ATTENDANCE: With us today were: Rick Archer, Rich Bedell, Bill Choler, Dave Christman, Roger Cline, Don Coughlin, Andy Denton, Mary Dula, Steve Dunton, Ray Evans, Mark Ferguson, Jeff Film, Dick Hall, Carrie Leising, Tom Loepp, Karen Monbeck, Gail Moseley, Annette Oborn, Bob Oborn, John Priboic, Dave Renninger, Brad Ruth, Olivia Saltzmann, Shannon Sinex, J. T. Stimler, Steve Stimmel, Bob Sweitzer, Marty Tass, Linda Trevorrow, Marisa Williams and our speaker Don Schjeldahl.
After President, Linda Trevorrow opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, Bill Choler, today's program host offered an invocation asking for confidence to go on from wherever we are.
CELEBRATIONS:
Happy Bucks:
Mary Dula offered thanked Bob Oborn for leading Kent Elastomer in supporting Ronald McDonald House. This year they are supporting the cost of five rooms for residents at the facility! That is real service to the community.
Linda Trevorrow is thankful for her double monitor set-up that helps her manage our meetings.
Bob Oborn happily announced that C.J.,their puppy, is at training camp for two weeks.
Dick Hall attended a golf outing at Silver Lake this Monday and was very impressed the way they handled the social distancing, masks and serving the food in order to carry out the safety precautions.
Wedding Anniversary: Doug and Andy Denton are celebrating their wedding anniversary this week.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Board Meeting will be this Friday at 7:15 a.m. At this point it is scheduled to be virtual but Linda is going to survey the board members and officers about meeting outdoors with social distancing and masks. Minutes of the July meeting are attached to these minutes. If you wish to attend the meeting and are not a regular attendee, let Linda know so that if we are virtual, she can send you the link for signing on.
Future Programs: Carrie Leising is in charge of the programs this year and really needs our help. As she notifies you that it is your turn to be the program host, please think carefully as to your choice of program. Think not only about filling a slot,but pick your brain about someone who could speak to us who has something unique to say. Do not choose a speaker who has been with us during the past year. Their message has probably not changed that much. Remember that the speaker can be from anywhere in the world as long as we are virtual. Carrie has a huge job to do and really needs us to all do our part. Remember that when you are the program host, you also need to have the invocation and introduce the speaker. Just before you present the speaker, give your happiness moment....something you have done or will do to make someone happy during the week. This only happens about once a year. Make it not only a memorable time for the club but a worthwhile use of your time.
Blue Shirts: For next week's meeting, President Linda wants to see us all in our Rotary work shirts making a sea of blue. If you do not have a work shirt, try to wear something in Rotary blue.
Foodbank: Mary Dula reminded us that our volunteer time for the Foodbank is 4:30-6:30 p.m.on September 2nd.
PROGRAM:
Bill Choler, program host explained that his happiness moment for the week, involved a long-time client whose husband passed away. As he budgeted his time to meet with her, he allowed an extra hour so that he could accomplish what he needed to but also devote time to listen to what she needed to talk about.
Bill then introduced the morning's speaker, Don Schjeldahl, founder of North Water Brewing Co. in Kent. He had a long career with the Austin Co. in Cleveland and now is a consultant working with economic development strategies. He also has a strong interest in craft breweries which led him to his present work. He is very appreciative of Metis Construction for the assistance they have given him in taking the building from a car dealership to a micro-brewery.
As he traveled all over the world he learned that instead of business location and success being totally related to cost that now the location is more about risk management and the availability of skilled labor in well-run, healthy communities. He feels that one of the measures of a location's success is whether they have a successful town center and if they have a craft brewery.
As beer sales have a very slow but steady decline, craft beers are slowly taking their market share, rising by 3.9%. When North Water Brewing Company opens, in the very near future, it will be adult oriented, but also family and pet friendly. The sound decibel level will allow conversation in its comfortable indoor space and also in its large, outdoor-three season patio. They will offer support for non-profits and will promote community engagement. Their North Water St. location in Kent will be a great place to spend some time. Watch for its opening.
JOKE: Fitting with our topic, Annette sent us out with a joke about a bear going into a bar. It was very funny. Ask her to tell it to you.
Mayor Pribonic is in charge of our joke for next week.
Submitted by Andy Denton