Rotary Informer February 11, 2026

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Andrea Coronado officiated this week’s meeting. 

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

Patriotic Song:  America the Beautiful

4-Way Test:  Tim Dykstra

Invocation:  Jeff Wynder

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Helen Keller

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Gary Fedus

Calendar Winners February 11, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  None

Guests:  Lisa Charles, PM 

Life Events:  

Herbert H. Carlson, 93, of Petoskey, Michigan, passed away on January 28, 2026, at American House in Petoskey. A memorial service in the spring of 2026 will be announced at a later time. Full obituary to follow. Arrangements are in the care of Stone Funeral Home. 

Birthdays: 

Adrian “Rocky” Karr

Anniversaries:  

Stacey Brown – 1 Year

Betsy Newton – 7 Years

Bill Collins – 19 Years

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spaghetti Dinner:  It's that time of year again! The Spaghetti Dinner Committee will start meeting in January. If you'd like to help organize, contact Andrea Cornado, Drew Smith, or Karen Ragland.

The meeting opened with a moment of silence in honor of Herb Carlson, with $235 donated to the Rotary Foundation in his name. Rotary also approved $2,500 in support for the 4th of July celebrations. The club welcomed Lisa Charles as a new member through her induction.

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events – None 

Member Spotlight – None

PROGRAM:  

Featured Speaker: Chelsea Platt (NCMC)

Chelsea Platt shared updates on the continued growth and impact of North Central Michigan College (NCMC) under Dr. Finley’s leadership. NCMC’s mission centers on providing Exceptional, Accessible, and Relevant (EAR) education for learners at all stages—from early education through workforce development—while enriching quality of life across the region.

Key highlights included:

• Reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission
• Recognition as a Top 200 community college eligible for the ASPEN Prize
• Continued student enrollment growth over the past three years
• Expansion of NCMC Athletics, now in its fourth year

New and Expanding Programs
NCMC is launching or expanding programs in Education, Dental Hygiene, Game Design, and Nursing, including an LPN-to-RN bridge pathway. The Dental Hygiene program, which requires three accreditations, addresses a critical regional need “north of the knuckles” and will include a clinic serving approximately 2,000 patients.

Additional initiatives include:

• $22M Career & Technical Education Enhancement (CATEE) Project
• Expanded workforce and trades programming
• Childcare initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to education
• Community services such as job fairs and career support

Regional Impact & Future Support
NCMC contributes an estimated $80 million annually to the regional economy and supports approximately 1,000 jobs. From a student perspective, every $1 invested yields a $4 return.

A millage renewal and restoration proposal will appear on the ballot on November 3, 2026 (with early voting beginning September 24), aimed at keeping tax dollars local and supporting the college’s continued growth and community impact.

Next Week’s Program:  Chris Etienne – International Service