Rotary Informer February 18, 2026

Petoskey Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
February 18, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self

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:  No Howard today so we recited the Pledge of Allegiance 

4-Way Test:  Kassia Perpich

Invocation:  Becky Philipp-Kranig

'It's Not the Years in Your Life that Count; It's the Life in Your Years'   Attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Drew Smith

Calendar Winners February 18, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Brian Wagner, Sunrise Rotary

Guests:  Dan Armstrong, PM 

Life Events:  

Herbert H. Carlson, 93, of Petoskey, Michigan, passed away on January 28, 2026, at American House in Petoskey. Full obituary is written below. 

Birthdays: 

Terry Newton – February 27

None

Anniversaries:  

Reg Smith – 17 Years

Liz Ahrens – 19 Years

Terry Newton – 28 Years

Bill Graham – 42 Years 

Singing/Song:  Andrea Coronado led the group in singing Happy Birthday to Terry Newton. No one wanted to risk singing Smile as the dogs were already braying in Harbor Springs over our Happy Birthday attempt. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events

Spaghetti Dinner – Will be held at Petoskey High School on April 30, 2026. To reinvigorate in-person attendance, we'll be trying something new this year - a raffle! Those who dine in-person will be entered into a raffle, and prizes will be drawn throughout the evening.

Member Induction:  Today we inducted Dan Armstrong into our Club. Dan moved to Petoskey in the early 90's. He held various careers, including 20 years as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Dan now works as a fundraiser for Munson Healthcare. He has two grown daughters. Welcome, Dan! We're excited to get to know you better.

Member Spotlight – Brian Peters – Brian was born in Detroit, and moved to Petoskey as a child in the mid 90's. He grew up playing hockey. After high school, Brian took a gap year that proved transformative. For Brian, he said his faith became real to him. He abandoned his post-gap year plans and instead enrolled in a small Bible college in Saskatchewan, Canada, earning a degree in Christian ministry. While in college he continued to play hockey. After graduating, Brian moved to Russia, living and serving there for about 10 years. He coached kids’ hockey and started a small church. He also met his wife there, who is originally from Uzbekistan. When the Russian war with Ukraine was ignited in 2022, Brian and his family had to flee Russia quickly. They returned to Petoskey, where Brian became the Executive Director of The Nehemiah Project, our community's shelter for the homeless. 

PROGRAM:  Chris Etienne – International Service We enjoyed a fabulous program by our very own member, Chris Etienne, who also has the honor and privilege of serving on the Rotary International (RI) Board of Directors. Chris told us more about how Rotary International is structured, and shared stories and photos of her adventures in RI board membership. To Chris, there are three main branches of Rotary:  Rotary International, Rotary Foundation, and the General Secretary (i.e. Rotary administration/headquarters in Evanston, Illinois). There are 17 members on the RI board, plus the President and President Elect. There are eight languages spoken on the board, with simultaneous translators at all of their board meetings.

Each board member represents a geographic 'zone' in the world. Chris's zone includes Alaska, Canada, Michigan, eastern states, and Bermuda - quite a stretch! She serves Rotarians spanning 6 time zones.

Chris noted some of the priorities that the RI board is giving attention to. First is polio eradication, with just 44 known cases in 2025. Second is expanding Rotary's reach. Chris highlighted the many Rotary fellowship groups that exist, where Rotarians from all over the world can connect over a common interest. Third is increasing Rotary’s ability to adapt. Individual chapters are being challenged to stay relevant, and find ways to authentically serve the evolving needs of their communities. She also discussed a fabulous program called smart villages in Pakistan. For further information about this program check out their link: https://rotarypakistansmartvillages.org/

Next Week’s Program:  Melanie Leaver (NCMC)

Herbert Carlson Obituary

Herbert "Herb" H. Carlson, 93, of Petoskey, Michigan, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, at American House in Petoskey. Born December 19, 1932, in Grand Rapids MI, Herb was a lifelong community leader and dedicated public servant.

Herb graduated from Union High School in Grand Rapids and earned degrees in Electrical Engineering from DeVry Institute Chicago and Michigan State University and worked as a sales engineer at IBM before buying a local GM dealer, Perry Sales Co in 1966. Later after automobiles, Herb opened King’s Big and Tall Men’s Clothing shop in Petoskey’s gaslight district with his wife, Bonnie.

Herb loved Petoskey and was deeply involved in the community until his death. He served as Mayor of Petoskey (1990–1991 and 1999), where he enjoyed performing marriages and contributing to the city's growth, and served as an Emmet County Commissioner. A 63-year member of the Rotary Club of Petoskey, he actively supported traditions like the annual Spaghetti Dinner, Paul Harris fellowships, and embodied Rotary’s "Service Above Self." Herb was also a founder of the Petoskey & Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, a Chamber of Commerce SCORE business counselor, a community mediator with Northern Michigan community mediation, worked with State prison detainee job training programs, a Boy Scotts of America scoutmaster, a longtime Junior Achievement volunteer, and member of the Petoskey Jaycees. Herb was a driving force with US131 development association to bring the expressway further north of Grand Rapids to service the north, as well as the Petoskey Chamber’s highway task force and regional air service task force.

Herb enjoyed sharing his writings in the Petoskey News Review with his opinions and thoughts on a variety of topics. After the loss of his big brother Robert, a B-24 navigator-bombardier in World War 2, he wanted to be in the skies and had owned several airplanes since the 1960’s. Holding instrument and commercial flying licenses, he and Bonnie flew all over the US wherever the weather was good. He was a passionate writer having just published a book, enjoyed water and oil painting flowers and scenery, thrived at his Thursday morning discussion group and several lunch groups and loved welcoming visitors to his front porch during the summer months for a chat.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie.  Herb is survived by three children, Richard (Mary Babrick), Janet Dalman (Mike), and Nancy Hersha (Jim); five grandchildren, Amber, Jack, Keirsten, Mitchell, and Mariah; two great grandchildren; his sister, Martha Droski of Holland Michigan (105 years old); numerous nieces and nephews; and close friend Dot Simon.

Donations may be directed to Hospice of Petoskey, which provided compassionate end‑of‑life care, or to Blissful Home Care & Cottage, which supported Herb with both in‑home and assisted‑living care.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00am at First Presbyterian Church, 7940 Cemetery Rd, Harbor Springs MI 49740.  Arrangements are under the care of Stone Funeral Home in Petoskey.  Following the service, all are invited to a luncheon at the church in Herb’s honor.