Rotary Informer July 29, 2026

Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
July 29, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. Past 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:  Howard Richards was not here today so we recited the Pledge of Allegiance 

4-Way Test:  Maggie Steffy

Invocation:  Tim Dykstra

“Summer afternoon — to me these have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James, an American-British author who wrote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was known for his richly worded, deeply crafted writing style.

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Elaine Keiser

Calendar Winners July 29, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Mike Thibideau, Sunrise Rotary; Janet Burns, Livingston Sunrise Brighton; Sally Ernst. Lakeshore District 

Guests:  Al Salisz, Grace Keiser, Carrie Klingelsmith, Greg Heidbreder

Life Events:  Laura West, summer resident of Harbor Springs for 50 years and a full-time resident for almost 20 years, died June 10, 2026, in Scarborough, Maine. She was 93. She was also the wife of By West, a past member of Rotary Club of Petoskey. Link to her obituary:  https://www.harborlightnews.com/articles/laura-h-west/

Birthdays: 

Ric Loyd

Stafford Smith

Anniversaries:  

Andrea Coronado – 6 Years

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards was not here today so we muddled through Happy Birthday. We overlooked Smile because music was so far off key that cats were heard howling in Alanson. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The club continues to build excitement around the Great Grocery Giveaway Raffle. Members interested in joining the raffle sales team are encouraged to connect with Andrea Coronado or Sharon Shappacher to learn how they can help make this year's fundraiser a success.

The Water is Life Festival is next month. If you can donate, they are looking for funds.

Liz McKenny recently had a baby boy, Ronan, and could use some extra help. Please sign up for the meal train if you can! Link

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events – None 

Member-Hosted Community Events

Saturday, August 15: Northmen Food Den – Adult Prom Masquerade
Hosted by Rotarian Liz McKenney Join the Northmen Food Den for Adult Prom: Masquerade on Saturday, August 15 at the Grand Unity Event Center in Petoskey from 5:00 to 11:00 PM. This fun evening invites guests to relive the magic of prom with grown-up flair and includes signature cocktails, appetizers and a buffet dinner by Sweetwater Catering, a live auction, photo booth, and Prom King and Queen voting. Proceeds support the Northmen Den Youth Pantries.
Tickets and details HERE

Member Induction:  None

Member Spotlight:  None

PROGRAM:  Carrie Klingelsmith, Manna

Carrie did a fabulous presentation of a phenomenal resource in Emmet County called the Manna Project. Manna Food Project truly has humble beginnings. Our organization was founded in 1987 by five compassionate leaders in the local Northern Michigan community: Jim Alton, Joe Baird, Dennis Cross, Larry Poller, and Budd Tallberg.

They saw that far too many in their community didn’t have enough food to eat, and they took action. Originally conceived as a soup kitchen, the operation soon began distributing non-perishable food to families in need from a small warehouse on Buckley Street in Petoskey. Manna became a Partner Distribution Organization of the national Feeding America Food Bank Network in 2009. Feeding America West Michigan is our primary source of healthy food to distribute to our clients and partner agencies. In 2017, Feeding America West Michigan distributed 26.7 million pounds of food, the equivalent of more than 22 million meals to help relieve hunger and increase food security in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. In order to donate to Manna you can do so with protein, canned or otherwise and, you can donate online: https://www.mannafoodproject.org/donate-online/

Next Week’s Program: Art Hirsch, Microplastics in the Great Lakes