Meeting in Review - May 10, 2023
By W Todd MillerSunday, May 14, 2023
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On May 10, 2023, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC, held its regular weekly meeting in person at the University Club of Washington, D.C. and via Zoom, and welcomed guest speaker, Kymone Freeman, award-winning playwright, activist, and commentator. Past President Howard Davis called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Secretary Todd Miller introduced the guests and visiting Rotarians. Igor Balaka from the Rotary Club in Kharkiv City, Ukraine, and his translator Dmitriy Selector, were greeted, as were Rotaractor Maria Schweitzer and Kamal Ali, a guest of Kenny Barnes.
Sergeant-at-Arms Lola Perez recognized birthdays and anniversaries for the week.
Kenny Barnes led everyone in a moment of silence to commemorate victims of gun violence and Ukraine. He then questioned what can we do about gun violence and explained that the DC Peace Initiative was attempting to consider such matters. He encouraged everyone to participate, noting that it was not a political committee but simply a group trying to stop gun violence.
Ombudsman David Klaus reminded everyone of the screening of a film about the renovation of Chartres on May 16th, 2023, at 7:00pm at the French Embassy. A reception will follow the screening of the film. Registration is required, and an email will be sent with further details.
President Nominee Bob Schott encouraged everyone to give to the Club’s Foundation. He suggested that the Rotary Year is like a toilet paper roll – as it nears the end, it seems to quickly run out. Hence, he urged everyone to give very soon.
Dr. Sam Hancock further introduced Igor Balaka and Dmitriy Selektor and asked them to provide a quick update on events in Ukraine. Mr. Balaka shared some of the many projects in which his club was engaged. These included the provision of hospital supplies, the distribution of food, demining, and the care of orphans.
Kenny Barnes introduced the speaker Kymone Freeman, an award-winning playwright, activist, and commentator. He is the subject of one chapter of the book Beat of a Different Drum: The Untold Stories of African Americans Forging Their Own Paths in Work and Life (Hyperion). He is a 2010 Green for All Fellow & co-founder of We Act Radio DC’s Best Social Justice Radio Station 2017 by Washington City Paper and 1st Place 2017 Public Media Journalists Association Award winner for his Lion and the Map Commentary from the Anacostia Unmapped radio series on WAMU/ NPR’s most successful local production in 2016. He founded the Black L.U.V. Festival in 1997 & was honored at the Kennedy Center as a Mayor's Art Award Finalist for Excellence in Service to the Arts 2005.
The 25th Anniversary of the Black Luvfest was the largest event of the 50th Anniversary of the Ft. Dupont Amphitheatre Summer Series sponsored by the National Park Service in 2022. Mr. Freeman was featured as a contributing writer in the most controversial Ebony Magazine in recent history as the last publication in print and PBS Online Film Festival for his short film Fresh Prince of Anacostia. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Washington Informer and NY Times: Can Anacostia Build a Bridge w/o Displacing Its People? He has appeared nationally and internationally on BBC, French 24 TV, German ZDF, RT, CGTN America, Cuban National TV and TV One.
Mr. Freeman serves on the board of the Douglass Community Landtrust and has published a novel, Nineveh: a Conflict over Water with Strong Arm Press. He was honored by the Catalogue of Philanthropy at the Word Museum with the 2022 Change Maker Award.
Mr. Freeman stressed the current world is not sustainable. He focused on water and stated that water is in crisis but should be a human right, not a property right. He read selections from his book Nineveh: a Conflict over Water, and explained how what may seem like charitable matters, such as the provision of clothes to third world countries, may actually disrupt local economies.
After an animated question-and-answer session, Past President Howard presented Mr. Freeman with a certificate for the planting of a tree under the Club’s Trees for the Capital program.
Sterling Hoffman conducted the Raffle, which was won by Kenny Barnes, but the Ace of Spades was not drawn.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:28 PM. Salvador Farfán was the producer on Zoom, and Steve Liston the producer in the room. Dylan White was the greeter and Balraj Gupta provided hospitality.
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