President Adam Manning welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. PDF Harvey Smith provided the prayer.
Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” By Thomas Edison
Thanks to today’s greeter, Pat Beckel.
Welcome today’s guest: Dan Sortman, former club member, and Bill Fisher, a Centerville resident checking out the club. And a special welcome to our honorary member, Kaycee Kennard.
Today’s Announcements:
- Pancake Day is almost here: Sell those tickets. Adam and Lisa will be on Good Day Dayton, 10 am this Monday, the 20th on Dayton 24/7, Channel 8 (Spectrum)
- Social tonight at the Uptown Cottage including a special performance by Duncan Beckel. Come an invite a friend.
- Oct 23: District 6670 Sing Out for Polio at On Par Entertainment in Beavercreek
- Nov 20 DG Heidi Schiller will be visiting our club
- Pancake Day publicity push needed like/share/comment on the Facebook event and posts.
- Lisa GM has started communications with Centerville schools for this year’s Adopt a Child program where we purchase Christmas gifts. Start thinking about whether you’ll be able to adopt a child this year. If you can’t shop, Lisa will take donations and shop for you. We usually adopt around 20 kids and spend around $75 per child.
- Carol K asked all to take a Pancake Day poster (donated by Lytle) to put up at businesses around town.
- Arnie said we still need volunteers for Pancake Day and now sign up is easy using this LINK. Spouses, neighbors, all are welcome to help.
- Bill M asked for volunteers for our final Adopt a Highway clean up on Nov 15, 2 shifts available.
Happy Bucks this quarter will be donated to Threads of Miami Valley who provides essential clothing to individuals and families in need at no cost, promoting dignity and hope.
Pat B was our Sergeant at Arms with help from Brian Hayes (who seemed to have lost his voice!)
Happy Bucks were given for:
- Pat B invited all to watch the Bengals/Steelers game at his place after the Rotary social tonight.
- Lisa GM was happy to be here.
- Dan J was sad Brian has lost his voice, although reminded all there is strength in silence :-)
- Ron H for the great work of the Pancake committee.
- Jeff S returned from a trip to Maryland to help his son with his new house, and last weekend he celebrated his 71st birthday.
- Uriah A paid for his Pancake tickets before leaving for his cruise and reminded all who are unable to work to pay for their tickets before leaving on the vacations, too. Since he will be out of town, you can get your Pancake money to Boyd or Mark.
- Jim H for his great granddaughter’s 1st bday.
- Dan Sortman is happy to be back and plans to join again!
- Rand O was back from a week with his oldest son in New Orleans.
- Carol K thanked Ron for taking notes last week, enjoyed a weekend with the National Society of Washington Family Descendants (her 9th great grandfather was George Washington’s grandfather), got to see 14 Bald Eagles in one day, and was happy Kaycee was here today.
- Arnie B was glad to see Dan S back.
- Wyatt T for being late today.
- Mark K for the Buckeyes success, and noted he will hang around after the meeting to collect your pancake money.
- Elda GG was happy to be here.
- Harvey S proposed that Dan S doesn’t have to wear the red ribbon when he rejoins since he is a past president of this club!
- Brad Thorp for Dan S coming back
- Chuck K for the nice weather & Dan S.
- Bob D for the Americana Festival in our community.
- Boyd P donated for Lee who had to leave early today so there is no farm report.
- Adam M gave a big thanks to the Pancake committee for all the hours put in to ensure a successful fundraiser.
Our speaker today was Jesse Gaither, owner of Minuteman Press in Centerville.
Jesse purchased the business in 2016, received the small business of the year award in 2019, is a former president of the Heart of C/W Twp, and now is the Exec Director of the Americana Festival.
The Americana Festival was founded in 1972 by the Centerville-Washington Township Chamber of Commerce. It started as a sidewalk sale and was driven by local business community.
The Americana committee has an 11 member board plus a large committee taking care of the many details. It is the largest independent run festival in the state.
In 2003 John Glenn was an honored guest at the festival. (Carol & Bob D both got pictures with him.)
It is hard to get military flyovers, but trying again for next year’s festival. In the past there have been pageants/talent shows but those are not running now.
Jesse said there are people who have been on the committee for decades - “Once on the committee, you never get off ;-)”
There were 309 Arts & Crafts vendors during 2017-19 and then COVID hit. There were 247 this year, which is probably the maximum they will do as other items have been added to the space.
If a business wants to stay open that day, they won’t put anything in front of their business. They had 54 food trucks and 1141 entries in the 5K this year
Their focus now is on improvement rather than growth.
Fireworks this year cost $27,500 and were paid for through sponsorships/donations. They expect an increase next year to over $40,000 due to tariff impact and providing a larger show for 250th anniversary of our Country.
The Community Band and Chorus concert was moved to CHS stadium in conjunction with the fireworks when Stubbs Park was closed for renovations and will stay there now.
There are tables for rent: $100/table, with proceeds going to the CHS PTO. They sell out every year. They also highlight local entertainment as people wait for the fireworks to start.
They put $1400 into the live entertainment budget; next year the budget will grow for America’s birthday focus.The Cincinnati Circus Company may do a full circus show next year.
The parade only had 4 floats this year and they would like to have more. They have great food trucks that are all local Miami Valley and northern Cincinnati trucks. Let Jesse know if there’s one that should be included.
The arts and crafts are juried and must be hand made goods. The new Vendor Village focuses on local business and service clubs.
They could always use more volunteers - the Optimists organize the 5K run.
Funding comes from the City and Township plus sponsorships. This year, $109,000 was raised to put on the festival.
America 250
https://america250.org/ is the official website. Both Centerville and Washington Township are certified America 250 organizations who can apply for funding.
The Americana Festival will focus on history, tradition, re-enactors from the Civil and Revolutionary wars. They are looking to build a Revolutionary camp at Benham’s Grove.
Jesse encouraged, if you’re not involved, get involved. They always need more volunteers to help run this incredible one-day festival.
Budget for Americana is around $75,000 plus resources donated by the City and Township including overtime for staff..
Although they don’t know exactly how many people attend, the attendance at the festival is back to pre-covid numbers.
They moved the parade route to accommodate vendors on Franklin Street and shorten the route that was 1.5 miles.
They have 85% vendor return rate for the arts & crafts vendors.
President Manning thanked Jesse, led reciting of the Four-Way Test and wished all a good week.
Scotland Rotary garden. Sent by Jake H's wife.