Rotary Club NEWSLETTER
August 19, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Sharon Schappacher officiated this week’s meeting. It was held at North Central Michigan College
If you did not get the chance to attend, you can read about it in this newsletter.
Patriotic Song: No Piano so we recited the Pledge of Allegiance
4-Way Test: David Finley
Invocation: Becky Phillip-Kranig
In honor of being at NCMC today, and as most kids are getting ready to head back to school, including my own. I thought this quote was fitting:
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." Mahatma Gandhi
Calendar Winners Read Off By: Ashley Whitney
Calendar Winners August 19, 2026
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Prize | Cal# | Calendar Winner | City | Sold By |
$50 | 1751 | Petoskey Family Dental Center | Petoskey | Petoskey |
$50 | 2267 | Lorin Houstin | Marine Center | Petoskey |
$50 | 2401 | Debra Snyder | Cedar Park, TX | Petoskey |
Visiting Rotarians: Steve Huffman, Sacramento, CA; Dick Chambers, Holland, MI; Shirley Love, Cincinnati, OH; Jenny Johnson, Sunrise Rotary
Guests: Barbara Dau, Heidi Finley, Christina Karas, Flicka Regan, Blake Morley, Bob Kammeraad, NCMC Guests: Madelyn Mays, Maria Fantozzi, Ally Van Antwerp, Miranda Fisher, Kristalena Garcia.
Life Events: Christine Hammond has just been approved for the new medicine that has been successful in extending the lives by a few months for some pancreatic cancer patients. Chris herself doesn’t need help but in honor of her upcoming 70th birthday, you are encouraged to donate to PanCan which supports research for pancreatic cancer. Please keep Chris and her husband Tom in your thoughts and prayers. Donate here: PanCan.org
Birthdays:
John Parker
Ralph Ferber
Anniversaries:
David Finley – 14 Years
Singing/Song: Howard Richards had no piano today so singing was left by the wayside.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rotary Club of Petoskey Centennial Grant — Now Accepting Applications. The Rotary Club of Petoskey has launched its Centennial Grant Program, making up to $277,000 available for a bricks-and-mortar community project in Emmet County. Eligible organizations — including nonprofits, municipalities, educational institutions, and public agencies — are invited to apply. Projects must be shovel-ready and capable of completion within 12–24 months of award. This is a capital investment grant; events, programs, and operational funding are not eligible. Applications are open now through November 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET via the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation's SmartSimple grant portal. An optional Zoom information session will be held September 24 at 1 p.m. ET. Visit petoskeyrotary.org to learn more and apply.
Get ready! The Rotary Great Grocery Giveaway Raffle officially kicks off August 26.
Tickets are $25 each, and every Rotarian is asked to sell at least 10 tickets.
1st Prize: $100 a week for a year — $5,200
2nd Prize: $50 a week for a year — $2,600
3rd Prize: $25 a week for a year — $1,300
Tickets and everything you need to start selling will be available at our regular meeting on August 26. Get ready to sell!
Monday, September 10, 2026 Petoskey Rotary’s STRIVE Program will be the featured community nonprofit at the September 10 performance of Come from Away! STRIVE will receive $1 from every concession sale, have a table in the lobby to share information about our high school mentorship program, and be recognized during the pre-show announcement. We’re looking for a few Rotarians to help staff the STRIVE table beginning at 6:30 p.m. Complimentary tickets available for volunteers. Interested in helping? Let Sharon Schappacher know! To buy tickets click on the following LINK
Monday, September 12, 2026 Set sail with fellow Rotarians, family, and friends for a sunset cruise aboard the Little Traverse Bay Ferry. Enjoy a relaxed evening of fellowship, great food, and beautiful views of Little Traverse Bay. Bring your spouse, a guest, or a prospective Rotarian!
$45 per person includes:
2-hour sunset cruise
Appetizers, wraps or sandwiches, and dessert
Cash bar available onboard.
Boarding: 5:30 PM | Cruise: 6:00–8:00 PM
101 E. Lake Street, Petoskey
Space is limited Click on the LINK to register
Saturday, September 19, 2026 Mark your calendar for our fall Rotary Roadside Cleanup! Join fellow Rotarians as we help keep our community clean and beautiful. More details, including meeting time and location, will be coming soon. Save the date and plan to lend a hand! Register here LINK
Member-Hosted Community Events
September 16 is a croquette challenge with the Kiwanis Club. See Andrea Koch for details.
Member Induction: None
Member Spotlight: None
PROGRAM: Tour at North Central Michigan College
This week, Petoskey Noon Rotary had the opportunity to learn more about the history and impact of North Central Michigan College (NCMC) and its important role in our Northern Michigan community.
The idea for a local community college began in the 1950s, when community members recognized the need for accessible and affordable higher education close to home. On September 14, 1959, Emmet Community College held its first classes with just 105 students. The college eventually moved to its current Howard Street campus, with the first campus buildings opening in 1963.
Today, NCMC offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs, preparing students for careers throughout Northern Michigan and beyond.
We also had the opportunity to hear directly from one of NCMC’s nursing students, whose story beautifully illustrates the impact of the college. Originally from Indiana, she came to the area while traveling with the military and was looking for a job when she discovered her passion for helping people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
NCMC gave her the opportunity to pursue that passion and earn her nursing degree. Now, she will have the chance to practice at our local hospital and give back to the community that helped her pursue her dream.
Her story was a wonderful reminder that education is about more than earning a degree—it is about creating opportunities, finding purpose, and building stronger communities.
We are fortunate to have North Central Michigan College right here in our community and look forward to seeing the continued impact it has on the students and communities it serves.
Next Week’s Program: Raffle Launch and PRCCI Review
Terminated Membership: Lisa Charles has moved from the area and has terminated her membership