Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

July 20, 2022

101 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Jeff Wynder officiated the meeting. If you did not get the chance to attend, you can read about it from this newsletter.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Rotary, we understand that cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realizing our vision of a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.

We value diversity and celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds, across age, ethnicity, race, color, disability, learning style, religion, faith, socioeconomic status, culture, marital status, languages spoken, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity as well as differences in ideas, thoughts, values, and beliefs.

Recognizing that individuals from certain groups have historically experienced barriers to membership, participation, and leadership, we commit to advancing equity in all aspects of Rotary, including in our community partnerships, so that each person has the necessary access to resources, opportunities, networks, and support to thrive.

We believe that all people hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where each person knows they are valued and belong.

In line with our value of integrity, we are committed to being honest and transparent about where we are in our DEI journey as an organization, and to continuing to learn and do better.

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards led us in God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Elaine Keiser

Invocation:  Chris Hammond

In commemoration of the July 16, 1969 Moon landing:

Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis for our desire to understand.

Neil Armstrong

Calendar Winners:  Read off by John Scholten

Calendar Winners July 20, 2022

Visiting Rotarians:  Bob Swanson, Birmingham, MI; Dick Chambers, Holland, MI; Malte Brittel, Aachen Rotary Club, Rene Tolba, Aachen-Charlemagne Rotary Club, Germany

Guests:  Tanja Brittel, Aachen, Germany

Life Events:  None

Personal Updates:  None

Birthdays: 

Neil Bidwell

Chelsea Platte

Roger Winslow

Anniversaries:  

John Mohler – 9 Years

Jim Erhart – 27 Years

Singing/Song: led us in Happy Birthday, Smile and 1965 Herman’s Hermits “Henery the Eighth”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

'Wine Down' Wednesday on July 27:  Save the date! This month's Rotary happy hour will be Wednesday, July 27 at Jane Millar's cottage in Bay View; 1812 Fairview Avenue; 5:15 PM, bring your own beverages and appetizers will be provided.

Calendar Sales:  Karen Ragland announced that calendars would be arriving soon and that she is looking for volunteers to help with collecting money and tickets. See her if interested.

Mark Your Calendars:  October 15 will be out second Fall Festival. It is being planned out by Kendal Klingelsmith, Nikki Devitt and Ashley Whitney. The goal is to raise at least $5,000 this year.

Area Poets Produce Anthology To Benefit Ukraine Relief Efforts:  In response to the relentless brutality of the assault on Ukraine, 29 poets share their voices in a new anthology, Busy Griefs, Raw Towns, produced by Schuler Books & Music. Proceeds from the sale of the book are forwarded to the International Rescue Committee  (IRC) to support continuing Ukraine relief efforts. Nearly all of the poems in the anthology were written expressly for this cause.

A book launch, is scheduled for July 27^th, at Schuler Books & Music (2660 28^th St. SE) in Grand Rapids.

The anthology is currently available for purchase at Schuler Books & Music or can be purchased online, at: https://www.schulerbooks.com/chapbook-press/pod9781957169125

It is available locally at McLean and Eakin Bookstore in Petoskey, and Between the Covers Bookstore in Harbor Springs.

Rotary Business Decals Now Available:  Want to show off your Rotary affiliation? See Terry Newton -- he has snazzy new Rotary window decals available for $4.00 each.

PROGRAM  

We began with a Paul Harris Fellowship presentation. Joe Blachy awarded a PHF to his friend Tanja, who stayed in his house 30 years ago as an exchange student from Germany.

Then we had a presentation by Rotarian Matt Breed, who is the Public Safety Director for the City of Petoskey.

Matt told us more about the Citizen Academy. It is an 8-week program open to all adults age 18+. It meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 pm, during September and October.

The goal of the program is for citizens to learn more about the Public Safety Department and build trusting relationships with public safety officers. The 8 weeks are divided into the following sessions:

Department overview, jail tour

Criminal law, interviewing, and interrogations

Fire operations

Investigations / crime scene

Firearm simulator

Emergency medical extrication

Court / prosecutor's office / Michigan State Police

Emmet County sheriff's office

Most sessions are highly interactive, with some sort of hands-on experience. For example, participants wear fire gear, work with emergency extrication tools, explore a mock crime scene, and more. To 'graduate' from the Citizens Academy, participants are even encouraged to go on a 2-hour ride with a public safety officer on duty.

To learn more and apply, visit:  https://www.petoskey.us/departments/public_safety/citizen_academy.php

Next Week’s Program:  Vocational Team