Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

December 21, 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.

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards led us in God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Jim Wibby

Invocation:  Teri Donaldson

There’s a Christmas classic that doesn’t get quite as much attention as some of the others, but its message is just as heart warming and inspiring today as it was in 1947. The movie is “The Bishop’s Wife” and Cary Grant is an angel who has come to help out a bishop, played by David Niven, who has lost his way.

The movie ends with the Bishop preaching the following sermon on Christmas Eve, which was written by the angel, and it’s still a good message for today.

Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child’s cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts.

We haven’t forgotten that night down the centuries.  We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.

But especially with gifts.  You give me a book.  I give you a tie.  Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe.

For we forget nobody, adult or child.  All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one.

And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger.

It’s his birthday we’re celebrating. Don’t let us ever forget that.

Let us ask ourselves what he would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance.

All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Reg Smith

Calendar Winners December 21, 2022

Visiting Rotarians:  Dan McDonnel 

Guests:  Rocky Karr, Jennifer Wixson, Matt Trumble

Life Events:

Herb Carlson is home and thankful for the visitors 

Birthdays:

Herb Carlson

Karen Ragland

Anniversaries:

Judy Zorn – 5 Years

Steve Brown – 38 Years

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Happy Birthday which was sang for Herb Carlson who was on the phone listening to it and Smile and Georgia Abbott and Howard led us in “Let it Snow.” How fitting since a huge winter storm is on the way.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Crooked Tree Arts Center:  NYE at the Arts Center is back! CTAC is looking for volunteers, signup HERE

Paul Harris Pool:  Dibby Smith is looking for at least one more person to join the Paul Harris Fellowship Pool! It is $50 a quarter - please see Dibby for more info.

Holiday Food Donations for Manna:  Parkside Deli (owned by Rotarian Sarah McDonnell) will be a drop-off location for those who wish to donate holiday-themed food to Manna Food Project (such as canned pumpkin, fried onions, stuffing mix, etc.)

Announcement From the School Superintendent:  8th Graders Career Day is coming up! They need help with the following professions: Physician, Attorney, Realtor, Cosmetologist, Journalist/Photographer - see new member Jeff Leslie for more info. 

Calendar Sales:  All calendars are out to club members, last week to sell.

Please return raffle tickets and the funds collected to Karen Ragland. Each member is responsible for 10 calendars ($250). Thank you for your efforts!

The Calendar Committee met about "the fate of the calendars" and will have more information to announce soon.

Alzheimer’s Association:  THANK YOU to the Club for the $500 donation which put our 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's team 'Rotary Clubs of Petoskey' at $1092. This is the most our local team has raised as part of the 221 Rotary teams nationwide who raised $339, 217 collectively this year in just our 3rd year of participation as a Gold Level ($250k+) Team. Here's the link to see the rest of the teams from across the nation (nine in Michigan).

PROGRAM:  Jennifer Wixson NCMC Early Childhood Program

Jennifer Wixson the Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator and faculty of NCMC our speaker provided insight to the issues our community is facing. How everything from those who have kids who need childcare, to those who are the employers of parents who need childcare to the collaboration of schools and programs within those schools are working together. The goal of this is to gather as much data as possible showing the actual needs, the costs and many other important aspects of how this is all tied together. There is a survey she is asking for everyone to take or share with other to take to capture this data that is really needed.