Meeting opening: President Randy called the meeting to order. Dave Dix played our patriotic song, “God Bless America.” President Randy led the Pledge of Allegiance and Paul Organ offered a Rotary invocation.
Guests: Dave Myers introduced his guest, Ben Wolford of The Portager, soon to be a member. Philip Lanier, Director of Marketing for DS Architects, introduced himself. He will also soon become a member.
Announcements and News:
Dick King: President Randy sadly referred us to the passing of Kent Rotarian Dick King, whom he described as a good friend and a marvelous auto mechanic with a joyful personality.
Rotary International: President Randy reminded Rotarians we need to each donate to Rotary International for the club to be eligible for the district grant program. We need to donate enough that we average $43 per Rotarian. The money goes to RI, not the Kent Rotary Foundation. Online donating can be done by calling up the Rotary International website, but it is important to note that your donation came from a member of Kent Rotary.
Stow/Munroe Falls Challenge: Todd Kamenash told us that during April we are supposed to collect food for the Ben Curtis Foundation or donate money to the Foundation to buy food for their Birdie Bags. We have been challenged by Stow/Munroe Falls in this effort. The club that collect the most for the Ben Curtis Foundation gets to tell the other club a favorite charity to which is must donate $100. Details to follow.
Volunteers needed: Rachel Kern is hoping to find volunteers in Kent Rotary to help with food distribution that the Salvation Army will be doing in Kent the first Wednesday of the month for several months. Contact Rachel at Habitat for Humanity if you can participate. Several club members indicated in Tuesday’s meeting that could help out.
100th Anniversary Moment: Jim Myers presented a report of Rotary in 1941. Please see his complete report accompanying the Rotareminder.
Program: Supporting Minorities at the Kent State Multicultural Center
Our March program chair, Todd Kamenash, introduced Rotarians to Mitch Daniels, the director of the Kent State Student Multicultural Center, who was our speaker. Daniels told us that the Center amounts to a substantial and longstanding investment by Kent State into supporting the higher education experience for minorities in a positive manner. The Center, he said, got its start at Kent State in 1968. It has evolved since and currently offers a six-week summer program called STARS for newly admitted African-American, Latinx, Hispanic, Native American and Multiracial freshmen. Except for a $100 charge for administration, the program is free and features two classes, meals and lodging. Those enrolled take two courses and develop a sense of community with peers, faculty and staff at the University. They develop academic and professional skills. The Center also offers a year-long mentoring program called KUPITA that helps new students navigate their way through academia. Daniels also said a Male Empowerment program provides a network in which male students can learn to work inside student organizations and have a more meaningful experience of student life. A similar program, the Sister Circle, focuses on women students and helping them become part of the life of Kent State higher education. Seminars and symposium are regularly scheduled in which the issues specific to minorities on campus are explored. He said the programs the Center offers have helped minorities succeed so that its graduation rates of 70 to 80 percent compare favorably with those of the entire student body. The Center celebrates the cultures of minorities and supports February as Black History Month, November as Native American Heritage Month and September-October as Hispanic Heritage Month. Responding to a question about the off-campus experience for minorities, Daniels noted that minority students have been involved in Freedom House, an emergency shelter for veterans, and volunteer agencies in Ravenna. He said Shannon Ross is his program coordinator and he showed a video that explains what the Multicultural Center does.
Responder: Olivia Pilon, our responder, thanked Daniels for his presentation.
