News

Jun 17, 2023

Rotary Club of Burton

The Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield held its annual club awards night at its regular meeting at Welshfield Inn on July 19. BMR is a community service organization that was founded in 1951 and has

The Rotary Club of Burton-Middlefield held its annual club awards night at its regular meeting at Welshfield Inn on July 19.

BMR is a community service organization that was founded in 1951 and has since done countless service projects in and around Geauga County that have improved many residents’ lives, according to a release from the club. For 70 years, BMR held its popular pancake breakfast every Sunday in March at Berkshire High School. Since COVID put an end to the pancake fundraiser in 2019 the club switched to its Maple Splash Raffle, which just concluded a fifth successful year as the main source of the club’s funds.

The Maple Splash Raffle has vastly increased the amount of service work BMR can do so the club continues to raise awareness and visibility in Geauga County, the release stated.

According to the release, BMR member Kathy Vatty received the “Rotarian of the Year” award from club president Mike Valentino for her incredible efforts in organizing and running the club’s MSR Festival. She spent countless hours contacting more than 23 non-profit agencies in Geauga County and inviting them to come to the festival, set up a booth and meet with festival attendees. These non-profits are all supported financially by BMR. She also organized and laid out the grounds, organized the raffle basket part of the event which raised more than $4,000, secured the services of food truck vendors, secured the very popular bands that entertained the crowd and ran all other aspects of the festival. She was supported by her husband Craig and a very hard-working staff of volunteers.

Geauga County Commissioner and BMR member Jim Dvorak was given the club’s “Service Above Self” award for his tireless efforts in organizing and running the yearly “Special Needs Fishing Tournament” held at Geauga Park Districts Walter Best Wildlife Preserve in Munson Township, the release stated. Over 70 special need students from all around Geauga County are invited to come to the event with an aide and take part in a day of fishing, outdoor fun and a picnic that is enjoyed by all.

Rotarians from all four Rotary Clubs in Geauga County help with the fishing equipment and transporting the students around the lake. Dvorak also has run the annual “Jeep Invasion” event held in October at the Mayfield Road Drive-in Theater in Munson Township, the release said. Jeep Wranglers from all over Northeast Ohio are invited to come and take part in a 25-mile tour of Geauga County including a special drive on the off road portion of the Geauga Park District’s East Branch Reservoir Park that is normally closed to vehicles.

This event raised over $22,000 this year which was donated to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office to support the DARE program. Dare is the county-wide high school anti-drug and alcohol program run by the Sheriff’s Office, the release stated.

The final award went to BMR club president Michael Valentino who received a hefty scrapbook containing his complete year’s worth of media and event news generated by BMR, the release stated.

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