What We Learned About Our Community

Today we heard from Steve Heck who spent 20 years in the military, is a teacher at Milford schools and is also an astronaut. Steve thanked local businesses for their vital help in keeping schools going.

The topic today was about a program Steve helped design that will begin in Milford and be expanded to the nation. This program will not cost the schools money and has an executive committee full of CEOs from several local companies. The goal is to improve STEM education for fifth graders which includes Science, Technology, Engineering and Mechanics. Phase 1 begins with the training of teachers and students in STEM education. Phase 2 involves student experiments which will be flown in space over the summer. They believe this program will impact over 10,000 people in the first year and intend to run this at least 5 years.

What We Learned About Our Community

Today we heard from David Uible who spoke about the alternative sentencing program for Clermont County jails.

The CASC Program is a first of its kind program in Ohio administered by Talbert House. It is a program held at the Clermont County Jail for people with drug and alcohol problems who are willing to address their problem. The jail had plenty of unused space available for this.

It is designed to rehabilitate addicts and reduce the rate of recidivism. This is a residential program for women for up to 50 women. There will be work component which will allow women to hold a job, get needed education, have family visits and even go to their family doctor. They will pay some portion of the program expenses and be residents of the facility. A bill is being submitted in the state legislature to allow other counties to admit offenders to this Clermont County program. After one month, there are now 40 women enrolled. There are hopes of opening a men’s program in the future.

For more info contact Thomas Eigel 513-732-7301

More info HERE

Next week we will hear from Jill Grubb and Mike Ashmore (Treasurer) of Batavia Schools presenting a tutorial on public school funding in Ohio.

What We Learned About Our Community

Today we heard from Bruce Meadows Author, Writer, Publisher, Photographer and Rotarian. Bruce is a Director of Sales for a janitorial company and hopes to go on the road to begin marketing his book soon and photograph America. In 2008, Bruce lost his job and went back to school to attain a Masters in Art Education. He then was encouraged by his wife to write a book which will be turned into a series of books. Part of the proceeds go to “Partners in Conservation” which is an organization that teaches poachers how not to destroy the forests.

Bruce has been a fine art photographer for around 30 years. His wife says Bruce “thinks differently behind the lens.” He considers numerous factors before pressing the shutter button. Bruce shared a lot of interesting information about cameras and his various photography adventures.

His book is available in hardback, paperback and Kindle. Bruce sold copies today and made a generous donation to our Rotary dictionary fund for elementary students!

His photo gallery can be viewed at http://wildaboutphotos.smugmug.com/

His video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3tiV6Gc6Ak

Next week we will hear from David Uible who will speak about the alternative sentencing program for Clermont County jails.