Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

February 22, 2017

 

President Kent led us in the Pledge of Allegiance

Four Way Test:  Thank you John Scholten               

Invocation:  Thank you Stuart Fenton for the poems from Maya Angelo

Caged Bird

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind   

and floats downstream   

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and   

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

On Aging

    “When you see me sitting quietly, like a sack upon a shelf,
Don’t think I need your chattering. I’m listening to myself.
Hold! Stop! Don’t pity me! Hold! Stop your sympathy!
Understanding if you got it, otherwise I’ll do without it!
When my bones are stiff and aching and my feet won’t climb the stair,
I will only ask one favor: Don’t bring me no rocking chair.
When you see me walking, stumbling, don’t study and get it wrong.
‘Cause tired don’t mean lazy and every goodbye ain’t gone.
I’m the same person I was back then, a little less hair, a little less chin,
A lot less lungs and much less wind.
But ain’t I lucky I can still breathe in.”

Visiting Rotarians:  Winter time; no Visiting Rotarians

Other Visitors:  Sunny McKellar, Lynn Van Etten, Claire Brummeler, Renne Tanner, Steve Foley and Jori Snedden

Life Events:

Bill Collins inducted our newest member John Van Etten. Take some time and get to know John and welcome him to our club

Song of the Week:  Steve and Howard were both absent today and the President didn’t think; correctly, that we wanted him to lead us. So no singing today

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Northmen Night:  Steve Brummeler, filling in for John Scholten. President Kent said John Scholten is always up front with his hand out so it was Steve’s turn, to remind everyone that Northmen Night is this Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are still available and raffle tickets for the water craft are also available from John Scholten, Steve Brummeler or Bob Waldvogel

65th Annual Spaghetti Dinner:  Mike Snyder let us know that the 65th Annual Spaghetti dinner was a success and we raised about $8,000. Lots of hands made for a fun night. Dennis Kelly won the pool at 844 served and he guessed 842

World Peace Conference:  Paul let us know about the World Peace Conference being held in Ann Arbor on March 31-April 1st. If you are interested in attending go to the Link

PROGRAM

Paula Brown presented an interesting program on Brave Hearts Estate.  This is a retreat center for disabled Veterans and returning Veterans who have seen combat. This facility is in Pellston, is a 501c3 and a great asset to our community and the population that we owe so much to  

Next Week's Program:  Jim Bransky, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians representing the tribe in their lawsuit with Emmet & Charlevoix Counties concerning reservation boundaries

New Member Notification:  This is the first of two week's notification for the following proposed new members approved by the board:

Jori Snedden Executive Director at American House

Patricia "T" Jones Capital Campaign Officer McLaren Hospital Foundation