President Uriah Anderson welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer and Brad Thorp led singing of God Bless America.
September Theme is Basic Education and Literacy Month; Supporting education is one of the seven areas of focus. Rotary's goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Our inspirational quote provided by Don Overly: “Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices." – Robert Braathe from the University of Western Connecticut
Today’s Announcements:
- Thanks to Mark Febus & Ron Hollenbeck for greeting today.
- Welcome today’s guests: Brad Huffman introduced his guest, Micol Contino, our exchange student from Italy; Ben Lawson, Interact Club Advisor introduced Emma Danis and Braden Doudican, Interact Co-presidents, and students Skyler & Natalie
- District 6670 Sing Out Polio is October 27, 5:30-9:30 PM at On Par Entertainment Events in Beavercreek. Let’s raise our voices and help Rotary end polio!
- We are updating badge numbers in the next 2 weeks so be prepared to search for yours!
- Sofie A announced the next social will be at Meridian on September 30, 5-7:30 PM. We will provide appetizers and drinks will be available for purchase.
- Mark K announced Pancake tickets are ready for Rotarians to pick up and sell. Each member is responsible for selling at least 20 tickets. If you haven’t paid for them with your dues, the amount owed is written on the envelope. Please turn money into Mark and sell those tickets!
Emma & Braden from CHS shared information about this year’s Spirit Chain fundraiser competition between Centerville High School and Kettering Fairmont High School.
Students do activities to raise money for the designated charities and the deadline to raise funds is September 10. Each 2-person team sets a fundraising goal, and Emma & Braden’s goal is $1,000. The total amount raised annually is typically over $100,000. Generous Rotarians in the room donated $962 and the Club matched that amount!
Happy Bucks recipient this quarter is District 6670 Local Disaster Relief.
Adam Manning was Sergeant at Arms with assistance by Brian Hayes.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Adam M said it was good to see Ben and the Interact students, and he’s glad his girlfriend is back from her cruise.
- Arnie B was happy.
- Sofie A was happy to see Micol and the Interact students.
- Rand O told the students we are accepting applications for scholarships
- Chuck K will celebrate his 75th birthday on Sunday. Happy Birthday, Chuck!
- Lee H invited all to take Don O to an OSU football game if you bought one of those new $148,000 seats. In the interest of time, he saved the farm report for next week (and took 41 sec to tell this).
- Dave T was happy.
- Dale B likes the new pancake ticket design.
- Gina S was happy.
- Brad H was happy for the Interact kids, spirit chain, and Micol. And said he is taking Micol to OSU game on Saturday!
- Carol K was happy to take her oldest granddaughter shopping for a homecoming dress but sad she is old enough to attend a high school dance!
- Brad T announced his youngest son and member of our club, Wyatt and Kayla had a baby girl last night (Sept 2). Welcome to the world Sally Christine Thorp and congrats to the Thorp family!
- Jeff S said he and Sharon were in Washington DC last week, watching their grandkids when daycare was closed, and he also attended pig roast and karaoke but did not sing!
- Raj G gave a welcome to Micol.
- Mark F said it was great to see everyone.
- Bill M missed several meetings but finally had the grand reopening of the library this week. He invited all to stop by and he will give you a personal tour.
- Mark K for the students, and the 49 point spread on the OSU game this week.
- Elda GG said happy birthday to Chuck and welcome to the CHS students.
- Harvey S shared with the students that we have scholarships available and he hopes they all apply when they are seniors.
- Ron H claimed Lee made Harvey cry since there was no farm report, and welcomed the students.
- Vince C was sad the guy who invented the heat index passed away this week. He said he was 93 but felt like 104 ;-)
- Dale B shared in the 1980’s CHS and FHS students would take turns painting on the bleachers of the other school. so a group of teachers decided to start a way to compete in a positive manner. Spirit Chain was the result of that idea (and Dale was one of those teachers!)
- Uriah A gave thanks to today’s guests & speaker.
Our speaker today was Mark Metzger, Recreation Director of Washington Township, who shared about recent improvements at the RecPlex campus.
When Mark Metzger joined the RecPlex in 2016, he quickly discovered there was one question the community really wanted answered.
“I spoke at the Optimists, and the first question was, ‘What are you going to do about the ponds?’” Metzger recalled. “I didn’t have an answer.”
That question turned out to be the beginning of something much bigger.
The Turtle Pond and Heron Pond were eventually dredged and cleaned up, with grant funding helping make the projects possible. Wetland renovations created natural habitat, and the Optimist Club sponsored a deck overlooking the front pond.
Over the years, Metzger and his team began looking at the property differently. The organization had traditionally thought of itself primarily as a recreation center focused on indoor programs. A community needs assessment and a master plan helped change that thinking.
The question became: What could this 30-acre park become, and how could it better serve the community?
The answer is taking shape through projects that improve accessibility, connect the park’s buildings and create more opportunities for people to gather. New and improved amenities include a shelter at Bass Lake, pond aeration and fountains, trails, picnic areas and gathering spaces.
Grant funding has been a huge part of the effort. Cynthi Fraley has written numerous successful grants, helping secure millions of dollars — about $4.5 million in total — for park improvements. A levy passed in 2023 provides additional funding along with funds from the General Fund that are paid back interest-free.
The long-term plan includes a new park entrance off Paragon Road, a hiker trail, additional parking, an interactive fountain, a covered walkway and improved connections between the buildings with a central plaza. A new maintenance building is planned for later this year.
The Gateway Plaza will include a small performance pavilion and interactive spray feature.
Looking ahead, 2027 will bring final design work for a four-season shelter house that can be rented for larger events. The Pavilion will feature garage-style doors that can open on nice days.
Improvements to the A-Frame and future gathering areas will also help make the park a destination for community events, food trucks and performances.
Some of the changes have been difficult. Removing trees and greenery is never easy, Metzger said, but improving accessibility means more people will be able to enjoy the park.
All of the improvements will allow better accessibility for the major programs like Woodland Lights, summer camps, and Cruise into the Ice Cream Social.
And the vision isn't just about buildings. Plans include grass pavers near the A-Frame, reinforced areas for emergency access and systems to filter stormwater runoff before it reaches the ponds. Parking lot renovations will be the final project after all interior work is complete. All improvements are scheduled to be completed by 2030.
This year's Woodland Lights will look a little different while improvements continue. The event will cover a smaller area, but admission is FREE.
Visits with Santa will be available by appointment for $10 per family.
Next year, Woodland Lights is expected to look considerably different as the park improvements continue.
What started with a question about two ponds has grown into a much bigger vision: a RecPlex campus that is welcoming, accessible and designed for the whole community to enjoy.
