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Announcements: - President Kathy thanked the women of the Methodist Church for preparing today’s lunch noting that it’s good to be back to partially in-person meetings. She also encouraged those interested in a Rotary shirt to pick up a form and complete their purchase by the end of the month.
- Roberta O’Keefe passed around a signup sheet to offer a prayer at our meetings.
- Amanda Senn reminded us that Happy Hour on Sept. 22 will be held at River Merchant. She will send an EventBrite invitation so we can RSVP.
- Amanda also noted that Coleman’s Right at Home virtual event will go live on September 16 and will be open through the 23rd. She promised lots of great items to bid on in support of mental health services.
- Anita Herington announced that Kent Rotary and the Portage Park District have joined forces with the support of the Kent Rotary Foundation to purchase milkweed plants, which are the food of Monarch Butterflies. Planting will occur in mid-late October after the fall blooms have faded and the site can be prepped. We will be planting on Wednesday, October 20 at 3:00pm. If anyone can assist, please email Jennifer White, Education Program Coordinator for the Portage Park District to confirm details closer to the date at: jcwhite@portageparkdistrict.org
- Todd Kamenash reminded us to bring non-perishable food and toiletries to the Pack the Bus Food Drive to help families in Waterloo next Tuesday, September 21.
- Randy Smith announced that there will be a meeting of the 100th Anniversary Committee after the meeting.
100-Year Anniversary Moment: A transcript of Jim Myers’ 100-year moment is available elsewhere on this bulletin. September Birthdays: The question of the year is: What’s the most important or memorable way you have demonstrated Service Above Self in your life? - Tom Hall noted his 25 years as Secretary of this Club.
- Roger Sidoti recalled a cold winter day when he helped a homeless man he encountered while driving in downtown Cleveland.
- Todd Kamenash pointed to his efforts to teach his family the importance of supporting their community.
- Sherry Joy told of their first AFS student from Portugal and the many students the Joys have supported throughout the years.
- Scott Flynn came late to the meeting, but is eager to give his answer to the question next month.
Sherry Joy, as is typical whenever Sherry is part of any raffle drawing, won a $30 gift certificate to The Battleground, courtesy of today’s speaker, who created this fine Mexican restaurant. Today’s Program: Asad Khan introduced today’s speaker, Rosi Peruyero Noden, the creator of The Battleground Tap Room and Mexican Kitchen on Cherry Street in Kent’s South End. Rosie lives in the area with her two teen-age sons, husband, Kirk Noden, many chickens and a horse. Rosi was born in the city of Papantla in Veracruz, Mexico. Papantla is known as “the city that perfumes the world” because it is the origin of the vanilla plant, which is grown widely in this tropical area. Many families in Papantla grow and dry the plant and the streets are filled with the wonderful odor of vanilla. The city was founded in the 13th century by the Totonacs. Rosi emigrated to Chicago 25 years ago to study fashion design and met her husband, Kirk Noden, who is a KSU graduate. They also lived in the UK for a time before coming to Kent. Rosi used her skills with fabric, sewing, and design working for a well-known upholstery company in Kent. Today, she owns Brocade Upholstery, a business located in Rootstown. While her children were in school at Walls Elementary, she was instrumental in starting a garden there, which is still an important activity at the school. Rosi’s business ventures have been successful because of her uncompromising vision and innovative approach. Starting a restaurant was never part of her plan, but the need and opportunity grew out of a social justice project her husband founded. He created a line of beers, the profits from which supported such issues as voting rights, immigrant rights, and community gardens in Kent’s Historic South End. The Nodens needed a liquor license to set up a taproom and along with the license came a requirement to serve food. Rosi offered Dudley Nieto the opportunity to create a unique Mexican menu based in cuisine typical of her home Papantla region. According to Rosi, “Our food is authentic Mexican cuisine developed by Chicago Chef Dudley Nieto, who has opened nearly a dozen restaurants in Chicago, New York, and Indiana. He is nationally known, recognized for his exceptional talent, and he was featured in the PBS documentary about Mexican food titled “Food for the Ancestors” which explores the cultural traditions of the Mexican Days of the Dead celebration.” The restaurant opened six weeks before the pandemic broke out, but they have been able to adjust and be successful. Rosi offered cooking classes teaching traditional recipes, tools and techniques. The name “The Battleground” was an outgrowth of the many hours of work her husband and others put into renovating the building they purchased on Cherry Street. It was tough going at the beginning and he started referring his time there as “going to the Battleground.” The name stuck. Today’s Response: Amanda Senn thanked Rosi for her great presentation and encouraged everyone to visit the Battleground and “Drink for Good.” She also thanked her for inviting all Rotarians to the Battleground for Café de Olla and churro. Respectfully submitted Thomas Hatch
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Bill Childers invites Rotarians to:
