Friday, November 14, 2025
Location: Renck’s 1860 Coffee Shop, 23995 Salt Fork Rd 9:00 AM
December Breakfast Meeting
Date/Time: December 12, 2025
Location: Bright Lion’s Club
Tonya Wolfe called the meeting to order and asked members to share their name and businesses.
Sign in sheet was circulated. Members present:
Bebe Kinnett-Absolute Web Marketing
Nicole Wuestefeld-Andres-Wuestefeld Funeral Home
Tamara Taylor-Beacon News
Eoghan Reade-Cincinnatus Savings & Loan
Tonya Wolfe-City Wide Home Mortgage
Dale Lutz-Cornerstone Realty
Susan Hoffman-Friendship State Bank
Gina Davidson-Friendship State Bank
Jeff Tucker-Renck’s 1860
Jay Knowles-Jay Knowles Real Estate/Keller Williams Realty
Lisa Cox-JDC Remodeling
Rachel Lutz-Lutz Auction Services
Gage Pace-One Dearborn
Mark Munchel-Optimum Chiropractic LLC
Eoghan Reade-Rising Roads Travel
Robert von Gerds-Triplecrown Wealth Management
Sara Uhlenbrock-Heath-Uhlsee Branding & Design
Jeannette Huelseman-WorkOne Southeast
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsorships
Friendship State Bank – Gold Sponsor
Cincinnatus –Bronze Sponsor
Synergy Labor Solutions – Bronze Sponsor
Treasurer’s Report Kim Stock:
Beginning Balance: $21,526.92
Ending Balance: $ 35.00
Ending Balance: $ 21,491.92
Membership Report Dr. Mark Munchel
- 50 active members
- Leadership confirmed multiple businesses owned by one person or entity must apply for separate memberships
- Membership benefits: In addition to our standing Member spotlights and other member benefits, the following benefits will be added in 2026
- Weekly Social Media Spotlights
- Video Spotlight
Old Business
2025 Board of Trustees
President Tonya: Wolfe
Vice President/Secr: Jeannette Huelseman
Treasurer: Kim Stock
Membership: Mark Munchel
Golf Chair: Gage Pace-resigning 2026
Member at Large: Bebe Kinnett
Member at Large: Sara Uhlenbrock-Heath
New Business
- December meeting please bring food drive items to the Christmas Breakfast meeting
- Early membership renewal or new members for 2026 will be put in for drawing for possibility of winning one of four gift cards. Drawing will be held at the January meeting.
- Christmas Breakfast Meeting
- RSVP please… from Newsletter link or Website Events link
- Logan’s providing food
Golf 2026
- Golf Chair needed. Thank you Gage and Amy for the excellent leadership on the 2025 Golf event. Congrats to Gage as he plans for his nuptials and therefore is unable to Chair this year.
- Jay Knowels raised question about determining sponsorship levels when signing up for membership. The website does not provide outline sponsorship values.
- Needed Golf event volunteers who have contacts with some of the larger businesses such as St. E in Lawrenceburg, banks etc. to reach out to get sponsorships. 2025 we did not have a silver sponsor.
Awards
Congratulations go out to Casey Knigga of Casey’s Outdoor Solutions who won the Chairpersons Award and Friendship State Bank for the Large Business of the Year Award recognized and awarded at the Dearborn County Chamber Annual Awards Banquet.
A shout out to Sara Uhlenbrock-Heath for her social media work on the BABA Facebook page. Please reach out to her for posting and sharing information.
Stellar Pathways
- Gage: we are at approximately $650K
- Would like BABA to consider using some of their funds as a matching contribution for the benefit of the Bright park
- Application will be made next August so time is of the essence
Watch the website events and Facebook posts for reciprocal chamber events through Harrison Chamber and Dearborn County Chamber events and gatherings.
Member Spotlight: Renck’s 1860 Coffe Shop
Jeff Tucker shared the history and labor of love that went into the restoration of this landmark of Bright Indiana.
Renck’s Store has been in operation (in one form or another) in Bright for more than 150 years.
It has served multiple roles over time: as a general store, a fuel supply point, and even housing the town’s newspaper. The building was originally known as T.H. Gibson General Merchandise Store. The restoration was clearly done with respect for its role as a community place: Renck’s website emphasizes that “this isn’t just a building, it’s a community.”
- The store has long been a gathering place for Bright residents.
- Served as the town meeting hall
- Meeting place for the Junior Woodmen of America
The youth auxiliary of Woodmen of the World, a large fraternal benefit society founded in 1890. They held meetings, elected officers, and participated in activities similar to adult fraternal lodges but adapted for young members. Cemetary headstone can be found of some of these members designated by a tree emblem, which often appears as a carved tree stump or a standing tree. This represents the organization’s name, “Woodmen,” symbolizing strength and stability; or it may depict an axe or two crossed axes, emphasizing the wood-cutting and lumber aspects of the organization’s identity; or it may include stars, moons, or other celestial symbols, adding an element of spiritual significance or fraternal brotherhood. - Bright Horse Detectives also met in the upper room. They were a secret society (of questionable purpose) that used a peephole/slider panel similar to those used during prohibition to help identify the person(s) wanting to gain access. This door still exists at the top of the stairway to the second floor meeting room.
During renovations they found happy surprises:
- The Coca Cola cooler is the original from the 40’s, they plugged it in and it worked. :) They don’t make things like they used to.
- A 15″ TV, the first TV in town, is the original TV where local kids would gather on Friday nights… all squeezing in to watch the tiny screen. Jeff Tucker and Dale Lutz both reminessed on those good ole days and shared their memories.
- Rooms on the sides were found when removing the siding.
- The tin on the second floor is original and June refinished it in place.
- All historic photos are of Bright.
The new coffee shop continues that legacy, blending history with a “renewed spirit.”
In keeping with their history, they offer event spaces great for small gatherings such as baby and bridal showers, civic and organizational events; as well as a place to study, meet with clients, family or friends.
Along with great coffee, tea, assorted beverage options and pastries they offer breakfast and lunch items. Do not miss the gifts for all occasions such as handcrafted locally made pottery and other fine gifts and keepsakes.
BABA welcomes Renck’s 1860 and extends its wishes for their success and legacy of its own in future years.