Frank Perez welcomed everyone to the 17th Zoom meeting of the Centerville Rotary Club, and announced we will be able to go back to in-person meetings starting next week since coronavirus numbers have continued to drop in Montgomery County. Frank welcomed our speaker, Michael Carter.
Bill Menker led the Pledge of Allegiance and Kisha Taylor recited the 4-Way Test.
President Frank Perez made the following announcements:
- We conducted our first service project of the Rotary year. The Rotary Memorial Evergreen Forest walkway at the Kennard Nature Nook was in need of a little TLC and now looks great.
Early days of the Memorial Rotary Forest
Great work done this week:
- Review of upcoming meeting schedule and safety protocols.
- 9/3 Outdoor meeting at the Kennard Nature Nook, 6588 McEwen Road (just south of Alex-Bell Rd at the big white barn.)
- Bring a chair if possible. Some limited tent space will be available.
- Box lunches from DLM will be served. An RSVP will be sent out to select your meal. It must be returned by Sunday so we can get our order in on Monday.
- Masks will be required except while eating.
- 9/10 Yankee Trace – Masks will be required.
- We will take attendee’s temperature with a no-touch thermometer on arrival.
- We will not use badges and there will be no sign-in sheet.
- Tables will be set for four people and spaced six feet apart.
- At the end of the meeting, members will be dismissed by table to avoid congestion.
- The meeting will also be available on zoom for members that do not wish to attend in person.
- No guests will be permitted.
If you are not feeling well or if you may have been exposed, please do not come to the meeting, join us on zoom. We want to see everyone, but more importantly we want everyone to be safe.
Happy Bucks-
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.
Brian Hayes served as Sergeant-at-Arms this week.
- Ron Hollenbeck ($40) is happy to celebrate his 31st wedding anniversary and that the Springfield Rotary Club has pledged $35,000 to the Malawi water pump project and the district is making $20,000 available, too.
- Jeff Senney ($20) is happy to be going to Put in Bay this weekend with clients/friends.
- Sofie Ameloot ($20) gave apology dollars for forgetting she had volunteered to help with the Rotary memorial brick project. However, she and her daughter happened to go to Grant Park for a hike where she recognized those Rotarians at work, so she quickly joined in the project! She also announced another service opportunity to help fill Rec Kits for the Park District. Here is the information. Let Sofie know if you can help:
RecKit packing volunteer requests
Location: Activity Center Conference Room (221 N. Main St.) we will open the front doors for you
Note: Masks must be worn any time you are in the building. You will be directed to the handwashing station as soon as you enter, please wash your hands before you start and again before you leave. If you are not feeling well, please do not attend this volunteer opportunity.
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Date
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Time
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RecKit Theme
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Number of volunteers Requested
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Wednesday September 2
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2pm-4pm
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Art and Imagination, All Around the Garden
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2
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|
Thursday September 3
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1pm-3pm
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Art and Imagination, All Around the Garden
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2
|
|
Wednesday September 16
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4pm-6pm
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Fall is Here/Jr
Creeks Rivers Oceans
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2
|
|
Thursday September 17
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1pm-3pm
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Fall is Here/Jr
Creeks Rivers Oceans
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2
|
|
Wednesday October 7
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2pm-4pm
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Art and Imagination, All Around the Garden
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2
|
|
Thursday October 8
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1pm-3pm
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Art and Imagination, All Around the Garden
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2
|
|
Wednesday October 14
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2pm-4pm
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Halloween Kits
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4
|
|
Wednesday October 15
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1pm-3pm
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Halloween Kits
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4
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Wednesday November 4
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2pm-4pm
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Art and Imagination, All Around the Garden
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2
|
|
Thursday November 5
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1pm-3pm
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Art and Imagination, All Around the Garden
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2
|
|
Wednesday November 11
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2pm-4pm
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Turkey Time/Jr
Centerpiece Kits
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2
|
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Thursday November 12
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4pm-6pm
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Turkey Time/Jr
Centerpiece Kits
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2
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- Sofie later gave another ($20) to announce she rode her bike for the Tour de Gem from Germantown to Farmersville and Dayton. She has raised $435 of her $500 goal and will still take donations! Her next challenge is to ride 100 miles!
- Jim Harris ($20) is happy the District is contributing to the water project.
- Dick Hoback ($20) is happy to have taken his wife on an outing to Young’s Dairy where they enjoyed delicious ice cream.
- Arnie Biondo ($20) gave for a coat.
- Harvey Smith ($100) is celebrating his 87th birthday on Saturday! Happy Birthday, Harvey!
- Bill Menker ($20) is happy to have completed his open water scuba certification last weekend.
- Chuck King ($20) is happy for completing the Rotary brick rehab project and noted Sofie provided valuable quality inspection.
- Elda Gotos Gay ($60) is very happy.
- Deb Dulaney ($5) is happy for her daughter and grandson who visited last week.
- Carol Kennard ($20) is sad for the loss of her Golden Retriever, Layla last week, and noted the house is really quiet without any kids or pets.
- Kisha Taylor ($40) is really happy.
- Susan Schnell ($20) has been away for awhile doing fun things with her kids and announced she is starting a Master’s program in Social Work!
- Ray Merz ($20) is happy to have found a buyer for their Kentshire home after just 2 weeks on the market.
- Frank Perez ($20) paid a fine for leaving the meeting briefly due to technical difficulties.
Speaker today was Michael Carter, Chief Diversity Officer for Sinclair Community College
Dawayne Kirkman introduced Michael Carter who is the Chief Diversity Officer for Sinclair Community College. He grew up in Springfield, worked in other education positions, including coaching at Trotwood High School and is a special advisor to the President of Sinclair. Dawayne said he is a mentor, hero, and dear friend.
Michael shared that last week he was involved in a wonderful celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Negro League by playing in a commemorative baseball game. Everyone’s spirits were very high and then they learned of the shooting in Kenosha, WI. He said he is very concerned about where we are as a country right now and made the comparison to Rome - it was strong as country, but fell apart internally.
He noted many are afraid of the changing demographics in this country. People were worried when Truman integrated the Armed Forces, and when women began taking on more leadership positions, but changes like these can make us a better country in the long run.
“A riot is the language of the unheard,” he quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. And then Mark Twain “ It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
Michael said oftentimes what we think is reality is not really the reality. He noted a weariness among blacks - they have been patriotic and supportive, and are trying to understand why people hate them.
Michael noted that with cell phones, people are seeing things they were never able to before. Many people did not have integrated experiences while growing up, and that we all need to accept people where they are. He noted the difference between ignorance and malicious intent is that people can be helped to understand so they are no longer ignorant.
There is a difference between not racist (passive) and anti-racist (take action/challenge things that are unacceptable.) In order to make a difference, people must challenge things that are unacceptable. Equitable communities provide all people what they need.
Michael also believes our country is failing due to the American exceptionalism - too many believe as the best country, we have no room to improve. But we have to identify and address areas for improvement.
Michael challenged us all to be anti-racist - have the courage to stand up and be vocal. It is important to be on the right side of history. He gave examples of times individuals took a stand, and although it wasn’t accepted by all at the time, now those examples are celebrated as important in our history.
- 1968 olympians who took a black power stand on the medal podium (had their medals taken away)
- Mohammed Ali’s stance against the Vietnam War was unpopular at first.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. was not liked by more than half of the population and now we have a national holiday recognizing his impact.
Michael noted most people just need the tools to help them be anti-racist and he encourage all to not tolerate anything but equity for all people.
Frank Perez thanked Michael for the great program and said for everyone to be safe, RSVP for next week’s outdoor meeting, and have a great week!
