Rotareminder for April 2, 2024

 

President Asad opened the meeting at 12:15. The singing of America was followed by the invocation led by Roger Sidoti. Dom Bollenbacher and Adam Alderson led the club in the singing of “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” noting that it was likely the first time the club has sung anything else written later than 1980. Mrs. Roeger was at the piano today. There were no visiting Rotarians. Guests were Clinton Braganza, guest of Asad Khan, Lesley Sickle from Main Street Kent, and Dennis Campbell, guest of Ann Moneypenny.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jen Lennox asked for volunteers to help Kent Jaycees with their upcoming Kent Craft Beer Festival on May 18 from 2 to 7. She also noted that Sandee Reid has listed events around the upcoming Women’s Final Four on the Davey website.

Larry Lohman encouraged attendance at the upcoming District Conference held at the Sheraton in Cuyahoga Falls. Events include a focus on disaster relief, a pub crawl on Saturday afternoon, and a cocktail party/dinner designed to encourage interaction among the participants. He also noted that our club is now the largest in the district with 113 - 114 members.
Todd Kamenash announced that, so far, Dave Myers is leading the men’s bracket buster followed by Chris Martin, Tom Myers, and Bill Childers. Sandee Reid leads the women’s contest followed by Will Underwood and the famous Laing Kennedy. This year’s Bracket Buster raised $830 for our literacy projects. Since the inception of the BB contest, we’ve raised $4600. Good work, Todd.

Portage County Health District will hold a Community Health Fair on Wednesday April 3 from 2 to 6 pm.

Adam Alderson asked us to spread the word about the “Reentry After Incarceration” dinner event at the Kent United Methodist Church on Wednesday, April 3 from 7 to 8:30 pm.

 

HAPPY BUCKS
Todd Kamenash, Mark Pennell, and Ann Moneypenny celebrated milestone family events. Laing Kennedy celebrated the success of “the dogs.” Kathy Myers celebrated our Stanton Student of the Month. Denise Baba celebrated today’s induction of Joan Seidel, and Paul Organ celebrated the fact that he installed a toilet. Good work, Paul.

 

STANTON STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Principal Kathy Scott honored Zane Pawlekowski, future astrobiologist, as April Stanton Student of the Month. HIs mother was in attendance to see Zane receive the honor.

 

NEW MEMBER INDUCTION
Denise Baba introduced us to Joan Seidel, our newest member. Joan is Commissioner of the Kent Department of Health and is a certified Critical Care nurse and Infection Preventionist. Joan served on Kent’s unified command team for the COVID-19 response. She is a trained Yoga instructor, has lived in Kent for 34 years, is the mom of two sons, and can beat just about anyone at Parcheesi. Welcome, Joan.

 

PROGRAM

Kathy Myers introduced today’s speakers Jennifer Bishop from Kent State University and Ed Butch from Main Street Kent. Both organizations have extensive plans for community events around the eclipse on Monday, April 8.

Ed Butch noted that total eclipses actually happen about every 18 months, but only rarely are they visible over land. The next one to be visible in Ohio will occur in 2099, so Monday’s eclipse is something of a once in a lifetime event. It’ll be about 400 years until another total eclipse will be visible in our area.

Since Kent is in the path of totality, we can expect about 30,000 visitors.

Both Ed and Jennifer were members of a City Wide Planning Committee, which involved many community leaders. Events in Kent include the unveiling of a permanent art installation in
Heritage Park on Saturday, a Glow in the Dark Story Walk at Al Lease Park also on Saturday at 7:30, and a laser light show in downtown on Sunday at 8 pm. Families can also “Meet Luna,” from the PBS show “Go Luna” at the Kent Free Library on Sunday at 1pm.
On Monday, Kent State will host Planetarium Shows at 11 am and 4 pm. Everyone can contribute to the community poem at the Wick Poetry Center and attend one of several watch parties on campus or downtown. Roads will be closed in the downtown area from Sunday at 4 pm until Monday at 10 pm. Area schools will be closed.

If you are interested in learning how to photograph the eclipse—not recommended using an unprotected phone or handheld camera—there will be a seminar on Wednesday evening at North Water Brewing at 6 pm.

 

RESPONSE
Chris Martin offered the response to today’s program. Chris and his wife Carol, along with Brad Bolton, are participating in “Chasing the Eclipse” a NASA and NSF funded project to create a film of the eclipse along the entire path of totality from Texas to Maine. He thanked Ed and Jennifer for kicking off an exciting week in Kent.

 

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Hatch