President Adam Manning welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer and Brad Thorp led singing of God Bless America.
Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: "It all comes to this: The simplest way to be happy is to do good.“ by Helen Keller
Today’s Announcements:
- Thanks to today’s greeters, Vince Carone & Brad Thorp.
- Welcome today’s guests: Kristy Spivey’s guest Ryan Fox; Sivaji’s guest Gary Hayes, who works at Bob Ross Auto; Sherre Wright’s daughter, Isa and son, Ansen.
- Isa is going to be a Rotary Exchange student in Colombia. She said she was able to chose her top 10 places out of a list, but was assigned the country she would go to. She is most looking forward to the food and making friends somewhere that speaks a different language (Spanish). She is also excited to visit new places around the country, and experience a different way of life. She is nervous about the concept of being by herself for the year, with people she is not familiar with. She will return to the Club and share about her experience after she returns.
Honorary member, Kaycee Kennard has completed all of her requirements for being a new member so she was able to remove her red ribbon today!
Announcements
- Thanks to all who attended the Dragon’s game. It was a lot of fun and the Dragon’s came away with a BIG win!
- Thanks to Bill Menker & Sherre Wright who helped Adam with the Pancake Pile up game at the Library’s summer reading club kickoff at Schoolhouse Park.
- Next week Kristy Spivey will be formally inducted into the club.
- Today was the last day to turn in your nomination for Rotarian of the Year.
- The 2026 Golf Outing final proceeds were announced - $16,914 was the net income for this year’s fundraiser. Thanks to everyone for helping make it a success!
- Bill Menker announced the next Litter Pickup is June 20, beginning 8 am at Yankee Trace. We’ll have fun discovering hidden trash gems, and be done by noon. Please let Bill know if you can help.
- Lee Hieronymus is recruiting volunteers to ride on the Rotary fire truck on July 4. You have fun soaking the crowd with water guns while promoting Rotary.
- Chuck King announced Rotary District 6670 approved our grant request of $4,000 for Operation Warm coats.
Happy Bucks this quarter will be donated to Operation Warm, providing winter coats to children in need in partnership with Hannah’s Treasure Chest.
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms with assistance by Brian Hayes.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Pat B said Isa will represent Rotary well on her exchange to Colombia.
- Lee H’s Farm Report was that he is working to redo a barn, needs to bring in fill dirt for floor, using concrete spoils, rolling and will then concrete. He is hauling 10 tons at a time in his truck so had to leave early to continue the work.
- Sherre W said she is hosting a boy through Rotary Exchange while Isa is gone so the house won’t feel quite so empty.
- Boyd P was happy for Kaycee.
- Socks because the sun was shining and he was happy.
- Jim H for Isa going abroad, Kaycee and all guests being here today.
- Mark K for the nice weather, and looking forward to the Belmont Stakes this week.
- Carol K for getting to spend the next 3 nights with Kaycee at her dance rehearsals and recital. And that she’ll be dancing in the Michael Jackson medley Family Dance with Kaycee!
- Adam M for all of the guests today.
- Sofie A for today’s guests, the Kaycee & grandma dance, and apologized for not being able to help at the Library program after taking a 70 mile bike ride!
- Wyatt T was just happy, his son is good, potty training is going well, and his wife is feeling well with next baby on the way.
- Uriah A announced Saturday, 9-12 noon is the Joyce Young parking lot sale, with over 34 booths of garage sale items up for grabs.
- Harvey S bought a coat in celebration of Kaycee joining us.
- Elda GG for today’s guests.
- Chuck K for today’s guests, and a great 9 days in Michigan, including a visit to Mackinaw Island.
- Ron H for guests, and said he had another run in with a deer, this time when his dog took him for a walk.
- Danielle F (speaker) said her Dad’s happy memory is Pancake Breakfast.
- Kristy S for her 8 year wedding anniversary.
- Pat B was happy to see Kaycee and all the joy she brings to the club.
Our speaker today was Danielle Fritz, sharing about Mahjong and her business, Dayton Mahj.
Danielle’s family got the Integrity award for their business Centerville Coin & Jewelry,
Danielle said she has lived in Centerville since age 4.
Mahjong is from Asia and there are 40 different ways to play. Danielle teaches American Mahjong.
It all started when she bought a set for her son-in-law, who is a King Fu master. Danielle thought it would be a good Christmas present, but her daughter admitted they would never play. So Danielle looked for a teacher and she and her husband learned to play.
One night, she invited friends over to play Mahjong and it grew from there. Once it started catching on, she renovated the front of Coin & Jewelry for party space. Soon she had an “accidental business that she adores!”
Why is it so popular now? Danielle cited the Crazy Asian movie, a Hallmark movie about Mahjong, and TikTok.
The game is good to help with memory and Alzheimer’s. It is also helpful with the “Old Man Smoking” disease - the fact that older men need companionship. Mahjong brings people together, and provides community.
The game of Mahjong is compiling 14 tiles to a wining hand and American Mahjong is played with a card. The average player age is 45-65 year old..
It was first developed in China in the 1850’s, and arrived in the Unites States in the early 20th century. The first set was sold on the East Coast at Abercrombie & Fitch in the 1920’s for $100.
A group of Jewish women decided they needed to develop rules so they put an advertisement for people to help. 400-450 women showed up and over several days, the National Mahjong League was formed.
A fresh new card is issued each year composed of 14 hands. The game is played typically with 4 players. The Mahjong 101 class she teaches is 2.5-3 hours.
For tournaments, you are expected to play 4 games in an hour. If you can play Uno, you can learn Mahjong.
