President Brian Hayes welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led the Pledge of Allegiance. PDG Harvey Smith provided the prayer.
President Hayes provided Our thought of the moment from writer, L.M. Montgomery who said, “We don’t know where we are going, but isn’t it fun to go?"
Outgoing President Brian Hayes gave these closing remarks:
It seems like yesterday that I stood here to be inducted as President – can’t believe the ride is over. It has been an interesting year for us and a challenging year as well, but as always we have weathered the storm.
Over the last twelve months we have –
- Made a splash at the Americana Parade
- Coated little people through another Ohio winter
- Given Dictionaries and Thesauri to 3rd and 5th graders
- Helped ease the burden of gift giving for families over the holidays
- Spent a night enjoying holiday cheer at Yankee Trace
- Spent time (again) being zooming our meetings for a bit (while also)
- Picked up and dropped off a few Rotarian Memberships
- Picked and scattered some seeds
- Pulled off a Golf Outing
- Provided Scholarships for some High Schoolers (and gave them enjoyable Summer reading)
- Took a tour, cut some okra and got a tan (Food Bank)
And we may get the Rotary 50th Anniversary Golf Outing featured in the City Scene section of the upcoming issue of Centerville Lifestyle
Though we may have been stationary for awhile – our money wasn’t as we
- Helped out Blue Star Mother’s
- Gave towards a water project
- Sent financial relief down to Kentucky
- Helped out ministries serving needs in the Ukraine
- Gave to St. Paul’s and Luke 5 Ministries
- Participated in our first Rotary Peace Initiative
- Helped the RecPlex with a request for a ramp
All while putting together plans for our 50th Anniversary Celebration – which we happened to pull off (and enjoy) and managed to position ourselves quite well for the anniversary project of updating Grant Park
All of which leads us to this moment where I say--- thank you to the 2021-2022 Board of Directors
Mark Balsan Arnie Biondo Judy Budi, Geri Eastabrooks, Mark Febus, Lee Hieronymus, Ron Hollenbeck, Brad Huffman, Chuck King, Adam Manning, Frank Perez, and Sofie Ameloot.
for helping me keep this ship afloat. And thank you Centerville Rotary Club for allowing me the privilege of serving you.
Our Sergeant at Arms Pat Beckel then collected Happy Bucks for Ukraine relief.
- Ger Eastabrooks was happy.
- Ginger Clark to thank Brian for his leadership and congratulations to Arnie Biondo for his upcoming presidential year.
- Kelly McDonald was enjoying wearing his island shirt and was appreciative of the Dayton Dragons tickets - looking forward to the game with Rotarians.
- Frank Perez was happy.
- Ron Hollenbeck offered congratulations to the club for another successful year, and thanked Brian, Arnie, and the incoming board.
- Bill Menker, Harvey Smith, and Adam Manning for Brian’s leadership.
- Lee Hieronymus was the first to call Brian PP (past president)
- Dave Trout, Bob Fry, and Tom Broadwell thanked Brian for his leadership.
- Jeff Senney for having a 2 shot eagle at Castle Hills Golf Course.
- Carol Kennard had a sad aging moment when she discovered she can no longer ice skate, something she enjoyed in her youth.
- Judy Budi for Brian and all leadership of the Club.
- Susan Schnell was happy and gave thanks to Brian and the Board.
- Mike Wier announced there are 10 unclaimed tickets for the Dragon’s game next week - come get them!
- Jim Harris for Brian and his weekly thought of the day.
- Arnie Biondo for Brian and welcomed former exchange student, Saloni on Zoom.
- Ray Merz for the good accomplishments of the club this year.
- Pat Beckel for the good leadership and Board, and hopes for a smooth transfer of power today. :-)
- Saloni Bagwani joined from India via Zoom saying how much she enjoyed seeing everyone and is looking forward to Arnie being president this year.
PDG Harvey Smith then Installed President Arnie Biondo and the Centerville Rotary Club Board for the 2022-23 year.
President Elect -- Adam Manning
Vice President -- Rebecca Quiñones
Past President -- Brian Hayes
Treasurer -- Don Stewart
Secretary -- Mark Balsan
Educational Foundation Director -- Sofie Ameloot
Rotary Foundation Director -- Frank Perez
Community Service Director -- Crissy Allums
Club Affairs Director -- Brad Huffman
New Generations Director -- Susan Schnell
International Service Director -- Bill Menker
Arnie thanked Brian for a great year and presented him with a plaque and then Ron Hollenbeck surprised him with another Paul Harris Fellow. Arnie also presented him with a new Rotary tie.
President Arnie Biondo then shared a few comments noting we are now starting the next 50 years of our Rotary club. Rotary has changed with the times, which was especially evident during the covid pandemic. Clubs learned how to do meetings remotely, and all Clubs around the world had a rough time during covid. Our membership dropped during that time, so Arnie is looking forward to rebuilding our membership. He also said we need to have more young people involved.
Lee Hieronymus mentioned there is still room on the fire truck for Monday’s Americana parade. Those who are riding should meet behind the Centerville Municipal Building at 9 am. The truck will be leaving at 9:15 am to line up at #108 on South Suburban Drive. Lee will bring you back to your car afterwards and will have lots of squirt guns and water.
President Biondo noted it is a lot of fun and great exposure for the club. And a great way to celebrate our 50th anniversary and Americana’s 50th anniversary, too.
We will be back at Yankee Trace next week.
Centerville Rotarians helped out at the Foodbank this week! Thank you!
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