President Chuck King opened the meeting noting this is our eleventh week since we stopped meeting in person, and our fourth Zoom club meeting.
The club said the Pledge of allegiance and then recited the 4 Way Test. Brian Hayes shared a prayer.
Dale Berry mentioned that Joyce Young is in the hospital again. Good wishes for a speedy recovery are sent her way.
Chuck noted that around 45% of our members have been attending our Zoom meetings. Chuck welcomed our guests today, Frank Scott who will be District Governor 2022-23, and Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager for the Washington-Centerville Public Library.
President Chuck shared these updates:
- Boyd: Board approved COVID -19 relief efforts, checks of $550 each to BOGG (Because of God’s Grace Ministries) and The Artemis Center (Domestic Violence Resource Agency)
- Note: Since the pandemic, Centerville Rotary has also donated more than $3,000 to the Dayton Food Bank ($500 was a Covid 19 District Grant)
- I received an email letter this past Saturday from Sue Taylor, the District Grant Subcommittee Chair, and Frank Scott, District 6670 Rotary Foundation Chair that stated Centerville Rotary Requested $2500 for Operation Warm and would receive $2,500 and we requested $1,500 for Building Literacy and would receive $1,500.
- Thanks to Don Overly and Sury Peddireddi for their help in putting together the grant requests
- We sent a Centerville Rotary Club Reopening Survey to everyone on Sunday afternoon, we have had 30 members take the survey, so if you haven’t, please do so. We will use the survey results to develop our transition plans to return to face to face meetings. But I will add, we will not return to face to face meetings until we have a high confidence that you will be safe to do so.
- We held our second Centerville Rotary Virtual Social yesterday at 5:30, we had 8 members attend
- Last week Brad Huffman mentioned that he and I interviewed Yok, our exchange student from Thailand who returned home several months early and didn’t have an opportunity to speak to the club. Brad sent a link and password out on Tuesday so you can view the interview and learn a little more about Yok, the video lasts about 35 minutes
- Last night I sent out a list to certain members so they can call other members and see how they are doing, if you are not a designated caller, you can expect a phone call or email - we want to make sure everyone is contacted so we know how they are doing and if there is anything we can do for them.
- If anyone is interested in participating in a service project, the Dayton VA Grotto needs help spreading mulch , and another task is checking the donated trees, make sure they have their number tag and their marker is in good shape and weed removed and then mulched. In another month or so, they will be purchasing some new benches and will need help to assemble them. You will be able to keep social distance and it is all outside. If interested, let myself or Ron Hollenbeck know, we are there every Tuesday from 9-12
- 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.
Happy Dollars
Our Happy Dollars for April – June are going to The Castle in Centerville that provides mental health services to people in need – please be generous with your Happy Dollars for this good cause. Then send a check to the Club mailbox : Centerville Rotary Club, PO Box 41431, Centerville, OH 45458.
Boyd Preston first recognized those celebrating birthdays in May: Peachy Metzner, Bill Menker, and our speaker Georgia Mergler and then the members attempted to sing Happy Birthday...
Peachy Metzner ($70) gave in celebration of his 70th birthday and that his grandkids helped him celebrate!
Arnie Biondo ($50) announced Centerville-Washington Park District has again been selected as a finalist for the National Parks & Recreation Association Gold Medal award.
Carol Kennard ($50) matched Arnie's happiness and also wished Georgia Mergler a happy birthday.
Mike Weir ($10) shared that he participated in the Taps Across America whereby 4,600 musicians played Taps in their yard to honor all Veterans on Memorial Day.
Sofie Ameloot ($10) to celebrate the Park District's news and also noted we are collecting items for St. Vincent de Paul. We are collecting donations of twin sheets or blankets, female hygiene products or new underwear. She will send out information on how to donate.
Ron Hollenbeck ($20) shared that his 14 year old lawn mower died this week, and unfortunately, he was unable to find a replacement that his wife felt comfortable driving, so he will happily continue with the mowing duties.
Katie Neubert ($20) gave because she is happy to see everyone and to be with our happy, healthy club.
Elda Gotos Gay ($20) is happy that her son, and granddaughter, Katie were here for a visit.
Chuck King ($20) is happy the club has received the District grants.
Don Overly ($20) is happy that God gave us choices and said God is good.
Dick Hoback ($20) is happy for cold air after spending two hot nights before his air conditioner was fixed.
Jeff Senney ($50) shared he had a wonderful weekend at Lake Erie with family and friends where they successfully caught 37 walleye over a 3-hour period!
Speaker: Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager, Washington-Centerville Public Library
Brian Hayes introduced our speaker for the day - Georgia Mergler, Community Relations Manager for the Washington-Centerville Public Library where she has been working for 23 years. She explains her job as telling people what the library has to offer and why they should care! She shared how the library has been evolving to meet the ever changing needs of the community. She has been doing a presentation on the five reasons why libraries have an online presence, but that has become even more important during the coronavirus pandemic.
Georgia shared the library's website where we can access all of the eCollections. In 2019, 20% of all checkouts were digital and 1/3 of all books checked out were digital. The following are available:
eBooks and eAudiobooks - check out digital books from Overdrive/Libby, Gale, Hoopla, and TumbleBook library (children's books)
eMusic - Freegal and Hoopla which allow you to stream or download and save music at no cost with your library card
eVideo - AcornTV, RBdigital, Hoopla to watch videos at no cost with your library card
eZines - Flipster and Hoopla download magazines to read
Online learning - lynda.com for professional development, and treehouse to learn how to code
Georgia noted that although the library has been closed during the coronavirus, they continue to serve the public's needs with online resources, live chat and using their 3D printer to make mask extenders that were distributed to health professionals. As the library has evolved to provide experiences for people to build community, the staff was tasked with finding ways to continue those services virtually. They have recently started using video conferencing tools for:
- book discussions
- story time
- crafts to make at home
- movie night with Facebook interaction (using Canopy)
- digital escape room
The library website includes an online calendar with details on all of these. Georgia keeps getting asked when the library will reopen. She noted they are following information from the Ohio Library Council and Ohio Department of Health. Their plan is to reopen slowly and in phases to ensure everyone's safety. Small teams have started reporting to the library now that they were able to secure enough PPE and cleaning supplies. Phase 2 will start to roll out low or no contact library services such as curbside pickup of holds. Book return is open but they ask that you wait until the new extended return date so as not to overwhelm the staff. Adding plexiglass barriers and signage will be the next phase. There are employees available to answer the library phones now from 10 am-6 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 10 am -5 pm on Saturday. Georgia is appreciative of the great support from the public during these unusual times.
Georgia shared that the Centerville Library will remain closed throughout the project to replace the parking lot. It should be completed mid-summer.
Please check the library website wclibrary.info for more information.
President Chuck King thanked Georgia, and closed the meeting with: Every one have a good week, stay safe and healthy!
