Rotary Informer 

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER 
August 6, 2025
103 Years of Service Above Self 
 

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Andrea Coronado 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 God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Liz McKinney

Invocation:  Tim Dykstra

Recently I’ve been thinking about thinking. So today, a couple thoughts on thinking: 

 “Maybe if we tell people the brain is an app, they’ll start using it.”  

“Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”  Henry Ford 

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Steve Brown

Calendar Winners August 6, 2025 

Visiting Rotarians:  Mike Rush, Columbia City, Indiana; Robert Sevener, Inland Waterway; Randy Evans, Sunrise Rotary

Guests:  Deanna Sirkot – Operations & Development Manager, Uli Rabeiro, Gary & Sheila Cunningham

Life Events:  

Birthdays:  

Jay Neff

Kassia Perpich

Anniversaries:  

Gary Baxter – 17 Years

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Billing Changes: Meals will now be billed monthly. Jim will bill for July likely next week. Dues invoices will now go out once a year. Because we are partway through the year, the next bill will be for the remaining 3 quarters. Next year, in July, members will be billed $300 for annual dues.

Calendar Updates:  Calendar Launch Date – pick up your calendars Wednesday Au-gust 27th. Before meeting 11:30 to noon, after meeting 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

If you are unable to pick up calendars, please arrange for someone else to pick up on your behalf. Contact Karen Ragland to make other arrangements. kmragland@charter.net  734-320-0424

Alzheimer’s Walk – September 27:  Join us in supporting the Alzheimer’s Walk this fall in Pennsylvania Park. Whether you walk, volunteer, sponsor, or donate—every step makes a difference. Connect with Ian Straley to get involved.

Coastal Crawl:  The Coastal Crawl is open-water swim held at Zorn Park in Harbor Springs. The individuals who have put it on for 30 years are retiring and are looking for individuals or organizations to take over the management of the event to keep it going in the future. This was suggested as a possible service opportunity for Rotary. This year, the Coastal Crawl is also looking for donations and volunteers. Contact Patrick O’Brien for more info. 

Rotary Singles and Third Wheel Mixer:  October 15th from 5:30-7:00pm is a Rotary Singles and Third Wheel Mixer at Elder Piper, which will also serve as a club membership drive. 

STRIVE Update:  Strive is looking for pizza sponsors and expanded support this year. We will hear more next week. 

Northmen Den Fundraiser:  Adult Prom on August 8 - this is a fundraising event for Northmen Den. See Liz McKenney for more info and free tickets. 

Rotary Outing:  The next Rotary cocktail hour is Steve Brown’s house on Walloon Lake. Sunday, August 17, 1859 Killarney shores, Petoskey from 5-7 p.m.

Next Fun Boat Excursion:  Tuesday, September 9th is the 2nd annual evening boat ride in the bay with other area Rotary clubs.

Billy Duff Outing:  Another Billy Duff is in the works for fall. A date and more details to come.

Member Spotlight – None, though we did induct Sarah Cunningham into the Rotary Club of Petoskey today. Sara is a holistic psychotherapist and yoga instructor. She is passionate about connecting with and serving her community. I have a feeling she is going to step up in quick order and be involved in numerous aspects to make our club so much stronger than it already is. I mean, who else has felt that great about joining a local service club that they invited their parents to the induction, along with her boyfriend! Welcome Sarah!

The Rotary Club of the Inland Waterway: is creating a signature event: Wake the Lakes - 8/23 from 1– 4pm at the Crooked Lake Sandbar. Their club is in search of teams to compete in the event, sponsors, and donors. Call Randy Evans for more in-formation at (231)-622-3578. Please send any donations to Rotary Club of Inland Waterway, PO Box 414, Alanson, Michigan 49706.

PROGRAM:  Club Assembly

Treasurer Updates: Jim Wibby

Public image: Andrea Coronado Responsible for social media, emails, and photography.
•    NEEDS: Right now, this is a committee of one - seeking additional members. 

Vocational: Kendall Klingelsmith Responsible for planning a quarterly vocational presentation to the club.
•    NEEDS: Right now, this is a committee of one - seeking additional members.

Charitable events: Andrea Coronado Responsible for raising the money that the club gives out in grants each year via the calendar raffle and spaghetti dinner.
•    NEEDS: Seeking additional members. 

Community Service: Megan DeWindt and Doug Buck Responsible for the coordination of signature volunteer efforts, including bell ringing, roadside clean-up, $5k run aid station, Toys for Tots and Camp Daggett projects.
•    NEEDS: seeking additional members.

Admin & Membership: Sharon Schappacher Responsible for weekly programs and invocations as well as new member recruitment, engagement and retention.
•    NEEDS: additional individuals to contribute to weekly invocations - contact Neil Bidwell.
•    Fireside chat participants - looking to recruit an additional 4-6 people
•    New member recruitment - everyone’s job! 

Care & Compassion: Chair needed
•    Care and Compassion - seeking a volunteer to lead this sub-committee. Ideally someone who has their "ear to the ground" within the club and can coordinate cards and other support to club members in need.

Rotary International: Drew Smith Responsible for international projects
•    NEEDS: Rotary International: If we want to do a big project overseas, it will take a committee - so sign up!

Dibby Smith - New Foundation Chair/Paul Harris Pool Update Responsible for Rotary Foundation fundraising, and Paul Harris Fellows recognition.
•    NEEDS: Paul Harris Foundation - seeking a replacement for chair Dibby Smith.

Youth Services: Georgia Abbott & Andrea Koch Responsible for STRIVE, Teacher of the Year, and the Rotary Youth Exchange.
•    NEEDS: STRIVE mentors, donors, possible internship locations, sponsors for pizza buddies.
•    Strive budget needs to fundraise $2,000-6,000/year to keep the program going. 

PRCCI: Liz Ahrens (separate from our Rotary Committees) - fall grant cycle has started through PHSACF 
•    NEEDS: Looking for additional committee members.

Next Week’s Program:  Impact 100 -  Lloyann Curtis