This program provides children ages birth to 5 with a free book in the mail every month. That's 60 books mailed to every child born in Ohio to start their own personal library and build necessary literacy skills.
Now through March 13, Rotary's Statewide Presidents-Elect Service Project is raising funds for this important project. Click HERE to donate online.
The Rotary Club of Kent is excited to introduce the Kent Rotary Flag Program, and community-wide initiative designed to honor our nation, beautify our neighborhoods, and support meaningful local projects. Entirely volunteer-driven, this program offers residents and businesses a simple and patriotic way to celebrate America's most cherished holidays. Join us in creating a powerful display of unity across Kent - one flag at a time.
An annual subscription is $55, and the flag can be displayed at your home or business.
We switched it up a little from the previous years when Laing would give us his picks for our club March Madness brackets. This year we focused on the success Kent State's men's basketball program has seen in the past.
Kent State made the Elite Eight in 2002. They finished 30–6, won the MAC regular season and MAC tournament, and entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 10 seed. Then they made a huge run by beating Oklahoma State, Alabama, and Pittsburgh before losing to Indiana 81–69 in the Elite Eight. That Indiana team went on to be the national runner-up.
It’s still considered one of the biggest seasons in Kent State basketball history. The team also set program and MAC marks with 30 wins and had a 21-game winning streak during that run. It was very interesting hearing the behind the scenes information from Kent State’s athletic director during that 2002 Elite Eight run. Fun fact, Laing, served as AD from 1994 to 2010, which made him the school’s longest-tenured athletic director at the time of his retirement!
Rotareminder The Rotary Club of Kent March 17 , 2026 President Amanda Senn called the meeting to order at 12:20. We sang the National Anthem and Nelson Burns offered the invocation. David Dix at the piano led us in singing “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” from our brand-new Rotary Song Books, a project that David and Tom Hatch put together. There were no visiting Rotarians at today’s meeting. Saundra Kennedy was the guest of Laing Kennedy. Announcements Jen Lennox passed out copies of a book by Doug Brendel, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Silliness” which is part of his effort to raise awareness and funds for New Thing, a humanitarian aid charity based in Belarus. Doug Fuller announced that KSU will play Illinois State on ESPN later today. Nithya Venkataraman announced that we raised about $42,000 at the recent Rotary Auction for a net of about $33,000. Final results to come later. She also promoted a special Happy Hour at Bell Tower Brewing on March 27 with Easter Baskets for sale to raise money for AFS. Dave Myers encouraged everyone to participate in this year’s Bracket Buster Challenge with proceeds going to our Literacy programs. Anne Moneypenny noted that a Luncheon with our City Manager will be held on April 27 at Bell Tower. The Chamber-sponsored Heritage Fest is scheduled for Friday, July 3. Bill Childers encouraged everyone to attend the NCAA Watch Party at Rays on Friday March 20 from 11:30 to 5:30. Asad Khan displayed scale drawings of plans for Safety Town. Student of the Month Theodore Roosevelt High School Student of the Month is Emmanuel “EJ” Churn. He’s a senior this year with plans to attend KSU Tuscarawas campus in the Fall to study landscaping and business. EJ is a basketball and football player whose motto is, “If you believe, you can achieve.” His teachers and coaches speak highly of EJ and his mom was in attendance to see him receive this well-deserved award.
Today’s Program: Laing Kennedy and the March Madness Bracket Buster Challenge Before announcing his top picks to win March Madness, Laing Kennedy, retired Kent State Athletic Director, told the story of his career at KSU after he left Cornell with special focus on the revitalization of the Basketball program. Laing came to Kent State in 1994 at a time when the facilities and Basketball needed new energy. He managed to raise 25 million for facilities upgrade. Despite resistance to hiring a Black head coach, in 1996 he hired Gary Waters. It was a great choice: the team went 9-18 in his first year, but went on to win the MAC Championship by 1999. Waters eventually went to Rutgers after several successful seasons. Laing then hired Stan Heath. At the beginning of Heath’s term during the 2001 2002 season, the team lost to Youngstown State. Heath needed Laing’s support and advice: “If these guys don’t click with you, find ones who do.” With that, they went on to win 21 straight games including the MAC Championship. Antonio Gates was a member of that team and they went all the way to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Final team record that year was 30-6. When Heath was recruited by Arkansas, the players approached Laing to encourage him to make Jim Christian from Heath’s staff head coach. Such was the respect they had for him. In six years the team won three MAC Championships. The Women’s team also won the MAC. Laing’s Predictions: Women’s Final Four – UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, Louisville Men’s Final Four – Arizona, Duke, Purdue, Iowa State. Saundra Kennedy added Florida to the mix. Response Mark Pennell responded and thanked Laing for his service to KSU and to our club. Respectfully submitted, Thomas Hatch
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 rotarykentohio@gmail.com. We will add it to the next appropriate eBulletin.
