Rotareminder for the Rotary Club of Kent
August 6, 2024
President Rachel called the meeting to order and thanked audio booth volunteers Mark Pennell, Roger Kramer, and Adam Alderson. We sang the National Anthem, played by David Dix. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Roger Sidoti offered the invocation. Our second song was Oklahoma!, with song leader Dom Bollenbacher accompanied by David Dix on piano.
There were no visiting Rotarians or other guests at today’s meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SIgn-up lists were passed for offering prayers at our meetings and to sign up to help at this weekend’s Grill for Good event in downtown Kent.
Dennis Campbell invited everyone to attend the Chamber of Commerce History After Hours event on August 13 at 4:40 at the Kent Historical Society Museum.
Dennis also invited everyone to attend the Chamber-sponsored Coffee at Scribbles on 8/15 from 8 to 9:30. Improving digital skills will be discussed.
Bill Childers reminded everyone about the Classic Car Drive-in in Ravenna on Wednesday.
Rachel Kerns invited everyone to attend the Party on the Patio at Metis Construction this Friday.
HAPPY BUCKS
Bill Childers collected Happy Bucks from the following individuals:
- Paul Organ to honor his aging knees.
- Kathy Myers donating $23.50 to honor her half of the 47-year marriage she shares with Tom Myers.
- Tom Myers to honor his half, asking Kathy to chip in for him as well.
- Anne Moneypenny to honor two prison inmates she coaches who just received diplomas.
- Tom Tadsen to honor his grandchildren
- Asad Khan to honor his successor as president, Rachel Kerns.
- Sue Whiting to thank Larry Lohman and his wife, Heather, for taking her to the baseball game last week.
TODAY’S PROGRAM: KENT JUNIOR MOTHERS ON SAFETY TOWN
Matt Carroll introduced one of today’s guests from the Kent Junior Mother’s organization, Natasha Rodriguez-Carroll, who is Matt’s wife. Natasha teaches poetry writing, is a Girl Scout leader, and manages the office at Kent’s First Christian Church. She’s a member of the DEI Task Force for Kent City Schools and is an officer of Kent Junior Mothers. Natasha introduced our other speaker, Michelle Houser, a seven-year member of KJM and its next president.
KJM was founded in 1943 and has been an important part of our community ever since. KJM focuses on the guiding the development of children. Many of its members are second generation Kent Junior Mothers; any Kent mom can join with dues at $20 and weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 6:30.
KJM sponsors Safety School, a week-long program usually held in June for kids entering Kindergarten. They also administer the Lisa Hawthorne Service Award and Scholarship and participate in various community projects such as Adopt-a-Spot and enhancing Miller House.
Safety School usually serves about 50 kids each year from all four Kent City elementary schools plus kids from St. Pats and homeschoolers. Safety School is four days of intensive training in a variety of areas using community resources, including the following:
- Personal Safety with staff from Town Hall !!.
- Water Saftey with staff from the KSU Wellness Center
- Fire Safety with staff from Kent Fire Department
- Car and Train Safety with Kent Junior moms
- Poison Safety and Handwashing with Whitney Mardie, a teacher from Streetsboro and a Kent Junior Mother.
- Summer Reading with staff from Kent Free Library
- Healthy Eating with staff from UH Portage
- Police Safety including how to dial 911 and what to do in case you find a firearm
One of the most important aspects of the training is how to walk and ride bikes safely in the streets. Kids use KJMs bikes and trikes in this training and receive a free bike helmet. They also enjoy play time and snack time.
In the future, recent fundraising by the Rotary Club of Kent will yield a permanent facility with a “traffic garden.” New bikes and trikes are needed. Rotarian Ann Moneypenny offered to buy a tricycle and challenged others to join her. More information is available at their Facebook page or by emailing
kentjuniormothers@gmail.com.
Kent Junior Mothers plans to expand into Brimfield and Ravenna and may also invite dads to join and become Kent Junior Parents.
Asad Khan provided the response and the meeting ended with the Four Way Test.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Hatch
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