Rotary Informer June 17, 2026

Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
June 17, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self

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. 

Patriotic Song:  Howard Richards led us in My Country tis of Thee

4-Way Test:  Reg Smith

Invocation:  Dave Thomas

"When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser."  Socrates

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" Oscar Wilde

Calendar Winners Read Off By: 

Calendar Winners June 17, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Chris Shrader, Fairhope, Alabama; Dick Chambers, Holland, MI; Tom Morrow, Chagrin Falls, OH

Guests:  Jon Breithaupt, Speaker; Bill Borus, Tom Borman, Vanessa Chavez, Janice Smith

Life Events:  None

Birthdays: 

None

Anniversaries:  

Brian Peters – 2 Years

Bart English – 4 Years

Nick Liebler – 8 Years

Ron Snyder – 34 Years

Bill Topham – 42 Years 

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards had nothing for us today as there were no birthdays

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Paul Harris Fellow Recognition:  Congratulations to Sharon Schappacher on receiving her Paul Harris Fellow+4 Award. Sharon continues to be a bright light in our community, generously giving her time and talents to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Thank you for your service and commitment to Rotary’s mission.

June 24th will mark Andrea Coronado’s final luncheon as President of the club. This will be our Officer’s Exchange Luncheon. You may bring guests. Please click the following to sign up for attending the luncheon: Link

I hope everyone feels the way that I do in believing that Andrea has done a wonderful job as president of our club. She has brought to the club a phenomenal sense of humor and wit, an easy style of leadership, excellent facilitation of our weekly meetings, monthly board meetings, and special meetings. She has kept our lunches on time so that people who need to leave for the press of business have appreciated her ability to get us started and ended on time. She has always been a valuable member of the club but, even more so with her wonderful presidency. Five atta girls and a hip, hip hurray. Sharon has big shoes to fill though, I’m sure she will do well just based on what I already know about her through her leadership at other organizations.  

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 Spotlight:  None

PROGRAM:  Jon Breithaupt, Walloon Lake Assoc. and Conservancy

Our guest speaker was John Breithaupt, Executive Director of the Walloon Lake Association & Conservancy. A native of Traverse City and graduate of Central Michigan University, John comes from a family whose roots in Northern Michigan date back to the 1850s. Since 2014, he has dedicated his career to protecting forests, shorelines, and watersheds through conservation, advocacy, and education.

John shared insights into the importance of the Walloon Lake Watershed, which encompasses approximately 22,650 acres and serves as the headwaters of the Bear River, eventually flowing into our beloved Little Traverse Bay.

One of the most impactful takeaways was that approximately 53% of the water entering Walloon Lake comes from above-ground runoff. As water moves across the landscape, it can collect pollutants from non-point sources before reaching the lake. John emphasized that shoreline property owners—and really anyone living within a watershed—can play an important role in protecting water quality through responsible land stewardship and best management practices.

The Walloon Lake Association & Conservancy actively monitors several key indicators of lake health, including:

• Water clarity
• Temperature
• Dissolved oxygen levels
• Conductivity
• pH levels 

Beyond monitoring efforts, the organization has completed 77 land protection projects, including 57 native preserves and 22 miles of non-motorized trails. Their work focuses on both conservation and community education, offering free public programs such as:

• Guided experiences on the water
• Native plant walks
• Ski outings
• Educational speaker series
• Ecosystem and watershed learning opportunities 

John's presentation was a great reminder of the connection between healthy watersheds, thriving communities, and the stewardship responsibilities we all share.

And one final note: John mentioned he is considering joining our Rotary Club. If you see him at an upcoming meeting, be sure to welcome him and encourage him to become a member as we continue to Unite for Good.

Next Week’s Program: Officer Exchange