Welcome to Rotary!
The Rotary Club of Greenfield, Ohio meets at 11:30 a.m. each Thursday at the Catch 22 Sports Pub located at 250 Jefferson St., Greenfield, Ohio. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Zoom option is also available to members and guests.
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Alyson Murphy wins local Four-Way Test
speech contest at McClain High School Alyson Murphy, a junior at McClain High School, won the Rotary Four Way Test speech contest April 20 at MHS and received a $200 check from Greenfield Rotary Club President Ron Coffey. Also pictured are Rotarians Steve Hunter, Andrew Surritt and Quincey Gray, who is also Greenfield superintendent of schools. Alyson is scheduled to present her winning speech to the local Rotary club and plans to participate in the Rotary District 6670 speech contest. District 6670 Conference scheduled virtually
on April 23-24, 2021 at no cost to attendees! Local Rotarians are reminded that registration is now open for our Virtual Multi-District Conference. Pre-registration is required to attend. "Thank you to the 70 D6670 Rotarians that have registered thus far," said District Governor Greg Birkemeyer. "Thank you also to those of you that sent me a note regarding your attendance. If you have not registered, won’t you plan to join our fellow Rotarians throughout Ohio for what I believe will be a great event?" The theme this year is: Rotary - A World of Opportunities When: Friday April 23, 2021 6:30-8:30 pm and Saturday April 24,2021 from 9:00 - 11:00 am. Please also plan stay for the District 6670 Business Meeting from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm where District Governor Greg Birkemeyerwill share updates on our District, introduce you to our future district governors and discuss our future in a post-COVID world. Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom. Register by April 10th and you will receive a free T-shirt delivered to your home or office. Cost to Attend: None! After you register – there are a couple of important things to remember: 1. Your confirmation will be arriving from RotaryDistrict6630@neo.rr.com. 2. The confirmation contains a Join Meeting Link
4. For the Thursday night event - Click on "I am not in District 6630." Thursday is an event for D6630 members only. 5. If you are using the Zoom desktop app – please be sure your application is updated to the most current version (this is not applicable to those who login using the web application). DG Birkemeyer and the other district leaders look forward to seeing fellow Rotarians April 23 and 24. 49th annual Ernie Blankenship Memorial
Radio-Telethon scheduled Wednesday, June 23 to benefit Society for Children and Adults The 49th annual Ernie Blankenship Memorial Radio-Telethon sponsored by the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The normal date would have been March 24 but with ongoing restrictions recommended for public gatherings and the continued risk of spreading of the virus, the decision to delay the event until June was made in the belief that the number of vaccinations will be much greater and hopefully the risk of spreading it will be greatly reduced. The event will take place at the Hillsboro Orpheum from 7-9 p.m. This year’s host will be Southern Hills Community Bank and its employees. Planning for the event is under way, and it’s hoped the event will be in person with social distancing. The telethon will also be broadcast live from the Hillsboro Orpheum on the Spectrum Community Access TV Channel, WSRW Radio 1590 AM and 101.5 FM and WVNU Radio 97.5FM. It will also be broadcast on the Society’s Facebook page and its new website, www.hicoso.org. The radio-telethon is for the benefit of the Highland County Society for Children & Adults which provides financial assistance for medical expenses, equipment, transportation, and related items for residents of Highland County. Despite all of the adversity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 radio-telethon raised a total of almost $100,000. The total raised over the past 48 years is $3.86 million. The Rotary Clubs ask that all persons, groups and businesses that are planning to donate mark the date at time on their calendars. They anticipate that the event will be fully in person and that everyone can join Rotarians and others in celebrating the community’s support of this unique Highland County charitable organization. Community leaders with Rotary connections have passed away in 2021
Several local Rotarians and former Rotarians have passed away in 2021, saddening those who knew them and prompting warm thoughts of their contributions to the greater Greenfield community. Club President Ron Coffey encouraged Rotarians to keep the families of these fine people in their thoughts and prayers: David D. Moon, who passed away on March 24, was a former Greenfield Rotarian and Jaycee, and a community leader. In the 1970s or '80s, as the local Jaycee chapter was about to fold, David saw to it that the ownership of the former armory property was transferred to the Greenfield Rotary Club. He also helped run Greenfield Printing & Publishing for about 30 years, providing many jobs for the people of Greenfield and area. His funeral took place on March 30. Dr. Ronald E. Vaughan, former superintendent of schools, also died on March 29. Under his leadership, people like coach Rick Van Matre, band director Mark Robertson and musician/director Dale Knauer were brought to the Greenfield Schools. As a result, the community enjoyed many athletic victories and musical performances by the McClain Marching Band, the McClain Show Choir as well as excellent stage and musical productions. The Murray-Fettro Funeral Home is serving the family, and a memorial service will take place at a later date. Charlotte Phillips, longtime Rotary member and pianist, passed away Feb. 11. She shared her musical gifts by serving as organist at the First United Methodist Church for more than four decades, and Charlotte participated in countless school, church and community musical productions. Generations of McClain High School students learned to sing with Charlotte as their accompanist. Her late husband, Ralph W. Phillips, also was a Rotarian and community leader, and the former armory property was renamed the Ralph W. Phillips Community Recreation & Civic Center in his honor. "Rotarians are difference makers, and we salute these individuals for all they have done for our community as Rotarians and as individuals," Coffey said. "As the Greenfield Rotary Club approaches its 100th birthday in 2022, we hope to raise up a new generation of Rotarians to do more good works and be known as difference makers." Rotary Club hopeful of having
Greene Countrie Towne Festival in July 2021 With more and more people being immunized against COVID-19, and following consultation with the Highland County Health Department and local physicians, the Greenfield Rotary Club is hopeful that the 2021 Greene Countrie Towne Festival will take place on the third weekend of July. According to Greenfield Rotary President Ron Coffey, the 2021 festival dates would be July 16-17-18. “With the rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and the prospect of other vaccines soon being approved, we hope that by July many activities will have returned to normal,” Coffey said. “We understand that mutations of the virus or other circumstances could still alter our plans, but the club remains cautiously optimistic that we can have our Greene Countrie Towne Festival in 2021.” The 2020 festival was cancelled because of concerns about the virus, which affected nearly every aspect of what was once considered “normal” living. While planning for 2021 has not yet begun in earnest, the Greene Countrie Towne Festival is known for its free entertainment and various attractions including rides for kids of all ages, a packed midway full of food, games and vendors, antique cars and tractors, Rotary’s charity auction, a queen pageant, parade and more. The entertainment is always free and the festival provides a chance for people to catch up with their friends and just enjoy being together. “After what we have been through with COVID-19, just being out and about may be the most attractive part of the festival,” Coffey said. “We will stay in touch with the Highland County Health Department for guidance and strongly encourage everyone to comply with whatever health standards are in place at the time of the festival,” the Rotary president added. While we don’t have an official theme yet, one worth considering might be ‘Vaccination Celebration.’” 
Superintendents Tim Dettwiller of Fairfield Local Schools and Quincey Gray of Greenfield Exempted Village Schools met with Greenfield Rotarians on Nov. 19, 2020 to discuss the Highland County Business Advisory Council.
Superintendents Dettwiller, Gray tell Rotarians about Hi-Co Business Advisory Council
Local Superintendents Tim Dettwiller (Fairlfield Local Schools) and Quincey Gray (Greenfield Exempted Village Schools) presented an interesting program to Greenfield Rotarians on Nov. 19 about their mutual efforts to help local students make connections that can help them choose fulfilling careers in line with their interests and abilities. Dettwiller and Gray are active members in the Southern Ohio Education Service Center (ESC), which helps test students to determine their skills and partners with area employers to allow students to job shadow or intern with those businesses and learn first-hand how companies operate. The educators explained that school systems are moving away from the old DE/OWE model where students worked part-time for a single employer to a model that allows more exploration of the work environment. A key component of the ESC program is involvement of local employers willing to take on a student for a time in the hope of a long-term payoff. Students are assessed as to their interests, future plans, and abilities in an effort to create hope for a fulfilling career in business or industry where opportunities exist, resulting in “win-win” relationships for employers and employees. Students involved in the program can be paid for their internship time as long as they meet certain requirements. Employers benefit because the state’s Jobs Ohio program will pay the interns for their time, and those internships could bear fruit in the form of long-term commitments which would help both the interns and the companies bringing them on as employees. The program extends beyond Highland County, with the following school districts currently participating: Adams County Ohio Valley LSD, Bright Local, Fairfield Local, Greenfield EVSD, Lynchburg-Clay LSD as well as the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center. Superintendents Dettwiller and Gray encourage local business representatives to contact them if they would like to know more about the Highland County Business Advisory Council. Rotary appreciation dinner cancelled due to coronavirus concerns
The Greenfield Rotary Club has decided to cancel its appreciation dinner in the interest of safety, citing the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Highland County and surrounding areas. Originally the event had been scheduled for Nov. 12 as a way of saying thanks to print buyers, artists, organizations and individuals who have contributed to the success of the club during the past year. “Under the circumstances, and after consulting with medical professionals about the current surge in cases, we felt cancelling the event was the prudent thing to do,” said Greenfield Rotary President Ron Coffey. The club had a very successful auction in September utilizing technology and social distancing to raise operating funds for the coming year. At the time, coronavirus numbers were low in Highland County and the appreciation dinner was scheduled soon afterwards. “Despite the cancellation of the dinner, we are deeply grateful to artist Tammy Wells for creating the limited edition prints that were sold at the auction, and to each and every print buyer,” the club president said. “Many others help the club in various ways throughout the year, sponsoring events at the Greene Countrie Towne Festival and lending a helping hand when needed,” Coffey said. “We want to express our thanks in a tangible way and hope that we can resume our traditional appreciation dinner in the coming year.” Earlier this year, concerns about the virus resulted in the cancellation of the Rotary’s Greene Countrie Towne Festival and disrupted the operations of many organizations and businesses. “Despite the pandemic, the Greenfield Rotary Club remains active in the life of the Greenfield community, as well as participating in Rotary International projects that benefit people around the world,” Coffey said. 
McClain High School Principal Matt Shelton (standing) meets with Greenfield Rotarians on Oct. 1.
MHS Principal Shelton is Rotary guest speaker
McClain High School Principal Matt Shelton was the guest speaker at Greenfield Rotary’s Oct. 1 meeting and discussed school operations during the coronavirus pandemic. Fortunately the year has gotten off to a smooth start both academically and athletically. Mr. Shelton answered questions from Rotarians and is himself an MHS graduate. Rotary thanks Greenfield Superintendent of Schools Quincey Gray for arranging the program. C.R. Patterson & Sons made automotive history in Greenfield
By Ron Coffey The first African-American automaker created cars, trucks and buses in Greenfield, Ohio and the family has a special place in automotive history, Greenfield Rotarians were told at a program Sept. 24, 2020. Tom Smith, owner of Smitty’s Auto Sales and a longtime collector of information about C.R. Patterson & Sons, shared some memorabilia about the trailblazing automakers and told their story to Rotarians. It started with the arrival of Charles R. Patterson, the son of former Virginia slaves, who came to Greenfield in the mid-1800s and put down roots in the “Greene Countrie Towne.” Patterson was a skilled blacksmith and soon became a successful businessman using his talents to create carriages that were drawn by horses. One of Patterson’s sons, Frederick Douglass Patterson, was born in 1871 and became the first African-American graduate of the Greenfield schools and one of the first of his race to attend Ohio State University, where he played on the football team. Patterson distinguished himself academically and as a leader, being elected president of his class in 1893. Fred also was involved in the Horton Literary Society and the student newspaper, the Lantern. When C.R. Patterson died in 1910, Fred assumed leadership of the company and dreamed of building motorcars to adapt to changing times. Black and white employees worked together to make the dream come true. Around 1915 or 1916, the first Patterson-Greenfield cars appeared, with an asking price of about $850. The Patterson cars earned an excellent reputation for their craftsmanship and reliability and compared favorably to the Ford Model T, but at the same time various world events worked against small, independent automakers. In Detroit, Henry Ford’s concept of mass production had already been launched, and the Ford Motor Company had produced more than a million Model T automobiles. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler had already become the “Big Three.” The winds of war were blowing, and on April 6, 1917 the United States declared war on Germany. World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic profoundly affected life and business in America and around the world. Still, the Pattersons were resilient. After producing approximately 150 Patterson-Greenfield automobiles and realizing that his company was unable to compete with mass production, Fred Patterson charted a new course for C.R. Patterson & Sons. In 1920 he changed the name of the company to Greenfield Bus Body Company, focusing on smaller production and meeting the needs of customers. The company began making buses for school districts, hearses, trucks and other specialized vehicles. The charismatic and energetic Fred Patterson attended school board meetings and met with other customers, convincing them of the quality and reliability of the vehicles made in Greenfield. As a result of these business relationships Patterson school buses were sold locally, in cities such as Cincinnati and Detroit, and shipped to customers as far away as Haiti. The Patterson firm established a successful niche for itself until the advent of the stock market crash of 1929 and the coming of the Great Depression. As the Depression deepened, Fred Patterson continued to lead the company while making sales calls at school districts in the region. According to news reports, Fred suffered a stroke while addressing the Board of Education in Powell, Ohio on January 20, 1932. He passed away four days later. In the wake of Fred Patterson’s death, and unable to secure necessary capital, the company left Greenfield in 1939 and moved to Gallia County in a last-ditch effort to continue. Unfortunately, Postell Patterson, who succeeded his father Fred as head of the company, soon made the difficult decision to cease operations. While some Patterson carriages remain to this day in excellent condition, thus far no one has been able to find a Patterson motor vehicle stored in some forgotten barn or junkyard. Perhaps this is because at the time the Patterson vehicles were made, parts were often re-used or repurposed. The Pattersons often placed their bus bodies on a chassis from Ford or GM, and some of the Greenfield components were made of wood or other perishable materials. Some years ago there was excitement when it was reported that a Patterson car had been found. Upon further examination, it was determined that another car called a Paterson (with one “t”) was manufactured in Michigan by a different company than the Greenfield firm. Greenfield’s Tom Smith has a Patterson carriage, the roof of a school bus (made of wood) and some other components, but alas, no Patterson motor vehicle has been found as of this writing. Tom has even driven around Gallia County in search of Pattersons there. What remains is still impressive. Photos of Patterson cars and buses, advertisements of the products, and stories from former employees validate the legacy of the Patterson family. Several books about the Pattersons have been written, and folks in Greenfield would love to have a museum telling the story of this family. It’s a compelling story about building a better life by meeting a need. The story of the Pattersons and the cars, trucks and buses they built offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship, race relations and opportunities for dreamers in a small Appalachian community. The Pattersons were highly respected in Greenfield and area, and as an African-American family they have a unique place in the history of automotive manufacturing. Greenfield Rotary 2020 auction
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