Rotary Informer January 21, 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 God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Christian Smith

Invocation:  Neil Bidwell

Success is not final; Failure is not fatal; It is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Jeff Wynder

Calendar Winners January 21, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Craig Weckler 

Guests:  Ralph Ferber, Dan Armstrong, PM; Lindsey Dotson, Speaker

Life Events:  It was shared that Chris Hammond has completed radiation treatment and is now home using a walker. 

Birthdays: 

Lyle Peck

Kam Culbertson

John Scholten

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.

STRIVE Update:  The STRIVE program shared ongoing efforts to connect students with vocational opportunities, with plans to visit Munson soon and continued requests for donations to support student needs.

No Meeting February 4:  Members were also reminded there will be no meeting on February 4 as we will be visiting the Women’s Resource Center.

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events

Euchre Tournament – Hosted by the Rotary Club of Boyne City
Boyne City Eagles – January 24, 2026
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 – None

PROGRAM:  Lindsey Dotson - Belle Tower of Petoskey

Lindsey Dodson, founder of the Belle Tower of Petoskey, a grassroots event and community space housed in a historic 1891 Queen Anne–style building across from A-1 Cleaners. With a background in historic preservation and a passion for community revitalization, Lindsey shared the building’s rich history—from its origins as a Seventh-day Adventist church to later uses by LDS congregations and office tenants.

Currently undergoing major upgrades (ADA accessibility, environmental remediation, and infrastructure improvements), the Belle Tower is envisioned as a flexible, volunteer-driven space for performances, classes, small businesses, and education. After successfully hosting a trial event for 125 people, 2026 priorities include exterior restoration, code compliance, and expanded partnerships. Lindsey emphasized the goal of being “good neighbors” and demonstrating the value of historic preservation, inviting the community to follow the project’s progress online. https://www.facebook.com/belletowerpetoskey/

Next Week’s Program:  Val Meyerson, Understanding Judaism

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. 

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