Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

February 3, 2021

1921 – 2021         100 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey via Zoom on the world wide web. Ashley Whitney, President officiated the meeting. If you did not get the chance to attend, you can watch it from this:  Recording

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards Played “God Bless America”

4-Way Test:  Jeff Wynder

Invocation:  Neil Bidwell

A Meditation on Time from "Hassidic and Jewish Mysticism" by Tzvi Freeman.

The first creation was Time.  It began and it will end and then it will be no more.  Each breath, each tick, each beat of the heart comes only once.  None will ever repeat itself precisely.  Every instant of life is a raw, but precious stone, beckoning, saying "Unleash my potential, unlock my secret, do something to reveal my purpose of being!  For I am here only this one time, and then never again."     

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Bob Metzger

Calendar Winners February 3, 2021

Visiting Rotarians:  Tom Teske, East Jordan Rotary and our speaker today

Guests:  Bob Hameister, Teri Donaldson who was inducted today as our newest Rotarian in our Club.

Life Events:

Rotary Care List:

Birthdays:  None

Anniversaries: 

Sharon Schappacher – 1 year

Verne Osterlund – 19 Years

Gary Fedus – 27 Years

Jean Frentz – 32 Years

Roy Longworth – 54 Years

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in singing Smile.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Induction Ceremony:  Dianne Litzenburger warmly welcomed our newest member, Teri Donaldson. 

Teri lives in Boyne Falls. She works at McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation as the Operations Manager. Teri was an active Rotarian in the Mount Clemens area. She moved to Petoskey about 3 years ago. In her spare time, she likes sewing, reading, being outdoors and going dancing. She and her husband, Mike, are in a swing dance club!

Teri met her husband while home from college, working at a food stand. When it was Mike's turn to order food, he said he "would like a hamburger with everything on it, and how about a date over the weekend?" They will be celebrating their 35th anniversary in November.

Teri values friendships. Her motto is "Never say would have, could have, or should have." Teri tries to learn something new every day, and likes to do random acts of kindness. Welcome to our club, Teri!!!

Kiwanis vs. Rotary Baseball Game:  When Bob Metzger recently gave his awesome presentation about our club founders, he mentioned how they once had a baseball game against the Kiwanis Club in 1925. Ashley Whitney would like to have a re-match sometime this summer! If anyone is interested in planning this event, please contact Ashley Whitney. She has already talked with Kiwanis and they are interested.

Rotary Park Fund:  The Rotary Park Fund Committee recently met. They have decided to donate approximately $167,000 from the Rotary Park Fund to our club's centennial service project (Winter Sports Park upgrades). That amount is in addition to $60,000 that our club's past presidents have been saving over time for centennial celebrations. Long way of saying that, without having started any fundraising efforts, our club is already contributing a whopping $227,000 to Winter Sports Park upgrades -- incredible!! This initial contribution will help fund a pavilion over the hockey rink, turning it into a year-round, multi-purpose venue for the community.

Special Consideration on Park Fund:  PLEASE READ!

Here is an update on the status of the Rotary Parks Fund:

·         Original Corpus:  $533,875.50

·         December 31, 2020 Balance:  $743,020.32

·         Difference is a gain of:  $209,144.82

·         80% of the difference which has been committed to the Winter Sports Park Project:  $167,315.85

The question for all club members is should the club commit an additional $40,000 of Rotary Park funds to the Winter Sports Project in the form of a challenge grant for other community members/funds/clubs for this project. This would make our total donation to this project from the Rotary Parks Fund $207,315.85. 

Our bylaws require 66% (2/3) of club members to vote YES to the proposal in order to award the additional $40,000 to The Winter Sports Park Project.

We will hold open electronic voting next Wednesday, February 10^th for your consideration.

100 Acts of Service:   This year we aspire to perform 100 Acts of Service for our 100 years. If you did something in service to others in the last week, please be sure to record it in our survey. Thank you!

NCMC Lifelong Learning Club:  Some of NCMC's upcoming programs feature Rotarians and/or Rotarian-owned businesses! Check out the Veterans' Court overview with Judge Angela Lasher and the Stafford's Hospitality cooking classes.

PRCCI update:  Petoskey Rotary Club Charities Inc. (PRCCI) -- the charitable entity of our club -- had a board meeting this week. The PRCCI board voted to grant $10,000 toward our Winter Sports Park centennial project. They are also going to open their spring grant cycle soon. PRCCI typically awards grants in the $1,000 - $4,000 range.

Speaker March 10, 2021:  Jane Millar let us know that our presenter for our club meeting will be the past RI Director John Smarge about HANWASH.

Paul Harris Fellowship:  Dibby Smith; it's now 2021 so we can start a new pool. As a reminder, participating in the pool means that for five years, you pledge to donate $50 per quarter to the Rotary Foundation. After five years have gone by, your donations total $1,000, for which you are then awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. Terry Newton sent out the form to fill out and return to Dibby Smith. If you need a new one, please get a hold of Terry Newton.

Program  Today we were joined by Tom Teske, the VP and General Manager of the Americas at EJ (formerly known as East Jordan Iron Works).

EJ has been owned and operated by the East Jordan-based Malpass family since 1883. It is now being run by the 4th and 5th generations of the Malpass family.

EJ is the world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of 'access products' such as manhole covers, fire hydrants, valves, valve boxes, etc. It supplies products to 6 of 7 continents. Vist EJ's website at www.ejco.com to learn more about their (impressive!) operations.

Following a brief overview of the company's history and values, Tom gave an awesome slideshow presentation highlighting the MANY facilities/locations of EJ. The company has experienced considerable growth through acquisition -- having acquired 25 businesses globally across a 25-year period.

Next Week’s Program:  Val Meyerson – how the library can help us.

Parting Shots:  Howard Richards closed with 1946 Benny Bell - Everybody Wants My Fanny

Everyone is out to get my Fanny
Everybody wants to see my Fanny
Everybody likes to hold my Fanny
But she loves no one but me

Everybody wants to seize my Fanny
Everybody likes to squeeze my Fanny
They do everything to please my Fanny
Still she loves no one but me

Oh, don't touch my Fanny
Please don't ever try
My little Fanny
Is reserved for just one guy

That's why I never let another love light blind me
Everywhere I go you'll always find me
With my little Fanny right behind me
Cause she's so in love with me

Everyone who ever spied my Fanny
Tried to hang around beside my Fanny
Maybe I should go and hide my Fanny
Or she'll find somebody new

I've seen lots of fannies in my time
And frequently their cheeks were close to mine
But never have I held one so divine
Like the Fanny that belongs to me

We will be married
Some day next June
And when we go away
To spend our honeymoon

I know that everyone is goin'a miss my Fanny
No one ever could resist my Fanny
But they wouldn't dare to kiss my Fanny
Cause she's so in love with me