The Rotary Club of Kent
July 16, 2024
President Rachel, called the meeting to order at 12:10. Our patriotic song was the National Anthem led by Dominique Bollenbacher and played by David Dix. It was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation by Tom Myers. Dominique led us in singing the Beatles tune, “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”
VISITORS
There were no visiting Rotarians. President Rachel’s daughter Camille and her friend Maria were with us as was Matt Carter’s daughter Malory
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- President Rachel reminded everyone that next week’s meeting will be held at the May 4th Museum on the campus of Kent State.
- Bill Childers invited everyone to attend the Cruise-In Car show on 8/7 from 2pm to 9pm in Ravenna. The event will take place on West Main from the A and W to Pizza Hut.
- Doug Fuller encouraged everyone to attend Tap Talks at North Water Brewing tonight at 7 pm. The speaker will be Dr. Scott Rudlosky, a 2000 graduate of THRS who is an expert scientist studying lightning.
- Larry Lohman announced that our club will receive the A /Z Baker award for the year that just ended with Asad Khan at the helm. He encouraged everyone to sign up for the “End Polio Night” at Progressive Field on 8/12. It will be a fireworks night. He also noted that Grill for Good will be held on 8/10 from noon to 6 at Hometown Bank Plaza.
- Dennis Campbell invited Rotarians to attend the Chamber Breakfast with the City Manager at Over Easy at the Depot on 7/25 from 8 to 8:30.
- Dominique Bollenbacher reminded everyone that this weekend will be Wizardly World of Kent sponsored by Main Street Kent.
HAPPY BUCKS
The many happy people included Dennis Campbell, Sue Whiting, Randy Smith, Kathy Myers, Roberta O’Keefe, Dominique Bollenbacher, Mark Pennell and Bill Childers. Ann Moneypenney received a standing ovation when she talked about her work with prisoners at the Trumbull Correctional Facility. One of the men she has worked with has just been released and will be able to walk with his KSU graduating class on Saturday, August 10, when he receives his Bachelor’s degree.
TODAY’S SPEAKER
President Rachel introduced Nancy Whitehead, fellow Rotarian and head of the Kent Rotary Foundation. Nancy defined the differences in focus between the International Rotary Foundation and our local foundation, which was proposed during the presidency of Glenn Saltzman in 1981 and formed as a 501 (C)3 in 1984 during the tenure of David Dix. The Kent Rotary Foundation grants funding to other local non-profits for the betterment of our community. The funds come from annual auction proceeds, donations, bequests, and the growth of the endowment.
Grants during this past fiscal year include:
- Habitat for Humanity for a ReStore truck
- Student Success Centers established by Neighborhood Bridges
- Portage County Literacy Center
- United Christian Ministries
- CASA
- Hopetown
- The Ben Curtis Family Foundation
- Kent Child Development Center
- Kent Parks and Recreation
- Stanton Middle School
- Haymaker Market Stanzas
- Haven of Portage County
- UU Church
- Kent Historical Society
- The Rotary Club of Kent
- Kent Youth Football
- Boy Scouts of America
- School of Peace and Conflict Studies at KSU
Total awards totaled in excess of $38,000
In 2021, during the presidency of Randy Smith, a Capital Campaign raised $207,000. Total collected to date is $152,000. The Kent Rotary Foundation today has assets of $507,676 as compared with $479,080 last year at this time.
Nancy acknowledged the efforts of many people including Larry Lohman, Lauren Talion, Chris Martin, Stacey Richardson and the Auction Committee, Scott Flynn and everyone who supported the Foundation through their donations.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Hatch
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