Rotary Informer 

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER 
June 18, 2025
103 Years of Service Above Self 
 

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Christian Smith officiated the 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:  Reg Smith

Invocation:  Drew Smith

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Liz McKenny

Calendar Winners June 18, 2025 

Visiting Rotarians:  Dick Chambers, Holland, Patricia Wimmer, Rochester, MN; Robie Karas, Sarasota, FL

Guests:  Gary Keiser

Life Events:  

Steve Cross’s daughter is now back home! Thank you to all who have helped out the Cross family. 

Well Wishes: Betsy Newton is home and demanding as usual, running her poor husband ragged. He has attended Rotary today so he could get his first meal in at least a week. She forced him to grocery shopping yesterday, a hated task that is best left to Betsy in better times. He took her to the doctor yesterday and he put a permanent cast on it, which she runs him out of the marital bed as she twitches and jumps in the middle of the night. In other words, she is progressing well as she has a fabulous nurse. 

Birthdays:  

Nikki LaDeur

Anniversaries:  

Ron Snyder - 33 years 

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Happy Birthday and Smile

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rotary Round-Up: A standing ovation for our very own Karen Ragland, who has spearheaded efforts to raise $38,000 for Petoskey’s Fourth of July celebrations—just $2,000 shy of the $40,000 goal! There’s still time to support: sponsors, donations, and volunteers are needed, especially for evening crowd control. Let’s help make this hometown celebration a success.

New Member:  We also welcomed a new member into our Rotary family this week—please join us in giving a warm Rotary welcome to Robbi Karas! We’re thrilled to have her on board.

Rotary International Update: Chris Etienne shared that Rotary International President-Elect Mário de Camargo has officially resigned and will not assume the presidency for 2025-26.  Mário expressed that personal and business demands have made it necessary for him to step aside. He offered his deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve Rotary.

New Rotary Theme: The Rotary International theme for the 2025-26 year has been announced: "United for Good."

A summary of the 2024–2025 Membership Satisfaction Survey was presented during our meeting, with discussion focused on our top three member-driven priorities for the coming year. Thank you to all who participated—your feedback is helping shape a stronger club for everyone.

Officer Exchange Luncheon: Join us for the Rotary Officer Exchange on Wednesday, June 25 from 12:00–1:30 PM at the Perry Hotel. We’ll celebrate an-other year of “Service Above Self” and induct our incoming officers. Enjoy a fabulous lunch and hosted bar, generously sponsored by our friends at Ahrens Gallery and Studio (thank you, Liz!) and the Perry Hotel team. Tickets are $25 for members and guests. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E45ADA62FA5F85-57269316-2025

Rotary Social Hour: Don’t miss our next Rotary Social on Monday, June 30 at the Bay View cottage of Jane Millar (1812 Fairview Ave, Petoskey). Casual and fun—feel free to bring a beverage or snack to share!

4th of July Celebration:  Looking ahead, help is needed for Petoskey’s 4th of July celebration. Sunrise Rotary is spearheading the event, and there are lots of ways to get involved—volunteering, donating, or sponsoring. Join the fun and show your red, white, and blue! To do so click on the following link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48AAAD23ABFFCE9-56838377-2025#/

Karen Ragland:  2026 Rotary Calendars are coming! Each member is responsible for selling 10 calendars at $25 each, or may opt out with a $200 contribution. We will be reducing the weekly winners to three instead of five to make this program successful. 

Alzheimer’s Walk – September 27:  Join us in supporting the Alzheimer’s Walk this fall in Pennsylvania Park. Whether you walk, volunteer, sponsor, or donate—every step makes a difference. Connect with Ian Straley to get involved.

Benefiting Northmen Den Youth Pantries:  Get ready to relive the magic of prom—this time with grown-up flair! Join us for Adult Prom: A Night Under the Stars on Friday, August 8, 2025, at the elegant Grand Unity Event Center from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. Dress to impress, dance the night away, and support a cause that shines just as bright as the stars above. Tickets range from $100 to $200, with all proceeds benefiting Northmen Den Youth Pantries, helping ensure students in Petoskey, Pellston, Alanson, Charlevoix and Harbor Springs have access to the food and resources they need to thrive.

Your unforgettable evening includes:
Signature Cocktails
Appetizers and a delicious plated dinner
Silent auction
Games and entertainment
Prom King and Queen voting

The dress code is "High School Formal" Formal—think prom-night polish with your own grown-up spin. Whether you come with a date or your favorite group of friends, this will be a night to remember!

Member Spotlight – None

PROGRAM:  Lauri Juday, Saving the Monarch Butterfly
Lauri Juday delivered a heartfelt presentation on the life cycle, migration, and growing vulnerability of the monarch butterfly. These iconic pollinators face mounting threats from habitat loss, herbicide use, and the decline of native milkweed. Through her home-based conservation work, Lauri has nurtured thousands of monarch caterpillars into adult butterflies each season—a labor of love fueled by tons of milkweed and tire-less community outreach. Most recently, she helped prevent the destruction of a vital monarch habitat at Michigan Maple Block by leading a volunteer effort to relocate a large patch of heritage milkweed. In a hopeful turn, the developers have now asked her to create a butterfly garden on-site. Lauri’s work is a powerful reminder that small actions can ripple outward—and sometimes, the world really does change one butterfly at a time.  

Next Week’s Program:  Officer’s Exchange during lunch regular meeting.