December 3, 2019
President Roger called the meeting to order at 12:12. After singing “God Bless America,” and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Tom Hatch offered the invocation. Todd Kamenash was the designated photographer for the day. Songleader David Dix led us in singing “Let It Snow.”
Visitors: There were no visiting Rotarians. Guests were David Joy, husband of Sherry Joy, Steve Smith, guest of President Roger, and Malinda Yoho, Sarah Mayle, and Jen Lennox from Davey Tree Expert Company, who were guests of Sandee Reid.
Perfect Attendance: President Roger drew Tom Hall’s name from those who achieved perfect attendance last month. Tom was awarded a free lunch.
Announcements:
President Roger noted that the club has received a thank-you from the Interact Club for the Foundation’s recent contribution.
Standing in for Bill Childers, Randy Smith invited Rotarians to sign up for holiday bell ringing at Kent Acme.
Steve Dennis noted that, so far, we have achieved about 72% participation in the Every Rotarian Every Year fundraising campaign. He encouraged everyone to participate in order to match last year’s 100% participation rate.
Rachel Kerns encouraged everyone to contribute a toy to this year’s toy drive to benefit children from infant to teen.
Larry Lohman reminded everyone that the Interact Club Chili Challenge will be held today at 5:30 at Theodore Roosevelt High School. He encouraged everyone to attend and to offer to help serve chili.
Larry Lohman also noted that our club will receive an award for 100% participation in last year’s Every Rotarian Every Year at the District Foundation Gala to be held this Thursday at Windows on the World in Lakewood.
Stanton Student of the Month: Anthony Horton announced Kayla McKim as this month’s Stanton Middle School Student of the Month. Among many other accomplishments, Kayla has travelled to Haiti with her mother to volunteer at an orphanage and spend time with children in need and to Cuba with her father to help provide water filters to those in need. Her proud parents Neiva and Mike McKim joined Kayla at today’s presentation.
Today’s Program: Sandee Reid introduced her boss, Pat Covey, President and CEO of the Davey Tree Expert Company. In addition to his duties at Davey Tree, Mr. Covey serves on the boards of the Arbor Day Foundation and Akron Children’s Hospital. In today’s presentation, he discussed what’s new at Davey Tree, reviewed recent accomplishments, and outlined plans for the future.
Covey noted that Davey Tree has grown over the years through “innovation and education.” Today, the company is the third largest in its category having achieved in excess of one billion dollars in revenue this year. Davey operates in four areas: tree and lawn care, support for utility companies, commercial landscaping, and consulting through its Resource Group which provides GPS mapping, among other services. The company operates in the US and Canada with a significant presence in the Midwest, Southeast, and California. Growth in revenue and stock price has been steady and impressive since the company became employee-owned in 1979.
The next few years will see an expansion of its main offices with the addition of a new wing and a new training facility on the site of the former Oak Knolls Golf Course. The training facility will include an indoor space for teaching tree climbing, classrooms, and a community gathering space.
The company currently has eight or nine thousand full-time employees and about two thousand part-time, seasonal workers. Future company expansion will likely come from a combination of organic growth in areas currently served and acquisition of smaller companies operating in related landscaping businesses.
John Flynn offered the club response noting the importance of Davey Tree in Kent’s history and to keeping Kent a vibrant place to live and work.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Hatch