History of the Stow-Munroe Falls Rotary Club

Started in Jim Banks Living Room in May of 1980 with about 8 "agreed-to members" who participated as "Board Members". They held meetings at the Cafe in Stow (Leisure Time on Darrow Road) to set up a rotary club with PDG Banks.

The Club was Chartered on Friday, August 8, 1980 at the Rusty Nail Restaurant in Kent with 36 members, of which 8 are still members in the present day club. Tony Falcione, Bob Flask, Mark Lucco, Marv Mills, Dave Renninger, Dick Spangler, Jim Stimler, and Ron Taggert. 

Introduction and master of Ceremonies was PDG Jim Banks. Gifts were received from 10 of the 47 clubs.

First Community Activity was the stuffing of Poison Control Door Hanger Bags for the hospital, and handed out by the Boy Scouts.  We did that at Marhofer Chevrolet garage.

First Fund Raiser was a basketball shoot-out at the High School as a pledge system benefiting the newly formed scholarship system and "scoreboard" the needed money.

First Reverse Raffle was held in 1981, one year later at the Pub in Hudson.  "illegal" 75 tickets sold for $50.  $2600 gain for scholarships and the other Rotary needs. We were on the way.

Our Charter was Accepted by the first President, Bob Crane, who held the job from May of 1980 until June 1981, about 14 months. The vice-president, Will Veith, moved out of the area before June of 1981, and the job fell to the person holding Director of Club Service, Dick Spangler.

First Newsletter was called the "Observer" printed on a copy machine, using paper printed by Ron Taggert and mailed by Sears. Spangler was the first editor.

First Year's Budget for local expenditure was less than $500.

Of the Original 10 Officers and Directors, three are still members, Falcione, Flask and Spangler.

The Club first Met at the Silver Pheasant at noon in Stow for the first several months, and as the club progressed, the Group moved to Silver Lake Country Club as a morning club in early 1981.  It's been here ever since. The menu too!

The Club's Foundation  is based on Service to the Community, as defined as being Stow and Munroe Falls with emphasis on the area, including Summit and Portage County. We understood the necessity of the "World Wide" aspects of the organization early-on but concentrated on the local community at the beginning.  We also encouraged the members to "Have Fun" at our own expense. The club encouraged as many people as possible to enjoy the club by participating and those who couldn't or wouldn't usually dropped off.  We did not encourage people to use us as a resume point, but asked them to attend meetings to find out what was going on. 100% attendance was not mandatory, but encouraged. Participation and enjoyment was mandatory.

The Club is Built on SERVICE to the "COMMUNITY". Over the years the club has changed it's scope as to that range:

• COMMUNITY
• ROTARY PRINCIPLES
• INTERESTING/ENJOYABLE TIME

 In 1999 we changed the name of the club from The Rotary Club of Stow to the Rotary Club of Stow-Munroe Falls and a new charter was issued.  The club had always served both communities, and this action was taken to include both communities in the club name.

©2003 Rotary Club of Stow-Munroe Falls, Ohioo

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