Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

August 28, 2024

102 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Christian Smith officiated the meeting.

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

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards led us in America the Beautiful

4-Way Test:  Bill Collins

Invocation:   Neil Bidwell   

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits"

Albert Einstein

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Megan DeWindt

Calendar Winners August 28, 2024

     
Prize
Cal#
Calendar Winner
City
Sold By
$50
3267
Riley Doxtader
Canton
P. Sunrise
$50
1599
Jeremy Smith
Grayling
Grayling
$50
2517
Jim & Beth Millar
Waynesville, NC
Petoskey
$50
3160
Evan Brown
Traverse City
P. Sunrise
$50
1725
Vivenne Russell
Petoskey
Petoskey

International Insight:  Seventy-five percent of the world’s plant species are dependent on pollinators like the monarch butterfly to survive.  Rotary District 5960 (Minnesota) launched Operation Pollination to encourage Rotarians to engage building pollinator habitats.  31 clubs in the district have carried out pollinator projects at the northern edge of the monarch migration.  The clubs are now seeking to partner with Rotarians in Texas to build Monarch support at the south edge of their annual migration.

Life Events:  Larry Liebler, Nick Liebler’s father is in ICU at Henry Ford Hospital. Messages can be sent through Caring Bridge: Link

Visiting Rotarians:  Shirley Love, Cincinnati, OH   

Guests:  Peter Pallas, Al Janutolo, Speakers; Janice Smith, Dudley Marvin

Life Events:  

Birthdays:  

Gary Baxter

John Parker

Anniversaries: 

Reggie Fiel – 2 Years

Georgia Abbott – 8 Years

Jeff Wynder – 8 Years

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Don’t Pay the Ferryman; Until he Gets you to the Other Side:  Join Rotarians from the noon club, Sunrise Rotary, Sunset Rotary, and Rotary Club Alanson on Tuesday, September 17, 7 – 9 p.m. for a Sunset Cruise on the Little Traverse Bay Harbor Princess. Tickets are $35 and guests are welcome. Cash bar will be available and BYO snacks are allowed. Interested parties can reach out to Christian Smith for more information.

Camp Daggett Volunteer Opportunity:  Camp Daggett is in need of volunteers for the annual district exchange student retreat September 6 – 8. Volunteers are need to help with meals Friday – Sunday, a sign-up sheet is being distributed or reach out to Reg Smith.

Bear River Cleanup:  Rotarians can sign up for the Bear River Cleanup on September 7 with the Watershed Council. A signup sheet will be distributed next week. More info and register HERE.

Billy Duff Cabin Outing:  Save the date for the 2024 Billy Duff on September 12 in Levering, MI. An RSVP form will be distributed soon. Guests are asked to bring a dish to pass.

New Fundraiser:  We are bringing back a fundraising event (along the lines of Diamonds & Denim) in 2024. We will begin planning in September for an event September 2025. If you’d like to join the committee, contact Andrea Coronado.

Rotary Lapel Pins:  New Rotary lapel pins are available for purchase - $5.00. See Terry if you want one.

Parade of Roses:  Already thinking about ringing in the new year? For more than 40 years, Rotary has been a part of the Parade of Roses. For more information see https://www.rotaryfloat.org/

PROGRAM:  Peter Pallas, Al Janutolo, Michigan Employer Support for Guard and Reserve Ombudsman Director at Employer support of the Guard and Reserve

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense office founded in 1972 to promote cooperation between Reserve Service members and their civilian employers. ESGR helps resolve conflicts related to military commitments and is supported by nearly 2,300 volunteers across all U.S. states and territories. These volunteers, with diverse backgrounds in business, government, education, and the military, work alongside ESGR staff to ensure employers support the military service of National Guard and Reserve members. 

For over 50 years, ESGR has fostered a culture where employers value and support the dual roles of their employees as both service members and civilians. Their work ensures that those who defend our nation have the promise of meaningful civilian employment. ESGR continues to adapt, collaborating with various organizations to meet the needs of service members, their families, and employers.  

Learn more about their mission here: https://www.esgr.mil/About-ESGR/Who-is-ESGR 

The presentation was concluded with a short story from Dave Thomas about The Bedford Boys:

The Bedford Boys were a group of young soldiers from the small town of Bedford, Virginia, who served in Company A of the 116th Infantry Regiment during World War II. On June 6, 1944, during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, 19 of these men were killed within the first few minutes on Omaha Beach, marking one of the highest per capita losses of any U.S. community during the war. Their sacrifice became a poignant symbol of the cost of freedom and the deep impact of war on small-town America. Today, their memory is honored as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of all who serve.

Next Week’s Program:  Vocational, Dr. Finley and Chris Hammond