Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

June 10, 2020

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

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards led us in My Country Tis of Thee

He also played and we sang Smile

4-Way Test:  Dianne Litzenburger

Invocation:  Lisa Hammond

“Promise Yourself”

To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

Christian D. Larson

Calendar Winners:  Read by Bob Metzger

Calendar Winners June 10, 2020 

Visiting Rotarians:  None 

Guests:  None

Life Events: 

Rotary Care List:  None this week 

Birthdays:

Steve Cross

Nikki LaDeur

Anniversaries:

Dibby Smith – 8 Years

Ingrid Flemming – 12 Years

Announcements:

Rotary Foundation: – Since 2007 the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been matching Rotary International's "End Polio Now" donations 2 to 1, up to $50m each Rotary fiscal year. Rotary International has secured $35m of this year's $50m goal, with just a few weeks left in our fiscal year. We hate to leave that money on the table! Mike McGovern, Rotary International chair for the End Polio Now campaign, had a creative suggestion. Since Rotarians are not currently gathering in-person or having to pay for meeting lunches, he suggests that each Rotarian donate one week of lunch money (about $10) to the End Polio Now campaign. Rotarians may donate online. If every Rotarian donated $10, we would reach our goal to secure the full $50m match from the Gates Foundation. Here is the link to make this possible: Link

STRIVE Update: – All STRIVE students were mailed an 'encouragement gift card' & a personal note. STRIVE mentors recently completed their selections for STRIVE's annual Academics, Attendance and Attitude awards -- keep your eyes peeled for a press release in the paper. Contact Georgia Abbott with questions.

Nursing Scholarship Update: – Terry Newton said that the second-year nursing student we awarded a scholarship to last year has graduated and is studying to pass her nursing exams. Congratulations Bao Yang and we wish her the best in future endeavors. Excellent!

Resuming In-person Meetings: – Liz Ahrens and Ashley Whitney will be visiting the Perry Hotel soon to explore what in-person meetings could look like for our club moving forward. Following a recent survey that a vast majority of members responded to (thank you!), we learned that about 2/3 of members would feel comfortable resuming in-person meetings and 1/3 prefer to continue Zoom meetings. Most indicated that a combo in-person/Zoom meeting would be ideal, if there would be a quality experience for all.

Our Club's 100th Anniversary: – Liz Ahrens reminded everyone that 2021 is our 100th anniversary. Our club was founded in Nov. 1921. A 100th anniversary steering committee met last week to discuss festivities and establish various subcommittees. There will be a chance for EVERY club member to participate in this milestone -- to help plan the gala, walk in the 4th of July parade, do a random act of service, and so much more!! Please stay tuned as we prepare to launch this effort.

New Board Member: – With the temporary leave of absence of board member Reg Smith, the board was authorized to appoint a new board member to complete the rest of Reg's term. Liz Ahrens announced that Christian Smith will be stepping into this role. Congrats, Christian!

PROGRAM

First, Dibby Smith drew 'winners' from some of our Paul Harris Fellowship pools. She drew from the 2016, 2017 and 2018 pools. Congratulations to the following Rotarians on receiving Paul Harris Fellowships (which they may keep or bestow on someone else):

2016 pool – Ric Loyd

2017 pool – Walt Byers, Liz Ahrens

2018 pool – Dibby Smith

If you are not in a pool and would like to be in one, we will probably start one early next year. Please email Dibby Smith if you are interested and she will contact you when that time arrives!

PROGRAM, PART 2

Next, we heard from Bill Hansen, owner of Bill & Carol's convenience store, located just outside downtown Petoskey.

Bill's parents started the store 58 years ago and he has worked in this business his whole life. Bill's family also own Scooby's Bottle Shop, which they bought 25 years ago.

During COVID-19, Bill & his family immediately mobilized their business in a BIG way to help with COVID-19 relief efforts. Right when schools shut down, the Bill & Carol's store started voluntarily preparing & delivering meals to students & families all over Emmet County. They prepared 200-300 lunches a day for 12 weeks. What awesome generosity!!

They prepared hot dogs, hamburgers, mac & cheese, goulash, etc. They also prepared boxes with toilet paper and shelf-stable foods. As word spread of their efforts, several chefs, restaurants, residents, and others stepped in to help. 

Bill was very modest in his remarks, but elder Rotarians spoke up and let everyone know that Bill & Carol's has a longstanding tradition of community involvement, for which we are all grateful.

Next Week's Program:  Sue Kanine, Emmet County Clerk will discuss upcoming local elections

Parting Shots:  Howard Richards treated us to Benny Bell’s “Shaving Cream”

Two Week Notification:  Andrea Coronado and Angela Lasher were both voted into the Rotary Club of Petoskey and this is the first of a two-week notification for both of them to the Club.