Thanks to everyone who made the “Pack the Bus” event such a success! I’d like to give the biggest shout out to Ben Wolford who made us aware of this great opportunity to serve our neighboring communities.
This Tuesday, September 28th is the last day to order your shirts! The last time we ordered shirts was over 10 years ago, so if you’re on the fence, go ahead and order one! The t-shirts are only $13 for most sizes and the polo shirts are only $25. The quality is great for both and you can show the world that you’re a part of a fabulous service organization. Please let me and/or Matt Carter know if you would like to have a Rotary shirt. If you need more info, come to the meeting this Tuesday or next or send me an email (Kathy.myers@colemanservices.org.)
As I mentioned last week, we are looking into ways to make lunches at Rotary work better for us and the Methodist Women’s group that serves us. I hope to have an update for you soon. In the meantime, please plan on being at Tuesday’s meeting and to buying lunch! Thank you!
Over the last couple of years, we have gotten behind in our memorial commemorations to club members who have passed. President-elect Dave is going to get us back on track. This week we will be remembering Glenn Saltzman and will have Ruth there to receive the memorial.
I heard a rumor that someone in the club has a sandwich-board type sign that could be placed by the road on Tuesdays to let people know where we meet. If you know of that sign and/or have any idea where it might reside, please let me know. If we cannot locate the old one, I will order a new one. I’ll also get a couple of signs pointing the way around to the back parking lot of the church. It’s so easy to find once you’ve been there, but it’s not intuitive for those who have not yet been to a meeting.
I hope to see more guests and potential Rotarians at our meetings. Please invite those you know to join us!
Visitors: Guests were David Patterson, guest of Dave Myers; Larry Hall, brother of Tom Hall; Kelly Eisentraut, Human Resources Manager at Kent Displays, guest of Asad Khan; Heidi Jurging and Cindy Thompson, guests of Dennis Love.
Todd Kamenash thanked Rotarians for “far exceeding expectations” for their contributions of toiletries and snacks for the “Pack the Bus Food Drive” held in the parking lot. He also thanked Rotarian Ben Wolford for organizing the event.
Roberta O’Keefe asked for prayer volunteers.
Bill Childers is looking for volunteers for Putter Ball tourney benefitting Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Coleman Stay Right at Home will be held virtually on Thursday, September 23. Check the online auction. Amanda Senn is the Chair and President Kathy thanked all the sponsors and donors.
Rotary shirts are available for order from President Kathy.
Upcoming events:
Rotary Happy Hour on Wednesday September 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. at River Merchant.
Rotary Happy Hour on Wednesday, October 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Bistro on Main.
100th Anniversary Gala tickets are available and members encouraged to attend on Saturday, October 23 at the Kent State Hotel.
Club history: Jim Myers talked about activities of the Club in 1951.
Student of the Month: Dennis Love presented Roosevelt senior Paige Thompson. Paige is a straight A student, who is involved in a number of activities and plays the trumpet. She is captain of the varsity cheer team and plays lacrosse.
Program: Nithya Venkataraman, Director of Product Development and Management at Kent Displays, described her career path with the company beginning with her first job in the company’s lab. She has a physics degree from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree from the Liquid Crystals Institute at Kent State University. Nithya spent a year living in China and working directly with Kent Displays’ Asia and Asia Pacific customers and suppliers. She and her husband have a young daughter. “All of these experiences have shaped who I am today,” she explains. Her presentation was one of four “Women as Leaders” programs presented by Asad Khan, CEO of Kent Displays and Rotary program chair.
Paul Beck, our club President in 1951-52 came to Kent at the request of George Bowman to become the comptroller for Kent State University. He later retired to become President of the Kent National Bank, now Huntington National Bank. As President he entertained a newly elected Vice President of Rotary International, Ray Colette of Maine who was a longtime friend of Ted Rowe.
That year there was a summer picnic at Fred Fuller Park, a tour of Kent State University with lunch on campus and remarks by President George Bowman, and continued work on Camp Spellman which gave variety to the year’s programs. As usual, speakers came from many walks of life. There was a look at the FBI out of the Cleveland office, an economic forecast from the B.F. Goodrich Company and Emil Burg who spoke of university business.
It was an honor for the club to entertain and listen to Dr. Kurt Von Schusnigg, former Chancellor of Austria, long imprisoned by the Nazis. He warned of vigilance to keep the world free. Bob Dix had been fortunate enough to travel with the 433rd wing with Colonel Harry Hopp of Kent when he flew over Greenland onto England and Germany to be part of the peacekeeping force at the time of the Berlin Wall. His descriptions were vivid.
Early in the summer of 1951 the club was delighted to have Myron Scott, founder and director of the Soap Box Derby be their guest.
And finally, Larry Woodell praised outdoor sports including hunting and talked of the many hunting dogs that he had known. Their names were listed.
Kathy Myers would like members to consider attending the Rotary International annual meeting in Houston next spring.
Registration is open and hotel rooms are filling up! Now is the time to reserve your spot to attend this incredible gathering of the world's Rotarians this time next year. Learn more about it here.
Information in this eBulletin comes primarily from the Rotareminder, board meeting minutes, and stories submitted by members.
If you have any Rotary stories, events or speaker information to benefit the Club, please submit it to info.rotarykentohio.org@gmail.com. We will add it to the next appropriate eBulletin.