Rotary Informer April 1, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scpGwbvxvIPetoskey Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
April 1, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Andrea Coronado officiated this week’s meeting. 

If you did not get the chance to attend, you can read about it in this newsletter. 

Patriotic Song:  Howard Richards led us in My Country tis of Thee – April Fool’s Day; We actually sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game

4-Way Test:  Sam Fee

Invocation:  Jean Frentz for Chris Hammond

Hello Dear Friends. 

I wish I could be with you in person today and appreciate Jean's offer to send a greeting and share a thought for the day with you. Let me begin by thanking so many of you who have reached out with notes, texts, phone calls, or visits. Your care and compassion mean the world to me. While the disease continues its progression, Tom and I remain grateful for this time with each other, with our families, and with friends like you. We are especially thankful to share in the joy of birth, as our next grandchild (and first granddaughter) will be born this week. Stay tuned for details! 

On this first day of April, our lives are clearly in transition. The snow still blankets much of the ground as we scan for those first colors of spring. 

Ernest Hemmingway knew this situation for northern Michigan when he wrote, "When Spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest." 

Look forward to the joys of spring and summer as you choose the happy places that make your hearts glad.

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Dave Thomas

Calendar Winners April 1, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Sandy Bliesener, Nicole Marques, Kalamazoo, MI

Guests:  Katie Jacobs, Taylor & Zoey Stallings, Michelle Gallagher, Speaker, also a Visiting Rotarian

Life Events:  

Birthdays: 

John Van Etten 

Shannon Gregory 

Jane Millar 

Anniversaries:  

Ric Loyd – 21 Years

Stafford Smith – 65 Years

John Parker – 65 Years

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Happy Birthday and Smile. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events 

Wednesday, April 8 – Vocational Meeting 
Great Lakes Center for the Arts at 12:00 PM
We will meet offsite at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts and will not meet at Stafford’s Perry Hotel that day. GLCFA staff will share about their work and what happens behind the scenes to bring performances and programs to our community. Lunch will be provided by Julienne Tomatoes and will include assorted sandwiches, chips, cookies, and beverages. The cost will be billed to your next Rotary invoice at the normal lunch rate. Please Register by Monday, April 6. Register HERE 

Thursday, April 30 – Rotary Spaghetti Dinner
Petoskey High School, 5:00–7:00 PM
Our annual Spaghetti Dinner is back. Join us for an evening of great food and fellowship while supporting Rotary’s community projects. Dine-in and carry-out will be available.
Sign up to Volunteer HERE 

Member-Hosted Community Events

Thursday, April 9: Building Supportive Communities 
Hosted by Rotarians Andrea Coronado and Andrea Koch
Join Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan for an evening with nationally recognized survivor advocates Samantha Stites and Dr. Danielle Moore. Samantha’s 13-year experience with stalking is featured in the Hulu docuseries Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror. Dr. Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist and survivor of the Olympic Doctor Larry Nassar. The evening will include presentations followed by a facilitated discussion and audience Q&A. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Program begins at 6:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. Register HERE 

Saturday, August 15: Northmen Food Den – Adult Prom Masquerade
Hosted by Rotarian Liz McKenney
Join the Northmen Food Den for Adult Prom: Masquerade on Saturday, August 15 at the Grand Unity Event Center in Petoskey from 5:00 to 11:00 PM. This fun evening invites guests to relive the magic of prom with grown-up flair and includes signature cocktails, appetizers and a buffet dinner by Sweetwater Catering, a live auction, photo booth, and Prom King and Queen voting. Proceeds support the Northmen Den Youth Pantries.
Tickets and details HERE

Member Induction:  None

PROGRAM:  April Fool’s Day! Michelle Gallagher, American Red Cross

Michelle Gallagher spoke to the club about the work of the American Red Cross and its role in supporting communities during emergencies. She explained that although the Red Cross does not have a physical office in our immediate area, it maintains a strong local presence through mobile response units and trained volunteer responders who live and serve within the region. She described how the organization operates within a clear chain of command and works closely with local and federal governments to coordinate disaster response efforts efficiently. This structure ensures that resources are deployed quickly and effectively when emergencies occur. She emphasized the ongoing need for emergency response volunteers in our county, encouraging community members to get involved and help strengthen local disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

A year after the devastating ice storm that impacted northern Michigan, our community continues to reflect on the resilience, generosity, and support that helped neighbors get through one of the most challenging weather events in recent memory. In times like these, organizations such as the American Red Cross Northern Michigan Chapter play an essential role in helping communities respond and recover.

Through a network of trained volunteers, the Red Cross provides critical disaster response services including emergency shelter, comfort and care, and essential supplies for individuals and families affected by emergencies. In northern Michigan, these volunteers are often among the first to mobilize when severe weather disrupts daily life, working closely with local partners and emergency management teams to ensure people have access to warmth, safety, and support.

The organization is always looking for additional volunteer disaster responders across northern Michigan—community members willing to step forward and help when emergencies occur. Local volunteer Dibby can personally speak to how meaningful and rewarding this role can be, offering a firsthand perspective on the impact volunteers can have when helping neighbors during difficult moments.

As we mark the anniversary of the storm, it serves as a reminder of the strength of our community and the importance of the people and organizations who step up when help is needed most.

Next Week’s Program:  GLCFA – Offsite

April Fool’s Day Special in time for the upcoming spaghetti dinner; compliments of Patricia Wimmer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scpGwbvxvI

Special Announcement:

We are running a special Rotary Club ticket offer at Michigan International Speedway for the Firekeepers Casino 400 on Sunday, June 7th at 3pm.

Rotary members, family, and friends are welcome to join us here at MIS for the NASCAR Cup Series Race. Everyone that comes out will get a discounted $40 ticket to enjoy the event.

Attached is the link and the flyer for the event. The link will take you to the page to purchase your discounted tickets. There is also a QR code on the flyer that can be scanned to get you to the ticket page. 

Link to purchase the tickets:

https://www.gofevo.com/event/MisRotary26

Feel free to share this offer with all the members associated with your organization so they can take advantage of this offer as well.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at any time.

Best, Kylee 

Kylee Moenter |Group Sales Account Executive 

Michigan International Speedway

12626 US Highway 12 | Brooklyn, MI 49230

Office: 517-594-4375 | Cell: 517-435-8547 | Schedule a Call!