Beamer 10.9.13
BEAMER 10.09.13. By Livers, Christina
THE NEXT MEETING IS THE CLUSTER CLAMBAKE on Wednesday, October 16tht at the Bond Building located in Century Village in Burton Village. Arrival is 6:30 p.m. Contact Jodie Swartwout if you still need to make a reservation. Drinks from the bar require a donation, usually one dollar.
UPDATE on Rich and Donna Newsome: Dan McClelland reported that Rich is doing very well. His kidney counts are coming down some and that is a good sign. Rich is getting up more and is in good spirits. In about a week, Donna will have the rod in her right hand removed. That will give her more mobility. Rich’s boss is organizing a work crew to do some upgrades at the Newsome house this coming Saturday. This includes a few trees being removed, windows washed, leaves cleaned up etc. The work will begin at 7:00 a.m.
Please continue to keep Rich and Donna Newsome in your prayers as they recover from their injuries, Al Skinner as he recovers from foot surgery and Mike Pesek as she deals with chemotherapy.
A friend of the Newsomes', Kendra Mooney, is organizing a fundraiser for them and she said she would get us a flyer and tickets for the next meeting. The event is going to be a Spaghetti Dinner on November 2nd at St. Ed's in Parkman, starting at 6:00 PM. The cost is $25 per person and she is looking for somebody to head up the Chinese Auction, and if anybody is interested, they can contact her at 440-221-7471.
An open house celebrating John Gander's 100th birthday will be Sunday, November 3rd from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Bond Building at Century Village. No gifts although cards are welcome. All are invited.
As a reminder, all BMR Board meetings are scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month after the regular meeting. This is a great way for members to get attendance credit for two meetings (the regular meeting and then the Board meeting following the regular meeting).
OXTOBERFEST: Tom Blair said that this event is in Burton this coming weekend and volunteers are needed to help. Talk to Tom if you can lend a hand.
HEADS & TAILS: Ron Vesely won a very nice bottle of Blackstone Pinot Noir.
BMR FOUNDATION: Brian Brockway was nominated and unanimously elected to the BMR Foundation Board. He will serve a three-year term. Al Skinner was unanimously appointed to the same Board. He will serve for two years.
PROGRAM: Jim Dvorak introduced Wendy Radke, founder and owner of Rad Foods. Wendy began her presentation by describing her business and marketing background. Her journey as an entrepreneur began with a diagnosis of celiac disease. Celiac disease is an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat and other products. While still in her regular job, Wendy started making granola, which she began to share with others. Gluten-free products she purchased and tried were costly and tasted bad, she said.
Eventually she left the corporate world and started her own business, strongly encouraged and supported by her husband Ken. “Everything happens for a reason,” Wendy said. She is a lifelong Geauga County resident. The first influence towards venturing into the world of an entrepreneur began with becoming a member of Leadership Geauga. Her involvement in that group exposed her to many people in Geauga County and provided a strong networking base. Next she found that Geauga Rural Partners was an entrepreneurial boot camp. It gave her a road map to starting a business. She retired from American Express last summer
Now she makes her product and markets it at local farmers markets. She sells a 2 oz. pack, an 8 oz and also a 13 oz. package. She wants to branch out in Geauga and Ashtabula counties. Wendy gave all BMR members attending a sample package of her granola in a size ideal for pockets or purses.
As her business grows, Wendy said that she has acquired several “key learnings”: Meet people to whom you listen and from whom you learn. Try one new thing every day. Don’t expect perfection and, finally, ask for help; terrific people are available.
Guests: John Hurd