President Adam Manning welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer.
Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: “Love the live you live. Lead the life you love.” (Bob Marley)
-Thanks to our greeters today: Jim Harris and Raj Grandhi
·Welcome to Mr. Ben Lawson and members of Centerville Interact Club (Nathan Borgerding, Ben Edwards, Braden Doudicon, Emma Danis)
-Other guests were Brian Sortman (Dan’s son) and Jesse Campbell.
Adam handed out Paul Harris pins to Arnie Biondo (PHF+6), Brad Huffman (PHF+2) and Wyatt Thorp (PHF+1) Thank you all for your generous support of the Rotary Foundation.
Announcements;
· Adam thanked those who attended the board meeting Monday night. One highlight is from our District Governor Heidi Schiller. She has set out a challenge to our District 6670. It is called the 8 in 8 membership challenge. 8 new members in 8 weeks running from March 1st to April 30th. This is an ambitious challenge but remember if you have someone that you feel really lives the service above self-attitude please bring them to a meeting.
· On the table we have information on Rotary Night out at the Theatre on Thursday March 26th. Pre-show dinner at MacKenzie River Grill at 6:00pm and then a performance of 1776 with an all-female cast.
· I would like to throw it out that the Washington-Centerville Library has been nominated for the BBB’s Torch award. This award honors the ethics, honesty and integrity of businesses and non-profits in our marketplace. Congratulations to our own Bill Menker and his colleagues at the library for being nominated for this award.
-Sofie Ameloot gave an update on the goal for this year’s golf outing – Pledges total $11,000!
-Arnie Biondo mentioned “Music Bingo” taking place at TJ Chumps in Fairborn on Monday, 2/23 at 6:00 p.m.
-The Club is asking for help to assist with the assembly of “Care Kits”. It will take place from 10-noon on 3/7/26 at 2300 Edwin Moses Blvd, Suite 140.
Happy Bucks this quarter will be donated to The Food Bank.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
-Jeff Senney brought back a rum cake from Turtle Island in the Caribbean to auction off to club members. Mark Kottman was the winner with a $30 bid.
-Pat B.: Had a big kick-off to their “Big Deck Summer”. Suggested that members go to YouTube and type in “Drew Carey Deck”.
-Adam M: Happy for our guests and for having the Interact students here today.
-Gina S: Had a book released on February 14th.
-Harvey S: Welcome to our students.
-Elda GG: Happy to see the students….and the teacher too!
-Mark K.: Happy for the Olympics, great weather, and our guests today. Today is his birthday!
-Jim H.: Glad to see the students. Hopefully they will apply for our scholarships.
-Ron B.: “I’m happy!”
-Lee H: Delivered farm report regarding the trimming of fruit trees and applying a dormant spray
-Bob D: Happy the UD men’s basketball won on Wednesday.
-Dale B: Glad to see the Interact club here.
-Jeff S: Had a great time in the Cayman islands for the last couple of weeks.
-Rand O: Great to have the Interact club kids here. Asked if the policy was still in place that if an Interact student shows up for our lunch meeting that the club picks up the cost. Confirmed that it was true for the students and their advisor.
-Wyatt T: He’s been absent for 5 weeks. He missed everything but the “Farm report”. Noted that the PHF+1 pin is “cool’ and that he’ll be moving into a new home this weekend. He’ll officially be a Centerville resident.
-Jake H: Last happy $’s for a while. His family is off to Disneyland!
-Dan S: Happy to have his son Brian at the meeting and the weather.
-Brad H: Has been busy and missed a few meetings. Glad to have the Interact kids here.
-Sofie A: Also happy to see the Interact kids, and thanks to everyone for getting pledges to this year’s golf outing.
-Arnie B: Happy for the unbeaten Miami Redhawk’s boys basketball team.
-Jesse C: Happy to be back.
-Ron: Happy to have survived my first deer strike to my car. When I called my wife to let her know, her first question was “Is the deer all right”.
Today’s speaker was Caroline Comer, Development Director at the Victory Project.
Caroline is a graduate of Liberty University. Her job responsibilities are to lead and manage fundraising and donor relation efforts to ensure that the Victory Project has the financial resources it needs to operate and grow. Caroline was accompanied by Joanna Garcia.
At Victory Project, they are dedicated to transforming the lives of young men (and soon to include young women) by charting a new course for their future. They believe in breaking the cycle of dependency on criminal or social systems that can perpetuate destructive lifestyles. Their mission is to empower these young men to discover freedom and independence by acquiring marketable skills, equipping them to compete and thrive in the workforce. Their mission at the Victory Project is to empower the youth to discover the life God intended for them. By mastering self-awareness, self-sufficiency, and selfless service, they are tearing down the pillars of poverty, all without government funding. Their motto is “It’s less about what we do and more about what we undo”.
Key points made by Caroline during her presentation are as follows:
-Victory Project works with disengaged youth who have no direction or support in life.
-They focus on the three E’s – education, entrepreneurship and enlightenment.
-Victory Project models work as reward for good behavior, helping to break the pillars of poverty. The intent is to get youth off government services.
-They’re very excited to be opening their first girl campus this coming August which will expand the program to include young ladies.
-There was a lively Q&A session after Caroline completed her presentation. When asked if other locations had inquired about replicating the Victory Project, Caroline indicated tat they had been contacted by both Cincinnati and Columbus organizations.
President Manning thanked Caroline for the great work, led reciting of the Four-Way Test, and wished all a good week.
