The Rotary Club of Kent

November 4, 2025

 

President Amanda Senn called the meeting to order at 12:20. We sang the National Anthem and Todd Kamenash offered the invocation. Dom Bollenbacher led us in singing “Singing in the Rain” with Mrs. Roeger at the piano.

 

There were no visiting Rotarians at today’s meeting. Ryan Brannon of Bent Tree Coffee was the guest of Anne Monneypenny.

 

Nithya Venkataraman invited Rotarians to participate in the Salvation Army food distribution on November 5 from 8:30 to 11 am at the KSU parking lot on the corner of Horning and Summit.

 

Ben Tipton, service projects director, asked for help with leaf cleanup for seniors on the 8^th and 15^th. Check with David McKeen and show up with rakes and leaf blowers on Saturday mornings at the UMC parking lot.

 

Denise Baba reminded us that PARTA is sponsoring its annual “Stuff the Bus” event to provide needed food to local families on Nov 9 from 10-2. Bring groceries to donate at the Ravenna Walmart parking lot. Denise also invited everyone to attend next Tuesday’s Veterans Day celebration at the Kent Central Gateway on East Erie Street at 1 pm.

 

Dominique Bollenbacher announced that American Legion Post 496 will host Hero’s Ruck at 9 AM at the Kent Central Gateway. This event will provide funds for linking veterans with companion pets to help ease PTSD. Main Street Kent will sponsor a Festival of Lights in downtown Kent on Nov 29 in conjunction with Small Business Saturday.

 

President Amanda welcomed member Larry Wright back to the club after his long recovery from illness.

 

There were many Happy Buck contributors today, including Lee Higgins, Will Underwood, Tom Hatch, Anthony Horton, Jeff Roeger, Kathy Myers, John Flynn, and Dave Myers. Many congratulated the Wiler family who were present to see their daughter, Molly, honored as Stanton Student of the Month. Mrs. Roeger complimented her son on being a great guy, Mark Pennell is feeling great after his heart valve replacement, and Tom Larkin apologized for holding the Roosevelt Trunk or Treat event in the rainy parking lot instead of indoors. Tom Tadsen will be attending an event next Tuesday with Roger Kramer to honor the 250^th anniversary of the Marine Corps. He asked all club veterans to stand for a round of applause in thanks for their service.

 

Stanton Middle School principal, Kathy Scott introduced Molly Wiler as Student of the Month. Molly is an accomplished athlete, excellent student, and volunteers in our community’’s Neighborhood Bridges program, which advocates for children and families. As far as the future is concerned, Molly is keeping her options open. She may want to study Sports Psychology, probably in a warm climate such as South Carolina, but not ruling out Vermont or Oregon.

 

Nancy Whitehead noted that November’s programs will focus on the “crucial conversations” we have when discussing difficult topics. She introduced Rhonda Johnston who helps families arrange for assisted living for elderly loved ones.

 

She noted that, if you are thinking about when is the right time to discuss moving to assisted living with a loved one, then the time is likely now. These conversations can be difficult and she described the process as “evangelical” in that reaching a conclusion requires a series of cumulative steps that result in the loved one embracing the final decision that moving closer to care is the best choice to make.

 

Unfortunately, about half of the people who enter specialized retirement homes do so because of an emergency, such as being released from a hospital but unable to return home. Early conversations about end-of-life care can ease the trauma of situations like these. The goals of such conversations care include:

 

Advance planning is important and should include choosing a power of attorney, getting legal advice, and confirming assets and costs (full nursing care can run as high as $12,000 per month). Medicare, Medicaid, Long Term Care Insurance and Veterans Pensions can help with costs.

 

Ms. Johnston provided ideas and examples for starting difficult discussions and left time for Rotarians to share personal experiences at each table.

 

Mitch Planey provided the response thanking Rhonda for an insightful presentation.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas Hatch