882. Thank you in advance for your consideration to this matter.
The Rotary Club of Canton will once again hold its Annual Health Screen & Wellness Fair on Saturday, November 18, 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 more accurate results. In addition to the blood screenings, Mercy Medical Center service lines will be offering additional free health screenings and educational materials.
To register for this event, you may follow this LINK to the registration site. By following this LINK you can view the event flyer.
We are reaching out to members to see if anyone would be interested in becoming the Host Family for the incoming 2018-2019 Youth Exchange Student. If you or someone you know has interest in opening your home and supporting our Youth Exchange Program, please contact the Rotary office at (330) 452-2882. We can also answer any questions you may have regarding this program.
We will need to know of your commitment prior to November 24, 2017. Thank you.
At our weekly meeting on Friday, October 6, 2017, President Amanda Tietze welcomed the 63 members and 2 guests to the meeting. President Amanda then asked anyone who is celebrating a birthday in October to please stand and be recognized.
Rotarian Bruce Hale gave the Invocation.
Secretary Suzette Matthews welcomed the following guests to the meeting: Joe Gerzina (speaker); Richard Regula (Massillon Rotarian).
The "Happy Buck" news was then provided by the following:
Becky Clark - To celebrate being part of the Canton Rotary Club, a club that prays and pledges to allegiance;
James Boggs - To thank the club for making him aware of the opportunity to be the Salvation Army Bell Ringing Chairperson and to invite everyone to sign up to be a bell ringer;
Scott Oelslager - To celebrate another birthday!
Mark Clendenin - To recognize the need for emergency needs in Puerto Rico and that someone in press commented that Rotary is an organization that other emergency organizations could learn from (because Rotary makes a difference);
Ashleigh Abrigg - To celebrate her 16 year old son getting his driver's license and her older son turning 21!
Bob Myers - To recognize and honor his grandson who is the EDS for Salvation Army and is now serving those in need and helping out in Puerto Rico for two weeks;
Joseph French - To thank everyone for well wishes while he has been away;
Don Peterson - To celebrate the great partnership of Q92 and Canton Ballet on the Touchdowns & Tuttu's event;
PP Dan Matthews - To celebrate speaker Joe Gerzina being here and to celebrate Indians win last night! GOOO TRIBE!
PP Rick Taylor - In honor of the 2017 Oktoberfest event and all the good news he's heard about the event;
Suzette Matthews - To ask for pryaers for Ed Frank, her father, who recently was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Pray for Ed Frank, a fellow Paul Harris Fellow (honored in July of last year).
Rotarian James Boggs, Chairman of the Salvation Army Kettle Ringing, took to the podium to remind everyone about the upcoming event on Friday, December 1, 2017, at Beuhler's on Fulton Rd. He stated there are still time slots still in need of volunteers. Please contact either himself or the Rotary office if you would be willing to dedicate one hour of your time for this worthwhile event.
Rotarian Steve Fettman then made an announcement regarding a collection being taken for the Hurricane and Earthquake victims. If you would like to donate by check please make the check payable to the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund. *We will not be able to accept a donation using a credit card.
Vice President Mark Rojek then introduced the speaker for the day, Joe Gerzina. Joe is the President of the Western Region of Farmers National Bank of Canfield.
President Amanda then concluded the meeting with the following announcements:
next week's speaker will be Jennifer Meek Eells, CEO of Stark/Tuscarawas County Workforce Initiative. Jennifer's topic will be: Ohio Means Jobs Federal/State Program.
if you would like to make a donation by check for the Hurricane victims you can do so by making your check payable to the Canton Rotary Charitable Fund.
reminder, next week we will begin a collection for World Polio Day which is on October 24, 2017.
The following Rotarian turned in a makeup during Friday's meeting: Mark Shaffer (Canton South).
The following Rotarians will receive a makeup for the Military Family Center Open House on Saturday, October 23, 2017: PP Virginia Neutzling, PP Dan Fuline, PP Dan Matthews, Suzette Matthews, PDG/PP Bob Pattison, Dick Nicely and State Senator Scott Oelslager.
We will be accepting food donations for the Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown during our designated Rotary meeting THIS FRIDAY (10/20). Please find attached the flyer which was sent with the following letter which explains what the Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown is all about. 
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The Rotary Club of Canton will once again join the efforts of the Salvation Army in its annual Bell-ringing. Rotarian James Boggs will be chairing this event and he will have sign-up sheets available during Friday meetings for members to volunteer..png)
The upcoming Canton/Massillon Rotary joint rally meeting will be held on Friday, October 27, 2017 at the Alex D. Krassas Event Center located at 251 - 25th Street, Canton. 
The Rotary Club of Canton will once again hold its Annual Health Screen & Wellness Fair on Saturday, November 18, 2017. This event will be held at Mercy Medical Center, Mercy Hall Auditorium, 1320 Mercy Drive N.W., Canton, 44708.
We are reaching out to members to see if anyone would be interested in becoming the Host Family for the incoming 2018-2019 Youth Exchange Student. If you or someone you know has interest in opening your home and supporting our Youth Exchange Program, please contact the Rotary office at (330) 452-2882. We can also answer any questions you may have regarding this program..jpg)
At our weekly meeting on Friday, October 6, 2017, President Amanda Tietze welcomed the 63 members and 2 guests to the meeting. President Amanda then asked anyone who is celebrating a birthday in October to please stand and be recognized.
