President Brian Hayes welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. PDG Harvey Smith provided a prayer.
The thought for the moment came from writer Albert Camus - “You will never be happy if you keep searching for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.”
President Brian shared these announcements:
- Don’t forget your Pledge Cards. They should be returned to me. Be sure to indicate which project it is for so that we can allocate the proceeds to the proper Pledge.
- Please check your email (look in spam) for email from me. Open and respond, PLEASE! There is some feedback needed in order for the Board to make decisions.
- Last week’s speaker, Jim Amon with the Beaver Creek Wetlands sent a note encouraging members to get out and see the properties, and especially Pearl’s Fen which is really pretty this time of year. It is at 4535 Byron Road between Route 235 and W. Yellow Spring-Fairfield Road near Fairborn.
Ginger Clark reported we are on track to meet our goal for Operation Warm.
Brian noted we have some extra dictionaries and thesauri in our storage at Yankee Trace so that inventory should be checked before placing this year’s order.
Boyd Preston reminded that tonight is our first service day for the 50th anniversary project. We will meet at 4:30 pm at Bill Yeck Park-Smith entrance to collect prairie seed to scatter at Grant Park in the spring.
Happy Bucks this quarter are for Operation Warm - to provide new winter coats to children in need.
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms. He welcomed our guest Nick Cruz, who is a potential member. Pat said the Mayor’s breakfast this morning included a presentation on the Uptown plans; all available online now. They also announced 2021 Business of the Year - Square One and Sinclair College Extension and also gave an award to Don Wright’s wife for all of his accomplishments.
Happy Bucks today included:
- Arnie Biondo returned from a trip out west and his daughter Emily was being inducted into the Marietta Rotary club today.
- Sofie Ameloot was happy to finally convince another Rotarian to ride with her in the Tour de Gem.
- Brad Huffman was happy for the return of football season and was looking forward to the Buckeyes beating up on the Oregon Ducks this weekend.
- Chuck King donated $70 for his 70th birthday. Happy Birthday!
- Ron Hollenbeck donated because he wants shorts to match Pat’s quite colorful (and loud) shirt!
- Ger was happy for the service project today.
- Ginger Clark announced it was her 6 year anniversary at the Park District. Congrats Ginger!
- Mark Febus announced it is the 6 year anniversary of their business.
- Robert Ford announced his granddaughter started nursing school.
- Crissy Allums was happy being able to visit family down south.
- Nick Cruz was happy for today’s weather that is perfect for golf.
- Carol Kennard was happy for a short visit with her youngest granddaughter (21 months) and the impromptu hugs.
- Jim Harris was happy for the nice day without humidity.
- Harvey Smith gave an update on Elda Gotos-Gay who had lost her sense of taste & smell and was feeling really tired, but tested negative for COVID. Elda sent her hello to the club and we all wished her a speedy recovery.
- Boyd Preston had a nice visit with family in Maine.
- Don Stewart was happy with the start of football season and was looking forward to visiting his daughter, Mallory for Wather’s weekend at OSU.
- Lee Hieronymus paid a fine for his phone ringing during the prayer and because he needed to leave early.
- Frank Perez was just happy.
- Bill Menker started a new hobby - blacksmithing, and is working on a bladesmithing internship.
- Sivaji Subramaniam announced his second granddaughter was inducted into the National Honor Society.
- Pat Beckel was at the US Open last week, in areas that got flooded due to Hurricane Ida.
- Brian Hayes was just happy.
Our speaker today was Rotary International!
Arnie Biondo announced our speaker today had “symptoms” so he was unable to attend. Arnie then filled in as the program. He shared videos that demonstrate the good Rotary does around the world and gave a snapshot of the impact of our donations to Rotary International.
The videos we watched today were, in order,
- Heroes of Polio Eradication: Ukraine
- Heroes of Polio Eradication: India
- Doing Good: Providing Clean Water
- Doing Good: Supporting Education
They can be accessed on the Rotary International website HERE:
- My Rotary-- sign in
- Brand Center
- Images and Videos
- Video
Rotary video highlights included:
In Ukraine a Parents for Vaccination group was formed after a polio outbreak. They discovered that social media was the best way to get the word out and parents talking to parents directly was most effective.
In India, efforts were focused on keeping up the administration of the polio vaccine so the country can remain polio free.
Some areas of Peru still have a lack of access to clean water, as most comes from a contaminated river. Rotary helped develop water filters and trained women on how to use them.
In New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, 110/126 public schools were destroyed. After 6000 volunteer hours and support from the Rotary Foundation, hundreds of students were able to return to school.
President Brian noted our speaker next week will be Dennis Turner, who will discuss gerrymandering and fair districts.
The next Board meeting is September 20 at 5:30 pm. Watch emails for details and all are welcome to attend.
President Brian led the group in the 4-Way Test and wished everyone a good week.
50th Anniversary Project
Later that day, 15 Rotarians and Park District staff completed our first project of our 50th Anniversary year. Seed was gathered at the Bill Yeck Park-Smith entrance native plant nursery which will be scattered at the new pollinator area at Grant Park next spring. Plant seed collected included bergamot, gray-headed coneflower, milkweed, partridge pea, joe-pye weed, and rattlesnake master.
