Rotary speakers add interest to meetings

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Neighbors | Submitted.Pictured, from left, is Rotary Club of Austintown secretary Ed Kalaher and speaker Susan Jacobs. Jacobs is the art instructor at the Austintown Senior Center.

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Neighbors | Submitted .Senior artists from Austintown Senior Center are pictured enjoying a meal during a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Austintown. Art classes take place on Mondays from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Senior artists from Austintown Senior Center pose for a picture during a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Austintown.

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Neighbors | Submitted .Pictured, from left, is Rotary Club of Austintown president Vince Colaluca and speaker Richard Begalla during a recent club meeting. Begalla is the Director of Personnel Training for the Window Depot Corp. and he is one of the club's newest members.

Recent guest speakers at the Rotary Club of Austintown included Richard Begalla from Window Depot and Susan Jacobs from the Austintown Senior Center’s art program. Both speakers provided interesting information for members and their guests.

Richard Begalla is the Director of Personnel Training for the Window Depot Corp. and he is a new member of the Rotary Club of Austintown. Begalla cited his Liberty Township background and YSU education as his reasons for staying in the area. He also mentioned a number of reasons for joining the club and provided his personal plan to benefit the club. He plans to invite four prospective members to meetings, be strongly involved in three club projects, take a major role in two fundraisers and bring in one new member.

Susan Jacobs spoke at the July 28 meeting about the art program at the Austintown Senior Center, where she has been the instructor for the past three years. She brought the artwork of 11 of her students to the meeting and gave some unique comments about their work and how they have advanced.

A common thread among her students was not having time in the past to pursue art. Jacobs and the Senior Center have opened that door for the students and some have won awards for their efforts. One student mentioned that almost all of her friends are now gone, but the center has provided an instant group of new friends with common interests and she thanked the Rotary Club of Austintown and the community for this opportunity. Classes are offered on Mondays from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Jacobs is a retired art teacher from the Mathews School District.