Thanks to this week's guest editor, Crissy Allums!
President Sofie Ameloot welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Harvey Smith provided the prayer.
Thanks to today’s greeter: Kristin Hutton
Inspirational Quote from Don: “The older you get, the more you realize that kindness is synonymous with happiness.” Lionel Barrymore
Sofie, thanked Lee Hieronymus for taking her and her brother Frederick under his wing and showed them several farms and equipment on two separate days all over Preble and Butler counties. Sofie stated that they have learned so much and was thankful for Lee for taking precious time out of his day.
Sofie presented Don Stewart and Gina Smith their Rotary pins for being members of the Rotary Club of Centerville’s Board for this year. In addition, she presented Adam Manning his plaque in appreciation of his Presidency last year.
Announcements:
- Brad Huffman shared that our new exchange student, Pichpattra Waraprueka from Thailand is arriving on Saturday, August 10, 2024. She is 15 years old and turning 16 on Monday. Bill Menker created a beautiful sign to welcome her to our country. Amy is accompanying Brad to the airport. Please sign the welcome board and anyone who is available on Saturday please show up at the airport to welcome her.
- Pancake Committee had another meeting. Tickets have been ordered and will be distributed in the beginning of September. Sponsorship sheets will be out soon. Pancake Breakfast is on the 4th Saturday in October 2024.
- Kelly McDonald announced the next social is August 29 for wine and appetizers at Sueño. Sign-up sheets were on the table for those who had not signed up yet. Final number needs to be submitted to Sueño by August 22. Then a potluck at Brad Huffman’s house is rescheduled to take place on September 26, starting at 5:30 pm - bring appetizers to share.
- Bill Menker had books on display that will be donated in honor of the speaker each week. There will eventually be a list of the collection at Centerville Library.
- Rotary Women Connect is meeting this evening at Old Scratch Pizza from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Rotary Means Business = Lisa Goris May mentioned that Andrea Share is the BEST LOAN Officer. She will call you back. Andrea Share stated that she’s been on the mortgage loan for over 25 years and Lisa Goris May is in the top 3 realtors in her list.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Lisa Goris May stated that our Happy Bucks for the next 10 weeks is for Operation Warm. We have raised a little over $1,100 so far. Last year we raised $13,200 and donated 600 coats. In 2022, 426 coats, in 2021, 336 coats. Lisa’s goal is to raise $15,000 this year. You can donate by giving cash or through Venmo’s QR code on each table. Lisa committed to donate one coat a week. A coat for a child is $22 and for an adult is $25. Lisa is challenging everyone to meet her goal this year.
- Pat Beckel shared that this weekend, starting tomorrow at St. Leonard is the weekend to party. On Friday, it is a tribute to Garth Brooks and on Saturday is Boomer Fest. They are expecting 5,000-10,000 people out there this weekend. There will be music all day long.
- Pat gave a coat for his son moving out next week.
- Gina Smith survived North Carolina.
- Vorsha Sherfield (Gina’s cousin) is happy to be intact. No more chasing waterfalls.
- Amy Hary was happy for a great summer.
- Lisa Goris May happy that Andrea survived the nursing home.
- Dale Berry gave for a coat in honor of his great grandson was honored last night.
- Elda Gotos Gay happy to see Bella (Brad Huffman’s daughter) and liked Pat Beckel’s shirt color (green.) She and Pat were matching today.
- Lee Hieronymus stated that Pat Beckel looks like a crossing guard. His farm report was it was wonderful because Frederick (Sofie’s brother) was a great person and Sofie was wonderful. They had problems understanding bushel, yard, feet or anything like it because they did not use chart as they use metric in Belgium.
- Socks Bowersocks gave for a coat in honor of Andrea Share surviving the nursing home.
- Bob Fry gave for a couple of coats and was happy to get out of Florida and be back in Dayton. It is 100 degrees everyday in Florida. While in Florida, they adopted a new puppy.
- Uriah Anderson stated that this Sunday is Cruising to the Ice Cream Social and will be taking place at Washington Township Rec Center. Come by and invite your favorite people. There will be free hamburgers, free ice cream, and fire truck will be doing different demonstrations.
- Jim Harris was just happy and gave for a coat.
- Brad Thorp received a call from the District Governor to wish him happy anniversary (22 years).
- Dave Trout gave for a coat in honor of his oldest granddaughter who will receive an award for 30 Under 30 in Nashville this Saturday. They are heading to Nashville to support her.
- Chuck King was happy.
- Ron Hollenbeck happy for our guests and special thank you to Pat Beckel’s website where you can order glow in the dark shorts.
- Mike Wier has been in Rotary for over 40 years, and it has changed a lot. He was at Oakwood Rotary a few years back and he and others were fined $5 for removing their suit jackets, but today three Rotarians came, and we could see their knees. How times have changed!
- Adam Manning was happy.
- Brad Huffman was happy for our guests. So thankful for Taylor Swift’s concert in Vienna being cancelled due to foreseen danger. They had tickets to the concert.
- Kelly McDonald is thankful for Maternal and Child help. The Board has voted to donate $250 and Kohls cash to Threads of Miami Valley that was in need of clean underwear for boys and girls. We will be donating 286 pair of clean underwear.
- Kristin Hutton gave for a coat and was thankful to survive a bout of stomach flu in their household with a toddler.
- Sofie Ameloot was thankful to Lee and she has signed up for Tour De Gem again this year happening on August 31st. She will be raising money for Dayton Foundation and had signed up to be the Team Captain. Her goal is to raise $1,000 for the Dayton Foundation. If you want to donate, her name is on the website.
Please see Kelly McDonald if you have not gotten your Rotary Pin and Car Window Clings.
Our speaker today was Stephanie Llacuna. She is the Executive Director of the Therapeutic Riding Institute.
Stephanie Llacuna is a certified Fund Raising professional. She has worked with Dayton Children’s Hospital in the past where she has raised $7 million to help insure the health of children health in Dayton region and beyond. She is a member of the Optimist Club. She is a professional harpist and is the mother of two little girls and fur babies.
Therapeutic Riding Institute (TRI):
Vision: To be the premier provider of equine-assisted services in tri-state.
Founded in 1973, TRI is a Premier Accredited Center with PATH international- 1 of only 275 in the nation. At Therapeutic Riding Institute, we emphasize Ability- not DISability. Through mounted horseback riding, our certified instructors teach horsemanship skills that help enhance the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with disabilities, veterans and at-risk youth. Our program is goal oriented to encourage our students to work toward progress.
Through the years, this volunteer-driven community service group has touched thousands of lives in the Miami Valley. In the fall of 2018, we launched a Capital Campaign to purchase a horse farm in Spring Valley. This has been a long-held dream of TRI; we moved in June of 2019.
Since 1973, TRI has been using Equine Assisted Services as an effective tool to enhance the lives of children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Our PATH International Premier Accredited Center provides safe and effective programs with the assistance of our Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors, trained volunteers and special equine partners. Our 23-acre farm provides opportunities for learning and growth in many facets of life for our students.
TRI has received the BBB Torch award in 2024 and has several programs.
Therapeutic Riding Program
TRI’s Therapeutic Riding program is available for participants 5 years and older with a variety of diagnoses to enjoy an outdoor recreational activity that is adapted to suit their needs. Students work toward horsemanship goals alongside their volunteers and pees in a fun, social environment.
Equine Assisted Counseling
This program pairs horses and humans together to achieve healthy living goals. Alongside a licensed mental health professional and PATH International Certified Instructors, this experiential opportunity involves working with horses in a naturalized, unmounted setting to identify and address the goals most important to the participants.
Summer Camps
TRI is pleased to be offering four weeks of Summer Camp in 2024!
TRI's dynamic camp experience offers participants the opportunity to feel what it is like to own their own horse. Each camper is assigned to a horse for the week and spends their days learning how to care for, ride and understand more about them. They also participate in fun and interactive activities and crafts with their peers that provide memories for years to come!
Camps are held Monday through Thursday from 9am-1pm. We ask that participants bring a packed lunch with them. See dates and descriptions below!
Field Trips
Come visit our Farm & meet our horses! Groups open to adult day programs, home school groups, seniors, career education and more.
Warriors In Step with Horses
TRI is proud to be offering Equine Assisted Counseling services to Veterans and First Responders. Warriors In Step with Horses (W.I.S.H.) is a unique program designed to help Warriors:
- Decrease feelings of isolation through peer support
- Learn self-regulation through equine interaction and communication.
- Come to an awareness and acceptance of emotions while developing a better sense of control through experiential activities with the herd.
- Reduce feelings of anxiety about the past and future by learning to live in the moment
TRI relies on 100+ volunteers each week to make their mission a reality. TRI has several volunteers’ opportunity:
- Class Volunteer
- Barn Volunteer
- Office Volunteer
- Group Volunteer
Two of the biggest fundraising events held each year are: Derby Fest and Stetson and Sterling Gala.
There are a number of ways you can support our work in using Equine Assisted Services to enhance the lives of children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.
- Monthly Giving - Monthly gifts allow you to give manageable increments through convenient options such as automatic deductions from your credit card, debit card or checking account.
- Scholarship – You can help cover students’ fees by donating to our scholarship fund, ensuring no student is turned away due to inability to pay. You can sponsor a full session for $450, or one lesson for $45.
- Sponsor a Horse - Every horse was hand-picked for TRI to make sure we can meet the needs of our participants. Each horse has its own unique job here at TRI! Donating $450 a month or $5,000 a year to our general fund will make you a sponsor for a horse of your choice.
- Tell people you know about us and connect with us!
Next week GREETERS are: Brian Hayes and Frank Perez
Next week program: District 6670 Governor Dottie Meade will visit together with Steve Silverberg.
August 22, we will have our first Club Assembly for the year. Please come as there are many topics to discuss.
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