WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE??? I simply cannot believe it’s June! Several people have said something to me along the lines of, “you must be happy your year is almost up.” The truth is, I have absolutely loved every minute it of it. That is why I cannot believe it’s my last month as your president. What an honor it’s been! I will share more at our end of June meeting when we, once again induct the new officers for the coming year.
Regarding Grill for Good. Since there were zero people signing up to help with this year’s event, we are opting not to participate. That said, ALL are encouraged to attend and support the Jaycees and other groups who are working to raise money for our community. It all was rather last minute (at least as far as our being aware that it was back on for this year), so this is not an indictment of our club. So, start planning now for the second Saturday of June 2023. We will be there with lots of volunteers and great energy! Thanks to Governor Larry and Amanda Senn for volunteering to help as they could despite both being out of town about that time.
As mentioned last week and at Tuesday’s meeting, under the leadership of Anita Herington, Monarch Queen, we will be planting Milkweed at Towner’s Woods beginning at 2:00 pm on June 24th. If you can help, please meet in the parking lot at Towner’s Woods. There are more plants to be planted than last fall, so all who can help are much appreciated! If you have questions, reach out to Anita.
As a reminder, we are collecting Mac and Cheese and Granola Bars to donate to the Ben Curtis Family Foundation for distribution this summer in the BCFF’s Birdie Bags. It’s a part of our Spring Story Walk Project, which is set to launch on June 18th. This month-long literacy event in Kent, will feature the book, “Share Your Rainbow” posted in pages around store windows in Kent. Please be sure to bring your favorite child or grandchild (oh heck… you don’t need a kid for admittance… just come and enjoy the stories and the artwork in this lovely book). Thank you to the stores and everyone involved! This is another literacy project that our club has sponsored. Kudos to Curt Stumpf and Dave Myers for taking the lead for our club. If you bring the Mac and Cheese or Granola Bars to a meeting, we will collect them and ensure that they are delivered to the Ben Curtis Family Foundation.
Speaking of bringing in donations, Amanda Senn launched a Baby Formula Drive at our club to collect money and baby formula to be distributed to moms in Kent who cannot find/afford baby formula. As it has been decades since I last shopped for baby formula, did you know that ONE canister costs about $40??? That adds up so quickly! If you can donate dollars or canisters please bring them on Tuesday. If you want to donate dollars, so Amanda can do the shopping, you can Venmo @RotaryClubofKent with the notation baby formula in the notes.
The June Kent Rotary Board meeting will be held on Thursday, June 16th. Instead of our regular meeting, I am looking forward to finally welcoming the board and their spouses to my home for dinner. (If there is business to be done, rest assured, we will take care of it.)
Thank you to each of you for all that you do for our club and our community.
The Rotary meeting for May 31, 2022, which followed Memorial Day, began with the “Star Spangled Banner,” the pledge of allegiance and an invocation by Nelson Burns honoring military service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The song was “Happy Days Are Here Again.” There were no visiting Rotarians, but Kathy Myers introduced Denise Baba as her guest.
Announcements
Kathy thanked the gazebo cleanup crew who helped maintain the downtown landmark.
Amanda Senn thanked everyone who has donated to the baby food drive, helping to support families in the community get through the difficult infant formula shortage affecting our nation.
Roger Sidoti announced the programming for June, which is traditionally the last month of the Rotary year. June programs will reflect the theme of looking back and planning for the future. Will Underwood will talk about his year of being a bus driver. Michelle Hartman, interim executive director of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, will talk about reinventing the chamber after Covid. Kent Police Chief Nick Shearer will describe changes that have occurred over the past year. And finally, Kathy Myers will induct new officers.
Rotary night at the Guardians game will be July 13. Tickets are available at rotarydistrict6630.org.
June 18, they will be launching the new Story Walk in downtown Kent. The story is Share Your Rainbow.
Kathy was given a thank you note from the Great Trail Council thanking the Kent Rotary Foundation for its gift that supported a camping event for girls in scouts, which included 35 girls and gave them a memorable and impactful experience.
Program
Mary Beth Harper introduced speaker Carol Crimi and Matt Carroll, who presented the annual report on the Rotary Foundation. First, they explained that our club’s foundation is not the Rotary Foundation, which is affiliated with Rotary International and was founded in 1917. Rather, the Kent Rotary Foundation was established under the leadership of Glenn Saltzman in 1980-81 and became a registered nonprofit under the presidency of David Dix. The main source of funding for the foundation is the annual auction. Its general purpose is to “promote and serve the charitable and educational needs of the greater Kent community” and is governed by a board of trustees who are elected to seven-year terms.
Any charitable or educational organization can apply for grants as long as they have a Rotary member to sponsor the application. Grants are intended to meet specific, one-time needs rather than to provide general-purpose or ongoing revenue to organizations. Those needs should reflect the values of the Four Way Test.
The following were grants allocated June 2020 - May 2021:
Rotary Club of Kent - $5,000
Portage County United Way COVID Relief - $1,000
Kent Social Services - $4,900
Coleman Health Services - $1,500
Kent Historical Society - $3,360
Portage County Insurance Association (Coats for Kids) - $1,500
Davey & Walls Schools - $3,316
Axcess - $2,500
Open Recovery - $5,000
Portage Parks - $600
United Christian Ministries - $5,000
Glenn Saltzman Award (Habitat for Humanity) - $500
TOTAL - $34,176
The following are grants allocated so far this year, for June 2021 - April 2022:
Rotary Club of Kent - $5,000
CoCoDa - $3,000
Coleman Health Services - $1,500
Edible Kent - $1,115
Educational Artistry - $2,700
Great Trail Council - $1,000
Kent Historical Society - $5,000
Let’s Grow Together - $2,250
TOTAL - $21,565
Carol showed photos of the events and programs funded by the Foundation, including girls enjoying scout camp, produce for the community grown by Edible Kent, Portage Park District plantings at Towner’s Woods, the Kent Historical Society digitizing its archives, and Tree City Preschool’s new playground equipment.
Carol thanked outgoing trustee Dr. Steve Belli for his seven years of service on the Rotary Foundation Board. She also thanked the auction committee: Stacey Richardson, Lauren Talion, Dr. Randy Smith, and Dave Sommers. And she recognized Scott Flynn for providing pro bono legal services to the Foundation.
“I think you can see that in the past two years you have accomplished an awful lot in this community,” Carol said.
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.