New Green Granted to Redline Greenway Project

Matt Koriath and Lenny Stover

The effort to build the Redline Greenway, a project that will tie together eight neighborhoods on Cleveland's west side, has received a significant financial commitment.  Lenny Stover and Matt Koriath of the Rotary Club of Cleveland explain their vision for the Redline Greenway.

Doing Good: Shaker Heights Couple Lead By Example

Christine Bretz and Paul Qua

Paul Qua, the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, and his wife Christine Bretz give back in many ways.  They help raise funds for the Greater Cleveland Foodbank and for Family Promise, an organization that helps find families safe, affordable housing, and which partners with local churches to provide temporary housing. 

Paul, the New Car Concierge at Classic Auto Group also devotes time to the Foodbank, leading a group of volunteers who sort donated food on the third Wednesday of every month.  

No More Frigid Winter Weather for the Diffendals

Dave Diffendal and Jim McIntyre/Photo credit: Dave Diffendal

Dave Diffendal is living the dream.  A member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland and resident of Lakewood until last week, Dave has moved to Belize, where he and wife Laura plan to develop a resort on the Caribbean Sea.  Both left successful careers to pursue a project many only dream about.

Dave is well-traveled, having visited India on medical missions with the Association of Indian Doctors of Northeast Ohio, and South Korea on an International Exchange mission with the Rotary Club.  The Diffendals are hoping to develop their beachfront property in Belize over the next two years.

India Declared Polio Free With Help From Rotary

He holds his index finger an eighth if an inch away from his thumb and says "we're this close" to eradicating polio from the face of the Earth.  But, Mike Johns, past Rotary International Director says we need to finish the job.  Rotary started it in 1978, and since then has vaccinated an estimated two billion children from the crippling disease.

This week, India became the latest country to eradicate polio, when officials there marked the third year without a case of the disease reported.  Rotary International's contribution is acknowledged in this article from The Economist.

Polio is still prevalent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.  Rotary is hoping to change that with a push to raise $700 million. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to donating two dollars to every dollar Rotary raises, up to $70 billion.

Mike Johns and Jerry Smith, Rotary District 6630 representative of the Rotary Foundation make the pitch in this interview to put an end to polio through Rotary's Polio Plus campaign.  Mike and Jerry are members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.

Nathan Putrich Offers Hope For The Future

Nathan Putrich is an extraordinary young man who graduated from high school last June, and is currently an intern with the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. It is just one of many extracurricular youth activities Nathan has been involved with, as he explains in this interview with Jim.

Nathan plans to attend a bible college for a semester in Hungary next year, and plans to major in Political Economy and Business when he returns to the U. S. He hopes to be a U. S. Senator someday, and when you listen to this interview, you will likely conclude that he will achieve that goal.
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Dave Diffendal: Living An Extraordinary Life

Cleveland Rotarian Dave Diffendal is a financial planner from Lakewood who wants to live an extraordinary life.  He defines that by helping others throughout the world.  This year, has traveled to India on a medical mission and to South Korea with an international exchange program.

In his interview with Jim, Dave discusses how the residents of Seoul, South Korea see the city of Cleveland, and how a group of Cleveland doctors travel to India every year to provide free medical services.

Cleveland Stands Tall with Tall Ships This 4th of July

The Fourth of July this year will be extra special, for the Port of Cleveland is hosting the 2013 Tall Ships Festival.  A dozen of the sailing vessels will dock here for the holiday weekend, following the Parade of Sail late in the afternoon of July 3rd.

The festival is presented by the Rotary Club of Cleveland.  Members have volunteered thousands of hours to   make sure the festival comes off without a hitch.

Jerry Jarzabeck and Paul Qua, two long-time members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland describe how you can board and sail on these fantastic replicas of our maritime past, and how you can volunteer .