Three Decades of Dayton

On Friday, October 7, 2016, I will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of my mom screaming as loud as humanly possible at 10:45am. “The Big Three Oh," “The Dirty Thirty," the “no longer a twenty-something-know-it-all” happens that day.

Thirty years. Typing those words out makes me cringe in thinking about the time I have spent on this earth celebrating the annual accomplishment of revolving around the sun one more time.

Reflecting on 30 years is, well, it is a lot of things. It is funny, sad, scary, hard to remember, interesting, provoking, and weirdly enough, calming. After thinking about my time on this planet, I have come to the summation of a few things and oddly enough, they happened right here in Dayton, Ohio.

Now don’t get me wrong, these are trivial items and I wish they were as cool as inventing the pop tab or the self starter, but sadly enough they are not. First things first, lets talk about the firsts that happened for me here in Dayton

Firsts

• My first birthday, steps, words, and tuxedo purchase happened right here in the Gem City

• My first day of school, football game as a Carroll Patriot (Go Pats), driver’s license, car, and trip to Carpenter’s Road (where every teenager drove to on a Saturday night to be scared out of their mind)

• My first beer, karaoke performance, public dance-off, and broken leg (oddly enough I feel as though all of these are connected)

• My first kiss, dance, blind date, and best friend all take claim to Dayton

• My first funeral, cry, broken heart, day I wanted to give up & never try again, and day I wanted to leave this city, happened right here as well

Not only have I had the majority of all the firsts happen in this city, but each one of those firsts usually led me to, or helped cultivate, a memorable experience. Some in which I will never forget.

Experiences

• The time I openly asked to climb into a boxing ring to bring the thunder and get bopped in the face to raise money for Dayton History, Carillon Historical Park 

  Red and Blue teams from Fight Night 2015

• The time I donned a fabulous pair of blue pumps to help spread the word about Clothes That Work 
• The time I stood in the UD student section losing my voice while the Dayton Flyers DESTROYED the Pittsburgh Panthers (ranked #6 at the time) in an 80-55 victory
• The time I walked out of K-Mart across from the Greene and saw nothing but a field of Green
• The time a new minor league baseball team was forming in Dayton and held a contest to name the new mascot
• The time I walked across the stage, shook the hand of Dr. Dan, and heard my parents tell me how proud they were of what I have done.
  • Also that time I got a selfie with Dr. Dan
  • The time when my sister found the person she would be spending the rest of her life with by her joining an after work softball team
• The time myself and 48 other local Daytonians came together for a weekend retreat we will never forget, thanks to Leadership Dayton

With each experience there always seems to be an aftermath or some sort of consequence. Some have made a lasting impression, while others are gone in a second.

Consequences

• Finding out that my best friend was getting married and I would be with him to support and celebrate the day
• Finding out that we were getting a puppy and that I was responsible for walking, feeding, and letting him out (I never did any of that stuff, that dog loved my dad and hated me)
• Finding out I was accepted to the one and only college I applied to (UD), and I would get to stay in Dayton
• Finding out 13 years ago that my grandma had breast cancer and it was time for us to fight
• Finding out what a ramen noodle soup budget really tastes like, and not minding it too much
  • Also finding out Netflix is the new cable while eating said soup
• Finding out that my parents were much smarter than I gave them credit for in my high school days

All of these things, and so many others happened right here in Dayton. I have made friendships, created adventures, and cultivated experiences that I could never duplicate in another city. I am thankful for the friends I have in my life who keep me in check when I am acting out. I am thankful to my family, in particular my parents Dan and Pam and my sister, Stacy. Without them, I would have never survived the past 30 years, especially the early ones. I am thankful for Dayton, which has thrown challenges, curveballs, hardships, eye-opening experiences, beer after beer, and memory upon memory at me.

I would love to sign this blog post off by writing, “Thanks for the three decades of fun, and now here’s to another three,” but sadly I cannot. I have no idea where I will be at in one, five, or even ten years -- let alone 30.

One thing I will say is that I will continue to make every day count. Taking advantage of every opportunity that is available, accepting every challenge placed in front of me, and continuing to push forward. I will do this because I want to create new firsts, experience something new, and enjoy every consequence.

4 reasons why Dayton pisses me off

I officially cannot take it anymore. Dare I say, “I can’t even.” Dayton pisses me off. I can’t stand this city and what it has to offer anymore. I feel as though I am the proverbial volcano ready to blow at any moment!

Below you will find my Top 4 reasons why when I hear Dayton my blood simply boils.

1.) Money
The cost of living in Dayton is absolutely outrageous. Everything anymore is way too affordable. I went out for an extremely nice dinner with my girlfriend, with the expectation of having my wallet drained, and per usual I am still flush with cash. Since dinner didn’t do the trick, we go out for a drink hoping this will finally put the kibosh on my bank account. Lo and behold, it only allows us to have double and sometimes triple the amount of drinks with money left over for an Uber ride to Ritter’s for ice cream. All I want is to pay through the roof for everyday items. Is that so much to ask for?

2.) Food
Don’t even get me started on the food in Dayton. Everywhere I turn, another amazing restaurant is opening its doors to the public, providing outstanding service as well as dishes to twist your taste buds into heavenly bliss.

On top of that, food trucks are everywhere. Not only is Dayton making it easily accessible to consume food via a brick and mortar shop, but now it is making it even more convenient and fun to dine out. Thanks Dayton, but I will stick to the ramen noodle soup I had laid out for dinner.

3.) Entertainment
Does Dayton even know how to spell music? Simple chords you put together with regards to a string of notes compiled to evoke an emotion of passion. It’s not that hard. With venues like The Fraze, Yellow Cab Tavern, The Rose Music Center, and numerous other bar establishments, Dayton can’t even get into rhythm with the Cha-Cha Slide -- AND THEY TELL YOU HOW TO DANCE IN THAT SONG.

If you don’t believe me, check out Libby Ballengee, who writes Dayton Music Insider. She will tell it like it is. Oh, and let’s not forget about the arts scene. Ballets, operas, musicals, community theatre, the Dayton Philharmonic, art galleries, and plays. There is just too much! Dayton arts is out of control!

4.) Outdoors
What’s worse than walking? Walking outside. Dayton, yet again, adds to the list of hatred by providing an outdoor recreational scene that is making me pull my hair out. I can’t stand all of this fresh air and serenity. When I go out to a Five Rivers MetroParks hiking trail and couple that with the breathtaking views from Cox Arboretum, my top is boiling. So I think to myself, “Cory, go ride your bike.” Next thing I know, I find myself in the bike lane heading towards a stretch of bike path that is paved to perfection. All I wanted to do was ride around the block, and instead I end up having the time of my life and getting some amazing exercise in. Humbug!

Alright, enough with the jokes. If you haven’t guessed by now, I am kidding around. Dayton doesn’t piss me off. Dayton inspires me. Sometimes as Daytonians (as well as a special person from Portland who enjoys Roost), we easily get caught up in the negative things going on with our city. This blog is to be a reminder that you can turn any negative into a positive. All you have to do is try.

Dayton Inspires: Cleanup

I wake up on a daily basis with new ideas popping into me head all the time.  Usually most of these ideas come to mind when I am in the shower halfway through either Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” or Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song”.  Don’t judge.

But outside those ten minutes in the morning there are a plethora of items that inspire me on a daily basis.  Some items that inspire me the most: walking through the Oregon District, doing a pub crawl at the local breweries, checking out the new ballet for the year (Dracula: Bloodlines starting October 20, I know shameless plug, but I love me some Ballet), and most importantly Dayton Inspires.

The grassroots campaign that was a product of the UpDayton Summit has taken on the task of getting Daytonians inspired from the city, what it has to offer, and the people within.  Not only giving inspiration to beautiful creations, but also inspiring many to work on the preservation of our city.  This has been shown through the Dayton Inspires Cleanups spearheaded by Zack Sliver and the Dayton Inspires Committee.

It is easy to say you support anything these days.  With a simple like, share, or a tweet you can join thousands in an intangible revolution for a common cause.  But why not go further?  That is what the Dayton Inspires Cleanup helps you to do.

Hundreds of Daytonians, come together to tackle areas that are aesthetically distressed and can use some more attention.  Overgrowth, litter, and general disarray are the main factors that the Dayton Inspires Cleanups focus on.  Sliver says, “Dayton’s a beautiful place, but there are areas where people lose hope with and let things fall by the wayside.”  Zack goes on to say, “With this cleanup, it removes litter, illegal dump sites, and shows the people in the neighborhood; that we as Daytonians care about everyone.  Not just those downtown.”

With football season starting back up, pumpkin spice filling our hearts and tummys, and summer coming to a fast close, take a few hours out of your day to get out and get inspired with the Dayton Cleanup.  Details on the event are listed below, but be sure to check out the Facebook Page for all the up to date details.  Also for more information about Dayton Inspires check out their website.

What:  Dayton Inspires Cleanup

Where:  3rd St. Baptist Church - 2720 East 3rd St, Dayton, OH 45403

When:  September 17, 2016Registration starts at 9:00am event ends at 3:00pm

The New Kids On The Playground

I used to think that the playground was a place where the epic battle of childhood skinned knees, burnt bottoms from the silver coated metallic mirror slide, and Tucker the Milk Money Bandit (man Tucker was a jerk) thrived and survived.  I was wrong.

With Dayton’s ever growing arts scene, we as Daytonians have been witness to many amazing performances.  But let me ask you this, how many of those performances have left you without words?  How many of them have left you with a solemn “Cindy Lou Who Coo” of sadness stuck in the back of your throat?  Hell, how many left you feeling something… anything actually?

The Playground Theatre does that.

The purpose of The Playground is to:

• Establish an actor-driven theatre, rooted in realism
• Examine the human condition through the eyes of the millennial generation
• Provide a raw and intimate theatrical experience
• Take their community on a journey that is imaginative and emotionally truthful
• Attract new audiences by broadening the spectrum of Dayton theatre
• Create unique experiences by collaborating with local artists and businesses
• Teach workshops and classes to educate, inspire, and further enrich the people of Dayton
• Tell honest and resonant stories, with the stage as their playground

The first play I was able to attend was Reasons to be Pretty. A love story about the impossibility of love.  A raw look at how a relationship can turn on a dime with the utterance of a simple yet so complex phrase.

I sat in the back corner of The Mathile Theatre in the Schuster Center.  I came alone, not knowing what to expect.  The lights came down to a stage set with simple items.  No elaborate million dollar budgets with carte blanche to buy whatever is needed.  It was simple and to the point.

I was blown away by everything about this production.  From the professionalism, to the raw feeling of emotions throughout.  I felt anyone was able to relate to this company, these actors in some way, shape, or form, millennial or not.

From Thursday – Sunday you will have the opportunity to have that experience with This Is Our Youth.  A brief summary is listed below.

With tickets being at a steal of $20 for an adult and $15 for Students and Military, what is stopping you from coming?  I highly encourage you to make time to check this performance out.  Why have a regret when you can make a memory?

The Facebook Invite can be found HERE

Be sure to Like them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Need tickets?  Then Click HERE!

Enjoy some Playground Pics from this upcoming show and shows past.

This Is Our Youth

In 1982, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the wealthy, articulate pot-smoking teenagers who were small children in the ’60s have emerged as young adults in a country that has just resoundingly rejected everything they were brought up to believe in. The very last wave of New York City’s ’60s-style Liberalism has come of age—and there’s nowhere left to go. In meticulous, hilarious, and agonizing detail, THIS IS OUR YOUTH follows forty-eight hours of three very lost young souls in the big city at the dawn of the Reagan Era: Warren Straub, a dejected nineteen-year-old who steals fifteen thousand dollars from his abusive lingerie-tycoon father; Dennis Ziegler, the charismatic domineering drug-dealing friend who helps him put the money to good use; and Jessica Goldman, the anxiously insightful young woman Warren yearns for. Funny, painful, and compassionate, THIS IS OUR YOUTH is a living snapshot of the moment between adolescence and adulthood when many young people first go out into the world on their own, armed only with the ideas and techniques they developed as teenagers—ideas and techniques far more sophisticated than their parents ever realize, and far less effectual than they themselves can possibly imagine.

5 drinks in Dayton to get you to the weekend

Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere”?

I feel like I am usually the one saying this phrase to co-workers and friends, being that red devil on their shoulder, whispering sweet temptations such as “Coronarita," “Jager Bombs," and “Fiiiiiiiiiiiiireball."

Who doesn’t enjoy a good post work cocktail to wrap up the hard day's work that you just piped into your company’s well being? For me, I am happy to saddle up to a barstool at my local watering hole with a Double Belle of Dayton Vodka on the rocks with a lemon.  For those who do not know and want to become better friends, commit the drink to memory.

Here is my list of the five drinks to help cap each day off and get you one step closer to that oh-so-coveted Netflix binge-a-thon you so desperately need.

Monday
Do you have a case of the Mondays that cannot be quenched? Do you constantly hear the song “Tequila” by The Champs in the back of your head?

Then today is your day, and the only cure is the oh-so-delicious Tequila Sunrise. The main alcohol is of course Tequila, combined with orange juice and grenadine syrup.  Head to the Tumbleweed, order, then head upstairs and people watch the night away.

Tuesday
You survived another Monday, and I got three words for you: “Treat. Yo. Self!"

Instead of going up on a Tuesday, turn it up by popping a bottle of champagne. You deserve it, and it will only make your week that much better. Take it from Robin Leach and have "champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” To fulfill that champagne wish, head on over to Toxic Brew Company. You have to time it just right because they are not always fully stocked, but you can grab a bottle of champagne for roughly $20.

Wednesday
Bon Jovi said it best, “OOOOOOOOOOOH OH, WE’RE HALFWAY THERE!" The only thing that keeps flashing in my head is the Geico Camel going up to everyone in his office asking them to guess what day it is.

I am usually getting pretty cranky by Wednesday and I am whining, whining big time to any and everyone who will listen. That's why I like to pull out he biggest Red Wine glass you can find and drown out about a half liter from that bottle. Location of choice: Deaf Monty’s. A beautiful house tucked away in the Oregon District across the street from Thai 9 and behind Salar. Don’t blink or you will miss it. The atmosphere and snacks there are Winederful (see what I did there?).

Thursday
Who's thirsty? Because today is the day to quench it.

Thursday, or as I call it Friday Eve, is a day of preparation. Listen, you are one day away from your goal of the weekend, and you do not want to go overboard with premature consumption. Trust me, I know and I have learned the hard way. Take a blast from the past and make your way down to The Century Bar and order yourself a well deserved Old Fashioned.

Friday
That's it! You have survived another long week. You put in the hours, built synergy within your company, dialed into conference after conference call to show them you are a team player. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, and hope is not a plan.

4:30 p.m. hits, and that Friday doctor’s appointment that you scheduled with Dr. Daniels, Dr. Beam, Dr. Walker and Dr. Jameson is calling your name. That is right, a Four Horsemen: equal parts Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Johnnie Walker and Jameson, this is one drink you will not forget. Go to the Dublin Pub, grab a cigar and head to the rooftop to cap this week off.

What drink gets you through the week and where do you like to have it?

3 dates on a dime in Dayton

Let me be perfectly honest, I’m a bargain shopper. Yeah, I hate spending money so sue me. Well… don’t do that.

I love what I get from spending money, but I hate doing it. With that said, dating can sometimes be hard. It is hard in the sense that I have to use the Jaws of Life to open my wallet to extract that silver-coated credit card to pay for a fabulous evening. That is why I have put together this simple guide to help you and your significant other make some memories without breaking your bank.  (SIDE NOTE: To my girlfriend Heidi… expect to be whisked away on our next few dates to these destinations.)

Dime Date #1 – Sugarcreek Reserve
We have some pretty amazing parks within the Five Rivers MetroParks system, and I have to say Sugarcreek Reserve is my favorite. When you enter the park you are beginning your own adventure for the day. Pick any color trail and start exploring. From the Planted Prairie to the Three (well, it’s now two since one fell over) Sisters, you are bound to get lots of exercise and see many amazing features. I would suggest doing this Dime Date in the fall to truly experience the colors of the trees and ultimate hand-holding to keep warm on that cool, crisp Saturday morning in autumn. PRO TIP:  The Osage Orange Tunnel is the best place for that perfect Instagram picture or even that first kiss

Dime Date #2 – The Dayton Art Institute
The DAI is one of my all-time favorite places in Dayton. Not only do you get to see masterpieces from all over the world within different time periods, but it is FREE to get in!  Let me repeat that, its FREEEEEEEE! Why don’t more people take advantage of this amazing Dayton staple? A fun game that you can play is DAI Storytelling (trademark, patent pending on that name. I need me some royalties please). I like to go up to any painting and create my own back story to what I see and also guess where and when the painting might have been completed. Sometimes the stories get a bit intense so be prepared. Then read the card next to the painting to hear the REAL story about it.

Dime Date #3 – Oregon District Seek & Find (Must be 21+)
For those who may not frequent the OD that often, this is the perfect time to take a date out and create another amazing adventure. This one is pretty easy, too. Get a list of items that you need to find in the Oregon District and take a photo. Try to keep it to nine items. Once you get your pictures, filter them like there is no tomorrow. I suggest the app Snapseed (it’s free and super easy to use). Take each photo and lay them side by side and see who captured that item the best. The loser buys Pizza at Oregon Express. Here is a good starting list for you and your date:

1. A speaker from Blind Bob’s
2. The “Drinks” sign from Lily’s Bistro
3. The “Lucky’s Mirror” from Lucky’s Taproom
4. A skull from Clash
5. The shuffleboard at Toxic
6. The “Bubble Wall” at Salar
7. Any “Artifact” from the Exotic Fantasies shop
8. The view from the “Bird’s Nest” Table on Trolley’s patio
9. Corner Kitchen’s newly installed “Art Wall”

So these are my Dayton Dime Dates. Did I miss one? Let me know your favorite cheap date spot!

7 Dayton-area karaoke hot spots you don’t want to miss

If you are anything like me, you live and die by the microphone. That’s right, I’m talking about karaoke — the poor man’s American Idol.

Karaoke gives you all the feels that you need in life. For example, the unmistakable soft warm glow feeling you get from the television screen full of scrolling words to the song that you know by heart. The feeling of your pulse pounding due to the roar of the crowd when you start spitting outrageous amounts of hot fire. Karaoke has the feels. That’s why this is my 7-7-7 (7 days, 7 locations, 7 songs) Dayton Region Karaoke Guide that you need to know. I will have locations and addresses at the end of the blog.

Day 1 – Sunday: MJ’s on Jefferson

A little-known secret in Dayton, MJ’s on Jefferson offers an atmosphere to let your inner Karaoke Idol run free. Complete with a beautiful stage to showcase all of your best-kept talents, MJ’s gives you the opportunity you need to shine. The staff is extremely friendly and drinks are always strong, and if you are lucky, you might get some popcorn for the show. Sundays always tend to take the wind out of everyone’s sails, but I guarantee if you sing at MJ’s it will start your weekly voyage off right. I’d recommend singing “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston.

Day 2 – Monday: Mack’s Tavern

Mondays can really kick us in the butt if we are not careful. With that said, loosen up those windpipes and head over to Mack’s Tavern out in Centerville. While your soul slowly
becomes healed by the voices of your peers, order a “Mack Attack” pizza and slap a dollar down on the pool table to call next game. Also, if you are a Steelers fan, this is the bar for you. With that said, you will be welcomed by all if you sing “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa.

Day 3 – Tuesday: The Whiskey Barrel

Hop on I-75 and head south to find our next location nestled within the Midway Plaza Shopping Center. The Whiskey Barrel is the place to be if you are looking to cash in on your singing skills. With a weekly cash prize of $100, why not give it a try? If you can get the DJ to not sing along to the songs, your voice will be perfect at this venue. Try belting out “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Day 4 – Wednesday: Blind Bob’s

With a sound system that will leave your ears ringing for days, Blind Bob’s is where you want to be to sing your heart out on a Wednesday evening. I suggest getting there a bit earlier to grab my favorite dish for dinner (Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich with sliced almonds). Grab a delicious Belle of Dayton on the rocks with a lemon, mark your song down and enjoy the show. Talents range from across the board, but you be the star that night. Give “(You Gotta) Fight For your Right (to Party)” by the Beastie Boys a go.  That is, if you want to get the crowd involved.

Day 5 – Thursday: Wings Sports Bar & Grille

With $1.50 hot dogs, $2 cheeseburgers, and $3 deluxe cheeseburgers, WHERE CAN YOU GO WRONG?!?! With a HUGE outdoor space and charming stage inside, this is the place you are going to want to quench your Thirsty Thursday Thirst. If you need a break from the inside Rock Show Clinic that you are putting on, go outside and chuck some corn hole bags to blow off some steam for your next set. Try singing “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister.

Day 6 – Friday: Soft Rock Café

Soft Rock is the almighty Mecca for your Karaoke Quest to ultimate Dayton Domination. With what I think is the best sound system in the region and TONS of space for all of your roaring fans, Soft Rock is the place to be to become the next Idol. The only drawback: because so many people go, odds are you will only get to sing just once that night — so make that song count!  The Gut Buster I would suggest is “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

Day 7 – Saturday: Red Carpet Tavern

Its Saturday and you have had a hard week of performing at all the other establishments. Take a night to relax and drink up. The Red Carpet Tavern allows you to do just that. It’s the definition of a hole in the wall bar you will not soon forget. Located on Wayne Avenue, simply look for the rope lights.  Head in a post-up at the bar and pick out as many songs as you want, because tonight you will be the best performance they have ever had.  Lead off with “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears and then its on you from there.

I hope you enjoy this guide.  Did your favorite make the list?  Comment below if I should try out another location.  Thanks for reading and get out there and sing your little heart out.

 LOCATIONS:

MJ’s on Jefferson – 20 N. Jefferson St. Dayton, OH 45402

Mack’s Tavern – 381 Miamisburg Centerville Rd. Washington Township, OH 45459

The Whiskey Barrel – 857 W. Central Ave. Springboro. OH 45066

Blind Bob’s – 430 E. 5th St. Dayton, OH 45402

Wings Sports Bar & Grille – 7902 N. Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45414

Soft Rock Café – 877 E. Franklin St. Dayton, OH 45459

Red Carpet Tavern – 3301 Wayne Ave. Dayton, OH 45420

Legendary Articuno found in Dayton

If you have been living under a rock, traveling to the moon, or simply not born yet, there has been a little game called Pokémon Go that has been engulfing the country for the past month.  People have been getting exercise, making new friends, and visiting new parts of their city that they did not even know even existed.

The tagline for Pokémon is “Gotta Catch’em All” (I know all true fans just sang the word “POKÉMON” after reading that tagline).  This is every Pokémon trainers goal, to find and capture all 151 first generation Pokémon.  A man on the east coast has claimed to have caught all available Pokémon and has been verified.

>> I CHOOSE YOU: Your guide to Pokémon Go in Dayton

>> Local Pokemon expert shares his top tips

Now I say available, because the company that runs Pokémon Go, Niantic, says that they will be releasing legendary Pokémon at certain special times/events, making all current trainers froth at the mouth with the anticipation of being able to say “I am a Pokémon Master, because I have caught all Pokémon”.

But something amazing… no monumental… NO EPIC has happened, and it has happened right here in the Dayton region.  A Legendary Pokémon (Articuno) has been caught!  Early reports show that Kaitlyn Covey is the owner of this Legendary bird Pokémon and currently has it posted up at The Field & Stream Gym at Austin Landing in Miamisburg.  She is a part of Team Mystic and calling upon all her trainer brothers and sisters to help fortify that gym.

“On Aug 1st , at about 11 p.m., Kaitlyn Covey and her husband posted the video and pictures of the Articuno. People in my group started sharing the pictures,” Tony Hermes (aka DJ MASHT) said.

The group had roughly 100 members and within a couple of hours had over 200 new members with people from Australia and other places in the world.

“Many were outraged that Kaitlyn was given the first Legendary.  She claimed she was gifted it from Niantic, but oddly enough wouldn’t show any email proof because she didn’t want any personal info exposed,” Hermes said.

Yesterday, Kaitlyn posted a screenshot of the “email” that she got from Niantic, but it has been pointed out that it is a possible fake. The email has misspelled Articuno and said “Articundo”.  Kaitlyn is still a member of the group and taking all the criticism fairly well. Tony says, “I’m fairly certain that she has an Articuno or Articundo, but how she got it still remains a mystery”. Hermes goes on to say, “If you Google Articundo you’ll see the outrage on Reddit and even Kotaku did an article about it. Tons of gamer news sources have featured her Articuno.

So is this real or a fake?  Yesterday Niantic came out and said that the Articuno “was not from Niantic.  Its ‘SIC’ either a spoof or someone hacked the game”.  Read More HERE

The Facebook Group – Was: Dayton Area Pokémon Go! Now: Articundo Freakshow

I’m Blue for Boas & Bow Ties

The year is 2015, the setting is Fifth Street within the Oregon District, the color is… Blue?  Wait, what?  Why blue?

Well, if you were fortunate enough to be one of the 125 people to take part in the First Annual Boas and Bow ties Pub Crawl, you would know that Blue is the color for all T1Ds (Type 1 Diabetes).

Samantha Redden pumping up the crowd at Warped Wing

The idea came from Samantha Redden, who within the past month has taken on her new role as the Dayton Development Coordinator at JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) of Southwest Ohio.  “I wanted to bring awareness about T1D to the Dayton community” Redden said.  “Being a T1D myself I have had many experiences, both good and bad, but everyday is a new opportunity.  With the Pub Crawl we are able to bust some common misconceptions about T1D and educate many while celebrating and bolstering many of our local Dayton watering holes.”  (As a side note, Sam has given birth to her first child.)

Thanks to our friends at Warped Wing Brewery, the Boas and Bow Ties Pub Crawl or #BBTPubCrawl will kick off in their main brewery hall.  “We are so happy to be kicking off our pub crawl at Warped Wing for the second year in a row.  They are extremely welcoming and help accommodate our large group” said Redden.  The #BBTPubCrawl has educational games, fun raffle prizes, as well as the “Best in Blue” contest.

Brian West of Park-N-Go knew this was an event not to miss!

What is the “Best in Blue” contest?  Well as mentioned before, blue is the color for T1D.  We encourage all participants to dress up in their most crazy and whacky blue clothing.  Check out some of the pictures from last year on the Facebook page: Boas & Bow Ties Pub Crawl.  The Oregon District is literally a sea of blue!

So what do you get with a ticket?  Pre-sale tickets are $20, or if you are like me and wait until the last minute, you will need to pony up an additional $5 at the door for a total of $25.  The event is on August 6th starting at 4:30 p.m.

Your ticket includes:

• Boa or Bow Tie (choice is up to you)
• Complimentary first beer at Warped Wing
• Lanyard with Timeline and locations of each stop
• 5 free raffle tickets
• Drink discounts and specials at other Pub Crawl Locations

Looking to get ahead of the game, CLICK HERE to buy your tickets today.  Are you interested in helping out with the Pub Crawl next year?  Feel free to contact Samantha Redden via email at sredden@jdrf.org

I CHOOSE YOU: Your guide to Pokémon Go in Dayton

Daytonians are thirsty. When I say thirsty, I mean they are THIRSTY! How can they quench said thirst? By playing Pokémon Go (PoGo), of course.

There is an infestation of Weedles that have over taken Top of the Market. Rattatas are running rampant on Fifth Street, particularly in front of Lucky’s and The Trolley Stop. Pidgeys are plaguing our once peaceful Dayton Metro Parks with their silent but deadly coos.

Now don’t be alarmed. I know all of this sounds extremely frightening, but I am here to help arm you with enough knowledge, tips, and tricks for you to “be the very best, like no one ever was.”  For those of you who did not get that joke, CLICK HERE to get some Pokéducation.

Setup and Starting Out

People playing PoGo be like…

First, download the app on your smartphone. Simple and easy to do. If you have not done this already then you have saved yourself from  a weeks worth of bashing your head against the wall because of the hundreds of server crashes due to the millions of players downloading the app.

After you download, pick a name and you’re starting Pokémon. As true as the Red & Blue (The first Pokémon Gameboy Games), the three original starting Pokémon are all there: Bulbasaur, Charmander (I picked this one), or Squirtle. After that, GET OUTSIDE AND GET WALKING!  The game is based on you moving your butt throughout your city or town. By doing this, you run into wild Pokémon, Pokéstop Modules, and Gyms.

What’s a Pokéstop Module?

Pokéstops are points within your city that allow you to get free items such as:

• Pokéballs – Use these to catch wild Pokémon
• Revives – After Battle, use these to bring your Pokémon back to life if they are knocked out
• Berries – Use these on wild Pokémon to catch them easier
• Potions – Gives 20 HP (Health Points) back to your Pokémon
• Lure Modules – Attach these to Pokéstops to attract Pokémon to this area
• PokéEggs – Eggs you hatch within incubators to give you rarer Pokémon

There are more items, but these are the ones you need to know off the bat.

PoGo uses Google maps to help with the GPS and the Pokéstops. When you arrive at a Pokéstop, simply spin the picture and it spits out items for you. They reset after five minutes, so you can fill them up again shortly after using them once. Pokéstops are Focal Points within your city, such as a painting or restaurant. I stick near Downtown Dayton when I need to hit a bunch of stops. There are five Pokéstops near the Top of the Market area with more down the street, as well as a plethora of Pokémon ripe for the picking.

My suggestion is to grab a DYT Link Bike (that link will show you all the Bike Stations) and hit up the following locations:

• Top of the Market
• RiverScape MetroPark
• Dayton Library
• Corner Kitchen

This will help you get to the Pokéstops quicker, get some distance logged (PoGo tracks how much you have traveled, which helps with hatching eggs and medal challenges), and best of all, get you some EXERCISE. Which we all could use a little more of in our life.

I have spoken to a few businesses that have seen a large uptick in business due to rare Pokémon sightings within their shops, and even when a Pokéstop near them has a Lure Module attached to it. Cold Stone Creamery was basically sold out of everything at the Greene, and Beavercreek Pizza Dive said someone posted a picture of a rare Pikachu in their restaurant — and sales were through the roof that night.

How to Catch a Pokémon?

Catching these Pesky Pokémon are as easy as ordering a Muses from Lily’s Bistro.

First, walk around until your phone vibrates. This alerts you when a Pokémon pops up on your screen. Then, tap the Pokémon that has appeared on your screen.

You will be taken to a screen that uses your phone’s camera and shows the Pokémon in real time within your surroundings. Below are a few screen grabs of some common Pokémon I have caught.

Tap and hold your Pokéball at the bottom of the screen and slide your finger up towards the Pokémon. Distance is KEY. Sometimes you have to slide your finger further than others. Once released the ball will capture the Pokémon and wiggle three times. After it is caught, your Pokémon will be added to your Pokédex and is yours to level up. You can even change the name of your Pokémon.

Gyms

No, I am not talking about pounding down a protein shake and getting your pump on. Gyms in PoGo are like Pokéstops — except this is where you put your Pokemon’s skills to test in the ancient art of PokéBattle. You cannot click on a gym until you are level 5, so start catching as many Pokémon as possible to collect that XP (Experience Points).

Once you are level 5, you can go into a Gym and choose which faction you will be. The three teams are Team Mystic (Legendary Pokémon Arcticuno), Team Instinct (Legendary Pokémon Zapdos), and Team Valor (Legendary Pokémon Moltres – I chose this Team). Right now, the national trend is towards Team Mystic. With your team selected, start battling. Level your Pokémon up the best you can to topple the Gym Leaders. The leaders are other players within the area that you get to battle and try to overthrow.

PokéDONTS

The game is amazing, fun, and gets people out and moving.  But like all things there are some negatives and things not to do.

• Don’t ride around in a car hitting up Pokéstops! Its not safe and its cheating. I have followed several people in their cars swerving, trying to catch Pokémon.
• Get moving! Don’t attach your phone to a ceiling fan to trick your GPS into thinking you are walking (that works, by the way). Get out and experience the city for what it has to offer.
• Don’t be antisocial! I was at the Greene two nights ago and saw large groups of friends out and about catching Pokémon. Some groups were merging and making new friends because they were on the same team.  It was either Team Mystic or Valor.
• Don’t hit up the same area every time! EXPLORE WHAT DAYTON HAS TO OFFER TO THE POKE COMMUNITY!

Local Businesses

If you are a smart local business, you will be using this NATIONAL GAME to your advantage. If I were a business owner in the Dayton area, I would WITHOUT HESITATION be offering discounts or freebies to Poké Trainers coming into my store.

For example:

• Show us a picture of a Pokémon that you caught in our store and we will give you 20% your purchase.
• Catch a Pokémon in our store and you get a free pizza/cookie/pie/soda

The possibilities are endless. Get creative and use your imagination. Check out what Cake, Hope, and Love did:

Be sure to join the Facebook group Pokemon Go: Dayton, Ohio. It is a fun community with people sharing tips and tricks on how to play PoGo in the Dayton area. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me via social media. Happy Hunting, Trainers!

DISCLAIMER:

This is a “Getting Started” blog to help get new Poke Trainers up and going. There is a lot more to the game that I didn’t discuss. Explore the city and share what you have found!

Dayton’s leaders UNITE!

What can you do in ten months?  Read a book or two?  Start an intense workout routine?  Train for a marathon?  How about learn and become aware of your community?  That is what I had the opportunity of doing for the past ten months by being a part of the Leadership Dayton Program.

Leadership Dayton – Opening Retreat

Leadership Dayton, a program of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, is a premier leadership development program designed to identify, educate and motivate a network of community leaders and increase the individual’s capacity to serve the Dayton region. Selected participants learn through seminars, small work groups, panel discussions, direct interaction with community leaders, and a variety of experiential activities. Leadership Dayton is the fourth oldest continuously operating community leadership program in the United States. Leadership Dayton is a regional program and program participants live, work and serve in a number of counties throughout the Miami Valley including: Butler, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby and Warren (Taken from the Leadership Dayton Website).

So what does all of those fancy words translate into?  Well, the best way I can describe it is that Leadership Dayton is not “cookie cutter”.  Whatever you put into it is what you get out of it.  I had the privilege of being a part of the 40th LD Class, Class of 2016 (the best class to date), and have had many amazing experiences.  I had the opportunity of meeting 47 amazing and unique individuals who I would have never met before.

Leadership Dayton – WPAFB Day

Each month the Leadership Dayton program dives into a different topic within the city.  These topics ranged from Dayton’s Rich Heritage, to Cultural Arts within the city.  We also had unique opportunities such as an all day tour of WPAFB and the chance to ride along with our boys in blue from the Dayton Police (Officer Jordan from Dayton’s 2nd district is the man).

On top of that, each class gets to do a class project.  For our project, we teamed up with the folks from Dayton Children’s to paint two icons for the hospital.  These icons will be on display at The Greene and Austin Landing.  If you get a chance, snap a picture with them and use #LeadershipDaytonChildrens in your picture.  Check out the YouTube Montage  of our class creating the icons.  Also there are pictures below.

So how do you get involved with the program?  The Class for 2017 has already been selected, but informational meetings about the class of 2018 will be available to the public in a few months.  I highly encourage you to first check out the informational meeting and see if you are ready for the program.

Leadership Dayton is not a Leadership training program.  If you make it into the class, you have already been identified as a leader.  The program helps to show you all parts of the city, good & bad, as well as provides resources on how to become a better community leader.  If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me or I can point you in the direction of 46 others happy to chat.  Also, all information can also be found at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce website under the Leadership Dayton section.

Ready to #RaiseTheBarre?

Dayton is rich. Not sure if you knew that or not, but we are extremely well off when it comes to the arts. With venues ranging from the Schuster Center, The Victoria Theatre, as well as the Loft Theatre, the Dayton Area is extremely blessed.

Fun fact:  Did you know that the Dayton Ballet is the second oldest ballet company in the nation? Not the city, not the state — the nation. The Dayton Ballet is made up of 18 extraordinary dancers from all over the country. With Artistic Director Karen Russo at the helm, The Dayton Ballet has brought to life a number of amazing performances, such as Cinderella, The Nutcracker and upcoming performances of February Fantasy & Romeo and Juliet.

Growing up I thought the ballet was awful and had no point. I would groan when my friends or family spoke about the ballet because it added no interest or excitement to my life. Last year, I made one of the best decisions of my life: I joined The Dayton Ballet Barre and went to my first-ever ballet performance.

The Dayton Ballet Barre’s mission is to support The Dayton Ballet through audience development, fundraising, community outreach, volunteering and creating a sense of community for the dancers new to our city. This organization is open to anyone who enjoys the Dayton Ballet and wants it to continue to be a world-class performing arts organization. All ages and professions are welcome.

I was blown away by my first ballet performance. It was beautiful. I hung upon every step that was executed as well as every note played. I was speechless. How could I have missed out on this for so many years? My stubbornness once again made me realize how much of a donkey I truly had been all these years.

Being a part of The Dayton Ballet Barre has allowed me to gain a new respect for ballet. It is fun to be able to converse with the dancers and hear their passion for the art. Some of the events The Barre helps plan and execute are socials for the dancers, welcome events for all new dancers, Pre-Show networking parties with folks from other arts centered support groups such as Encore, and of course our Sugar Plum Tea that we hold before The Nutcracker performances.

I asked Libby Ballengee, current President of The Dayton Ballet Barre why she liked being apart of the organization.  She had this to say…

“There are many reason I like being a part of the Dayton Ballet Barre. For the city, the performing arts is what gives this town heart. No, we don’t have an ocean or mountains, but we have an incredible cultural diversity that makes our city extremely appealing to both live in and visit. Supporting those art forms is critically important to the overall success of the city, especially one as historically relevant as the Dayton Ballet.

Why did I pick ballet? I studied growing up, and had the little girl fantasy of being a professional dancer when I grew up. Just like little boys who want to be pro football players, that’s not realistic for all of us. It gives me a personal sense of satisfaction to help other people attain that same dream. When the dancers hug me, and send me thank you cards for all the work I do, it gives the ballerina inside of me a huge thumbs up!”

If you are looking to connect with The Dayton Ballet Barre, be sure to follow them on social media or reach out with how you would like to get involved.

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Be sure to use our hashtag:  #RaiseTheBarre

Dayton Inspires You to Get Involved

You think that it would be easy to give back to the community, but in some instances it can be challenging. We all have ideas and passions, and as I mentioned in earlier posts that passion is key. The first organization I want to talk about is an organization called Dayton Inspires.

I cannot think of a better organization to get involved with than Dayton Inspires. Their mission is simple: “To shift the perception of Dayton.” Starting out as an idea from the UpDayton “SummitUp” conference, Dayton Inspires is a grassroots campaign to inspire community pride in Dayton through a group of local dedicated Daytonians.

Dayton Inspires is simple. All you have to do is ask yourself one question, “What about Dayton Inspires you?” For Zack Sliver, it has been the city and its people. “I’m involved with Dayton Inspires because I want to change the perception on how people view Dayton,” Sliver said. “I want to be able to make someone’s day in an ‘out of the box way.’ It allows me to be creative and help people to open their eyes to all that Dayton truly has to offer.”

Zack is one of numerous Daytonians volunteering his time to help the cause gain the traction needed to make a difference and better our city.

A few of these initiatives include recent campaigns such as “Dayton Inspires:  A Cleaner City,” which involved tackling some of the more trash-filled areas of Dayton.  Giving a nod to growing Dayton’s social presence, the Dayton Inspires “Selfie Wall” located on the side of Brim hat shop in the Oregon District does just that.  The wall encourages one and all to stop and take a selfie and share what inspires them about Dayton by, using the hashtag #DaytonInspires.  Dayton Inspires most recent campaign was their “Friendsgiving”  initiative which provided 50 local Dayton families a full meal for the holidays.

So how can you get involved?  First, start by following all of the Dayton Inspires social media accounts.  These accounts can help keep you up to date with all the information about upcoming initiatives.  Next, log onto their website and enter your information to let them know what you are passionate about and how you would like to get involved.  Also feel free to contact Zack Sliver via email at zack@launchcatapult.com.

Dayton Inspires:  Facebook

Dayton Inspires:  Twitter

Dayton Inspires:  Instagram

The 7 Pro-Tips you Need to Know

Over the past seven weeks, I have been giving a few “Pro Tips” with each blog I was writing.  I have used these tips to help me get involved with the community and with the organizations and causes that mean the most to me.

So before we start to dive into specific organizations and give you a taste of what is out in the Dayton community, let’s do a quick recap of what we have talked about so far.

Pro Tip #1 – Fear is a necessity for advancement

Being uncomfortable pushes you to get outside your bubble and experience new situations.  When your fear is not present, you have the possibility of becoming set in your ways, following the same routine and becoming stagnant to the world. Don’t sit idle; let the fear motivate you to overcome and push to new levels.

Pro Tip #2 – The smallest changes are the most impactful

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” – MLK.  We don’t have to set out on a daily basis to do massive projects in one day.  Work on the little things first and the bigger things will fall into place.

Pro Tip #3 – Redefine your thought process, and be UNIQUE

Stop looking at problems in the same way you have always viewed them.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results.  Step outside your normal thought process and see what might happen.

Pro Tip #4 – Identify your passions before you take action

It is easy to say yes to everything and be a part of a million and one different things.  The problem with this approach is that you are unable to give the same level of commitment to everything.  Define what you are passionate about and give your all to a few rather than many.  You can expand your reach over time.

Pro Tip #5 – Take the Leap of Faith and see what happens

Just like Indiana Jones did in the “Last Crusade,” sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and see what happens.  You will never know the outcome of many situations if you don’t take that chance.  It is hard to go down a path unseen, but in the end, what you weren’t able to see is the most visible.

Pro Tip #6 – Have an attitude of gratitude

So many times we get caught up in the idea that when we have the opportunity to experience something new, it has to be better.  Not necessarily.  Take a second and do a quick inventory of what you have in your life and be grateful for those things.

Pro Tip #7 – You are not going to change the world overnight

Having a marathon mentality over a sprint mentality is a great thing.  Most of the time things can be cumbersome and frustrating, but keep in mind that you are running a longer race and will eventually get to what you need.

I have been writing Socially Savvy blogs for seven weeks now, and have shared and the seven tips that have meant the most to me over the course of my three years of community involvement.  Next, I will begin to give you a glimpse into some of the organizations that are out there and how you can get involved and start making an impact for the better.

Serenity Now!

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Alright, I have a morning breakfast briefing at 7:00 am, followed by a brainstorming session to see what next year’s event should look like, lunch with the folks from the local not for profit, then a recap of our 5k that quickly carries into an internal meeting at 3:00 pm at work to catch up on the items that I missed out on in the morning.  Development council meeting at 5:30 pm and then dinner with my networking group and then a night cap with an old friend of mine.

What’s on tap for tomorrow… *panting vigorously and about to pass out due to exhaustion*

Continue reading this blog by CLICKING HERE

Take a Perspective of Gratitude

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to attend my good friend’s (fraternity brother Alec Goecke)
wedding up in Troy, That State up North.  The first thing that needs to be said is that, “I don’t give a Damn for the whole state of Michigan, cause I’m from O-HI-O.”

Troy was a pretty happening place.  Just like any other city, there are places to go and not go, but overall it was very nice.  One morning I got up and went for a run around the hotel area where I was staying.  I was running the perimeter of the apartment community.  It was very well taken care of, and every person I ran by smiled, gave me a high five and said, “Nice job, Cory. Keep up the good work!  You are looking fantastic!”  Alright, they might have not said that or given me a high five, but everyone was friendly.

At this point I started thinking, “Could I see myself moving from Dayton and living here or any other place for that matter?”  I would have to get a new job, new friends, and a new bar to drink at where the bartender knows I don’t have a drinking problem; rather I enjoy their company oh so much.

I then started to list all of the things I am grateful for here in the City of Dayton.  That list went a little something like this:

• I live in a city where the cost of living is fantastic and Goldilocks (Just Right)
• I am a part of a thriving arts community that has numerous resources dedicated to making sure they continue to put on the best performances possible
• Within a stone’s throw I can have a drink, dine at a first class restaurant, see a comedy show and then dance the night away with my friends and our shoes in a circle
• I am inspired daily by the people I meet and the organizations I am a part of

Pro Tip #6 – Have an attitude of gratitude

So many times we get caught up in the idea that when we have the opportunity to experience something new, it has to be better.  Not necessarily.  Take a second and do a quick inventory of what you have in your life and be grateful for those things.

Fuhgeddaboudit

“It’s good to be in something from the ground floor. I came too late for that and I know. But lately, I’m getting the feeling that I came in at the end. The best is over.”

That quote is from Tony Soprano from the HBO series, “The Sopranos.”  I am a big “Sopranos” fan.  Going through old seasons for the third time now.  I always catch something new when I re-watch them.  This time I have been picking up on more and more quotes from Tony.

Now, taking away the fact that he is an angry, irritable, aggressive, mob boss, he is actually a very unique individual.  This quote jumped out at me and made me think about Dayton.  There are so many amazing things going on in Dayton right now that we seem to not give a second glance until it has been proven.

We all have that one friend, when talking about music, that says, “I was listening to that band before they became famous.”  Now as much as we all want to take a page out of Tony Soprano’s book and give them a whack in the head, that is a pretty cool feeling to know that you were a part of something from the ground up.

Three years ago, myself and five others answered a call to the community with regards to forming a Young Professionals organization out in Beavercreek.  Since then we have accomplished the following as a group:

• We have created an organization that is self-sustaining
• We have created a strategic partnership with Franklin University that is truly one of a kind to our members
• We created and instituted the Young Professionals Cup that is now in its third year and going strong
• We have now begun creating our next wave of leaders within the organization

Pro Tip #5 – Take the Leap of Faith and see what happens

So here is the thing:  I would have never had the opportunity to do any of those things if it weren’t for two things.  The first being that I was surrounded by an extraordinary team of leaders.  The second was taking the Leap of Faith that led me down a path of being extremely involved in the community.

It is hard to go down a path unseen, but in the end what you weren’t able to see is the most visible.

Passion speaks louder than actions

I want to ask you a question. It is a simple question, but it can be answered in many different ways. You can answer it however you feel is correct, whether it is a short or long answer, a bulleted list, or even a series of pictures.

What is your passion?

Now before you answer, I want you to clear your mind and really think about what I just asked.  Read the question again. You will notice I didn’t say, “What do you really like to do?” or “What is something you do in your spare time?” I asked, “What is your passion?”

I define passion as endless excitement, a fight that you are not willing to lose, and the desire to do whatever it takes to prevail against all odds. My passion helps direct me down a path that is beneficial to myself and others around me.

I have seen people get involved with causes, committees, and boards that have accomplishedextraordinary feats that will be long remembered.

At the same time, I have seen the opposite, people who have joined an organization merely to check a box and build up a resume. This is rough to see because not only is the person going to be unhappy, since they are doing something that they don’t care much for, but the organization is the one that gets hit the hardest from this.

Pro Tip #4 – Identify your passion before you take action

Have you ever heard the old saying, “The more you put into it the more you will get out of it”? There is a lot of truth that simple sentence. I thoroughly enjoy all the boards and committees I am a part of.  Now, that’s not to say I don’t become frustrated at times, but in the long run, I am a part of them because they mean something to me.

So how do you define your passion? Here are a few tips:

• What is something that you are interested in or enjoy?
  • Take a few minutes to sit down in a quiet space and list everything that you are interested in and like. If you can, get that list down to 5 items.

• What is something you would do for free?
  • Would you be ok with doing something that others would think of as work? Sometimes community involvement can also be a thankless job so be mindful.

• Will you get burned out?
  • Getting involved with an activity for a couple of months is not ideal. Try and picture yourself doing this three years down the road.  If you don’t see yourself doing that, it might not be best.

How do you eat an elephant?

This question has been around for a long time. You might have heard it before from a friend or a family member, or if you have taken any leadership courses you might have heard this along the way as well. “How do you eat an elephant?” The most common answer is “One bite at a time.” The question asks the listener how he/she would conquer a large and time consuming task. In essence, boil it down to its basics: to eat something you have to take a bite. Hence, “one bite at a time.”

I remember my brother in law telling that I should ask my sister Stacy this question one time.  She replied, “First, I would disable its trunk since this is the elephant’s main weapon. Then I would make the elephant immobile by attacking its feet…”  At this point I stopped her and said, “What the hell are you talking about? Disable its weapon? Make it immobile? The answer is one bite at a time.” She then quickly retorted, “Well how are you going to bite it, if it’s biting you?” At this point I am collecting my brain off the floor because my mind had been blown.

My sister gave me a completely different viewpoint on what I thought was a cut and dried answer. Needless to say I was shocked, but I used this as a catalyst. I started changing the way I did things in my life. I had become stagnant in my ways and gotten into a rut. So I started small. I would start conversations with people I wouldn’t normally chat with and began adventuring on different routes home or to venues I was traveling to. What I began finding were unique and different experiences that I wouldn’t have had before.

Pro Tip #3 – Redefine your thought process, and be UNIQUE

So many times we get stuck in the same routine. Take, for example, the idea of getting involved in an organization. Your first act might be to go straight to the top of that board or committee and talk to the president about getting on. I want to challenge you to think first, “Instead of picking out something I want to be on, what is something that I am passionate about?”

Next week’s blog will focus on defining that passion and how to convert it into actions.

Being Impactful with Small Changes

I came across a pretty powerful quote the other day that has really resonated with me The quote is from Martin Luther King Jr. and he said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Every time I read this, a new perspective comes into my mind.

I look at some current leaders in our Dayton community and they embody this quote beautifully. People think to become noticed or start getting traction in the Dayton region, you need to do a huge public display of some sort, whether it be through a large monetary donation or something that will etch your name in the history books FOR-EV-VER (insert the voice of Squints from the movie The Sandlot). In my opinion, this is not and should not be the case. So how do you start being impactful in a community that you love and hold dear to your heart?

Pro Tip #2 – The smallest changes often are the most impactful

So what does this mean? A common example I give is a minor tweak. A lot of people can be affected by hearing or seeing something emotionally presented by a close friend or confidant. Take the perspective of Dayton.  For a while (and sometimes currently) people saw Dayton as a terrible city. When a friend of mine moved from North Carolina she said one of the first greetings she got was, “Why would you move from North Carolina to Dayton?!?!” If that person would have said something along the lines of “Welcome to Dayton!” the viewpoint is instantly changed from negative to positive. A small tweak in a person’s vernacular could be the difference in a lifetime or short-time Daytonian.

Within this blog series I am going to share with you tips on how to get more involved and at different levels. Some items may be larger projects while others might seem smaller. Just keep in mind the quote from MLK. The fact that you are taking a step to get involved, even a small one, deserves a standing ovation in and of itself.

We all do meaningful things every day. What are some examples of how you impact the Dayton Region for the betterment of the community or its citizens? What might be a small change that you have recently done that is impactful?