Announcements  

Tom Hatch said that the Portage County Historical Society has sold more than 600 copies of Chas Madonio’s book, “Bars, Bands, and Rock ‘n Roll,” which described the lively Kent musical scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Tom had a few copies on hand for Rotarians to buy and announced the book has gone into its fourth printing of 200 copies each.

Doug Fuller announced that Tap Talks at North Water Brewing had been advanced to December 6th because of the holiday season.  The speaker was scheduled to be Steve Sefner, the former Kent State sports announcer whose book, “The Golden Dream,” talks about the Golden Flashes historic run at the Elite Eight NCAA basketball tournament in the 2001-2002 season.  

Todd Kamenash reminded Rotarians that next week is the last week to show up with toys to donate to the needy through Habitat for Humanity.  

Bill Childers passed around a signup sheet for Salvation Army bell ringers for Acme and Drug Mart.  

Rotarian of the Year, and the President’s Awards:  

President Dave Myers announced at our Friday Christmas Party that Amanda Senn, who has served our club in so well is so many capacities for the past two years, was named Rotarian of the Year.  He also thanked Rebekah Wright and her team of Shawn Gordon, Mike and Will Kulis, and Taproot Catering for the great job they did on the Rotary Christmas Party at Events at Parkside Friday evening. President Dave also said we need to all be thankful for Kent Fire Chief Bill Myers and the great job the firefighters from Kent, Ravenna, and Stow did to quench the horrible fire that engulfed some of the historic buildings of the Star of the West Mill complex whose original owners were the Williams family. 

Presidents awards went to Adam Alderson, Roger Kramer, Asad Khan, and Kathy Myers.  Cookie Walk Volunteers: Brad Ehrhart, Jennifer Lennox, Will Underwood, Dave Myers, Asad Khan, Beth Khan, Sara Khan, Randy Smith Anita Herington, Mark Pennell, Sandee Reid, Kathy Myers.

New Rotary Member

Rotarians welcomed Anne Moneypenny, the Kent Chamber’s executive assistant as our newest member. Michelle Hartman, executive director of the Kent Chamber, was on hand to wish her well.

8th Grade Student of the Month:  

Stanton Middle School Principal Anthony Horton announced that Kora Mendez is our Middle School Student of the Month.  A member of the 8th Grade Endeavor Team, Kora participates in many school and co-curricular activities where teachers say she shows strong leadership skills.  She has a 3.8 GPA and is a three-year member of Choir, a member of the Volley Ball team, and the STAC Club. She is talented with digital art and volunteers at Kent Parks and Recreation with younger children.  She plans to major in Fashion Design in college, and volunteers at the homeless shelter.   She cites her mother, Janine Jenkins, as her role model.

Kent’s New Chimney Swift Chimney:

Rhonda Boyd, Kent City Engineer, described the efforts by the city of Kent, to establish the Chimney Swift habitat near the Police Station on Haymaker Boulevard. The Chimney Swift bird, a small creature of less than six inches long with a wing span of up to 12 inches, devours up to 12,000 mosquitos daily and rids the area of biting flies, termites, spiders and other pests. The Chimney Swift population is in dangerous decline and may soon be declared an endangered species.  The late Ralph Dexter of Kent State Biology Department made the Chimney Swift an area of research and at the time its population was so plentiful that Kent State included the Chimney Swift as one of the artistic features in its seal that was designed in 1954.  Inspiration for the Chimney Swift chimney came from the demolition of the old police station to make way for a new city hall.  The chimney of the demolished police station had served as a habitat for the bird, which migrates from North America to South America arriving in Kent in April and departing in November. In North America, their habitat is east of the Rocky Mountains. In South America, their habitat is in the northwest.  The 20-ft tower was designed and built by Kent’s Metis Construction.  Tiles specially created by Kent artist Emily Ulm were included in the design and they decorate the chimney making it an attractive structure on Haymaker Highway near the Police Station.  Ulm explained how she created her artistic tiles.  Boyd said plants favored by the Chimney Swifts have been planted around the tower to make their use of the chimney more welcoming.  Following the presentation, she said, she is looking for a way to provide some heat for the base of the chimney because Chimney Swifts are used to making their homes in chimneys that are connected with fireplaces.  She said the loss of chimneys due to covering their opening up and the fact that chimneys are not as plentiful as they once were, is contributing to the population’s decline.  Donors listed in the ordinance for build are:  Robert Riggie and Chrystal Chook, $100, Howard and Linda Boyle, $500,  Hometown Bank, $500, Brian and Marsha Raymond,$40, Henry V. & Francis Christianson Foundation (Grant) $2,000.  

Doug Fuller provided the response.