Rotareminder for the Rotary Club of Kent
Hybrid Meeting on December 3, 2024.
President Rachel welcomed the group by calling the meeting to order at ~12:15pm. Our patriotic song of the day was the National Anthem with David Dix (on piano); Dominique Bolenbacher (vocals) led the club in the singing of Winter Wonderland followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Invocation for today’s meeting was offered by Roger Sidoti; Marc Pennell, Adam Alderson, and Roger Cramer working tech; Nithya handling photos, and Brian K Bialik handling Rotareminder duties.
There were no visiting Rotarians.
Visitors / Guests
Paul Organ introduced his guest, Nathan Thomas.
Students of the Month
Tommy Kenworthy of THRS (parents Julie and Pete).
Amelia Montgomery of SMS (parents Stephanie and Wesley).
Announcements
- David Dix distributed the bell ringing list for Salvation Army.
- This Friday is the Club’s annual Xmas party.
- Jennifer Lennox is coordinating Xmas caroling scheduled for the 12th, between 6 and 8pm.
She is in need of volunteers to work the event. The group will meet at the United Methodist
Church ~30 minutes prior to.
- Steve Dennis is coordinating Every Rotarian Every Year donations for our club. He will be collecting donations in person at the next two club meetings, or members may contribute directly to RI via their website.
- President Rachel announced that the toy drive is still sctive, with gift cards welcome. All are encouraged to participate.
- Amanda Senn announced that cookie Walk volunteers are needed.
- Nancy Whitehead announced the date of the next Kent Rotary Foundation board meeting as 12/10/24. There are multiple applications under consideration.
- Roberta O’Keefe distributed the prayer list for ’25.
- Nithya announced that after the luncheon, and every luncheon thereafter, the auction committee will meet to commence planning for this March, 2025 event.
- Dominique Bollenbacher shared with the club that the Kent Jaycees is selling tickets to their annual Reverse Raffle event. See Dominque for Tickets. In addition, the Kent Police Department is also conducting their annual toy drive for needy families. They will be organizing at the Walgreens parking lot on Saturday, December 14th.
- On behalf of Main Street Kent, Dominique also announced that the Unsilent Night event, is scheduled for Sunday, December 15th at 5:45pm.
Happy Bucks
- Will Underwood very grateful for a nice Thanksgiving with family.
- Past President/PDG, Larry Lohman, is celebrating the pending graduation of his daughter, from UCF on December 15th.
- Amanda Senn’s daughter turns nine this week.
- Dave Myers extends well wishes to both Students of the Month.
- Mary Beth extended thanks for all of the B’day wishes last week.
- Kathy Myers also celebrated the achievements of both Students of the Month.
- Tom Larkin extended congratulations to both student recipients, as well as the upcoming holiday musical events at THRS.
- Stacey Richardson announced that her husband turned 50 this week.
Program
Hiroshima Peace Conference
Melissa Wallick
Rotarian Nancy Whitehead introduced our speaker this afternoon, Melissa Wallick. Among her many achievements, Melissa, partially funded by a grant from the Kent Rotary Foundation, attended the Hiroshima Peace Conference, in Hiroshima, Japan this past summer. The idea for her was to strengthen her understanding of conflicts related to war, and engage in an intensive program of study to hone her skills related to mediation and conflict resolution techniques.
This program was started in ’03 by professor Yasumiro(?) Inoue who was passionate about teaching others about the horrors and tragedy of war, and why it is a thing to be avoided.
Melissa goes on to describe Hiroshima as not merely a site memorializing its tragic atomic bombing in the last century, but a dynamic city in the new century, where students from diverse backgrounds can come together to study and discuss issues related to world peace. The aim of this summer course “HIROSHIMA and PEACE” is to provide students with a general understanding of the nature and attributes of war and peace by illuminating various aspects of wartime experiences, including the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and, at the same time, to explore contemporary issues related to world peace in the era of globalization.
The program itself was broken down into four elements:
- The history of war, with specific emphasis on the tragedy of Hiroshima.
- Trips to locations dedicated to the events mentioned above, such as the Hiroshima Peace Museum; the equivalent of city hall to meet the current mayor – Matsui, and ending with the attendance to what has become an annual ritual – a peace ceremony in remembrance of all of the victims.
- Skill building related to understanding conflict and ways to address it.
- Learning about Hiroshima’s resilience. Students had the opportunity to speak with a survivor of that day (Kiko – 8 years old at the time), sharing the raw horror of the monment starting with a flash of light, followed by an immense shock wave. The skies were darkened, fires were everywhere lasting three days, with the smell of burining flesh in the air. What is particularly special about Kiko was that she went on to live a normal life against enormous odds, becoming a spouse and a mother, never giving in to hate. She became a strong advocate for peaceful change and was awarded the Nobel Peace prize as a result.
It was evident from her remarks that Melissa came back a changed person, committed to the notions of peace in everything we do. The enriching experience will forever shape how she views the world, and strengthen her resolve to make the world a better place then how she found it.
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Amanda Senn, responded to today’s speaker.
Respectfully submitted,
Brian K Bialik
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