Rotareminder
Rotary Club of Kent
March 5, 2024
Meeting opening:
President Asad Khan called the meeting to order and welcomed Rotarians and guests. He thanked our audio booth volunteers Mark Pennell and Adam Alderson. Photos will be taken by Dominique Bollenbacher today. We sang the National Anthem, played by David Dix. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Amanda Senn offered an invocation. Our second song was Don’t Fence Me In, with song leader Dom Bollenbacher accompanied by David Dix on piano.
Visitors:
Jennifer Lennox introduced her good friend Jen Yensel, the mother of one of the speech contestants, and her daughter Katie Lennox.
Denise Baba introduced Joan Seidel, the Kent City Health Commissioner.
Kathy Myers introduced our exchange student, Maria.
Announcements:
Jen Lennox is selling brackets for March Madness. The goal is to raise $750 to support our literacy efforts.
Stacy Richardson showed one of the flyers designed to promote the Rotary Auction on Tuesday April 23rd. The event will be held at the Belltower Brewing in Kent. Proceeds from the event will fund Rotary’s community grants program.
Amanda Senn announced a Happy Hour Celebration of the Safety Town grant. It will be held at the Battleground on Thursday, March 14th from 5 to 7 pm. Please RSVP to Amanda.
Todd Kamenash outlined the Rotary programs for March, a series by Moonlighters. First up is Vance Voyles, with KSU Police and an author and adjunct faculty member. Second is Laing Kennedy our bracket buster guru. Last is Eric Mansfield, who does communications and marketing and serves as a screenwriter and adjunct faculty member.
Dom Bollenbacher reminded us that Rotary Reads is tomorrow in all 5 schools in Kent. Remember to bring your own book to read.
Happy Bucks:
Will Underwood donated in appreciation for our speakers and their advisors.
Randy Smith is happy for his daughter completing a major marathon.
Roger Sidoti thanked Pam and Jeff Harr for their work with students.
Tom Larkin gave thanks for the Rough Riders. Dave Myers recognized the Rough Riders and our exchange student Maria.
Roberta O’Keefe appreciated the Addams Family musical production at Roosevelt this past weekend.
Sandy Reid is happy that the women’s Final Four is coming to Cleveland.
Kathy Myers gave thanks for the Rough Riders and Maria.
Asad Khan thanked the members of the orchestra who performed for the Addams Family musical.
Student of the Month:
Principal Kathy Scott introduced us to Ra’Quel Loftin, the March student of the month from Stanton Middle School. Ra’Quel is a member of the 8th grade Titans Team. Ra’Quel’s favorite subject is math. She is an active volunteer. She helps with NAACP and CARE. She helps with the community garden in the South end. She volunteers at the King Kennedy Center. She also marches to bring drug awareness to the community. She credits her grandmother for giving her the strength to help others. Ra’Quel wants to go to college at Kent State or Miami University because of there family ties. Ra’Quel is here with her mother, Shawntay and other family members.
Program: Four Way Speech Contest
Will Underwood introduced the program for today. The winner of this contest will go on to represent Kent Rotary at the District contest on April 6th. Will announced the speech contest judges from Rotary. Todd Kamenash, Dominique Bollenbacher, and Randy Smith will judge the contestants. Will then asked Pam Harr and Jeff Harr, speech advisors from Kent Roosevelt High School to introduce the speech contestants. They introduced the four seniors competing today as Kore Allen, Emmy Derry, Sam Lanier, and Anabelle Yensel.
Kore Allen used the four way test to affirm that the digital media class is in need of extra resources in order to invest in promoting teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, and community involvement.
Emmy Derry told us that volunteering can change your life and is needed everywhere. Volunteering can brighten anyone’s day.
Sam Lanier used the four way test to show that fast food restaurants cause major health problems. Fast food needs a make-over to improve our diets.
Anabelle Yensel told us that labeling students causes stress and that being labeled gifted can actually have a negative impact on students. She used the four-way test to advocate for an open environment for students to be with peers and not set apart.
After a brief gap for judges to compute scores, the winner was announced. Anabelle Yensel was the winner and will go on to the District competition.
Response:
Roberta O’Keefe thanked the students for their speeches. She said that this is one of our favorite programs each year.
The meeting closed with the Four Way Test.
Respectfully submitted
Sue Hetrick
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