John W. Hayden is president of The Midland Company. John will be presented with the William H. Over Leadership Award. John and his employees are involved in making Clermont County better.

There is still time to reserve a seat for the event. Reservations and additional information about the Thursday, March 13, event are available on our website at www.clermont2020.org, or you can call the office at 513-753-9222.

• Do you have at least an hour a week to make a real difference in the life of a high school student?
• Do you appreciate the struggles of growing up and want to lend a hand?
• Do you want the reward of seeing students grow and develop into productive adults?

If so, become involved in this program where selected adult mentors will meet weekly for not more than 1 hour with a group of 8 to 12 students during the school year. These are bright students who are not reaching their potential due to lack of attention and a lack of basic life skills. You can make a difference! Youth Are Our Most Vital Natural Resource. To apply or to get more information contact:Terri Rechtin, Mentoring Program Coordinator, 513-753- 9222 or mentor@clermont2020.org.

Please RSVP to Wayne Baughman, Director Leadership Development at leadership@clermont2020.org no later than Wednesday, March 19, 2008.

Drinks and Hors d'oeurves provided by Kraig Gordon, Class of 1995 and Sam Tuten, Class of 1995. Jazz compliments of Chris Smith, Class of 1996.

Please contact Becky Ploucha, Director of the Clean and Green Program, at cleanandgreen@clermont2020.org or 513-753- 9222 for additional information.

This event is organized by the Clermont 20/20 Clean and Green Program and the Cincinnati Computer Cooperative. Both organizations would like to thank the Miami Township elected officials and administration for graciously hosting this event.

Computers can be dropped off at the Miami Township Service Department located at 5900 McPicken Drive between 9:00 AM and Noon. Please enter off of Meijer Drive, right next to the Dairy Queen. Please contact Becky Ploucha, Director of the Clean and Green Program, at cleanandgreen@clermont2020.org or 513-753-9222 for additional information.

Past graduates have made the following comments about the program: "great networking tool", "used information from the program in my school", "made real connections across the county", "real asset because I was new to the county", "getting up close and personal with Clermont County was an extremely rewarding experience", and "collaborated with great people."

The 2008 class dates for Educational Leadership are Orientation - May 6, Class Week - June 9-13, and Project Presentations and Graduation - July 10. We would like to receive your nominations by March 15.

Nomination forms and applications, along with more information about the program are at www.clermont2020.org/cli/educ/.

As you may remember, the program goals of this program include: connecting with people, infrastructures and services that make the county work; recognizing a personal leadership style that promotes a more fulfilling work experience; and improving the quality of life in Clermont County through active participation in team projects.

The nomination form and application, along with additional information about the program are at www.clermont2020.org/cli/lead/.

For more information, please contact Wayne Baughman, Director, Leadership Development, 513-753-9222 or leadership@clermont2020.org.

The program's goals include: developing personal and professional relationships; sharing knowledge of community resources for practical applications in the school setting; and recognizing a personal leadership style that promotes a more fulfilling work experience.

A nomination form and application, along with information about the program are at www.clermont2020.org/cli/senior/.

For more information, please contact Wayne Baughman, Director, Leadership Development, 513-753-9222 or leadership@clermont2020.org.

Clermont 20/20, Inc. is excited to announce the development of Franklin Landing.

Never thought you could make that step into an affordable opportunity? If you are a family, with an annual income between $38,000 and $52,000, you could qualify for funding assistance. A minimum down payment of $1,500 is required for purchase.

This community will feature many amenities, including a fishing pond and sidewalks and will be located at the gateway to the Felicity community at 1026 State Route 222. Down payment funding assistance will be available to qualified buyers through the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program and the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

To learn more about this new community of 28 newly constructed ranch and two story homes priced in the $140,000 to $150,000 range and how you might qualify to purchase a home contact Karen Rust, Director of Community Development, at 513-753-9222 or email at cdc@clermont2020.org.

The goal of the contest was for participants to create an extracurricular activity and achievement record. It would be a record of school student government activities, school clubs, committees and organizations, community service (both school and non-school related), sports (school teams, intramurals, off-campus leagues), employment, and awards and honors. The record could then serve as an attachment for college, scholarship or employment applications.

Judges Nancy Hall, Director of Clermont 20/20 Clermont Educational Opportunities (CEO) and Becky Ploucha, GRASP Program Coordinator, were looking for quality not quantity. "We were looking for clarity and visual appeal as much as volume. Participating students were asked to list and explain their extracurricular activities and achievements, focusing on leadership roles and areas where they assumed increasing responsibilities. All of the participant's activities lists were impressive!" stated Ploucha.

Molly McCullough's Activities List met and exceeded all of the criteria that the judges were looking for in addition to having a unique format.

Phil Saneholtz, CEO Advisor at Williamsburg High School, and Len Short, Williamsburg Guidance Counselor, spearheaded this effort. "We ask students to write their activities to help them clarify and remember," added Saneholtz. "Often in the rush to finish a scholarship application or in the emotional stress of an interview, students neglect to mention leadership roles and community service. We encouraged students to show their lists to parents, teachers, coaches, or youth ministers to make sure nothing is missed. Students are naturally modest - not wanting to brag about themselves. These trusted adults help the lists be more complete."

The Garnering Resources for Access and Success Partnership (GRASP) program is funded by the Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) and the Great Cincinnati Foundation (GCF). For additional information on the GRASP program contact Becky Ploucha, GRASP Program Coordinator, at 513-753- 9222 or grasp@clermont2020.org.

How it works

• You make a gift of appreciated stock to The Clermont Community Fund.
• Your gift can be placed into any of our charitable funds. For example, you can use your gift to create a donor advised fund in your name, in the name of your family or business, or in honor of any person or organization you choose. You can then stay involved in recommending uses of the fund.
• Your gift qualifies for a tax deduction based on the full market value of your stock; you avoid the capital gains tax that would otherwise arise from the sale of this stock.
• GCF handles all the administrative details.
• Your gift can be placed into an endowment that is invested over time. Earnings from your fund are used to make grants addressing community needs. Your gift - and all future earnings from your gift - is a permanent source of community capital, helping to do good work forever.

More benefits

By giving stock through The Clermont Community Fund of GCF, you can avoid capital gains taxes that would be due as a result of its sale and establish a charitable fund that benefits the local causes and organizations you care about most. With gifts of appreciated stock, your stock market earnings translate into community impact, so you get a more rewarding return on your portfolio. You can set up a scholarship; support special programs for at-risk youth, senior citizens, or other people in need; address environmental concerns; or support the arts.

For more information and ideas on ways to integrate your financial planning with charitable giving, ask your financial advisor or contact Chuck Fink at 513-324-6279 or email him at finkc@greatercincinnatifdn.org.

• Chair Emeritus George Brown, LEAD Clermont graduate of 1994 and Executive Committee Member was named to the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Cincinnati. The Federal Home Loan Bank's 15-member advisory council provides guidance to the FHLBank's board and staff on housing needs and programs that will enhance the GHLBank's affordable housing and economic development programs in this area.

Facilitative Leaders share the core beliefs of facilitation:

• People are intelligent and capable, and they want to do the right thing.
• Everyone's opinion has value, regardless of an individual's rank or position.
• Groups can make better decisions than individuals acting alone.
• People are more committed to the ideas and plans that they create.
• People will take responsibility and assume accountability for their actions and can become partners in the enterprise.
• The role of the leader is to evoke the best possible performance from each member of their team.

The Clermont County Transportation Improvement District (CCTID), in conjunction with the Clermont County Engineer's Office, Miami Township, the Clermont County Transportation Connection, and Burgess & Niple, Inc., will host an open house meeting to discuss the Business 28 Improvement. The open house will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Miami Township Civic Center located at 6101 Meijer Drive in Miami Township.

The Business 28 Improvements include widening Business 28 to a 5-lane boulevard from Bypass State Route 28 to Cinema Drive and to a 3-lane urban street from Cinema Drive to Cook Road. Driveways will be consolidated to provide better access to neighboring businesses, side streets, and signalized intersections. Two (2) offset intersection conditions will be eliminated - Menno Drive will be realigned to match Commons Drive and Orchard Lake Drive will be realigned to match Cook Road. Aesthetic enhancements include sidewalks, improved signing, decorative street lighting, landscaping, and reducing visual clutter by moving overhead utilities and confusing signage.

The Goshen-Miami Township-Milford Shuttle is a planned fixed route shuttle that provides service between Goshen, Miami Township, Milford, and Park 50.

This open house meeting is an opportunity for the public to provide comments and suggestions about the improvements. Exhibits of preliminary Business 28 Improvements and the Goshen-Miami Township- Milford Shuttle will be on display at the meeting. At the meeting, County staff and project team members will be available to answer questions, and comment sheets will be available. After the meeting, comments can be submitted until March 26, 2008, to Kathy Carsey at Burgess & Niple, Inc., Suite 1200, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

For more information about this study, contact: Steve Wharton, Clermont County Transportation Improvement District at 513-289-9051 or ed3c@fuse.net; Craig Stephenson, Chief Deputy Clermont County Engineer at 513-732-8857 or cstephenson@co.clermont.oh.us; and/or Kathy Carsey, Burgess & Niple, Inc. at 513-579-0042 ext. 111 or kcarsey@burnip.com.

CERT classes in 2008

CERT classes are being given by the Miami Township Fire and EMS Department in Clermont County. Please check their webpage for the online sign up. The site address is www.miamitwp.org. Dates are Saturday, March 8 from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, and Saturday, March 29 from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

The 16th Annual Adult Literacy SPELLING BEE 2008

ABLE and the Literacy Council of Clermont and Brown Counties present the 16th Annual Adult Literacy SPELLING BEE 2008.

How to Participate:

• BEE a speller.
• Sponsor a team that cannot afford entry fee (Team Entry Fee: $300).
• Make financial donation to support LCCBC adult literacy programs.
• Donate a business-related gift or gift-certificate for a door prize.
• Attend and support literacy -- bring friends & family for lunch & prizes.

Veterans Welcome Home Celebration

Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, their families and families of deployed service members are invited to a Welcome Home Celebration on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - Armed Forces Day from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at Lunken Airport. There will be free Live Music, Food/Give Aways, Celebrities, Kids Activities, and Skydivers. Register online at www.CincinnatiWelcomeHome.com or call 513-475-6943.

UC Clermont College Open House

UC Clermont College will have an Open House on April 17, 2008, from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM. The Open House will be located in the Student Lounge on campus (Edith-Peters Jones Building). Faculty and other program representatives will be on hand to discuss their programs and answer any questions which may arise; members of the Enrollment Team and Financial Aid will be on hand as well. The $40.00 application fee will be waived for anyone who applies to the College that evening. If you or anyone you know, would like to learn more about the College, its resources and programs, this would be a great opportunity to do so. No RSVP is required for the Open House - simply show up between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM at your convenience.