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: "When you give yourself, you receive more than you give." Exupery (French writer and aviator)
Welcome today’s guests:
- Jake Hensel’s guest, Shauna Marshall, the new Community Engagement Coordinator for the Park District
- Steve Silverberg, our Assistant Governor
- Arnie Biondo’s guest, Carolyn Rice
Today’s Presentation: Mark Kottman has completed all required tasks of new members, so he removed his red ribbon.
Announcements:
- Board meeting - they voted to approve David Williamson’s application. He will officially be inducted soon.
- Mark Balsan resigned from club as his other commitments give him no time for Rotary. Mark served as our secretary for 10 years and we wish him well.
- Thanks to Uriah Anderson for running the meeting last week.
- Thanks to Bill Menker, Jake Hensel, Dale Berry, and Adam for attending the Diversity Council’s MLK Breakfast. It was a fantastic presentation, with a focus on youth. Thanks to Carol and Sivaji for being on the Diversity Council planning committee.
- Golf Committee met for the first time today. Mark your calendars for Friday, May 8 and plan to attend, even if you don’t golf. It’s an all hands on deck event!
- Thanks to Elda Gotos Gay for making our dessert today.
- Brian Hayes encouraged all to “Pay your bill!”
- Brad Thorp noted that last week we talked about the Centerville Rotary Foundation, but failed to mention that Elda also contributed significantly to the new Community Fund. Thank you, Elda!
- Sofie Ameloot is working on the next social, and is still looking for a host.
- Brad Huffman’s family will host an exchange student this year. Sofie is the new Youth Exchange chair. There is still space for Short-tem exchange (3-4 weeks) and Long-term exchange (school year). Deadline for Short-term application is April 1, and for Long-term is March 10.
- Don Stewart shared that a longtime Rotary member Ravishankar Dakoju pledged that he and his wife and fellow club member, Paola Dakoju, would donate approximately US$50 million (4.5 billion Indian rupees) to The Rotary Foundation.
Happy Bucks this quarter will be donated to The Food Bank.
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms with assistance by Brian Hayes.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Pat B is still looking for someone to pay the fine for Wayne’s picture in the paper and also announced Sofie’s picture was in the paper. Pat’s happy bucks were for today’s speaker, for ADG Steve being here, and he loves Harvey & Elda for the behind the scenes work they do.
- Jake H for Shauna visiting, noting she is his first guest!
- Carol K had plans to spend the weekend at Hocking Hills State Park, which will probably be cut short due to the impending snow storm.
- Steve S was pleased to be part of this amazing club.
- Brad T wrote a $3,600 check to Carolyn Rice years ago and his wife questioned why he was paying this woman! (He was paying their taxes then!)
- Jim H was thankful for today’s guests, and his granddaughter is starting a new job teaching high school art in Columbus
- Mark K was happy for the Indiana win, Mendoza’s home run run, and to be rid of the new member red tag.
- David W was grateful to be a member now.
- Boyd P was happy Dave decided to join us.
- Lee H returned from Florida where it went from 79 degrees to 54 degrees in one day, and he came back with a cold; Farm report noted registration is now open for the 2026 Ohio Pork Congress in Lima, Feb 3-4. Learn all about swine health and production and so much more!
- Raj G was celebrating one week of nothing to complain about.
- Jeff S is heading to the Caman Islands next weeks
- Socks B was happy to be alive.
- Arnie B for Carolyn visiting and Pat’s coat.
- Sofie paid her advertising fine, welcomed Mark and Dave, and said she learned so much at the Youth Exchange training.
- Mark F said it was good to see all and welcomed today’s guests.
- Ron H welcomed new members/guests,
- Chuck K discovered there is a button he can push on his wife’s camera bird feeder that plays a noise to chase off birds!
- Dan J was happy to see Carolyn Rice, who taught him Roberts Rules several years ago, and was happy to be wearing a matching sweater with Elda.
- Adam M for today’s guests, and paid his fine from last week: while in Vegas and on the phone with Uriah, Jay Leno walked by and said hello. Adam completely forgot what he was talking to Uriah about!
- Frank P had a great golf committee kickoff meeting, and last week in Costa Rico it was 85 degrees when he left, but 7 degrees when he landed here.
- Harvey S welcome new member David.
- Elda GG was happy to be here, and noted there were a few pastries left, so eat up!
Our speaker today was Val Beerbower, with Sinclair Community College to share information about the Goldman Sachs Foundation 10,000 Small Businesses program.
Val said that Cleveland is the main site for the 10K Small Business Program, but we have regional sites here at Sinclair, Cincinnati State and Columbus State, too. There are 18 across the country.
Goldman Sachs Foundation underwrites program, and major sponsors include BABSON and ICIC. To date, there are 97 alumni from Dayton.
It is a 12-week educational program at Sinclair Conference Center, all delivered at no cost. Peer to peer learning environment with the outcome to develop a 5-year strategic growth plan for your business.
The program focuses on revenue growth and job creation. You spend 100+ hours in the 2-year program, some in class, some work outside of class. Val said it is like getting a “Baby MBA,” completing a case study for your business. Learn more about your business, how to read financial statements, make financial projections, and more.
- Leadership development/company culture - how to support the vision for your business
- Marketing/selling - current customer base and how it might change with this growth opportunity
- Operation & processes, including financial opportunities
- Give presentation of your Growth Opportunity and submit to your advisor
The program will help your company grow and invest back into your community. The alumni network provides interaction with others afterwards. There are Alumni Clinics twice a year, and a Big Summit every other year. And all of this continues to be free.
The entire program has graduated close to 17,000. It has a 96% completion rate and 85% of alumni collaborate with other alumni.
Meaningful impact - According to surveys, 89% of graduates experience an increase in confidence as a business owner, increased revenue, and added employees. Business owners do not always spend this amount of time on their business, but instead spend it in their business. This program helps business owners focus on gaining skills to improve their business.
They review applicants to see if you qualify, review financial reports, and conduct a 30 minute interview in March. The application deadline has been extended to next week, so there is still time to apply.
Expectations for participants:
- Attend all sessions.
- Be dedicated to create revenue and create jobs.
- Complete evaluation surveys
President Manning thanked Val for sharing this valuable information, led reciting the 4-Way Test and wished all a great week.
Reminder the Golf Committee meets again at 11 am next Thursday at Yankee Trace.
