And now the 419 with Gretchen DeBacker Matt Killum.

And Kevin Mullin.

Welcome to the 419 powered by WGTE, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin Mullin Gretchen Debacker, Matt Killum.

I always get nervou when Gretchen starts the show.

Like, let's go.

That's right.

Here we go.

I was listening to one of the episodes, and you can hear this.

Yeah So maybe I'll stop doing that.

Yeah.

I think you should do it for the whole show.

I am, I'm going to, you know, the mic is on.

Yes, the whole time.

It shouldn't be okay.

No I agree.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's whole flat today.

What's going on?

Me?

Yeah It's just been a long weekend.

All right.

Yeah.

I've not recovered yet.

What did you do this past weekend?

It's also third.

It's also.

There's.

This is still sticking with you all these days later.

I've had to do actual work, which is hard for me.

Yeah, sure.

Yeah.

So it's just been busy.

Busy, busy.

I don't know why.

I don't know why.

I always seem to forget that.

That.

That the spring time is so busy with events and meetings and, I don't know, it's just it's it's been the busy.

It's just some of the events which is probably a good segue.

Nice segue.

Matt.

Yeah.

Nice segue.

That's where he's the professional.

He is a professional.

So let's start, shall we?

Shall we?

Yeah, let's do that.

Shooting for Toledo, you know.

Okay.

It's not just about a single dot.com community calendar driven by.

Today we're taking a look at th top five events in the region.

What's going on?

Another amazing Toledo weekend is on tap.

First thing up is the Wiz.

Now, Gretchen, you love the Wiz.

Of what song is your favorite of?

I just told these two dopes before we started that The Wiz is literally my least favorite musical, but a lot of people like it.

I love The Wiz.

Get on Down, get on down the road.

I love The Wiz, which is in par because it's one of the first, musicals that I remember, like going to and having fun as a kid.

I thought you were gonna say Michael Jackson.

Yeah, I actually, I saw that version after I saw I saw it.

Saint John's did it.

Oh.

They did.

And Kevin Smith Kirkwood, who we will have on the show at some point.

Okay.

Was in it, and, he's gone on to be in Broadway in Kinky Boots and a few other things.

Incredibly talented.

But he was in the show and just stood out and it was like, oh, this is what theater is.

Well, maybe we have to go check it out this weekend.

It's, actually started Tuesday of this week, and it's through Sunday of this week.

So tickets are still available.

It's a national.

The reviews have been good.

Have they?

Nice sort of week.

Yeah.

Very excited.

We've had some pre events.

We've had some, sort of gear up events.

We had these folks on our show.

But the party in the Park season opener is this Friday May 29th with the skittle bots and unanimous decision.

Friday, May 29th.

Promenade Park, two great local bands.

Unanimous decision.

A couple of friends of mine are in actually both of these bands.

Oh, really?

But, can you get us backstage?

Other ways?

Other ways?

Yeah.

That's right.

No.

Chris Barnhart, Chuck Jericho.

Chris works at UT Athletics.

He's the guy that, I don't want to say he's single handedly responsible, but he kind of leads the the flip in Savage.

Whenever they go from one event to another.

All right.

So they go from graduation to basketball to graduation to gala.

And so and then Chuck Jacobs, the athletic director at Perrysburg, and they're in this band.

Unanimous decision.

They're great.

What kind o what kind of stuff do they play?

It covers.

Yeah.

But, like, all fun.

Yeah.

The music you want to hear.

Yeah.

I would say the 80s, 90s, early 2000 covers predominantly.

And then you got skittle bites, which is one of the highest energy local bands we have last year.

The Gilberts were potentially the largest even at party in the Park last year.

It's also weird because usually Memorial Day, if my feeble memory serves me, is the last weekend of May, and then we're into June.

But we have a whole nother week of May.

And so this is still Friday.

So let's talk about the calendar thing.

Yeah.

You know, like, also like a another couple days, right?

Yeah.

That's Rogan's.

Yeah.

Anyway, keep going please.

You are on disaster.

All right.

And then, speaking of Broadway is Broadway.

Friday, May 29th.

Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway is going to be at the Valentine Theater.

Neil Berg a is a legendary, Broadway, composer.

This is a national tour.

It's a rotating cast of Broadway performers.

They doing singing and dancing.

It should be very fun.

Especially if you like Broadway music, which I do.

Also Friday.

So I'm trying to figure out a way you could go to party in the Park, Broadway and Boots and Baseball Weekend at the Mud Hands.

I'm not sure you can do them all on the same night.

No fair.

Multiple days for this one, Matt.

Got it.

So since you now wear cowboy boots, you can now go to the boots and baseball weekend at the mud Ends.

Do you have having.

Yes.

It's box checked.

It's, fireworks, cowboy boots, flannel cutoffs.

That's what it says on there.

Marketing?

Sure.

Bourbon tasting.

You get a boot koozie.

A boot koozie.

Flannel.

That's fun to say.

Yeah, it is flannel.

Flannel cutoffs.

Yeah I think like a cut off shorts.

Now people don't wear flannel shorts.

I will be wearing for my shorts.

Cut off.

I'm literally picturing.

No, I don't want to.

Yeah.

Okay.

So that's Friday through Sunday at Mud Hens.

We've talked many times about their fun themes.

This is just another cool, fun weekend.

Fun weekend?

An event that I look forward to every year and is this weekend is the Maple and Maine Art and Music Festival in downtown Sylvania.

Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st.

This is live music, food, places, the the in line shops in downtown Sylvania Arts.

Stuff for kids is just going to be a great weekend out in Sylvania.

Awesome.

Yep.

I love it.

And of course, our friends at target can get you too.

I think just about eac and every one of you can go to, our toledo.com community calendar driven by.

Tada!

Gretchen, if you could only go to one of these events.

I'm an I'm actually I know I'm actually going to to which is party in the Park on Friday and Maple and Main on Saturday.

Okay.

There you go, Matt.

Well, I've got the boots.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Do some school.

Yeah.

Please never, ever talk to me again.

It doesn't matte what the subject matter is done.

I'll probably go to the wins every single day.

Perfect.

Just send photos just as a cowboy record.

Ooh, that's a good idea.

Yeah I like what I like to do, guys.

This is the I started.

I'm not going to wrap it up.

Yeah, that was important.

Yeah.

I'm going to try to combine all the themes and good luck with that.

Just go to one okay?

Go to the wrong one.

You can dress as a lion.

Go to a party in the park, in boots singing Broadway songs and make art.

Do a live art project, a lion tattoo you have on your back.

Exactly.

We've got a jam watching mat.

Try to hold it.

Olaf is the greatest thing ever.

All right.

We got a jam packed show.

We're going to have Savannah Wagner from the LPGA and Meg Reznor.

Don't forget two time guest on our way to the five time.

Guess where she gets the jacket?

That's where the jacket shows up.

What kind of jacket?

Flannel jacket.

Then Valerie is going to join us with Talking chicks for charity.

Yep.

And then samples of the era with swanky scoop scoops.

They open to their bran new store front, last weekend, so we're excited.

We'll take a break when we come back.

We're talking the LPGA tournament and the Women's Summit.

Yep.

Here on the 418, powered by GT.

Support for the 419 comes from We Trio Wealth Management, where we understand tha your financial path is personal.

Advisory services are offered through capital Investment Advisory Services, LLC, securities offe through Capital Investment Group member Finra and SIPC.

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The 419 powered by GT is made possible in part by supporters like you.

Thank you.

Welcome back into the 419.

There's tons of great events happening this weekend, but there's great events happening all summer long.

And perhaps one of the biggest events coming to Toledo.

Every single year is the LPGA tournament.

And one of the biggest parts o that tournament isn't the golf, it's the women's summit.

It's one of the many events you guys have going on.

We're joined now by Meg Reznor.

Savannah Wagner, thank you so much for being here.

Thanks for having us.

Glad to be here.

So, Savannah, you work for the tournament?

Yeah.

We've established that we're going to work with Judd to get a whole new title.

Because event' coordinator is not big enough.

Great.

So we're we're workshoppin things like Queen of the event.

We'll come up with some other ideas.

The one that we just started doing.

Yeah.

How long?

How long have you been working for the tournament?

This'll be my fifth year.

Fifth tournament.

Because I think you were your least favorite.

That was the one where we weren't doing this starting this year.

Yeah that's right.

Actually just became this year.

Yeah.

It's right now.

And then Meg, you've been volunteerin with this event for a long time.

Yeah.

So this is our 10th women's Summit, and, I was the co-chair of the first one, and, have been there all along the journey.

It's been really fun.

And I know you're, golf.

I got up.

I didn't know I wa good at that, but on top of it.

Yeah.

I mean, maybe fanatic.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I, I was I was going to use the word fanatic, but I feel like that might be too strong.

So I was like, it is public television.

And, you know, the planet golfer.

Yeah.

So, the women's summit, the inception of the women's summit was with the Solheim Cup.

Yes.

So when we were putting the bid together for this Open Cup, I was a fan for making sure that women were front and center.

I mean, it is a women's tournament, after all.

Right.

And so we came up with the idea to have a women's summit in conjunction with the Solheim Cup.

And Judd, who' the head of the LPGA tournament, said why wait for the women' or why wait for the Solheim Cup?

Let's start now.

Yeah.

And so we had our first 110 years ag in the tent on Highland Meadows, and we've grown to ove 850 women at the LA City center.

Like, why is this important?

I think it's important because women coming together, lifting one another up, I think, is essential for community and for strengthening the relationships and the work that women do, both personally and professionally and in the community.

Who are some of the speakers that you've had at previous Women Summit?

So our very first one was Amy Robach.

And it was when she wa at the beginning of her career.

And she was, amazing.

And with her was a gentleman by the name of Dan Nevins, who is a wounded warrior, los both of the bottoms of his legs.

In war, and found yoga as the thing that saved him.

And so we had him speak, and then we all went out on the driving range and practiced yoga under his leadership at the first one.

And so many of the women summits are like that, where you do a lunch, you have a lunch, you you hear a speaker and then there's activities or educational opportunities for the women that are attending.

It's more than just, you know, going and having a lunch together.

We we really believe that the women's summit changes your life if you attend.

And we are very intentional about our outcomes and the impact that we think it ha for those women who do attend.

And each year we try and do something a little bit different, raise the bar, exceed expectations.

And I think we've bee very successful in doing that.

Tell us who the, the speaker that's coming in this year.

Our speaker this year is a woman named Elise Errands, who was the co-founder of Kate Spade.

And Kate Spade's best friend.

And she recently published a book about her and Kate's friendship and, building up their business.

She now actually ha another business called Frances Valentine which was started that with her.

Kate Spade is a clothing and accessory that I'm wearing spade right now.

Yeah that's right.

Yeah.

Kate Spade was iconic you know as you know.

And then Valentine is two.

Yes yes yes.

Had I didn't.

Yeah.

And they met in college and the story of their friendship and and just relationships in general.

What they created with one another and with their other co-founders, including Kate Spade husband, who was actively involved in the business as well.

How did you guys decid who the speaker's going to be?

What's that process?

So we have a steering team that's all volunteers.

It's made up of incredible women from across Toledo and a variety of different businesses and backgrounds.

And we start with a speaker committee, and we look at themes like we try and look at what's relevant like what's being talked about and then try and find a speaker that matches up with that kind of context.

And we look at videos.

Savannah's amazing.

She goes through lots of videos, talk to different speakers bureaus.

We really do want to make sure that the person who's here has relevant content and really great way of presenting.

So Kate Spade, unfortunately took her own life and part of the topic that Alyssa and the Elise, I'm sorry.

And the conversation at the summi this year is going to be about that not about mental health, about prevention.

Right.

So we're going to actually tackle both topics like the Women's Summit is going to primarily focus on the relationship building in the business building, because Elise and her book is really all about Kate while she was alive and the impact that she had.

And but we don't want to ignore the mental health side of it.

So our very first momentum, which we'll do a series of four momentum experiences, will be at the tournament on Saturday morning, where we will tackle mental health and well-being, in a variety of different ways, including mindfulness and, just talking about mental health and its impact and how important it is.

You and I have crossed paths in a variety of ways.

You've had an extremel successful career in, in Malta, in Malta, wearing multiple hats but you've always volunteered.

You talked to me a little bit about the duality between community health, mental health, community making, friendship making in the volunteer portion of your life, which has to take up 23.5 hours of your day on top and barely have time for golf.

That's why it's fun to combine golf and community.

But so this is a selfish endeavor.

Thank God for everyone.

We finally, You finally, finally figured it out.

That's right.

When I moved to Toledo from Chicago, Dick and I didn't know anybody.

Yeah, we had found a home in Iowa house.

Little did we know that the only way you meet people and out of a house is through your children.

And we didn't have any kids, so we were going home to Chicago pretty much every weekend.

Yeah, and we weren't really getting planted here.

Yeah.

And then Rita Montou encouraged me to join the Davids house board, and I met a whole different community outside of my Owens Corning world and fell in love with making a difference.

And then, you know, my philanthropic journey grew from there.

And I'm a firm believer that when you get invested in your community, that magic happens.

And I've had so many great opportunities, you know, Solheim Cup being one of them, this women's summit being another.

I mean, we have a brand tha people really have embraced and attend and, and, and people tell me when they leave there that, something triggered a thought and action, a relationship that wouldn't have happened if they hadn't been there.

And I think there's nothing more fulfilling than knowing you'r making that kind of difference.

We're talking with Meg Reznor and Savannah Wagner with the LPGA tournament and the Women's Summit.

So how did you get involved in this?

What brought you to the LPGA tournament?

Yeah, so definitely wasn't originally a big golf fan, but I interne for the tournament back in 2022.

So that was my first tournament.

And truly just saw the post on LinkedIn and wanted some experience.

And it sounded pretty neat.

I've always loved events.

Got engaged and then kind of i the tournament and all of that.

And when my boss left, she said I should apply full time.

I did it, I got it, and I've kind of been here ever since.

But golf wasn't my initial thing.

But I've learned to love the sport not and good at playing it and but but no.

It's really been a blast.

And getting to work with Me and all of the other volunteers that we have on the event side, but also on the tournament side has been really awesome.

Talk about the tournament side.

So last year it was a pivot in kind o the structure of the tournament that's continuing this year.

Talk to people about what they can expect.

In July this year.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

So a little bit different than last year.

So we did pivo and we had an absent tournament.

And the legends and the legends was the senior tour.

And then this year it's just going to be a full field up into our event.

So the Epson tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA.

So at the end of the year, the top 15 or so ladies and then get their LPGA card and the effort into venue, where do you fit in that number?

You know, are you going to be able to.

Yeah I just I just we're just so unfortunate because there's been a lot of doping.

So yeah I hope that comes out.

Yeah.

We need a little bit more if I can go.

Yeah.

These makes your life better.

Yeah.

Oh please keep going.

Yeah.

The tournament itself.

You know the the ladies though, they're really incredible.

And what's neat is when we were at LPGA tournament and this is our 42nd year or so, we celebrated our 40th anniversary a few years ago.

But a lot of the ladies from the LPGA, they bounce back and forth between the tours, which I think some people don't know is here on the LPGA.

And you might lose your card for a season and you bump back down to UP and you work your way back up.

So we'r seeing a lot of the same faces.

So I think that's pretty neat is you still are getting some of that familiarity bias.

It's I mean, it's not dissimila to the Mud Hens of the Tigers.

Exactly.

I mean, we've got, you know, we're we are a minor league sports town.

We've done that very successfully with mud hens and walleye.

And so I think the reality is we're, we're a community that will embrace, this tournament that should embrace this tournament.

And you get a chance to you know, be on the cutting edge and kind of see the, the, the leaders of the LPGA.

Tomorrow we get a chance to see them.

And I think you make a great point.

We are make your portion of it is over.

So I just want to be so we're so great at supporting the up and coming stars.

Right.

And that's why I think it's so important that people come and show these women like a legitimate tournament, right?

With fans and hospitalit so that they get the experience.

There's such a fine line between the players who pla on the tour and these players.

You're going to see great golf and you're going to get up close and personal and have a really fantastic experience that highlight high line information about tickets website not the cost of tickets, but where people can go to get more information.

Where should people park?

How much should they plan their day?

Do they go both days?

Tell us a little bit about that.

July 17th, 1920.

Those 90 questions and any of those.

Yeah, yeah.

Our website is Toledo classic.com and all ticket and parking information is on there.

But the nice thing about golf, and even if you're not a golfer, there's nothing better than walking around a golf course on a beautiful day.

But you really, I mean, you can go out for an hour or two, or you can spend the whole weekend there.

So, I mean, we sell weeklong passes and then we sell daily passes as well.

So if you want to go out for one afternoon and follow a few groups, or you can truly go out for the whole weekend, from intern, to this is a quick transition.

And this will certainly display maintenance.

But having to jockey between hosting the events, dealing with professional athletes, and, having to have a level of detail or be mindful of what will detail what what part of that is the most challenging for you and what are some things that, that you've enjoyed that you were surprised to?

Yeah, I think it's gosh, I think having like what I love and what's also I think most difficult is we have a really small staff and it's it's a great team.

Like we I mean, jus these functional personalities.

And why is it just.

It's phenomenal.

Yeah they are and it's just but it we all wear a lot of hatch because the team is so small.

So I think it's juggling all the different things.

I mean I'm recruiting players for programs at the same time as we're writing the ru a show late for the women's it.

So it's it's balancin a lot of very different things.

But I think that's also wha makes it very detail oriented.

Yeah.

How how many conversations do you have about porta potties in a week?

That's all.

That's all.

Mike, he's our director of operations.

And he is like, yeah Porta-Potty King, you know, like I like yeah, man, I can get that guy.

All right, wait a second.

And this isn't just about golf, right?

Obviously the women's summit, is about empowerment and education, but the tournament itself isn't just about golf and celebrating professional golfers.

You guys are also raising money for important causes.

Who are some of the charities you're raising money for this year?

Yeah, so we've got some awesome charities.

It's the two children's hospitals and Nationwide Children's Toledo, and then ProMedica, a children's hospital.

And then we also have, Miami Valley, Habitat for humanity the women build, which the Women summit kind of pulled that charity into the mix.

We have our Jamie Farr scholarship fun and then Ronald McDonald House.

Okay.

I feel like some people may know the history of this, but talk a little bit about the history of this tournament and why Ronald McDonald House is is involved.

Yeah.

So they were the underwriters of the first tournament.

So I'm gosh, was it done?

Michael Judd tells the story so much better than me.

But he was he was he was there.

So yeah.

But no they started the first year at McDonald's.

The restaurants underwrote the tournament.

I believe it was a loss.

And then but the proceeds then were intended to go to Ronald McDonald House charities.

And however many years on, they said, you know, we should spread the love a little bit, give it to other charities in the region as well.

So I think they were the ones that said that we should kind of expand our reach and donate our community volunteer still needed for the tournament.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

We are.

We have a few different positions that we're looking for right now.

But it's a lot of different, I would say fun one.

So we need walking scores.

So I mean, you could walk with the group and you score and you get to walk 18 holes.

I want some professional golf.

We need scoring control, which if you like to set up an air conditioning, you're up in air conditioning and you're just kind of calling in the scores last year.

Sure.

We need transportation volunteers.

So people kind of to drive the shuttles bac and forth between the lots, but lots of different opportunities.

And you don't have to be a golfer to be a player.

One, you're because it requires match.

And so people can fin more information on volunteering on the website.

Classic dot dot com.

Well, I 17th to the 19th tournament's coming.

And then when is the women's summit?

The women's summit is June 3rd, and we still have some seats available.

And if you're interested in that, you can also see that o the website Toledo classic.com.

There's a link to the Women's Summit with all of the information about it.

And then there's also a couple of other things I think that you guys are still promoting.

Right.

The 93rd party and the programs.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

So our 19th hole party is during tournament week and that kind of kicks off the week.

So it's the night before our big pro-am Wednesday evening I believe that's July 15th.

And that ticket information is available online too.

But we're doing it inside the five.

The, field house, which is such a neat space.

Yeah, yeah, totally.

I think that one will be a blast.

Meg, what is the weakest part of your golf game?

The weakest part of my golf game is probably my second shot.

Okay.

Thank you.

Brian, you know what that means?

I, I would say the best part of my game is the second shot, because I take it from the exact same spot as my first question I think you from the beginning.

Yeah, that that's the right choice of the bar.

That's my second shot.

Yeah.

All right.

Thank you so muc for more information about it.

It's a little classic.com.

Savannah and Meg thank you so much for joining us.

Get out and enjoy the tournament.

And we take a break.

When we come back Valerie Vetter will join us talking chicks for charit here on the 419 powered by W GT.

To me, community means connecting to others.

I'm Dani Miller and welcome to the Point I lost my today.

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Welcome back to the 419 powered by GTE.

We're joined now by our friend Valerie Vetter.

Talking chicks for charit talking chair, Valerie Vetter.

You guys can call me Val.

All right.

Val, do you find a little Russian in everything I do?

Yeah.

It's better.

It's cool.

Yeah.

Does your middle name also start with the V?

It does not.

What is your middle name?

Right.

Valerie.

Ray Vetter.

I'm going to call you full name from now on.

Thank you.

That's pretty solid.

That's right.

My grandfather always said it sound like a stage name.

It does.

And welcome to the stage.

Thank you.

Happy to be here.

Have you ever heard of the Wiz musical formula?

I heard you guys talking about it.

He loves it.

You're going to go every day.

Yeah.

Cool.

I've already started.

Valerie, tell us, please, before we get any deeper into this witty conversation.

What is text for charity.

So chicks for Charity is a group of approximatel 700 women across northwest Ohio.

Started in 2006 with a very simple premise that anyone can give back.

The organizatio that actually or the business, they actually started it.

They were having a brainstorming meeting for one of their clients, and one of the gals said, nobody ever asked me to give anything and I'd like to be able to help.

And kind of that sort of spurred this whole thing.

So from 2006 to 2016, we raised just over $1 million.

Yeah, I haven't.

It is, it is.

And the cool part about it is that, you know, some of that money was coming from girls holding lemonade stands, and others were coming from checks from people who had deep pockets.

So when you close your lemonade stand.

Yes.

Hello.

A while ago.

Yeah.

But, you know, we often say that, you know, we celebrate the $15 bag of change in dollar bills just as much as we celebrat the $5,000 check that we get in.

And we firmly believe that.

And you do outreach to, younge girls and and adult women.

Yes.

So, so there's, there's programing and, research and I mean, not research education on philanthropy and development for, for all ages.

Right.

So our whole thing is that we want to spread the joy and dignity then being that being philanthropic and giving back creates the othe interesting thing about chicks charity I find, is that every two years you have a different, beneficiary organization, correct?

Yes.

The the funds and the mom's house was, the beneficiary for a two year period right now.

Hope Toledo is your beneficiary, but you're looking to find the next group.

Yeah.

So our nominations are open currently.

If you go to chicks for charity.com, it's right on the home page.

The criteria to nominate a charity is that you have to be a chick.

Honorary chicks are included.

So.

Kevin, Matt, you guys could be shocked that the show could become.

They're still.

So you're saying there's a shot?

You're saying there's a chance.

And so, chick has to nominate.

And then the criteria is really we're looking for under the radar, charities that don't have a tremendous amount of representation.

So we can bring awareness to who those charities are and the great things that they're doing.

And you do a good job of that.

Well.

Thank you.

You know, we had at one point we had assistant dogs, we had the International Boxing Club.

We had the Victory Center before the Victory Center really, like, took off.

As you said, mom's house.

So we're looking for organizations like that that can use the powe of the chicks that are involved.

This is Tom.

20 years running it.

Yeah.

What?

Things like that don't happen by accident?

No, I think some of the strength, of this concept is to give it this sort of long living purpose.

Well, I think it's easy first and foremost.

Right?

We don't have any sort of strings attached to being involved.

There's no meetings that happen outside of board meetings and that sort of thing.

Yeah.

So we really just ask that you get some girlfriends or friends or colleagues or whatever together and raise some mone that goes towards this charity.

And every penny that the chicks raise goes directly to the charity.

So I'm on the back end trying to figure out funding for the organization itself.

But all of the money that that the, that the chicks bring in 100% goes to the charity.

And then every year we have a big party in the summer.

So, so this year it's June 17th, correct, at Birchwood Meadow in Swanton.

About about what, what people can expect at the event.

So it's a lot of fun.

It started off as, like a garden type party out of the park.

Yeah yeah, at the Botanical Gardens.

And we took a hiatus in 2016 or 2017 based on the sale of the organization, the business that kind of ran everything.

It takes a lot to put some of this stuff on.

And, we heard from a lot of people that it's chicks coming back when.

Yeah, we want to we want to go to the summer party and all that sort of thing.

So we came back in 2023 and applied for our 501 C3.

We were never A501 C3 before that.

We just kind of did things our own way.

And then finally.

What's that?

Yeah, right.

And then we kicked it off.

Kicked off.

Chicks coming back with our awesome awards, at Imagination Station in 2020 for my awesome awar in the mail.

Stuck in the mail.

What is the.

I know it's.

I'll try.

Yeah, I'll take I'll take a peek.

Yeah, but I'm sure it is.

Too hard.

Don't.

Yeah, sure.

But it's a fun night, and people can, It's for women and allies of all ages.

Assuming there's, you know, food and food drinks, the TSA steel drum band will come out and play for a little while.

Raffle baskets like you've never seen.

I know a lot of people have.

Raffles are.

We're known for our raffle baskets.

Yeah.

In fact, Meg, who was just on, just got us a bunch of stuff from Inverness and Stone Oak and that sort of thing for a golf basket.

Shocking I know.

Yeah.

So.

And then we'll have some silent auction and then we have a short program.

And this year we are honoring five women who, exemplify our, our mantra.

So we're very excited t announce who that is.

Or is that I don't I don't know that much, but I was asked by Riley Reynolds is is our friend of a front of the show and is Gretchen knows more than I do.

A person who had a lot of he is a person that was responsible for the awards, and she.

And so you divide it up or divide up the sort of, mission statement or the mantra of checks for charity and, fun or jo or laughter was is part of it.

And she asked me to nominate a person.

And so I nominated Amy Voigt.

Yes.

And so she's going to be the person that I though of that sort of represents that.

And so she's going to be receiving one of the people that' going to be receiving the award.

Yeah.

On the 17th.

So it should b it should be a really fun event.

Yeah.

Why does something like this matter?

I think at the very core, you know, as human beings, I thin we are born with innate empathy.

But I think sometimes along the way, we can perhap lose that based on circumstance.

And what you have going on in your life is unique in that we're trying to carry and raise these girls up along with us to become people who give back and are very empathetic.

I have a son, and he has been coming to stuff with me.

He's 17.

He's been coming and stuf with me since he's been three.

And I truly believe that when you are surrounded by people who are doing good and giving back, that that it ultimately is infectious.

Yeah.

And what do for your day job is working for the YWCA?

Yeah.

You just very successfully put on the milestones, award again this this year.

What's the connection between a supportive, you know, sort of thought expansive for charity type organization and the benefits to potentially women that are served at the YWCA, if there is one?

Well I think you could always find.

I think you could always find a connection.

One thing that has always kind of stuck with me and, you know, I think it's important in everyday work and regardless of what your role is.

But when especially women come together, communities rise, right?

Communitie seem to just flourish because be honest, women are the backbon of, of of just about everything.

Everything.

Everything.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

And so I kind of feel lik that's sort of the connection, between between the two you talked about, you know, your son growing up in this space.

Yeah, obviously.

You yourself grew up in thi space a little bit to what was kind of an early moment for you that you recognize, you know, your your mom's involved in the community and and the role that that she played.

Yeah.

And plays.

Yeah.

Toledo.

So, Martha is one of the selfless, most selfless people I have ever met.

I've seen, Martha play pickleball.

I don't I wouldn't say she's coordinated, but she takes it very seriously and is terrifying.

You're saying she's not selfless at pickleball?

No.

Okay.

She could be.

Yeah.

Tha that that doesn't surprise me.

You know, it's one of those things that I watched her do all of these thing that were just kind of amazing.

For instance, I don't know if you guys remember that tragic accident at Springfield High School where Bree lost her leg and her friend lost his life?

She rallied a bunch of people around to start making phone call and things of that nature.

And, we were able to find a doctor that was able to fit Bree with a prosthetic leg base on the connections that we have.

And so I think that's all part of it.

Right?

It's it's that connection with your community and those that, you know, and, recognizing at any given moment, we all could be in a position where we need some help.

Just want to make sure our audience knows that your mother is Martha Vetter and she's the founder of chicks.

She is my stepmother.

Yes.

My mother.

But yes, just to be clear she's not my biological mother.

But, Yes, she founded chicks for Charity in 2006.

Also was the owner of AR marketing, and Public relations.

And so you you know, in that story, right?

You talk about, you know, that it wasn't just write a check.

It was it was it was using connections and resources.

Right.

Using influenc to be able to make a difference.

And when you talk about chicks for charity, you know, you mentioned, you know, write in the check for $5,000 or setting up the lemonade stand, through your tim involved in chicks for charity, what are some of the, the most unique, fun ways that chicks have raised money and supported the mission?

Oh, there's there's there's so many.

So, you know, it could b as simple as I don't play this, but apparently euchre is, like a big thing, and, like, people would set up tournaments and that sort of thing.

We had a woman who said I am not a very social person.

I would like to give back, but I don't know how, and came back to us and said, I'm a swimmer.

And for every lap that I swim, I'm going to put a certain amount of money aside.

So there's no rules.

I mean, you can do whatever you'd lik to do to, to raise your money.

And we we truly only ask that, our check members raise between 50 and $100 a year for charity.

So it's not it's not a lot.

It's not a lot, but it makes a lot of people do do a lot.

So that helps.

Can you tell us a little bit about, the nonprofit that benefits, which is hope you.

Yeah.

So Hope Toledo, is an organization locally that, has been very instrumental in pre-K, through secondary, education.

I know Shawn Woody is on our board as well.

And she is amazing.

And I know that they've been going through graduation season and all sorts of things.

So, you know, education first and foremost is is paramount to not only your, your mental health, but your physical health and, you know, being a well-rounded individual, if you will.

And, too often children can kind of get lost in the shuffle, and, or parents feel overwhelmed by the cost of what it can it can, take on, on your, on your pockets as well as as your mental health.

So, they're doing great things for the community, focusing on, on pre-K.

Right.

It's now time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

We're talking with Val Vetter, which checks for chips.

Let your face.

You're right.

She's right.

Here we go.

For rapid fire questions you can ask, describe to you in one word.

You in that lis the nine best things in Toledo.

Question number one.

What is the worst sound in the world to you?

I know what you want to say.

I would say it, maybe, but there's a few things.

This is so weird and random, but this is a look inside my brain.

You know, the floral oasis that you get wet and you stick the stems in her?

Yeah.

That's when you know, you'll know you both are looking at me like it's almost a hat.

It's almost like styrofoam.

Yes, but it falls apart and it's delicious.

Your words okay.

If you had your own boat what would you name it.

Floral Oasis.

Yeah.

So let's go with that.

What's your favorite TV channel?

Not sure.

I don't watch TV.

I stream stuff I heard you say sorry.

Oh my God, you're on the spot.

And then, what have you done that you're most proud of?

Raised my son.

That's beautiful.

What's your number?

What's the one word?

Sorry.

One word you would use t describe the city of Toledo or.

I could go sarcastic, or I could go serious.

The shows equal parts of both.

Okay.

Gritty.

Okay.

All right.

Okay.

Which one is that?

That was the first I'm going to say flat like for.

Yeah.

That's sarcasm.

That's it.

Yeah.

That's all right.

You got nine things okay.

All right.

Now your favorite things in the city and or regional do it together okay.

Number one, the metro park.

There you go.

God bless you.

Number two, you love it.

Number three, the mommy, mommy, River.

Love it.

Number four.

What do you like to eat?

Sushi.

All right, we're at, Domo.

All right.

Because it's close to my house.

Number five, promenade park.

When there's live music park and live music.

Going to give you two for that.

Okay, great.

So what am I at You got three left.

Oh my God.

The people.

Yeah.

Love the people.

People are great.

If you've got a night out on the town where do you, like, want to go?

I don't really go out.

Outside.

I want to be outside.

Yeah, I want to be out.

What's your son's name?

Will.

With one.

Oh, that's nice.

Nice with one.

L Valerie Ray.

Veteran.

So good.

You guys better v live at Promenade Park.

What's the chicks for charity website.

Chicks for charity.com.

You can get your tickets there.

You can nominate charity.

And you can donate.

Become a member and become a member.

Thank you.

Awesome.

Yeah.

Thank you so much for joining us.

We'll take a break.

We'll come back.

Swanky scoops.

Oh, it's a dream house.

There we go.

Now get off the Segway.

Okay, bye bye for you.

I'll take a break when we come back, we'll have Alyssa with swanky scoops here on the 419, powered by W GTI.

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Welcome back into the 419 Powered by.

I told her she couldn't make it to the start of the segment.

I never set out to eat the ice because you absolutely did.

We are joined now.

Selling is beef jerky.

This is ice cream, man.

All right, that's fair.

Alyssa with swanky scoops.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thanks for having me.

So you just opened, new spot downtown Toledo, right by sook.

And I owe you an apology.

I am sorry for pressing my face against the glass.

But before the opening for days.

That's that's okay.

You know, it's it's nice to see eager faces.

I just want to wear this.

Ready to get there?

Yeah.

People might recognize the building.

It's right down by the farmers market across the street from sook.

It's the new building where Leadership Toledo is in with the cool mural in the front.

Yeah.

So tell us all about your opening weekend and getting there.

Yeah.

So it's smooth sailing, I'm sure.

Yeah, well, it does feel like a dream come true, because for so long, for both of us.

Yes, I love downtown.

Oh, good.

Yeah.

Yeah, well you can be there all the time.

Yes, ma'am.

You know you see all the plans on paper, and you look at paint samples and you look over drawings, and then to actually see it come to life is really the best part ever.

And then not only seeing the space be alive, but having guests and visitors and and seeing people's faces and how excited they are to see the new space.

And, you know, both, swanky VIPs that I'v been seeing for for years now.

And then brand new people who I was meeting for the first time, it was really special.

So tell us how you've got here.

You've been.

People may know about swanky scoops from the community.

You have you had a cart?

Yeah.

For a long time, you would go to events, and and sell your wares.

But how did you get started even making this stuff?

Yeah.

So, I've always worked in food and beverage.

That's my professional background.

And I always wanted to have my own business.

And for some reason, the idea of opening a full service operation, full restaurant, jus seemed to be too overwhelming.

And now, having opene an ice cream shop, I will give big props and kudos to anyone who's opened a restaurant.

Or an business really for that matter.

But I decided to grow the business sustainabl and in a very achievable manner, and started out of a shared kitchen.

I was working a the original sub shop and deli.

Oh sure.

And the owner, Maureen Brogan, we love more, was like super collaborative.

Yeah.

I was like, I want to help you do this.

Like make your ice cream here.

We'll add it to our menu.

From there I moved into another shared kitchen scenario, added our ice cream cart to do mobile events, rented my own kitchen for the last three years and that was really a great time to help spiky scoops grow and help u scale production and learn more about how to get ready for regular retail hours in a high traffic area.

Were you making ice cream at home to start?

Like why ice cream I guess?

Why ice cream?

What a dumb question.

All right.

It's it's funny because I always jok that I wanted to have a bakery, but I don't like to wake up early.

But joke's on you.

Yeah, so who knows?

Who knew that?

You wake up early for all the jobs, everything.

Everything you Everything you do, right?

Yeah.

I'm actually, Yeah.

I like ice cream.

It's fun.

It's creative.

It's a great way to like, you know, experiment with new, combinations.

And who doesn't love ice cream?

No, that's the other thing I say all the time.

So you.

Yeah.

You brought some ice cream for that, which we're talking because we're.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So wishes Can I have a breakfast in bed?

Which is the flavor of maple.

And it's got, it's this BlackBerry.

It's a yeah.

Blueberry swirl.

It's a maple buttermilk ice cream.

So really good.

Identification there.

Thank you.

There's a blueberry swirl, and then there's little toasted waffle bite pieces.

And then we also have, the baked banana miso, which is quite tasty.

Yeah.

The baked banana.

We take, super ripe bananas.

It's kind of a fun, like, waiting game because you buy 50, 60 bananas and then you just have to wait for them to be right Will we make ice cream tomorrow?

Will you make ice crea in three days?

We don't usually.

If you.

If I buy them, they're they're bad.

The next day.

Yeah.

They go too fast.

I now have been past the grape.

Not which totally unique.

Yeah very much is s this actually I love grape-nuts.

Yeah.

Yes I sit in my kitchen right now.

Can you tell us?

I mean, not all experimentation goes well, right?

Can you talk about the largest flavor disaster?

Oh, when did you name it?

After meant.

Well, I don't know about the largest flavor disaster, but when I was first making ice cream at home and I was testing for some flavors, and I tried to make a double boiler on my stove, but I didn't have, like the right pans to fit together.

So I just took a stainless steel metal mixing bowl and put it over a big, you know, a big kettle.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Yeah.

And didn't really think about, you know the appropriate spacing so far makes sense to me.

Yes, it makes it makes sense.

I was making peanut butter custard and you made a rocket and I made a rocket.

So, you know about science and air pressure and heat and transferring a similar experiment.

Yes.

And then the peanut butter cluster exploded all over the ceiling.

All over the kitchen.

It was such a disaster.

Mass?

Yeah.

But as far as, like, deliciousness.

Yeah.

I mean, there's worse things, I suppose.

Maybe.

Yeah.

What do you like?

Vegetables.

Most popular flavor is, our lemon meringue pie.

Ice cream is a fan favorite, which really surprises me because I'm a chocoholic at heart.

I want to have the flavors with chocolate, but people love the lemo ice cream, and it is one of our most popular flavors.

Always.

What is the the rigor that, this goes through?

Do you have somebody who's palat you rely on, like, come taste.

Just tell me if it's good, who is good and how can I think I have an idea who.

The ultimate decider.

Yeah.

And she may be in this building and sitting next to me, but.

Oh.

Do you have minions?

Who are the peon that you allow in your kingdom?

So I have a really great support network, people that I rely on.

I have a team member.

Her name is Diane, and she's been with me for several years now and she has an excellent palate.

I can trust her when we're.

And she's familiar with, you know what we're trying to achieve and what our standard is when we're putting out a new flavor.

But her and I bounce ideas off each other all the time.

And then my immediate circle, my my husband and my parents, my friends.

Yeah.

And then also, you know, at the end of the day, I' the one that's going to decide, do I like this or not making it into that.

Yeah.

How do you.

Yeah, I want to I want to be a part of that like text group that says tried something new that didn't explode onto my ceiling.

When you're doing the tasting, do you taste it in the, liquid form before, you know, as you're making i and putting the ingredients in?

Or do you only taste them once they're frozen?

No, it's a it's a taste eac step of the way kind of process.

And it is a labor of love.

I use a French style recipe.

So it's a, custard.

That is.

That's.

Yes, that's cooked with, egg yolks and cream and sugar, and then it, cools to appropriate food safety temperatures and then is kep in the refrigerator overnight.

And then it's churned in the ice cream machine the next day.

And that's when we add the inclusions and sauces and cookies.

You may have mentioned this before and forgive me.

So I've been jamming this in my mouth as fast as I can.

But you mentioned sort o the philosophy of Swanky Scoops.

If describing what the mantra of the company is, how do you describe it?

What is it about?

I mean, it's certainly about ice cream, but it's not just ice cream.

Can you give me a little bit of a deeper dive into that?

Yeah.

I would say part of my mantra is, you know, creating an exceptional experience, something unique and creative and memorable.

Yeah.

I want to have an impact on peopl that when they try my ice cream or when they come into my shop or visit our ice cream cart, that it's something they they remember.

Ice cream.

Ice cream is inherently sentimental.

We all have like our best memories about like, yeah, sharing a scoop of ice cream with somebody important to us.

So yeah, I want to be part of that.

Is there a flavor that you haven't tried yet, or that you haven't released to the public because you just haven't quite gotten it the way you want it yet?

I would say, a peach ice cream is something that has been like a continuously requested flavor.

And I find that fruit flavor can be exceptionally challenging because fruit has a high water content, which is going to immediately contradict that creaminess and the texture that I think associate with ice cream acid, which of course is a critical part of the flavor profile.

Keeping the acid live right is also a real challenge.

Yeah, you can tell the difference.

Now, you know a lot about this process.

I'll just go back to dramatic.

And despite everything you might know about Matt, right.

He actually is cerea for the first time in this guy.

It's not weird to me to where are we don't I don't think the story worked in a bunch of restaurants.

So yeah, sure.

Somalia.

So he knows.

Yeah.

But I just love this product.

So much.

At the risk of making you feel uncomfortable you're exceptionally charming.

I mean, people would go and buy something from someone they love.

Yeah.

Let's see if it tasted this good.

Right?

That's right.

Right.

But it does have to be a bunch of things all into a blender.

Right Talk to me a little bit about, you know, did you grew up in a family that was always hosting, people over or as serving people food or making things wasn't part of your life as a little kid?

Yeah, I think so.

I grew up here.

I, went to school in Oregon.

Okay.

And I feel like I have a lot o family memories of being with, my dad, sister, my aunt, and her family.

And they got the, like, the ice cream truck delivery service to their house.

Yes.

So every time we went there, you could, like, get, like, a big bowl of ice cream and, like, you know, sit on the floo in front of the TV and eat mint chocolate chi to your heart's content.

Yeah.

And people sound like genius.

Yeah.

That's that's that's a really great thing.

Nobel Prize is distributed, but that should be the top of the list.

Yeah.

Well, yeah.

Do you have ice cream in your freezer?

Check.

You?

Well, it's not.

You're a monster.

What is your least favorite flavor of ice cream?

Oh, great.

Oh, my least favorite.

So I'll do it.

This is going to be kind of polarizing, but I don't really like nut in my ice cream 100%, so I never really want to have flavors with not like chunks of them.

Right.

But then people ask for this all the time, so I'm going to have to add it.

We're going to just make it happen.

My least favorite is is Rocky Road with like the whole marshmallows in it.

Okay.

Which is disgusting.

Let me tell you, I don't like the Americans.

It is jus I need my marshmallow whipped.

Okay so you like a marshmallow?

Yeah.

Okay.

Exactly.

That makes sense.

Kevin, do you have any.

They have not found.

Yeah.

A flavor of ice cream that I don't.

I'm pretty close to actually, it's chocolate for me.

Yeah.

Really You know that classic chocolate?

Yeah.

No.

That's okay.

Yeah, I just can't.

I'm like.

I mean, I mean, I would eat it out of a dumpster.

Yeah, I should I mean, so where's your dumpster to cherry anything.

I'm in.

Okay.

Yeah.

So chocolate chip cookie dough is my jam.

Yeah.

I don't like to go all the time.

No, that's my phone.

I do.

Yeah, that's my favorite part.

The little balls you kind of, like, search for, you know, I'll eat a cookie dough, but people want more information on scoops.

They find it.

It's fine.

He scoops for one nine as our website.

Also our, social media on Facebook and Instagram.

And we do our best to keep things updated and, you know, keep everyone in the know their congratulations.

Congratulations on being tha thank you location right by Erie Street Market.

When are you guys open?

Our regular hours will be Wednesday through Friday, 12 to 8 and Saturdays 11 to 8.

Awesome.

So lots opportunities to come see us.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for the ice cream.

This is fierce.

So welcome.

We're not going to talk the rest of the show.

We're just going to eat thi right Alyssa thank you so much.

We come back, we'll wrap up this Thursday edition of the 419 every day when you laugh with us you learned with us a neighbor.

We made sure your childhood with special memories that could only be provided by PBS.

And for generations, we've given you programs that made a difference.

Programs that entertain, inform and inspire.

And today is no different.

This is public media in Toledo.

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Welcome back into the 419 Powered by.

As we wrap up a Thursday edition.

We took it our took a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada and then talk LPGA tournament, women's summit chicks for charity swanky scoops.

This is 3 to 5 days worth of content.

That's in one show.

That's.

You're only going to get it here on the for all women leaders.

So, we're doing great things for them, for the community and one another.

It's probably not to blow past that.

Not, but not by mistake.

I, I don't know if I'm excited to say, like, I actually, like, totally blew past that.

I totally took that for granted that I think one of the things I enjoy about the show is we've got great people on doing incredible things in the community.

And I appreciate you pointed out that we had a show with all the incredible female leaders that every day we would love to have incredible females on the show.

Yeah.

So the website if you'd like to apply for that.

I got a contract.

If you missed any par of the show, you can catch it.

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on FM 91 or 6 p.m.

on Wjct connects channel 30.4.

Thanks to all of our guests for being here.

Thanks to you for joining us as well.

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Thank you.