President Sofie Ameloot welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and lead the reciting of the Pledge. PDG Harvey Smith provided the prayer.
Today’s Announcements:
- Thanks to today’s greeters - Don Overly and Dan Johnson
- Welcome today’s guests: Rick Hood from the Niles Fremont Rotary Club, Mary Reed & Bob Burnett with Dear Dinah, and Chuck King’s wife, Elaine.
President Ameloot then presented a $2,102 check to Mardy Reed with Dear Dinah as a result of collected Happy Bucks. Marty gave overwhelming thanks, noting countless lives will be impacted by our generosity.
Don Stewart, Treasurer gave an overview of the Club’s finances.
The Centerville Club is in very good financial condition. We have two funds: Club funds and the Educational Foundation. We have a CD & checking account at WesBanco and an investment account at Edward Jones. The Happy Bucks collected at meetings are then given to the designated charity (pass thru).
The Golf and Pancake fundraisers are used as a tool for community and national projects. We have received grants from the District for Operation Warm and Dictionary/Thesaurus projects, and have requested additional funds for special projects. Don noted the Club has a healthy reserve. The net of Golf and Pancake fundraisers this year is estimated at $16,000.
Last year we donated $8.500 for the Life Pumps. It wasn’t planned ahead but thanks to the reserves, we were able to fund this need. The 50th Anniversary was an exception - we spent from funds accumulated over the years in anticipation of that celebration.
President Ameloot shared donations we have made so far this year in our areas of focus:
Youth - Agape for Youth, Pumpkin Patch, CHS banner, and John P. Kalaman Golf Hole sponsor
Environmental - Signage at Bill Yeck Park and tree planting at Grant Park, with additional support from the District thanks to Ron Hollenbeck’s request.
Families - Sponsored a table of 8 at the Artemis fundraising breakfast. They also need help with the breakfast. The Board also approved emergency spending for Fred’s in Miamisburg (providing underwear for kids.)
Kelly McDonald made a few announcements:
- Next Club social event is at Sueño Restaurant in Dayton on August 29th at 5:30 PM. Last chance to sign up, if you have not yet done so.
- Club’s Sept 26th weekly meeting will be at the Kennard Nature Nook at Grant Park.This is our re-scheduled meeting to install 3 bricks in our memorial garden in memory of past members. Sign-up sheets were available at today’s and future meetings to confirm attendance and to select your lunch option.
- Club social for September will be a pool party at Brad Huffman’s home on the 26th.
Proposed Charitable Foundation
Kelly then shared information and slides concerning the recommendation to create a 501(c)(3) Charitable Foundation for purposes other than Education Scholarships since that Foundation already exists. Kelly said it would exist parallel to the Rotary Educational Foundation. The benefit is that is will give more options for charitable giving and provide donors the ability to get a tax deduction when donating to our Club.
The suggested name is Centerville Rotary Community Foundation and it would have a separate board appointed by the Centerville Rotary Board. Who the Foundation gives to is defined in the stated purpose, but cannot be political.
Another option considered was to re-write the current Educational Foundation purpose with a broader purpose. Some concerns from current Educational Foundation trustees were shared about going in this direction.
There were concerns that the education focus would get watered down. Brad Thorp and Don Stewart explained it is simple to separate the two funds within one Foundation. The Foundation determines how it will operate, within the laws of the IRS.
Another concern was that it would be more work for the current trustees. Carol Kennard suggested adding more trustees to the combined Foundation Board to handle the extra workload.
After much discussion, general support was expressed by the members present to either establish the new foundation or broaden the Educational Foundation, but more discussion was needed. Many other Rotary Clubs have a Foundation.
In the interest of time, the consensus was for the committee to keep moving forward and they were thanked for their work.
Yankee Trace Pricing
Kelly McDonald shared that Yankee Trace has requested an increase in prices. Staffing and food costs have gone up and they haven’t raised our prices since 2017. They asked us to sign a 3-year contract.
We currently pay $12 for a true cost of $13.73. We guarantee and pay for 40 guests each week. Dessert wasn’t factored into their cost before.
Some Benefits Rotary gets:
- Room fee is waived for all lunches & events. (Savings of $48,000 annually.)
- Storage closet at the main dining room and AV access.
Kelly shared the Rotary Board’s recommendation:
- Starting Q4 increase weekly lunch charge to $15.25.
- Desserts reduced to 1x month; use that meeting to celebrate birthdays/anniversaries.
- Holiday dinner will be a plated dinner with Club covering costs for member +1.
Harvey Smith moved, Brad Thorp seconded, and the motion was approved. Wayne Davis recused himself.
President Ameloot asked everyone to check out the letter on tables. It will be going to businesses to encourage them to be more involved in Rotary.
Happy Bucks for this quarter go to Operation Warm, our annual drive to purchase winter coats for children in need in our area.
Because of the heavy agenda today, Happy Bucks were suspended. Members were encouraged to place their donation on the table and send their message to the Editor.
Happy Bucks sent to the editor included:
- Brian H. For his daughter being spared during a car accident.
- From Dick H. - Hi Sophie. I’m still in physical therapy unit at Bethany and cannot unless I use a walker. My last back surgery (4th) was followed with daily IV antibiotics for 6 weeks because of a positive culture even though I had no fever. Will be discharged from therapy unit tomorrow. Maybe I can make Rotary meeting in 3 or 4 weeks. Love you Guys!
- Sofie A. - for Delphine who is settling in well at OSU and a thank you to all Rotarians that helped her halfway to her $1000 goal for the Tourdegem next Saturday. Also a sad note that she will not be at Sueño after all. Marie-Thérèse wanted at little beach vacation and this worked out best for her schedule. (Editor’s note: Here’s Sofie’s donation page: https://www.ms-stride.org/tourdegem/profiles/registrant/1304)
- Carol K. Announced a new fundraiser for the Centerville-Washington Foundation: Hops & Props at the Wright Brothers Museum/Hangar on Saturday, Sept 21. Beer tasting/food truck, vintage airplanes, with a live band (Gina Smith’s husband’s band.) See info below. We are also looking for volunteers to help - get a free t-shirt, free admission plus beer tasting! Let Carol know if you’d like to help.
- Wyatt T. Sent this message: Next month is the YMCA Camp Kern Golf Outing. Would you be interested in in putting a team together to play at this year’s outing? If not, do you know of any golfers who would enjoy playing? This will be a scrabble format (my personal favorite way to play golf), and all proceeds go the the Camp Kern Scholarship. (See flyer below.