Frank Perez welcomed everyone to the 10th Zoom meeting of the Centerville Rotary Club, as we are still unable to meet face to face due to the coronavirus. There were 30 people in attendance.
Peachy Metzner led the Pledge of Allegiance, Elda Gotos Gay recited the 4-Way Test, and Dick Hoback led us in a prayer.
President Frank provided these updates:
- Zones 30 and 31 will be hosting a Virtual Summer Leadership Seminar in July and August. The Virtual Summer Leadership Seminars are intended to complement the training that is done in our district on the essentials of Rotary. There is no cost to participate, although registration is required. The sessions are once a week for five weeks starting this Saturday July 11th and continuing through August 8th. Each week will cover a different topic and it looks like you can pick and choose which to attend. All sessions are 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. ET. I will be sending out complete details about topics and registration after the meeting. It looks like a good learning opportunity. Please let me know if you attend any.
- Several Rotarians have tried to reach Kitty Ullmer to check on her, but her phone voice mail is full. After the meeting, Ron Hollenbeck was able to connect with her sister-in-law who said Kitty is resting a lot and that she really enjoys the cards and calls from Rotarians.
Sofie Ameloot noted she packed 4 big trash bags full of supplies and $550 in donations for St Vincent de Paul. As she was walking out the door, a St Vincent de Paul truck pulled into her neighbor’s driveway, so she walked over and they happily took the donations! Thanks to the generosity of Centerville Rotarians! Project Warm Happy Bucks continue this quarter and we hope to collect at least $10,000 again this year. Sofie thanked Rotarians who contributed to her $500 goal for the Tour de Gem ride, which she will do in August.
To keep connected as a club, please send a short note of any news about yourself or family to Carol Kennard at cgkennard@woh.rr.com so she can post it in our Centerville Rotary Club eBulletin. Text photos to 937-581-6744.
Our Happy Dollars for this quarter are going to Project Warm – please be generous with your Happy Dollars for this good cause. You can send your check to the club mailbox: Centerville Rotary Club, PO Box 41431, Centerville, OH 45458
Boyd Preston asked for Happy Bucks and many Rotarians gave generously.
- Boyd Preston ($20) started off thanking Rotarians for the good work our club does and Sofie for leading the charge.
- Ron Hollenbeck ($20) welcomed a guest (which the note taker didn’t see…) to the meeting and donated a coat in the guest’s honor.
- Arnie Biondo ($20) gave for a coat.
- Harvey Smith ($20) gave for a coat and for Joyce Young being at the meeting today.
- Jim Harris ($10) gave for Operation Warm.
- Sofie Ameloot ($10) thanked Arnie for remembering this was her first July 4th as an American citizen and noted she is taking a vacation to Michigan and Wisconsin.
- Terry Hanauer ($100) because he missed a meeting - to get married! Everyone offered congratulations.
- Joyce Young ($10) to thank Harvey for the nice welcome.
- Don Overly ($20) for a coat and ($5) for his birthday and noted UD basketball team is playing in a tournament this week.
- Peachy Metzner ($20) gave for a coat.
- Elda Gotos Gay ($40) gave for two coats.
- Chuck King ($20) gave for a coat.
- Carol Kennard ($20) for being able to visit her youngest granddaughter and to share that Zoom hosts can mute everyone, but each individual must un-mute themselves when they want to speak again.
- Dick Hoback ($20) to celebrate Terry’s wedding and to note that you can temporarily un-mute by holding down the spacebar.
- Mark Febus ($20), Susan Schnell ($20), and Frank Perez ($20) each donated a coat.
Today’s guest speakers were Col. Cassie Barlow and Brandon Creech with the Miami Valley Military Affairs Association.
Cassie said she first became aware of the group in 2014. An airman’s family had several appliances go out at once, just after he had been deployed, and his wife didn’t know where to turn for help. Cassie called the President of Military Aide, who replied, “We’ve got it. Tell me where to send the check.”
The organization was set up for the good of airmen of Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the Springfield Air National Guard. It has been in existence since 1980 and some of the original members are still involved.
The main goals of the MV Military Affairs Association include:
- Connect to the community
- Serve the military and their families
- Support the Fisher Nightingale House
- Support the First Sergeants (typically the first to know of a need)
- Support the USO
Financial support comes from an annual golf outing (this Friday) and memberships: $35 Annual; $165 Five-year; $400 Lifetime member.
Cassie noted recent legislation was passed to make the state more military friendly, and the MVMAA does just that.
Brandon Creech said he has been a member for 3 years, ever since he participated in the golf outing. He was in the military and has a son who is in the military now. He mentioned how helpful the organization is, and once he became aware of it, he just had to be part of their efforts.
Every dollar of the membership dues goes to helping others. Some programs he mentioned: distributing Kroger donated food, and Operation Cookie which donates Girl Scout cookies to Airmen (distributed 15,000 donated boxes last year!)
You can join the organization from the website
http://mvmaa.org. They typically have 250 members, and have an executive board and committees to assist with the work.
Frank thanked Cassie and Brandon for sharing information about this important organization.
Wayne Davis shared that he has worked with Cassie on several occasions and thanked her for all of the good work. Wayne also announced the City of Centerville had to cancel the summer concert series because of COVID-19 mandates for mass gatherings.
