Loveland, Ohio – Last Saturday the Loveland Valentine’s Ladies gathered a near-capacity crowd inside the Loveland City Hall. The occasion was to introduce Becky Giver as the 2024 Loveland Valentine Lady and Lauren Connolly as the newest Valentine Card designer.
Chamber Board chair, Kevin Egan spoke and the event was emceed by Chamber President/CEO CeeCee Collins and Vice President of Operations, Meredith Taylor. Mayor Kathy Bailey gave each of the current Valentine Ladies a rose as they were introduced.
Stay tuned for information about purchasing the 2024 Valentine’s card and instructions on a special way to have it mailed.
Watch this Interview with Becky Giver the 2024 Loveland Ohio Valentine’s Lady.
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Kay Bolin, was crowned in 2018, and she read this history of the program:
A Valentine Lady is a woman who has distinguished themselves by their commitment and involvement in the community and like a Marine … once a Valentine Lady ALWAYS a Valentine Lady.
The Loveland Valentine Lady tradition began in 1972, when Dr. Roland Boike implemented the idea & coined the phrase “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love’. His secretary Doris Pfiester volunteered to stamp all cards, which Doris did until 1988 when her daughter Ruth took over the stamping. Later that year, the Loveland Chamber began an official Valentine Lady program which included a new Valentine Lady every year which began in 1989. Our 2024 Valentine Lady is #35.
The first step in becoming a Valentine Lady is to be nominated; all letters of nomination are due to the Chamber in November of each year. Then the Valentine Program Committee reviews all letters of nomination and then votes on who has distinguished themselves by their commitment and involvement in our community.
All the Valentine Ladies are different, but we have one thing in common and that is we love our community therefore we love being involved and helping our community. That common thread truly makes us Valentine Sisters.
The first and one of the most rewarding responsibilities of a Valentine Lady is going to
the various Loveland schools (pre-K through 4th grade) during the first two weeks of February.
Each Valentine Lady chooses her topic for her presentation.
Another fun Valentine Ladies duty is:
The crowning of a King and Queen at Magnolia Springs Assisted Living and Memory Care Unit. We also visit the Lodge Retirement Community for games with the residents.
There is an annual Valentine Breakfast at Oasis every year in February which is a great representation of the Chamber’s Valentine Program …
•The new Valentine Lady will be there, along with other Valentine Ladies.
•The new Valentine card is shown and the artist who created the artwork is introduced. Each year the design is different as the artist is different, but the message is always the same “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love.”
•There is a Valentino coloring contest for the kids and a Valentine poetry contest for all ages.
This breakfast is a wonderful opportunity to see and feel what the Valentine Program is all about and it is always the Friday before Valentine’s Day.
And I can’t forget to mention the Post Office tradition. People make it a point to send their Valentine Cards to family and loved ones every year with our hand stamped cache “There is nothing in this world so sweet as love” and the hand stamped postmark from Loveland, Ohio. This really is a sweet Loveland tradition.
We stamp 1,000’s of pieces of mail each year, in 2023 they were mailed to 46 states plus Washington DC, 5 other countries and to the Army and Fleet Post Offices.
The Post Office is also a fun volunteer job, and a wonderful way for you to connect in our community. Just contact the Chamber if you are interested in volunteering next year.
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All photos ©2024 David Miller/Loveland Magazine
The Annual Valentine’s Day Breakfast
Join the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance along with the Loveland area business community and residents for the 2023 Valentine’s Day Breakfast Event!
Friday, February 9 at the Oasis Conference Center starting at 8:30 AM.
Join us as we honor and recognize our 2024….
• Valentine Lady
• Valentine Card Designer
• Poetry Contest Winners
• Valentino Coloring Contest Winner
There will be special entertainment and a full, hot breakfast!
Come and see why everyone “Loves” Loveland, OH!
Please call the office for additional information – 513-683-1544
