The Rotary Club of Kent
December 5, 2023
President Asad called the meeting to order at 12:15. Our patriotic song, God Bless America, with David Dix at the piano was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation by John Flynn. In honor of the season, the club sang “Frosty, the Snowman” ably led by Dominique Bollenbacher
VISITORS
Emily and Josephine Myers were the guests of Husband and Dad, Dave Myers. Zach Bickel, ready to be installed as our newest member, was the guest of his sponsor, Chas Madonio. Sarah Khan was the guest of her Dad, Asad.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Rachel Kerns reminded everyone that the annual toy drive will end next week, so please bring toys to our next meeting.
- Doug Fuller announced that this month’s Tap Talk will be held at North Water Brewing on the 12th. The speakers will be Paul Bauer and Mark Dawidziak, authors of the biography of Jim Tully.
- Roberta O’Keefe passed around a sign-up sheet for delivering the weekly invocation.
- Dave Myers encouraged everyone to participate in Every Rotarian Every Year by donating to the Rotary Foundation.
- Bill Childers invited everyone to Christmas Eve services at the United Methodist Church. He also noted the United Way Fundraiser at Raising Cane’s in Kent on December 6. Mention United Way at the register and Cane’s will donate 15% of sales to United Way.
- Bill Childers also asked for volunteers to sign up for the Salvation Army bell ringing on one of four dates: December 7, 9, 14, and 16.
- Dominique Bollenbacher will emcee the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Luncheon featuring the Jaycees on December 14 at Buffalo Wild Wings from 11:30 to 1:00.
HAPPY BUCKS
- Sarah Khan celebrated her friend Maria Clara, who is today’s speaker.
- Kathy, Tom, and Dave Myers celebrated Maria as well, along with guests Emily and Josephine Myers
- Amy Mucha is taking Daisy Pops to New York City to participate in the Goldman Sachs Christmas Market.
- Amanda Senn was sorry to have missed this year’s Christmas party.
- John Flynn celebrated Josephine Myers and his own mother, also named Josephine.
- Nelson Burns and Ann Moneypenny thanked Rebecca Wright Kulis for organizing a great Christmas party, which was held last Friday.
- Tom Larkin noted that Kent City Schools will offer various holiday concerts and winter sports events to attend. He congratulated Jonah Baker, this month’s Stanton Student of the Month.
- Asad Khan welcomed Maria Clara, our Rotary Exchange student, and his daughter Sarah. Maria will stay with the Khans at their home for the next few months.
- Bill Childers congratulated Dave Myers on his award as Rotarian of the Year.
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Kathy Scott, principal at Stanton Middle School, presented Jonah Baker as December Student of the Month. Jonah is an eighth grader at Stanton and serves our community through his involvement with Boy Scouts, 4-H, the Summit County Fair Board, and PARTA. He plays the clarinet, loves studying science, and is considering a career as a mechanical or electrical engineer.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION
Zach Bickel, District Executive for the Scouts BSA and head Lacrosse coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in Akron was inducted into the club as our newest member by President Asad and his sponsor, Chas Madonio..
PROGRAM
Kathy Myers, counselor to our incoming Rotary Exchange students introduced Maria Clara Sala Zanoni who is here from Brazil for the school year studying at Theodore Roosevelt High School as a Senior. As is the custom with Rotary Exchange students, Maria will reside with two or three families during her stay in Kent. She recently left the Rennert’s home and is now at the home of her friend, Sarah Khan, who is President Asad’s daughter.
Maria introduced us to life and culture in Brazil, where she resides with her family in Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, a city about the size of Kent in the southern state of Sao Paulo. Her father is a surgeon, and her mother is a lawyer—both are Rotarians as was her grandfather. She has a younger brother, Raphael.
Maria noted that Brazil is “awesome in soccer,” and has earned five World Cups. Special celebrations in her hometown include tube racing on the River Pardo, a “rockin’ weekend” of live music with famous Brazilian singers, a five-day-long rodeo, and a chocolate festival to raise funds for a local orphanage. Maria Clara made a special chocolate treat for each of us in the audience, which was passed during her talk. Yum.
According to Maria, it’s impossible not to love Brazilian food and she explained various delicious dishes including a bean stew with beef and pork, Brazilian BBQ (the best!), seafood treats, Brazilian cheese bread, and a fried dough with chicken. In Brazil, the biggest meal of the day occurs at what we call lunchtime and Maria has found it difficult to get through the day with our rather meager lunches. Brazil is the biggest exporter of coffee in the world and rich strong coffee is something most Brazilians enjoy. A cocktail made with Cachaca, fermented sugar cane, and lime juice is also popular.
The biggest holiday in Brazil is the world-famous Carnaval, which attracts half-a- million visitors every year. The first Carnaval was held in 1723 and everyone participates. The Festa Junina (June Party) is also an important celebration.
Given her family’s involvement over many years with Rotary, “Rotary has a feeling of home” for Maria. Her brother, Raphael, also wants to become a Rotary Exchange student.
More about Maria: favorite color is pink, birthday is January 29, loves coffee, favorite time of year is Christmas, loves to read. Since she has been in Kent, she has experienced some “firsts” including, bowling, ice skating, camping, Thanksgiving, and, of course, snow. TRHS is a much larger school than the one she attends at home, and that’s been a surprise. Maria’s goal is to follow her father into a career in medicine as a pediatric surgeon.
RESPONSE
During the question period, Mark Pennell noted that Maria speaks almost perfect American English. President Asad offered the response welcoming Maria to Kent, to Rotary, and to his home.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Hatch
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