As the new Ada Icon editor, I was invited to attend a weekly meeting of the Ada Rotary Club. While I’ve known about the Rotary for as long as I can remember, this was my first time attending a meeting. The experience taught me that I had a lot to learn about Rotary International and the Ada club.

My first impression: great turnout for a weekly meeting. Fourteen of the club’s seventeen members came for lunch, club business, and a presentation by Hardin County board of elections director Stephanie McCullough and board member Michael Hubbell.

The club is both serious about its mission and fun-loving. Not wearing your Rotary pin? You owe a dollar, which amuses your counterparts who have likely been in the same position. Rotarian Jamie Hall had the assignment of providing jokes; he was well prepared with plenty of “dad joke” humor.

On the serious side, the group said the pledge of allegiance and were led in prayer by club president John Neville. Members also recited the “Four-Way Test,” the Rotary’s ethical guide:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The primary business of the day was preparations for the annual Food & Wine Pairing event that will be held at The Inn at ONU. The club reviewed the status of ticket sales for the event and its basket raffle.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 9. The cost is $65/person including tax and gratuity for an evening of  “live music, a holiday atmosphere and fine wines paired with delicious food.”

Event and raffle tickets can be purchased at Liberty National Bank and Quest Federal Credit Union in Ada. To request tickets by phone, call Becky Neville at 419-230-2250. The accompanying Holiday Raffle is $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 tickets. Nine baskets will be part of the raffle.

As a service organization, the Ada Rotary Club provides local service--such as hosting the recent school board candidates forum--and supports international programs. The most notable is PolioPlus, which strives to eradicate polio disease in all countries.

For more information about the Ada Rotary Club, visit https://www.facebook.com/AdaRotaryClubOfOhio. Regional Rotary information is provided at https://rotarydistrict6600.org/.