Rotary Club prepares for reverse raffle

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Neighbors | Submitted .Austintown Rotary Club Mark Cole (left), is shown presenting a book and certificate to Tracy Kaglic, speaker for the meeting, to be donated to Austintown Elementary library.

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Neighbors | Submitted .Austintown Rotary Club President Mark Cole (left), receiving certificate from District Governor Debbie Esbenschade Jan. 20 for the club's participation in Operation Warm, which provided district children with 3,200 new coats for the winter.

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Neighbors | Submitted Members of the Rotary Club of Austintown are preparing for the annual Reverse Raffle, which will take place March 8 at the Maronite Center. Shown, from left, are Reverse Raffle leaders Tracy Kaglic, Deanna Spirko, President Mark Cole, and Chairman Mike Cafaro.

Members of the Rotary Club of Austintown are preparing for their annual Reverse Raffle, which will take place March 8 at the Maronite Center.

Chairman Dr. Michael Cafaro encouraged Rotarians to sell the dinner tickets and collect items for the Chinese Auction. The event provides funds for the club’s expenses for scholarships, leadership training, elementary reading program, free dictionaries, special appeals and winter coat donations, among the annual donations by the local club. The dinner with open bar will be at 7 p.m., followed by cash prizes of $2,000, shared by winners.

Tickets are $150 per couple, and are available from club members or by calling 330-881-4929. Deanna Spirko is chairman of tickets, and Tracy Kaglic is heading the Chinese Auction.

District Governor Debbie Esbenschade from Youngstown attended the Jan. 20 meeting to present the club and its President, Mark Cole, with special recognition for their participation in Operation Warm, which provided district children with 3,200 new coats for the winter. Esbenschade noted that this was a great increase in the number of coats provided. All 47 clubs within District 6650 became involved this year, compared to six local clubs last year. Esbenschade presented Cole with a lapel pin for his leadership and a certificate for the club.

Topping out the meeting was a summary of the building of the new Austintown Elementary and Intermediate schools for inception, bond issue, planning, actual construction, follow up and modifications. These new facilities were built with combined local and state funds, providing the district with up-to-date and energy efficient buildings. Tracy Kaglic, a member of the Rotary, was the lead architect on the buildings, with major input from staff and administration as well as community members.