Upcoming programs:     June 19 – no meeting due to Golf Outing on June 16^th                                     

                                         June 26 – President’s Dinner

 ***If you have not made your reservation for the President’s Dinner, please contact Ed McGannon. 

Invocation:  By Steve Klein

Guests:  Sonny Kanieski, Debbie Zinser

Proposed New Members:  Claudia Browand has been sponsored by Ellen Magdefrau.  She works in Sales and Marketing (second notification).

     Debbie Zinser has been sponsored by Ellen Magdefrau.  Debbie is an accountant (first notification). 

New Member:  Roger Hassler, a real estate agent with Realty One has been approved by the board for membership.  He will be inducted at our next onsite meeting in July.  He was sponsored by Brian Ferron.

Heartland Heroes Awards Dinner 2003:  The American Red Cross is looking for real heroes from Medina County.  Do you know someone who performed lifesaving CPR, pulled a person from a burning building or raised money to help someone in need?  A real local hero.  If you do, pick up a nomination from at American Red Cross, 704 North Court St., Medina, Ohio 44256.

Volunteers needed for Project Munch:  May is already taken care of, but volunteer opportunities 
are available for June.  The June dates are from Sunday, June 22 through Saturday, June 28.  
There are two shifts- from 2 to 4 p.m. (Cooking and preparing the meal) and from 4- 6 p.m. 
(Serving and cleaning up). 

Anyone interested can see Kristin See to schedule their shift, or they can call Sue at 330-722-6488

Special Highlights from the Benefit Golf Outing:  The 20th Annual Rotary Benefit Golf Outing took place on June 16^th at Fox Meadows Country Club.  It was sponsored by Medina General Hospital, The Westfield Companies, The Pepsi-Cola Companies, The Country Clubs of Fox Meadow, AMCOR and Chesrown Medina Honda.

       There were 86 golfers.  Some of the attendees were:  Jeff Wigley, Wigley Title;  Bill Carlyon, Western Reserve Bank; Marne Vorndran, AMCOR: Ken Collins, Medina Steakhouse; Pat Norris, Norris Auto Mall;  Carl & Sherry Abel; Leslie McFarland: Alan Hallock and Macy Hallock; Chris Rolling; John Sobotincic and Dr. James Littman.

Winning foursome:  The Pepsi Team; Dave Anderson, Dave Nida, Mike Arnold and Bill Artman.

Longest drive:  A. J. Mirabedini

Closest to the pin:  Ron McCoy

Putting contest winner:  Jim Bock

Look for more details in upcoming newsletters.

Program:  Tonight’s meeting was held at the AI Root Candle Company.  Our host was John Root.  John shared the story of AI Root’s life and took us on a tour.

     A.I. became an expert with electricity at the young age of 17 and used to travel around teaching others about electricity.  While on a return trip, A.I. and his friend were in a buggy accident and his friend died.  With that, and the fact that his girlfriend’s father thought he was a nincompoop (happy Rich?), A.I. decided to seek more prestigious work as a jeweler (which did help him win Sue’s hand).  While working one day, A.I. became fascinated by a swarm of bees on his window and paid someone to catch them.  He traveled to Cleveland and learned about beehives and began manufacturing beehives and producing honey.  He started his business in 1869 and had his first building at the present location in 1879.  In 1873 he started the journal, “Bee Culture” which is still published by the family today and is the longest running agricultural journal. 

     A.I. decided to expand and become a retailer by selling different items in a catalog.  He sold things from tools, watches, shoe repair kits, push lawnmowers and so on.  While working on this project, he contracted a lung infection and had his son and son-in-law take over the business.  They returned it to the earlier interest of beekeeping.  Later the youngest son, Hubert, got them started in the candle business.  The churches required real beeswax candles and this is still 35% of their candle business today.  AI Root holds the first patent for the first bottled candle in the country. 

     Other interesting facts:  AI was good friends with Helen Keller and worked with her to raise money for children.  He was also friends of the Wright Brothers and made the first report on their success.  Four months ago the Root family was contacted by the Library of Congress and 66 letters have been found that were written from the Roots the Wrights. 

     The AI Root Candle company employs about 260 employees between the two locations of Medina, OH and San Antonio, TX. 

For information, comments and questions about Medina Rotary e-mail
  The Medina Rotary at info@medinarotary.org

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