President Sofie Ameloot welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. Ray Merz provided the prayer
Quote of the day provided by Don Overly: " Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." Helen Keller
Thanks to today’s greeters: Uriah Anderson & Dave Trout
Today’s guests include our speakers, Brian Code & Kristen Marks;
Lee Hieronymus’ guest,Dr Corey Cockerill, President of Wilmington College; Arnie Biondo’s son, Peter; and Raj Grandhi’s nephew, Kevin Uday, who is a physician.
Uriah Anderson awarded Frank Perez with his Paul Harris Fellow +5. Thank you for your generosity, Frank!
Today’s Announcements:
- Fall Fest on Saturday was great. An estimated 12,000 people attended.
- Rotary sponsored the Ghost Walk, taking place tonight.
- Rotary Women Connect at Glass House Realty tonight - arrive 5-5:15 pm and hear the dry run of Lisa’s Ghost Walk talk.
- Business committee will be presenting a plan to the Board.
- Frank Perez announced a new Rotary meeting opportunity. 1st Tuesday of the month, 7:30-8:30 am Rotary Coffee Club at ContempoRoast, 967 South Main Street. There will be more networking time at this meeting. If you find it difficult to come at lunch, this provides another opportunity. November 12 is the first one. Come any time during that hour.
- Pancake update
- 20 Rotarians haven’t signed up yet to work, so please sign up.
- Yard signs available
- Hard deadline for sponsorships to be on the placemat and DDN ad is Wednesday, October 16.
- Uriah Anderson reminded about pancake tickets - if you haven’t written a check or raised $, pay your bill
- Brian Hayes announced the next quarterly bills are getting ready to go out
- Rotary apparel shop is up and running. Check the LINK on our website and place your order now!
- Lisa Goris May announced we are $1348 shy of reaching our coat goal.
- We sponsored the Artemis breakfast and supplied volunteers and still have a table of 8 to fill. It is at Sinclair.
- Bottom Line Ohio Ribbon Cutting at Talbot Tower Oct 17, See information flyer below.
- Arnie Biondo reminded that tonight is the On Par - Sing Away Polio district fundraiser
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms with help from Brian Hayes
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Pat B said the Fall Fest was amazing. Friday night he hosted some NBA/NFL legends at the Humidor, who signed everything put before them. They are most generous individuals.
- Ray M announced after his two hospitalizations, he was finally able to come on his own today!
- Arnie B for the best Park Director in the state - Kristen Marks, CWPD Executive Director
- Jeff S said ditto, and gave $100 for coats if someone would match it (someone did.)
- Kristen Marks was happy to be here, and happy her son, who is a Freshman on the JV soccer team has been rostered for the Varsity team post season play.
- Dave T gave for a coat and CWPD
- Crissy A was happy
- Carol K gave thanks to Crissy for filling in the last 2 weeks, for Kristen Marks, and for Carol's husband’s surgery going well.
- Harvey S was happy his daughter, granddaughter, and sister who live in Tampa are all safe.
- Elda GG that her friends are safe, the storm did damage but it wasn’t as bad as expected
- Sofie A for our guests, great parks, Ger E is back, she has the wedding photos, and Delphine is home for a few days
- Adam for Florida recovery and pancake committee, and he’s flying to Oregon tomorrow with Brad for the OSU game
- Jim Harris for all visitors today
- Socks for Florida and NC people affected by the hurricanes.
- Raj G for coats and for nephew visiting, and thinking of those affected by the Anthem layoffs
- Lisa GG was happy to be here and encouraged folks to donate for coats
- Chuck K was happy for coats
- Boyd P said it was great to have Kristen here and noted Pat’s son had a great musical performance
- Gina S noted Brian’s shoes make her happy
- Ger E was happy to be back
- Mark F was happy for guests, and hopes some attend the Coffee Connection
- Dan J is going to Knoxville to see his Gators play the Vols
- Kelly M was happy to call Dayton home instead of Florida (stay dry, stay safe)
- Lee H thanked Corey for visiting and noted our local Task Force One is in Florida now; they never got back from NC, just went on to the next hurricane ravaged area.
- Corey for the coat drive and is grateful for insurance that covers the crops
- Rand O is back from Florida and got out in time. He just finished clean up from Helene and now will have cleanup from Milton but neighbors say his place is fine.
- Uriah A for tonight’s season opener for the Minnesota Wild against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Our speakers today were Kristen Marks and Brian Code with the Foundation for Centerville-Washington Parks.
Brian Code is a volunteer for the Centerville-Washington Park District. Kristen Marks has been with the district since 2002, and currently serves as the Executive Director.
Kristen thanked the club for the continued partnership with the Park District. The newest projects include enhancing the seed nursery with interpretive signage and tree plantings at Grant Park-McEwen and Village South.
The Foundation for Centerville-Washington Parks was created 1.5 years ago. The main support for CWPD is through tax levies, and
one of the district’s values is fiscal responsibility, so they are always searching for other sources of revenue to keep parks top class.
They worked with The Dayton Foundation to create a Field of Interest Fund and recruited Foundation Ambassadors. The Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) which allows for other grant opportunities.
The mission is to secure philanthropic funding for projects, programs and conservation efforts directly related to the Centerville-Washington Park District’s mission, vision and values.
The main focus areas of the Foundation:
Conservation - continue to preserve hundreds of acres of native habitat close to home, providing opportunities to get away from it all to support physical and emotional well being.
Impact - support park improvements & programs for maximum community impact. Kristen noted a newly funded project is a Communication Board - designed for communication challenged to interact with their surroundings. It will be installed in 2025 at the Activity Center Park.
Connection - sustain strong community relationships. They are starting hikes with CWPD leadership. A VIP hike at Grant Park is scheduled for November 10. Follow the Foundation’s Facebook page for more information.
Brian shared he retired 5 years ago and became involved as a volunteer with the Park District leading hikes and conducting invasive species removal.
Brian noted to prepare for this talk, he took a hike at Grant Park-McEwen entrance. He was excited to see all of the improvements Rotary has assisted with and it shows the club is big CWPD supporter already.
Why become a donor? To join a group of people supporting a cause. The Park District Foundation is another option of support.
Brian took a hike at Bill Yeck Park from the Smith Entrance and found many examples of community support and impact - picnic shelter with new AED (contribution support); Natural playground area (impact for kids); Woods - feeling of calm, see trees, wildflowers, bees, natural rhythms that help calm people; Bench overlooking the Sugar Creek - place for conversation.
Someone stepped up to allow these special places. Magic is happening and you can be a part of it. There are people who want to make a difference in the community and beyond. The Foundation provides that connection.
Ways to become involved:
- The Foundation committee developed a catalogue of needs/items people can donate toward.
- Park Gem - monthly recurring donation
- Kroger Community Rewards - linked to FCWP
- Planned Giving - look ahead for estate planning with assistance by The Dayton Foundation
- Tribute Program - provide recognition of a person
Brian encouraged all to like the FCWP Facebook page for the latest news.
Ger Eastabrooks shared a testimonial in support of the tribute program. When her son passed away from cancer in 2013, then Director Carol Kennard helped her place a bench at Bill Yeck Park in memory of him that included his favorite quote. The worn bench was replaced recently by the Park District, including the plaque. It is still a very meaningful spot for Ger to visit in the park and she is very grateful.
Jeff Senney noted if you have a taxable IRA, you can make donations to this Foundation (as a 501 (c)(3)) without tax consequences.
.png)
