Rotareminder for the Rotary Club of Kent
Hybrid Meeting on July 30, 2024
President Rachel welcomed the group by calling the meeting to order at ~12:15pm. Our patriotic song of the day was America the Beautiful with David Dix (on piano); Dominique Bolenbacher (vocals) led the club in the singing of a theme song to the musical Annie “Tomorrow” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Invocation for today’s meeting was offered by Anne Moneypenny; Marc Pennell and Roger Cramer working tech; past president Asad Khan handling photos, and Brian K Bialik handling Rotareminder duties.
There were no visiting Rotarians (save our new District Governor, Dale Smith).
Visitors / Guests
- Sabrina Christian Bennett introduce her long-time friend, Bruce Smith, local business owner.
Announcements
- Tom Hall was recognized for forty years of service to the Rotary Club of Kent. President Rachel presented Tom with a plague in recognition of the same.
- PDG, Larry Lohman, reminded everyone about Grill for Good coming up on August 10th, noon to six. Volunteers are still needed, with a sign-up sheet circulated.
- Stacey Richardson announced programs for the month of August (listed at the end of this newsletter).
- David Mckeen, club secretary, announced the reactivation of the Loncoy Fund, originally put together to support loans to 4-H members, and County Fair participants.
- Sabrina Christian Bennett reminded Rotarians that the week starting 7/30 through and including 8/8 is Ohio’s sales tax holiday for school supplies.
July Birthdays
Share something about yourself as a kid about which your parents would not have been proud…
- Sandra Reid – a real maverick whose story was too embarrassing to share.
- David Dix – a professional troublemaker that kept his parents on their toes.
- Lee Higgins – too ashamed to even show up.
- Steve Smith – not very believable.
- Roger Cramer – invoked his fifth amendment priviledge.
- Steve Dennis (See Lee Higgins).
- Sabrina Christian-Bennett – never did anything wrong…hmmm.
- Charlie Zumkehr – your guess is as good as mine.
- Ben Wolford – still in prison.
- Ted McKown – Ben’s cellmate.
Steve Dennis‘ name was drawn so there was no winner this month.
Program
Dale Smith
District 6630 Governor
Dale Smith grew up in southeastern Ohio, graduating from Baresville High School. He received a B.S. in Ceramic Enginneering from The Ohio State University. Dale had a successful career Ieading the manufacturing quality and process improvement divisions with various companies including Avery Dennison, from whom he retired in May of 2021.
Dale's service career began with a brief, but impactful stint in town government while residing in Epping,
New Hampshire, serving on several boards. He began his journey in Rotary with the Rotary Club of Cambridge (OH) in 2003 and served as Club President in 2005/2006. As his career caused moves around the eastern US where he was a member of the Downtown Macon (GA), Kent, and Camden (SC) Rotary Clubs. Dale joined the Mentor Rotary Club in 2014 and served as president of that club in 2019/2020.
He facilitated the start of the Lake County Sunrise Satellite Rotary Club and is advisor for the Northeast Ohio Rotaract PLUS Club. Dale served as District Membership Chair and was twice named Rotarian of the Year and received a District Service Above Self Award. He is a Paul Harris Fellow +5 and a Bequest
Society (Level 3) Member.
Dale is married to Jeri Ann, a native of Bath, NY. They reside in Newbury, OH, on Raccoon Ridg. He is an avid gardener and seasonal winemaker and enjoys daily hikes in retirement with Murphy, Quinn and Keeva - the yellow labs that seem to run the household.
The annual message from our district’s newest governor started with a summary of the acheivements of this global organization, which includes polio eradication; clean water projects in developing nations, as well as literacy programs in targeted areas of need. Rotary, as described by our DG, “serves humanity and brings people together [in collaboration],” and “it is its [Rotary’s] ability to inspire that makes Rotary a very special organization.”
Membership, not surprising, continues to be on the radar screen of Rotary. A disproportionate share of new Rotarians leave our organization inside of the first five years, which is revealing. One intiative in response to this chronic decline in membership is a Club Experience Summit, scheduled on October 19th at Mentor high School. The notion here is to share ideas on how to have interesting and engaging club meetings to attract and retain members.
Our DG’s professional and Rotarian history suggests that he is committed to follow through and communicates a message of hope and collaboration as we as a club, district, and global organization, continue to advance the Rotary cause.
Programs for August :
- Aug 6th – Kent Junior Mothers – Safety School
- Aug 13th – Randy Lipscomb – Akron/Food Bank
- Aug 20th – Anthony Horton – KCS Newest Professional Educators – STANTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
- Aug 27th – Randale Richmond – KSU AD
PDG, Larry Lohman, responded to today’s speaker, new DG Dale Smith.
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Respectfully submitted,
Brian K Bialik
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