Rotaryminder for December 9, 2025

Posted by Mary Beth Harper

On Tuesday, December 16, The Rotary Club of Kent will meet at the Davey SEED campus on Route 43 at 11:45 a.m.  Lunch will be served, and the cost is $15.  The Roosevelt ACES will sing holiday songs.  Jen Lennox has arranged this program; reservations were due last week.  Tours of the new facility will follow the program.

Roberta O’Keefe needs volunteers to pray at upcoming meetings.

Bill Childers says volunteers are needed for Salvation Army Bell Ringers at Acme.  President Amanda Senn took her children to volunteer.  The kids were very successful fundraisers.

President Amanda Senn thanked all the Rotarians who attended the Christmas party at Over Easy at the Depot.  She thanked Rebekah Wright Kulis for organizing the event and Shannon Zemba for opening her restaurant to our group.

Matt Carter and David McKeen were congratulated as Rotarians of the Year.  Their names were announced at the Christmas party.

Holiday Happy Hour will be held on Thursday, December 18, at Beware of the Leopard (below Buffalo Wild Wings) at 5:30 p.m.  The Rotary Board will be enjoying some holiday cheer, and all are welcome.

Toys are still needed for the Salvation Army.  Drop off at the ReStore or bring to the meeting at the SEED campus.

Thanks to all who helped with the Cookie Walk on Sunday in downtown Kent.

Roberta O’Keefe had plenty of adventures in Germany during her junior year abroad experience—especially touring with a distant German cousin in his VW.

Dave Hansford recalled his 10-day vacation in Italy and specifically an early morning tour of the Vatican.

Dr. Justin Gates and his wife Carrie spent a belated honeymoon in Key West.  They drove from Miami in a rented convertible in July.

Joan Seidel attended a lecture in Pittsburgh and shook hands with the speaker—the Dalai Lama—at a luncheon afterwards.

Alli Myers, daughter of Dave and Emilie Myers and granddaughter of Kathy and Tom Myers, was honored at the meeting.  Alli is an eighth grader, who plays in the orchestra and participates in cross country.  She is a straight A student, a talented artist and involved in the Drama Club.  Alli has helped with food drives with her dad, Dave, and serves as a role model for her fellow students.

Rachel Rydbom Dillon, a 1998 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School, talked to the group about her involvement in the Warrior Saber Award.  Rachel worked at Bissler’s Funeral Home and joined the Marine Corps after graduation.  She and her husband Jay Dillon have four children in their blended family.

The Warrior Saber program recognizes former service members for their community service contributions after their active duty responsibilities end.  According to Rachel, the award and the ceremony accompanying the presentation of the saber “gives a beacon of hope for other veterans.” 

Rachel and Jay asked Rotarians, who are veterans, to stand and be recognized.  They included Bill Nome, Jim Myers and Kramer.  Rachel encouraged members to nominate deserving veterans for the award.