President Uriah Anderson welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer.
Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: “Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a society work, a civilization work" – Vince Lombardi
Today’s Announcements:
- Thank you to our greeters today: Don Overly & Ron Hollenbeck
- Welcome today’s guest: Steve Silverberg, our Assistant District Governor
- Rotary Women Connect is meeting tonight at 5:30 pm at Swoon in Oakwood..
- The next club social is Monday, August 24th from 5 to 7 pm at Reclaim Ceramics in Uptown Centerville. Please RSVP to Sofie by Sunday the 23rd.
- On a sad note; Ed Werner, our member and Gina Smith’s father, passed away on August 15th. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 29th at 3pm at the Christian Life Center (509 Roney Lane, Cincinnati OH, 45244). All are welcome to join. Keep Gina and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Ed’s Obituary
Two new members were inducted into the club by Chuck King:
Jake North (sponsor Uriah Anderson, mentor Kristin Hutton) & Tom Achor (sponsor & mentor, Lee Hieronymus.)
Tom shared he is a native Centervillian, and has lived here all his life. He served in the Washington Township Fire Department (WTFD), retired, and then worked PT as civilian in the Fire Department. He never regretted one day going to work. He has three step children that are spread out in Austin, Chicago, and Cleveland. He also has 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He and Lee were the first full time employees of the WTFD.
Jake shared he has lived in Dayton all his life, mostly in Vandalia. He graduated from the University of Findlay, and took a corporate America job after graduation. His parents always stressed the importance of networking, so he came to visit our club. He joined Rotary to meet new people and help the community.
Happy Bucks recipient this quarter is District 6670 Local Disaster Relief.
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms with assistance by Brian Hayes.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Pat B gave thanks for all who covered for him last week.
- Kristin H welcomed our new members.
- Steve S was pleased to be here, and welcomed our new members.
- Sofie A was sad Delphine left for college today, and had a root canal later this day.
- Dan J is going to see Garth Brooks in Indianapolis.
- Arnie B’s financial advisor passed away so he is looking for another.
- Jeff S sat next to Sofie when he first came in and she promptly gave him a job!
- Chuck K welcomed our new members, and was happy to have survived all the rain.
- Jake H said today was his son’s first day of Kindergarten and his wife did cry. Also, he is officiating the Moeller/Princeton game tonight which has been moved to Paycor stadium!
- Brad H shared today was Bella’s first day of 6th grade, and Braden started his senior year. He is also going to see the Garth Brooks concert and is taking our exchange student, Micol, for a true American experience!
- Carol K welcomed our new members.
- Uriah A welcomed our new members and Steve, and in memory of Ed.
- Adam welcomed our new members and Steve, and in memory of Ed.
- Tom A noted Dale Berry was in the paper today.
- Lee H shared by the end of this month, we will have received the most rain ever recorded in Montgomery County for August. For this week’s farm report, he shared an article about the history of Young’s Jersey Dairy near Yellow Springs. For 7 decades, they have been making memories for families. The farm started in 1869 started, and after WWII, Hap Young repurchased the family farm after it had been lost in the Great Depression, and it has been under family ownership ever since. In 1958, the family began selling jersey milk in a building next to the milking house. In 1960, they opened the first dedicated jersey store, where they sold milk, cheese & ice cream. In the1990s, they added miniature golf (Utters & Putters), batting cages, train rides, pumpkin picking, corn maze, and seasonal events. They hire up to 350 employees in the summer - a great first job for many.
- Elda GG said Harvey will take her there.
- Harvey S welcomed our new members.
- Mark K welcomed our new members, and with all the rain, he was happy to receive no calls regarding leaks. He reminded all that tickets will be distributed on Sept 3 for members’ Pancake Day commitment and they will note whether they have been pre-paid.
- Jake N was thankful for being part of the club, and happy for no rain today.
- Socks B welcomed our new members, and was happy.
- Dale B for being in the paper as interim Trustee, Michael Norton-Smith is new city Manager of Centerville, and is also a former member of the Club so he hopes he returns.
- Ron H for Steve’s visit, , how many fa welcomed our new members, and wondered how many farm reports Tom has heard from Lee over the years.
- Wyatt T has kept detailed ledgers on the farm report length. The previous record was 2:47 until today… which lasted 4:56! This week are the lasts days in the office on Franklin Street. After given a 90-day forced exit, the office is moving to Beavercreek temporarily, until they can secure another space in Centerville.
- Raj G welcomed our new members.
- Sivaji S welcomed our new members.
Our speaker today was our own Pat Beckel sharing about the Heart of Centerville.
Pat talked about the importance of shopping local and supporting local businesses, which benefit the community at large. Local businesses employ local people, use local suppliers, and support local events. Small businesses donate 250% more than large businesses to local nonprofits and community causes.
Once Pat moved his business to Centerville in 2012, he was immediately told he needed to join the Heart of Centerville & Washington Township (HOCWT). At that time, the organization comprised of 6-7 businesses located in Uptown Centerville. It has now grown to 129 local businesses and organizations.
Unlike a chamber, HOCWT is focused on helping small business with shared employees, shared ideas, and exploring what can be done to bring in more businesses. They have developed a positive relationship with the City of Centerville, and work together to put on community events.
The HOCWT is not a charitable organization. Annual membership dues are minimal: $100 for 501(c)(3) organizations and $200 for profit-making businesses. Their tagline is: Supporting local businesses through community engagement. They have many partners throughout the community:
- Dayton RTA
- City of Centerville
- Washington Township
- Washington Centerville Public Library
- Centerville-Washington Park District
- Centerville-Washington History
- Centerville City Schools
- St. Leonard
HOCWT members meet every Friday morning at St Leonards: 8 am networking, 8:30 am meeting. There is no cost and they discuss upcoming events, networking, and explore what you need help with. They also provide a Zoom meeting Monday at noon for service organization members.
Events/Programs offered include:
- Quarterly education events on how to grow your business
- Markets with vendors
- Merchant Market (spring market had 10,000-15,000 attendees)
- Spring, Summer & Fall Expos around a topic with panelists with around 2,000 in attendance
- Summer Concert Series with the City of Centerville, some including Party in the Park with food trucks and a vendor village (set up is free for Heart members)
- Americana Festival Vendor Village, set up is free for Heart members. 100,000 people attend (cost is $1,000 if buy a space on the street)
- Fall Fest 15,000 people attend, includes free swag bag, pumpkins, bounce houses and more
- Uptown Holiday Walk - merchants stay open, carriage rides, Santa, Grinch, Heart members can set up tent at Benham’s Grove. Kicks off big holiday shopping season.
- Shop Small (shop local)
HOCWT is here to help you as a small business and help all understand why it’s important to shop local.
The HOCWT works on group deals for businesses, including only $99 to place an insert in the Town mailing center that goes out to 16,000 households. They can also help you get on Good Day Dayton for free.
Centerville Rotary is a member of the Heart of Centerville.
There are no membership requirements other than pay the annual dues.
President Anderson thanked our speaker, led reciting the 4-Way Test and wished all a great week.
