Club meeting of March 30

The meeting was called to order by club president, Denny Liddle. Denny reminded club members that we will be moving up the actual start time of the meeting to 7:15 AM with our speaker starting at 7:30 am. Our business meeting will be after the speaker. As a reminder, Mayor Judge will be our speaker on April 13. An separate email will be sent to remind members-weekly until the meeting.

Our speaker was Dan Rice, the President and CEO of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, headquartered in Akron Ohio. Dan spoke of the development and use of the canals in Ohio and the nation. He shared the opening of the canals were what helped settle Ohio and make it an industrial powerhouse. During their height, Ohio led the nation in the number of canalways. The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition was established in 1989, and is a private, non-profit organization working to develop the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail and National Heritage Area in Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties. The OECC provides educational programs, events, and publications about the Canalway, while developing strong working relationships with partners to preserve and interpret the natural, historical and recreational resources throughout the area.

Rick Fisher shared he has collected to date about 150 pairs of shoes for the Shoes for the Sole project. A donation $250 by the club for the Tween Summer Program was presented to Barberton Public Library Childrens Services Manager Lisa Gilgenbach and Director Julianne Bedel.