President Adam Manning welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer. Lee Hieronymus led singing of God Bless America.
Our guests this week included Carol Kennard’s granddaughter, Kaycee Kennard; Brittany Laughlin with the Dayton Ballet visiting with today’s speaker; and our exchange student, Marti.
This week’s announcements:
- We have four CHS students going to RYLA at Camp Kern this weekend.
- Monday May 10, 1994 was the last time we had an eclipse. Lots of cool stuff going on in Dayton for this Monday’s total solar eclipse and the next one won’t be until September 14, 2099! Hope you enjoy this one.
- Frank Perez announced registration is now open for our annual fundraiser Golf Outing. Log in to Golf Genius to register your golfers. Time to form your team.
- Jeff Senney generously donated golf balls for every golfer at the event.
- Kelly McDonald said the sign up sheets for volunteer needs will be available next week. Since this is one or the Club’s two major fundraisers, please ask a sponsor. Sponsors make the event successful and they will be thanked on social media, website, and during lunch at the event.
- Brian Hayes announced it is time again for your quarterly bill. Watch for his email
Happy Bucks this month will go to Dear Dinah, who creates a safe place for survivors of human trafficking and helps raise awareness by connecting a community of people who are devoted to protecting and empowering the Dinah's of the world.
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms with help from Brian Hayes
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Pat Beckel noted the Heart of Centerville is filled with Optimists, and he’s happy to see Rotarians showing up, too. The arts raise amazing people, and we should enjoy what Dayton has to offer.
- Wayne Davis was happy to be back.
- Arnie Biondo was happy to know what Marti really thinks about him.
- Harvey Smith had a cold last week and gave it to Elda. Get better, Elda!
- Brad Thorp will spend next week at Pinehurst, brushing off his golf game.
- Pat Turnbull’s wife passed the marketing professional certification. Congrats!
- Mark Febus was happy to be here.
- Bill Menker was happy we missed the severe weather this week, and gave a last call for free Eclipse glasses.
- Jim Harris was happy.
- Raj Grandhi was glad to lunch with a cheerful bunch of people.
- Lee Hieronymus reminded we are all getting good info from his farm report. This week he shared about the US Agricultural Dept’s new product of USA labeling rule. In order to have the Made in the USA sticker, the animals have to be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the US. Sticker shows it is truly a USA product.
- Boyd Preston was happy to be here and to see Kaycee back as an honorary Rotarian.
- Chuck King was disappointed the Hallmark store only had two cards available for a 95th birthday, (his Uncle celebrates this weekend) and one was inappropriate.
- Socks Bowersocks was happy he’s happy.
- Ron Hollenbeck gave sympathy to Marni for having to put up with Arnie.
- Jeff Senney for today’s speaker and our exchange student.
- Crissy Allums was happy.
- Carol Kennard was happy to have Kaycee here.
- Kaycee Kennard was happy her group’s tap number took 1st place at her last dance competition.
- Kelly McDonald for the golf committee.
- Adam Manning for the golf committee, and his girlfriend, Heather got big promotion at her company and is now extra grumpy.
- Pat Beckel gave a shout out to Pat Turnbull for quick response by the City for issues at his business.
Today’s speaker was Kathleen Clawsen, Stage Director for Dayton Opera, Dayton Performing Arts Alliance.
Kathleen Clawsen has been with the Dayton Opera since 2009. Prior to that, Kathleen was a guest soloist 3 times, including performing with the Dayton Philharmonic.
Kathleen said she came to Dayton from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her core belief is that singing can change the world.
The Dayton Opera is preparing to present Puccini’s Tosca in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his death. This was the opera that started the company in 1961. Last time they performed it was in 2016.
Tosca is Puccini’s most famous opera. In 1887, it first appeared as a play for Sarah Bernhardt. Puccini turned it into an opera that was a hit with audiences but not always with critics. The opera first premiered in 1900.
Action takes place in 24 hours in real places in Rome. Starts with escaped political prisoner running on stage.
Kathleen gave an overview of the opera. Tosca is a political thriller, set in Rome in June 1800 (during the Napoleonic wars and a time of great political unrest). The action takes place over less than 24 hours, making it an intense experience!
The plot centers around three main characters – Rome’s diva Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi (a painter and republican) and the corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia. Scarpia has long lusted after Tosca, and when he suspects Cavaradossi of assisting an escaped political prisoner, seizes the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He will manipulate Tosca into revealing the prisoner’s hiding place and Cavaradossi’s involvement, and have her for himself.
When Cavaradossi is captured, Scarpia offers Tosca a horrific bargain – she must give herself to Scarpia, or her lover is killed… what will she choose, and who will survive?
Kathleen noted the opera is in 3 acts, around 30 minutes long each. Yes, it’s in Italian but knowing the story ahead of time makes it easy to follow. Subtitles are written at top of stage but you don’t really need to look at them as the music tells the story.
The starring roles will be performed by:
Reginald Smith, Jr (Baron Scarpia)
Caitlin Goiter (Floria Tosca)
Zach Borichevski (Mario Cavaradossi)
The opera will be performed on April 20 & 21. Tickets start at $5, so it is affordable for all. Kathleen said this is a great way to try opera for the first time. An Operatunity!
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