Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

April 15, 2020

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey via the world wide web! Liz Ahrens, our President, officiated the meeting. If you did not get the chance to attend you can watch it from this recording

4-Way Test:  Recited by Everyone. Kudos to Liz Ahrens for being on the ball and not missing it this week!

Howard Richards led us in My Country, 'Tis of Thee

Invocation:  Neil Bidwell

Home:

A word that today takes on a whole new meaning.

In these troubled times, home can be so much more than a physical space.

Home is our workplace, our daycare, our school, our gym.

But above all things, home is a shelter.

A place where we can retreat to, where we are protected, shielded, secure from the outside world.

A place where we can be our realest selves.

And while these days it can be difficult to feel confined, remember what a home is.......

A sanctuary, a haven.  A place where we will weather a storm that, like many others, also shall pass.

This appeared as a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal, sponsored by Realtor.com

Singing/Song:  We sang “Smile” played on the piano and led by Howard Richards

Calendar Winners:  Read by Bob Metzger

Calendar Winners April 15, 2020

    
 
 
 
 
Prize
Cal#
Calendar Winner
City
Sold By
$50
973
Steve Parker
Hudsonville
Petoskey
$50
  2482   
Kate Nold
Midland
Gladwin
$50
232
Lexie Brummeler
Petoskey
Petoskey
$50
2770
Barb Summers
Grayling
Grayling
$50
273
Eric Lundwall
Hartland
Petoskey
$50
513
Thomas L. George
Williamsburg
Petoskey
$50
1516
David Thomas
Petoskey
Petoskey

Visiting Rotarians:  Thank you for joining us today: Patricia Wimmer, Rochester MN; Gary Voison, Cheboygan; George Trowbridge, Past District Governor, Grand Rapids

Guests:  Becky Philipp-Kranig - PM, Rebeca Otto, Speaker, James Keiser, Son of Elaine Keiser

Life Events: 

Rotary Care List:  None this week 

Birthdays:

Ingrid Fleming April 19  

Anniversaries:

Ashley Whitney - 5 Years

Ric Loyd - 10 Years

Announcements:

Jane Millar:  Jane let us know that they are working on having online mediation soon.

Roadside Cleanup:  Tim Kaufmann stated that the Spring roadside cleanup has been cancelled. Stay tune for word on the Fall cleanup.

Jean Frentz:   Please get your absentee ballot and vote for the Char-Em ISD special education millage renewal, restoration on May 5, 2020.

Strive will be having a get together later in the summer.

Scholarships are still happening, and we are working out how to get them to the students.

Lance Bailey is the Teacher of the year and we will make the presentation later this summer.

More community donations

$5,000 to Manna

$5,000 to Community Foundation Essential Fund

Member Check-In: 

To all members who could not make it we encourage you to do so next week and we also encourage all of you to continue to be safe so that we can see you in good health when we can next meet together at a regular Rotary meeting in the not too distant future.

Program:  Rebeca Otto United Way Relief Efforts

Today we heard from Rebeca Otto of Char-Em United Way (CEUW). Rebeca spoke about CEUW's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For starters, CEUW is responsible for bringing 2-1-1 to Charlevoix and Emmet Counties.

2-1-1 is a free service that connects Michigan residents with help and answers from  health and human services agencies and resources right in their communities—quickly, easily, and confidentially. When Michigan residents need help with childcare, mounting bills, shelter for the night, and more, 2-1-1 offers a one-stop connection to local agencies and resources that can help—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The service is available by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone or by dialing the universal toll-free number at 1-844-875-9211.  People can also search for services on the Michigan 2-1-1 website. Please spread the word!!

During her program, Rebeca shared data on the volume of 2-1-1 calls coming from Charlevoix and Emmet Counties. Click here to see that data. She said that the volume of calls that usually come in a month, is now coming in each week.

In addition to 2-1-1, CEUW is also launching a COVID-19 Community Relief Fund. Dollars donated to this fund will support operational needs of Char-Em nonprofits providing direct services to individuals and families experiencing hardship due to COVID-19. (For example, nonprofits like Manna Food Project, Salvation Army and others experiencing increased demand for their services.)

As an aside, Rebeca noted that many people are calling CEUW, wanting to volunteer somewhere or otherwise be helpful in some way...but they are unable to do so because of social distancing. One thing people CAN do though, said Rebeca, is write and send letters to residents in assisted living facilities--many of whom are experiencing heightened isolation and loneliness. 

If you have additional questions or thoughts for Rebeca, her email address is community@ceuw.org.

Next Week’s Program:  Karen DenBesten, Infectious Disease Specialist McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital

Parting Shots:  Howard Richards played Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill