Rotary Informer January 14, 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.

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards led us in America the Beautiful

4-Way Test:  Kendall Klingelsmith

Invocation:  Dave Thomas 

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy…

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. 

Life is no "brief candle" for me. 

It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.

George Bernard Shaw

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Sharon Schappacher

Calendar Winners January 14, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  None

Guests:  Ralph Ferber, PM; Judy Booth, Eric Marvin, Speakers 

Life Events:  It was shared that Chris Hammond is in the hospital and was very recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She is in room 222 at McLaren and would appreciate cards. No visitation though.

Birthdays: 

Lyle Peck

Anniversaries:  

Dennis Myers – 12 Years

Karen Ragland – 16 Years

Paul Schemanski – 20 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.

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events

Petoskey City Parks will be presenting the Winter Sports Project at the City Council meeting on Monday evening at 6:00 PM, and members were encouraged to attend in support. Kendall Klingelsmith will be presenting this project. 

Rotary Night at NCMC Basketball
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 

It’s time for the third annual Rotary Night at NCMC Basketball! The Timberwolves will take on the Firebirds of Kirtland Community College.

• Women’s Game: 5:30 p.m.
• Men’s Game: 7:30 p.m.
• Admission: $8 per person

Wear your Rotary pin or Rotary logo apparel and enjoy free popcorn at the concession stand. Let’s have a strong showing of Rotarians as we cheer on the Timberwolves and support NCMC Athletics.

Euchre Tournament – Hosted by the Rotary Club of Boyne City
Boyne City Eagles
Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 to play

Join the Rotary Club of Boyne City for a fun euchre tournament with great prizes:

• 1st Place: $250
• 2nd Place: $150
• 3rd Place: $100

Cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres included.
For more information, contact Kathy at 231-459-6433. 

Member Spotlight – Dr. Jeff Leslie 

This week’s Member Spotlight featured Dr. Jeff Leslie, Superintendent of Petoskey Public Schools. Dr. Leslie grew up in Michigan, spending part of his high school years in South Carolina before returning to Michigan for his senior year. He initially pursued engineering at Purdue University before discovering his passion for basketball and teaching. He shifted his studies to high school mathematics and began his career in South Carolina as both a calculus teacher and basketball coach.

Dr. Leslie later returned to Southwest Michigan, where he coached basketball for 20 seasons and moved into school administration. His leadership roles included assistant principal, middle school principal, high school principal, and Superintendent in New Buffalo, Michigan, where he served for six years. He has been the Superintendent of Petoskey Public Schools since 2022. A lifelong athlete, Dr. Leslie now enjoys tennis as a lower-impact sport. He was first introduced to Rotary during his early teaching years in South Carolina and has remained actively involved ever since.

PROGRAM:  Judy Booth and Eric Marvin - Great Lakes Sports Commission

The program for the day was presented by the Great Lakes Sports Commission, highlighting the Epson Tour event hosted in Boyne, an LPGA qualifying tournament. This event is one of three women’s professional golf tournaments held in Michigan and brings meaningful economic impact to the region. The Epson Tour serves as a qualifying pathway to the LPGA and aims to become the highest purse women’s golf event in Michigan.

This year, the event will run June 15–21. Members can support the tournament by joining a Pro-Am team, volunteering, purchasing tickets, or attending the event. In addition, Judy Booth announced a generous $1,000 donation to PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network) in honor of Chris Hammond. For further information about the Great Lakes Sports Commission you can visit here:  http://www.thegreatlakeschampionship.com/

Next Week’s Program:  Lindsey Dotson - Belle Tower of Petoskey 

Imagine how exciting it would be if the 2026-2027 District 6290 Global Scholar came from YOUR community! 

The District 6290 Global Scholars Committee seeks your help as we work to find another fantastic, positive, make-the-world-a-better-place change agent to financially support for up to four years of graduate study at a university outside the United States. District 6290 is proud of our Global Scholars program and the incredible, purpose-driven talent we have supported over the years. Please help us find our next Global Scholar! 

Information to Share with Your Club:

• District 6290 is actively recruiting students or professionals who will be going to graduate school in another country, studying something that dovetails with one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus: Promoting Peace; Fighting Disease; Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Improving Maternal and Child Health; Supporting Education; Growing Local Economies; and Protecting the Environment.
• District 6290 provides up to $30,000 per year for one Global Scholar.
• Support is renewable for up to 4 years of graduate school.
• While in graduate school, the District 6290 Global Scholar will design and execute a sustainable project meeting an identified need within the host Rotary community.
• Candidates cannot be Rotarians or related to active Rotary members.
• Check out our new logo, QR code, and webpage! Go to: https://ridistrict6290.org/sitepage/scholarships
• Application materials, program information, contact information, and past Global Scholar highlights are all available on the webpage.
• We’d be thrilled if you would include the following in a Club newsletter or group email:
  • “District 6290 is proud to sponsor one Global Scholar each year with up to a $30,000 scholarship for graduate study in one of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus at a University outside the United States! Our past Global Scholars have been incredible, and we are so excited to see where the next one will come from – will it be your community? The Global Scholars Committee is happy to announce that our District is actively recruiting and hopes to identify some incredible candidates in the next few weeks. We have a bold ask for a bold purpose; we are asking every club member in District 6290 to visit the new District 6290 Global Scholars webpage (https://ridistrict6290.org/sitepage/scholarships) – or use the QR code below! – to learn about the program, eligibility, and timelines for recruiting and the application process. WHY? So our District can support excellence in academic leadership and in community service, and foster new, long-term relationships with Rotary that will yield heightened awareness of the important service given by Rotarians worldwide. After perusing the webpage, please feel free to reach out to the District 6290 Global Scholars Chair, Dr. Rachel Sytsma-Reed, if you have any questions (rachel@greatlakescfa.org). YOU are critical to our recruiting, so thank you in advance for your help in spreading the word about this very special scholarship opportunity!” 

Other Ideas to Help Spread the Word Across our District:

• Get that cute QR code (see below) out there as much as possible, as many ways as possible.
• Use the Power Point presentation accessible through the webpage (and attached here) to lead a 5-8 minute presentation to your club about the District 6290 Global Scholars Program.
• Talk about this incredible District-level program to at least three people outside Rotary – and challenge your Club members to do the same!
• Reach out to contacts your Club members have at colleges or universities in our District and share the webpage or QR code with them.
• After exploring the webpage, email or call the District 6290 Global Scholars Chair, Rachel Sytsma-Reed (contact below), if you have questions or would like to discuss anything about this program.

(this is the decidedly cute QR code to generously share!)

The District 6290 Global Scholars Committee thanks you for your help and can’t wait to see who YOUR COMMUNITY sends us to consider as the 2026-2027 Global Scholar from District 6290! 

Warmly and together in service, 

Dr. Rachel Sytsma-Reed

District 6290 Rotary Foundation Global Scholarship Chair

Rotary Youth Exchange Officer, Rotary Club of Charlevoix

Board Member, Rotary Club of Charlevoix

616.460.9392 (mobile)

rachel@greatlakescfa.org