CLUB and ROTARY NEWS

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Buckeye Bash at WARM


                                                                                                                                                                            















Please join us to volunteer at this year’s Buckeye Bash! Thursday, September 17th at 11:00 AM at WARM (150 Heatherdown Dr).

We also need help with additional shucked buckeyes and people with a drill press to make the holes for the necklaces. Please email Chip chipfitohio@gmail.com or Rich rschorling@gmail.com for more details and to sign up. Thank you


Club Elections Process

Every year, Westerville Sunrise Rotary goes through an election process to select a Vice President who will fulfill the seven-year commitment that culminates in club (four years) and foundation (3 years) leadership as well as officers and directors who will hold their positions for three years. This year we will hold elections for four positions:

  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • 2 Club Directors
According to our bylaws, the Nominating Committee consists of:
  • President Theresa Petraszak
  • President Elect AJ Fox
  • Vice President Jamie Maze
  • Immediate Past President Jim Caldwell
The nominating committee will select the slate of officers and directors with the input of the club. Club members can recommend any member for the open position. Recommendations must be submitted in writing to a member of the Nomination Committee. The submission should include name, position, and statement of why they would be a good candidate for the position.

September 30 is the deadline for club member recommendations.

The following is the process we follow:
1. The Nominating Committee will prepare a slate of officers and directors from the recommendations.
2. The Nominating Committee will present the slate to the Board for review and approval at the October Board meeting.
3. At the three club meetings following the board meeting, the slate of officers will be presented to the club.
4. The names of the slate of officers and directors will be published in the club newsletter for three weeks.
5. At a club meeting no later than November 30, the club membership will vote on the slate of officers.


Please submit your recommendations by September 30. If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Nominating Committee.


Fifth Wednesday Happy Hour – Join Us September 30!

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We’re excited to kick off a new Westerville Sunrise Rotary tradition!

Whenever there’s a Fifth Wednesday on the calendar, we’ll gather for a casual Rotary Happy Hour—a fun opportunity to unwind, enjoy great conversation, and spend time together outside of our regular meetings.

?? Wednesday, September 30

5:00–7:00 PM

Camp Fire Brewing
6300 Frost Rd, Westerville OH 43082


We’ll have a reserved group table for 12 people, so if you’d like to be part of the reservation, please RSVP as soon as possible. Seating at the group table will be first come, first served based on RSVPs. Food available to purchase from Antonio's Pizzeria & restaurant. 

To RSVP, please contact Axl Pons:

Once our reserved table is full, everyone is still welcome to join us!

Mark Your Calendars!

We’ll be celebrating all of this Rotary year’s Fifth Wednesdays:
  • September 30, 2026
  • December 30, 2026
  • March 31, 2027
  • June 30, 2027
We hope you’ll join us for the first of what we hope becomes a fun Rotary tradition!


 


Satellite Club September and October Meetings at Mimi's Cafe

 

The Westerville Sunrise Rotary Satellite Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM.

Come enjoy a relaxed evening of Rotary fellowship and great conversation, making it an easy and social way to stay connected.

Remaining 2026 Meeting Dates:

  • October 14
  • November 11
  • December 9
We will meet at Mimi's Cafe (1428 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH)  in September and October. 

Whether you're a Satellite Club member, curious about the Satellite Club, or want to catch up with old friends, this is a great chance to keep the Rotary spirit going strong in a relaxed midweek setting.

We hope to see you there! 


President's message

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We did it! Bragging rights are ours! What a fun night of fellowship, competition, and fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association at our joint Corn Hole Tournament.

Congratulations to the winning corn hole team of Noah and Evan, who were recruited by Char Stille. A big thank you to everyone who bought 50/50 tickets or donated directly to the cause. Kim Kellogg pulled the winning ticket belonging to Larry Jenkins, but the big winner is the Alzheimer’s Association because Larry is donating the money back! It looks like we’ll be able to write a check for $1,290 to the Alzheimer’s Association!

A special thank you to John Powell, President of the noon club, for coming up with the idea and encouraging our clubs to get together. I look forward to seeing what AJ and Nicole come up with for next year!
Speaking of competition, it’s hard to believe it, but football is back! I’m excited for another season and ready to cheer on my Seattle Seahawks as the NFL kicks off this week.

Fun Fact: We have a Westerville connection on the Seahawks again this year! Long snapper Chris Stoll (No. 41) was born in Westerville, played at Penn State, and signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He is currently on the active roster. Nick Vannett, also from Westerville, has also spent time playing for the Seahawks. Always fun to have a local player to root for!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


Help Homeless Youth at Monthly Star House Family Dinner


Angela Sillus with Kathy Able and Dave Read of the Westerville Noon Rotary Club.

Join us on September 28 to cook, donate items and/or serve food for homeless youth at Star House! Please use the sign-up genius to indicate if you are able to participate.

  • Drop off of cooked/ donated items at Chris Herbert's house between 9 and 11 am.
  • If you are able serve lunch, we will set up at 11:30 am and be done around 1 pm.  


Star House is no longer requiring background checks or trauma training in order to serve lunch!

The remaining 2026 dates are:

  • Oct 26

  • Nov 23

  • Dec 28

Your support is greatly appreciated.


 


WARM Food Pantry Volunteers - November 14

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Main article image for story titled 'WARM Food Pantry Volunteers - November 14'

 


Rotary volunteers strengthen our community in many ways. One Saturday per quarter we sort and box food at the WARM warehouse at 150 Heatherdown Drive from 10 am to noon. Our remaining 2026 date is:

  • November 14

Please sign up using this link: Warm Volunteer Sign Up

We invite you to join in on the fellowship and fun. Feel free to invite your family, friends, and prospective Rotarians to join us too.

For more information, please contact Beth Wilcox at (614) 214-9822. 


Happening This Week

September 16, 2026

Program: Field of Heroes Appreciation
Speaker:  Dan Hare & Larry Jenkins

Greeter: Jason Seeley
Invocation and Pledge: Tom Schmitt
 

      


Save the Date! Upcoming Social and Service Events

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September 17: Buckeye Bash! - 11:00 am
WARM 150 Heatherdown Dr, Westerville, OH 43081

September 17: Board Meeting - 6:30-8:30 pm
Maze & Co., 23 E College Avenue Westerville, OH 43081

September 24: Youth Exchange Potluck Welcome Party 6:00pm 
Hoover Dam Park, 7701 Sunbury Rd, Westerville OH 43081

September 28: Star House Family Lunch - 11:30-1:00 pm
Star House 1220 Corrugated Way Columbus, OH 43201

September 30: Fifth Wednesday Happy Hour
Camp Fire Brewing 6300 Frost Rd, Westerville OH 43082

October 14: Satellite Meeting - 6:30-8:30 pm
Mimi's Cafe 1428 Polaris Pkwy Columbus, OH 43240

 


Thank you upcoming Greeters & Invocators

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Date Greeter Invocation & Pledge
16-Sept-26 Seeley, Jason Schmitt, Tom
23-Sept-26 Rupiper, Allen Sillus, Angela
30-Sept-26 Stefano, John Sprunger, Chuck


Please Suggest Guest Speakers

Main article image for story titled 'Please Suggest Guest Speakers'


Enlighten your fellow Rotarians.  Suggest a speaker to brighten our day! No reasonable suggestion refused.

BUT, your guest must be willing to attend in person.

Email  AJ Fox  at ajfox@me.com or Jackie Washburn at  jackiegardner1@hotmail.com
 


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