Rotareminder for the Rotary Club of Kent
Meeting on October 28, 2025
President Amanda Senn called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m. Our patriotic song was God Bless America accompanied by David Dix on piano, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Dominique Bolenbacher led us in singing Ain’t that a Kick in the Head with David Dix on piano. The Invocation was offered by David Myers. Bill Nome and
Roger Kramer worked tech; Nithya Venkataraman took our photos.
VISITORS
There were no visiting Rotarians today. Guests were as follows:
- Doug Fuller’s guests were his wife Karen and daughter Lauren
- Rachel Kern’s guest was her niece Serra Gingrich
- Anne Moneypenny’s guest was Brandon
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Todd Packer announced that the APMP (Association of Proposal Management Professionals) Canada will host an online seminar on Thursday, November 06, 2025 at noon. Host: connect@apmp-mapleleaf.org
- Benjamin Tipton announced that David McKeen is again organizing our annual fall leaf cleanup on two successive Saturdays: November 8 and November 15. Interested Rotarians should contact David and meet at the Methodist Church behind Pierson Hall at 9:00 a.m.
- Bill Childers reminded us that the Salvation Army’s food distribution is Wednesday, November 5 from 8 a.m. to 11:00 and on the first Wednesday of every month at the lot at the intersection of Summit Street and Horning Road. Volunteers are always needed.
- Dennis Campbell announced that the Tree City Awards Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on November 13 at the KSU Hotel and Conference Center. Last day for registration is this Friday October 31.
- Rebekah Wright Kulis announced that Trunk or Treat will be held on Thursday, October 30, 5:30–7:00 at Theodore Roosevelt High School.
- Larry Lohman reminded us about the District 6630 Foundation Awards Gala, 6:00–9:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13 at Lavera Party Center, 32200 Chardon Rd, Willoughby Hills.
- Denise Baba announced PARTA’s Stuff the Bus event at Walmart on Sunday, November 9.
- President Amanda Senn announced that the annual Cookie Walk will be held on Sunday, December 7. More information as it becomes available.
HAPPY BUCKS
The following Rotarians were happy today:
- Laing Kennedy is happy that KSU won a football game against Bowling Green.
- Sue Whiting is happy because her son completed a half iron man (aka, a tin man).
- Paul Organ is happy about his recent trip to South Africa, the most beautiful place he has ever visited.
- Kathy Myers is happy about Dom Bollenbacher’s presentation at our new City Hall, about Stacey Richardson’s leading last week’s meeting, and about the two Kent Rotarians in local races: Benjamin Tipton and David Myers.
- Rachel Kerns is happy about her niece Serra visiting from Turkey and her daughter recently gaining a spot in her school’s honors choir.
- Dennis Campbell is happy about his recent attendance at the Michigan-Nebraska game, which Nebraska won handily.
TODAY’S PROGRAM
Dominique Bollenbacher introduced our speaker, Emilie Oxley, Executive Director of Refuge Host Homes (RHH), a faith-based organization that serves pregnant women in Greater Akron in order to help reduce the high infant mortality rate in our area and to address the lack of affordable housing and the rising cost of living.
In her lively presentation, she described RHH as follows:
We are a network of Host Homes (families, married couples, and individuals) in the Greater Akron, Ohio area who open up our houses and lives to a vulnerable pregnant mother so she doesn't have to travel the journey into motherhood alone. We are committed to living life alongside a mom and her child in a practical and life-giving way.
We are a connection to Community Partners who work with pregnant women and their children to ensure that all their needs are being met. Our wrap-around
services aim to meet the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental needs of our mothers and connect them to the vast resources that our community has to offer.
We are a link between the Local Church and a population who desperately needs to know and experience the love of Jesus in action. The church body can and must step into this vital area of hospitality and we partner with churches to do so,
providing "hands-on" opportunities to create relationships with those who need to know they aren't forgotten by God's People.
Our mission as a faith-based, non-profit organization is to serve vulnerable pregnant women and their children by providing a safe haven through housing, supportive relationships, and the power and love of Jesus Christ.
Our vision is that through Christ’s redemptive power, all vulnerable women and their children live in safe, supportive, affordable home environments, resulting in lower
infant mortality rates, preventing the need for foster care and resulting in a community of thriving families.
Our method is providing refuge through Biblical hospitality and grace with the goal of protecting the bond between mother and child as they find safe shelter in a family environment and then move to supportive independent housing with a new outlook.
Q&A
Q: How many host families in Portage County? A: Three
Q: Can churches do small things (as opposed to big things)?
A: Yes! E.g., one church makes birthday baskets for mothers-to-be. Q: How does Refuge Host Homes ensure neutrality?
A: There is no religious coercion. Clients are served regardless of their faith.
Doug Fuller was our responder. He thanked Emily for her talk and informed us that his daughter Lauren’s decision to be a Refuge Home Host was a rewarding and
transformative experience.
We closed our meeting with a recitation of the Rotary 4-Way Test.
Respectfully submitted,
Will Underwood
