Meetings are Tuesday's at noon at the Lake County History Center.
We are halfway to our goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of plastic before February 2026.
The link is a list of acceptable plastic items: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:8955bae5-9aa5-41eb-a7e6-02163f0ef222
May 3, 2025
Painesville Rotary's annual fundraiser was held on May 3rd at The Banquet Center at Saint Noel in Willoughby Hills. The theme was "Run for the Roses". It was the day of the Kentucky Derby. As you can see from the pictures many participated with all they had in the theme. Fun was had by all and many items were won by friends, family and guests.
Thanks for all the hard work of the committee and volunteers to make it another successful fundraiser!
May 13, 2025
Mentor and Painesville Rotaries held their annual Drama Awards to recognize the achievements of students in the fall and spring musicals. This year was the 50th year that they have been awarding the Drama Awards. It was a fun night!
May 6, 2025
Today scholarships were awarded to 2 seniors. Each recipient received a $1,000 scholarship to help with their college goals. This year the club chose to give 2 (one student from each school) a $1,000 scholarship rather than 4 $500 ones. The students applied for the scholarship and were chosen based on their grades and their volunteerism and extra curricular activity.
Janel Montgomery was the senior from Painesville Harvey chosen as this years' recipient. Her teacher Sharon Fitzgerald introduced her and told us a little bit about her high school life. Janel then told us she will be attending Penn State New Kensington, a small campus near Pittsburgh. Janel will be playing basketball and studying Radiology.
Congratulations Janel Montgomery and good luck in the future!
The second recipient of the Painesville Rotary scholarship is Nicole Zanko. Nicole will be graduating from Riverside High School soon and has 39 post secondary hours from Lakeland Community College. Her teacher Scott Bailis introduced her. He told us a little bit about her high school life. She is a four year National Honor Society member and will be graduating with an honors diploma. Nicole told us that she will be attending the University of Toledo in the fall. Both of her parents and a couple of other family members have attended the University of Toledo. She will embark on a six year Pharmacy program.
Congratulations Nicole Zanko and continued success at the University of Toledo!
Brian Kane (Scholarship Committee Chairperson) presenting Nicole and Janel with their scholarship money.
June 17, 2025
Jerry Walker's giant check. Congratulations Jerry!
April 29, 2025
Today we had 2 new members tell about themselves through a new member talk.
Halle Graham was the first one to speak. She thought everyone would know her as Sue Ellis's (Past President) driver or Ken Graham's (Rotarian) daughter. But we all know her as Halle, new member!
Halle holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, at the end of the summer she will begin her Master's in Mental Health Counseling at John Carroll University. She intends to get a Doctorate in Mental Health Testing and working with older adults. She works at Bolts and Nuts as the HR person also.
In her spare time she spends a lot of time at her high school alma mater, Andrews Osborne Academy. She substitute teaches, works with the cheer squad, does theater and much more. She loves to read and spend time with her beloved cat Penny.
Welcome to the Painesville Rotary Halle Graham.
Our other new member is Lisa Lewins. Right now Lisa is the Interim Director of the Lake County History Center along with a few other full time jobs. Lisa is very glad to be joining Rotary. One thing she loved in the past was the Academy Awards for high schools. Her children were part of theater when they were in school. She loves that Rotary recognizes their hard work.
Lisa has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Lake Erie College. She also has an MBA from The University of Akron.
Lisa has 4 grown children. In 2019 she bought and runs The Candoren Guest House, here in Painesville as one of her other full time jobs. She said at this time of the year the phone is ringing off the hook (a good problem to have). She is also a full time faculty member at Lakeland Community College. She has been on the faculty for almost 20 years.
Welcome new Rotarian to the Painesville Rotary, Lisa Lewins.
March 18, 2025
Today was the annual 4 Way Speech Contest. Students from all high schools in the area are invited to participate in a speech contest that showcases the 4 rules (4 Way Test) of Rotary. The 4 Way Test began being used by Rotary in 1932. Herbert Taylor implemented the 4 way test in his failing company and within a year the company had completely turned around, at that time Rotary began using it. Each speech must be memorized and must ask and answer the 4 questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The contestants this year were Sophia Frate, a junior at Riverside High School and Ryan Delaney a junior at Harvey High School. Sophia's speech focused on how the living can continue to live their lives through those who have passed away. Ryan's speech focused on mental illness in young adults. Both students will be representing the Painesville Rotary at the District 4 Way Test Speech contest because each student received the same amount of points from the judges. Essentially they both were the first place winners. Congratulations and good luck at the district competition!
Brian Kane (4 Way Speech Contest Chairperson), Sophia Frate, Riverside High School and Ryan Delaney, Harvey High School.
Pictured are Richard Schmidt, Service and Leadership teacher for Riverside High School, Sophia and Ryan, winners of the 4 Way Speech Contest, and Clotea Mack, Language Arts teacher at Harvey High School. November 5, 2024
Dale Smith, District Governor came to speak at our meeting. He praised our club and all of the district clubs with their commitment to the Rotary. He said that he has seen great things going on all around the district and was pleasantly surprised with all of it. He spoke about the Magic of Rotary and passed pins out to some members. We as Rotarians create the magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member welcomed. The phrase came from a Rotarian working in the Dominican Republic. He was showing some kids how dirty water goes into an area and then turned on the faucet to clean water coming out. The kids he was speaking with said "make the magic again". Magic isn't a dream but a reality for all of us.
Dale spoke about his work with Rotary with joy. He actually was a new member in 5 different clubs because he had worked in several places. In one of the clubs he felt through his service and fellowship he actually changed from being a member of the Rotary, to a Rotarian.
At one of the clubs where he was a new member, the club asked survey questions about why he and others joined Rotary and why they stayed. He chose to and now wants to ask those survey questions of new members. One statistic that came out of the survey he worked on locally was when new members first answered the question about why they joined about 68% said for the service and 10% said for fellowship and friendship. When those people were asked the same questions later, 30% said for the service and 70% said for fellowship and friendship.
Dale has several goals as District Governor. One being membership and growth, the Endowment Fund, and Disaster Preparation. He will be providing the local clubs with a lot more information about the Disaster Preparation in the coming weeks, watch for his emails.
He also facilitated the start of the Lake County Sunrise Satellite Club a companion club for Mentor Rotary is for people who want to help their community and enjoy morning fellowship with like-minded people. He encouraged anyone to reach out to him if they have questions or would like to start a satellite club.
Dale Smith, District Governor
Lisa Lewins, Rotary member and Proprietor of the Candoren House. .png)
