Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Slate of Officers and Board Members:
President Dr. Joseph Boysel
President-Elect Terri Bortnik
Secretary Kris Barker
Treasurer Ben Rexroad
Sargent-at-Arms Ron Strobl
New Board Member Thomas Petropoulos
Returning Board Member David Basil
Returning Board Member Ed Sogan
Thank you for your service to our Club!
This Week's Meeting
Bob DiBiasio is in his 43th season with the Cleveland Guardians (previously the Cleveland Indians) and his 44th in Major League Baseball in 2018. He started w/the Cleveland Team in 1979 as Assistant PR Director, was named PR Director in 1980; and Vice President of PR in 1988. The Lakewood, OH native was promoted to his current position in 2011. His lone season away from Cleveland was 1987 when he served as PR Chief for the Atlanta Braves.
DiBiasio serves as President of Cleveland Guardians Charities, is an Honorary Member of both the Executive Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Baseball Federation. He also serves on the Athletic Advisory Board of Notre Dame College (OH), and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation and Baseball Heritage Museum at League Park.
DiBiasio is the host of the popular “Indians Alumni Roundtable Show” on Sportstime Ohio, as well as “Tribe Tales” – a where-are-they-now segment that airs pre-games every Sunday on the Indians Radio Network. We'll find out soon how these programs have been rebranded.
He was the 1999 recipient of the prestigious Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence in Major League Baseball. He was inducted into the Lakewood High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1986, DiBiasio was named the Public Relations Director to Sports Illustrated’s Dream Team.
Recap of our Last Meeting
Joe Mazur celebrated the 50 years anniversary of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and shared their remarkable growth and expansion. He also gave us a peek at future plans. This is a labor of love primarily run with volunteers who perform all sort of tasks--from Train Engineers to Servers on the Club Cars and Elves greeting the riders at Christmas Time. So, the call is out to anyone who might be interested in getting involved. He also shared some of the innovative marketing ideas used like Dinner on the Train, Ales on Rails, Grape Escape, Trivia on the Train, Truffle Making and Cocktails on Rails. There is something for everyone including children with the introduction of a museum-like experience car. CVSR is way beyond just a Hike and Ride, Bike and Ride and Kayak and Ride experience.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
--May 11th, Club Board of Directors Meeting
--May 14th, 9:00 am Planting Day for the New Pollinator/Butterfly Garden at East Woods.
--May 20th, the Hudson Rotary Club Gala at the Twinsburg Hilton Garden Inn.
--June 29th, the Changing-of-the-Guard Dinner at The Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern, Twinsburg
Across Europe, Rotaract members are using digital tools to share information and coordinate to help people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine
...Rotarians have been invited to participate in a special interactive program this Friday, May 13th at 10:30 am with the students of the Service Learning Class. We have 9 Rotarians signed up right now. If you would like to participate, please contact Mike Swain for more information. We are hoping for a meaningful and engaging discussion as Rotarians share our insights and life advice with the HHS Students as they complete their high school years.
..Joe Zapytowski has returned to Laurel Lake Crown Center after a recent hospitalization. Please keep him in your prayers and send thoughts of healing.
...This month we will be gathering new and gently used clothing and shoes for children between the ages of 3 & 5 for the HeadStart Program. There is a strong need to shoes. Thank you to Terri Bortnik for leading this drive.
...We got rained out on the 7th and are planning to work this Saturday, May 14th when the new Pollinator Garden at East Woods Elementary is planted. We'll gather at 9:00 am and hope to be done at 11:00 am. The weather may not cooperate again--so watch your email. This is a planting day only so it will go quickly.
