I’m sorry this is getting out so late, but next week should be smoother. Many thanks to Amanda Senn, Rachel Kerns and Chas Madonio for helping to set up lunch delivery for Tuesday. The lunches will be delivered to the church prior to the meeting so you won’t have to stand in line for them. Pay Matt Carter by check or cash (checks payable to the Rotary Club of Kent) when you pick them up. Here’s the link to order:
Many thanks to City Manager David Ruller for his great presentation on Tuesday. We all got the hear loads of information and updates on what is going on.
Wednesday, July 14th, a number of us were in attendance when District Governor, Larry Lohman, was sworn in. We received the Governor’s banner to display at our club since we are the new home club of the current District Governor. It will be on display starting Tuesday. Our club also received the AZ Baker Award at that meeting.
Remember to invite friends and colleagues to be your guest at our meetings. We want to share our great club and all we do for the Kent community and beyond.
President Kathy Myers called the meeting to order. David Dix led us in singing our patriotic song, America the Beautiful. President Kathy led the Pledge of Allegiance and Shawn Gordon offered the invocation. We used our songbooks to sing, “Let There be Peace on Earth”, accompanied by David Dix.
Guests:
Sandra Reid introduced a colleague from Davey Tree, Jennifer Lennox. Bill Childers introduced his guest Emily Murnane, an intern at United Way. President Kathy asked new members Bill Myers and Steve Smith to stand and be recognized.
Announcements:
The District banner exchange ceremony will be held on July 14th. Go to the district website to register at rotarydistrict6630.org. Our club will receive a banner since we are District Governor Larry Lohman’s home club.
The Kent Rotary Board will meet on July 15th at 7 pm via zoom.
On August 24th we will not be able to meet in the church. Meeting arrangements will be announced later.
Rachel Kerns announced that we will try food trucks for meeting lunches. Food selections will need to be made in advance. Look for an email notice prior to next week’s meeting.
Randy Smith announced a celebration of life service for Dick King will be held on July 19th from 5 to 7 pm at the Southeast Church of the Nazarene in Tallmadge.
Randy also noted that the 100th Anniversary event on October 23rd will accept sponsors. A letter will be sent offering details.
Carol Crimi announced that the Foundation Board will meet on the second Tuesday in August to consider requests for funding. July 31st is the deadline for applications.
Incoming District Governor Larry Lohman encouraged attendance at the ceremony on Wednesday, July 14th either in person or virtually. He also encouraged going to the End Polio Night at the Indians game on July 22nd. Over 250 individuals are already signed up. Larry is selling raffle tickets for the event.
President Kathy wants a club photo and is looking for recommendations for photographers.
100th Anniversary History Moment:
Jim Myers talked about events that occurred 76 years ago in our Club. See the report.
Program: City Update on the Road to Recovery
Dave Myers introduced our speaker, Dave Ruller, City Manager of Kent.
City Manager, Dave Ruller, noted that it is good to be able to meet in person again. The city is still livestreaming meetings, but has begun in-person meetings as well. He offered kudos to front-line staff in the city, including police, fire, and health departments. He also noted that we are not out of the woods yet and urged precaution due to covid variants. Dave also urged us to be extra kind to others. Crime is up in the city. Disputes and domestic violence incidents are on the rise. Drug use is not abating either.
After the somber notes, Dave talked about positive changes in the city. Lager and Vine will be moving into the former Treno location. Downtown businesses are busy again and looking to hire additional staff. The closing of Franklin Avenue for pedestrian use has been well-received. Wizardly World is coming back this year. Heritage Fest was modified from before but did well this year. An outdoor ice rink is being planned for downtown in the area between the hotel and Parta. It should be open around Thanksgiving and run until February. Parta is going to run a trolley service between campus and downtown. Look for that in the summer of 2022.
Dave briefed us on a traffic circle project for East Main Street and developments in the Historic South End. The Burbick properties are still for sale. The city hall building project is out for bid. Dave had a few more items on his update list but ran out of time. President Kathy said we would have him back again.
Response:
Dave Sommers thanked Dave for providing a very engaging talk about a wide range of updates on the city of Kent.
At the regular meeting held on July 17, 1945, Vice President Jim Laing announced that a committee of citizens under the Kent Chamber of Commerce, would soon meet to consider the erection of a suitable memorial to the men who had gone into military service from Kent and vicinity during World War II and that George Bowman had been appointed to represent Rotary on that committee.
The following week the guest speaker was mayor Alf Lovell who talked on “Your City- Kent“
A little later the club, at its meeting on Tuesday, August 7, 1945, listened to one of its own members, Dewey Barich, outline his experiences in the South Pacific while in the service of his country. Keep in mind this was one week before the Japanese surrender in World War II. His modest, yet vivid recital of the participation of his unit in the landings at Guadacanal, Leyte and other islands brought home the terrific havoc wrought and the tremendous loss of life occasioned by such encounters. In closing, Dewey pleaded for even greater attention to the establishment of peace than had been given to waging war that these things may not happen again.
And finally, World War II had ended on August 14th, 1945.
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.
