Dublin-Worthington News Stories
Membership Spotlight: Bonnie Mitchell
By Paul J. CynkarSunday, December 5, 2021
Advancing the Leadership Mindset
Finding Success in the Success of Others
Paul Cynkar, December, 2020
This is the sixth in a series of member profiles based on discovery interview questions that were designed to help me fulfill the requirements of the Dublin Worthington Rotary Red Badge Program for new Rotarians and get an up close view of the traits and strengths of some of the members who provide leadership to this organization.
Membership Spotlight: Bonnie Mitchell
Volunteer Extraordinaire, Social Influencer, Connector
Finding Success in the Success of Others
Paul Cynkar, December, 2020
This is the sixth in a series of member profiles based on discovery interview questions that were designed to help me fulfill the requirements of the Dublin Worthington Rotary Red Badge Program for new Rotarians and get an up close view of the traits and strengths of some of the members who provide leadership to this organization.
Membership Spotlight: Bonnie Mitchell
Volunteer Extraordinaire, Social Influencer, Connector
Tell us about yourself. Give us three facts that include information about your family, your career and your pastimes.I grew up in Ostrander. My family includes one brother who has five children. I consider his children to be my children too. They’re not sure whether to call me Aunt Bonnie or Grandma! My father was the most social person I’ve ever known. My college degree is in elementary education but I wanted to be a librarian since I was little. I had the opportunity to be a children’s librarian and moved up the ranks that included the Library of the State of Ohio and the Worthington Library where I worked beside Maribah Mansfield. I enjoy reading, knitting, playing bridge and playing mahjong.
How long have you belonged to Rotary? What’s the best thing about membership?
I joined Rotary in 1995, right about the time we were building the Northwest Library. I like Rotary because of the socialization. My favorite activity is the weekly raffle.
As you look back on your life and your career, where and when did you have the biggest impact on others? Who was impacted and how?
I was given the responsibility to open the Northwest Library. It was the dream of a lifetime to build a library from scratch. It took a great deal of cooperation between Worthington, Dublin and Columbus.
As you look back, which of the opportunities you’ve had has been the most fulfilling to you personally? Why?
Clearly, opening the Northwest Library was a lifetime dream. It expanded the term “groundbreaking” to include the emerging relationships between the political entities involved in the project. During my time with the State library I was influential in giving advice to libraries across Ohio.
Describe the most challenging project you’ve ever worked on. What was your role? What was the result?
In the midst of my lifetime dream to build the Northwest Library, the contractor went bankrupt. I didn’t let that stop me! I moved forward with the notion that people could have fun in libraries. I’m still very proud of our story gardens.
What are some things you are passionate about? What really excites you? What gets your adrenalin flowing? What makes your heart sing?
I am a social person (in case you didn’t know!) I love volunteering. Upon retirement the first thing I did was volunteer at Slate Hill Elementary School. I also volunteer at the German Village Society.
What are you especially skilled at? What is something that others often tell you that they think makes you stand out?
I listen to what people say and I want to help them. I am good at connecting people. As a librarian I lived by the motto, “the right book in the right hand at the right time.” One of my fondest Rotary memories is working on the Halloween Haunted House with Pete Barnhart and John Bader.
When you have a moment to sit back and think (dream) about your future, what do you think about?
Right now is a good time for me. The pandemic has changed the things we want to do and the things we can do. I love the Outer Banks and plan to continue going there for years to come. I’ve spent part of the pandemic doing body maintenance including thing like cataract surgery. Now I have a better view of my future!
If you could choose anyone (alive or deceased) to have lunch with, who would it be? Why?
Larry Black! He used to be the director of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. He is the one who talked me into taking the Worthington library job. Unfortunately Larry has passed away but I’d really like have lunch with him.