Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

August 10, 2022

101 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Jeff Wynder officiated the meeting. If you did not get the chance to attend, you can read about it from this newsletter.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Rotary, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.

We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, disability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, languages spoken, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.

Recognizing that individuals from certain groups have historically experienced barriers to membership, participation, and leadership, we commit to advancing equity in all aspects of Rotary, including in our community partnerships, so that each person has the necessary access to resources, opportunities, networks, and support to thrive.

We believe that all people hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where each person knows they are valued and belong.

In line with our value of integrity, we are committed to being honest and transparent about where we are in our DEI journey as an organization, and to continuing to learn and do better.

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards led us in My Country tis of Thee

4-Way Test:  Stafford Smith

Invocation:  Melissa Thompson

Declaring to enjoy nature for what it is, to value the idea of having the freedom of it and to realize there is more to life than what you are living was expressed profoundly by Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote: 

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink the wild air”

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Nikki Devitt

Calendar Winners August 10, 2022

Visiting Rotarians:  Dick Chambers, Holland, MI; Jim Shrader, Finley, OH and Past District Governor

Guests:  Ben Cheney, Janice Smith, Scott LaDeur, Gail Kloss, Speaker

Life Events:  None

Personal Updates:  None

Birthdays: 

Jay Neff

Anniversaries:  

Gary Baxter – 14 Years

Vic George  - 14 Years

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Happy Birthday, Smile and 1968 Otis Redding “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Calendar Sales:  Karen Ragland announced that calendars will be ready for pick up on August 17th around 11:30 AM.

Polio Update:  A case of Polio was discovered in New York! Stay tuned for more information on how Rotary will respond to help combat Polio in the US and around the world. Also, Polio has been detected in wastewater in New York so there are probably many more cases that we are not aware of yet.

Karen Ragland:  Requesting members to designate a "Rotary Buddy" to keep the club informed if you are ill, have life changes, or are absent from meetings.

Rotary Foundation Gala:  Registration is now open for the 2022 District 6290 Foundation Gala being held September 30! The planning committee is pulling out all the fun cards for this event.  We have PDG, Jon Catlin as our master of ceremonies, Club Basket raffle, Wine Pull, 50/50 Mardi Gras Beads, and some surprises. To register for this event you can click on the following: Link

Mark Your Calendars:  October 15 will be our second Fall Festival. It is being planned out by Kendal Klingelsmith, Nikki Devitt and Ashley Whitney. The goal is to raise at least $5,000 this year. The festival will feature a beer tent, live music and entertainment, the popular pumpkin roll, and new this year—yard and lawn games. Committee members are needed, contact Nikki Devitt to sign up to help!

Red Cross:  The Red Cross has aided those affected by more than 200 natural disasters already this year—including the tornado in Gaylord. Please visit their website and see how you can help! 

Handbells:  Mark your calendars for the return of the Bay View Week of Handbells next Thursday, August 18, at 7:30 PM. This performance is free or by donation. 

Rotary Business Decals Now Available:  Want to show off your Rotary affiliation? See Terry Newton -- he has snazzy new Rotary window decals available for $4.00 each.

PROGRAM  

Gail Kloss, Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan 

The WRCNM was established in 1977 by a dedicated group of women who saw a need for services for women and children who were victims of domestic violence. Since then, the Women's Resource Center has grown to address critical unmet needs in the community in Cheboygan, Otsego, Emmet, Charlevoix, and Antrim counties.

WRCNM provides many specialized services for adults, children, and families to improve their lives, protects and nurtures health and well-being, works to change the culture of violence, and advocates for social justice. Services include domestic violence response, sexual assault services, children's advocacy, counseling, children's learning center, before and after school care, the Safe Home, and more.

Their work is only possible with our support, please join the WRCNM at their annual fundraiser, Women Can, Women Do, on September 21 at the Lange Center in Bay Harbor. 

Nominations are now open for Tribute Awards recognizing those who support the WRCNM mission in our community. The Tribute event will be held on November 10 at the Perry Hotel. You can find nomination forms online HERE.

Next Week’s Program:  Karen Ragland – Calendar Launch