Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

June 22, 2022

1921 – 2021          100 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Ashley Whitney 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 My Country tis of Thee

4-Way Test:  Liz Ahrens

Invocation:  Tim Dykstra

I finally realized that people are prisoners to their phones. That’s why it’s called a cell phone.
Imagination was given to us to compensate for what we are not. A sense of humor was given to us for what we are.

Mark Mc Ginnis

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Herb Carlson

Calendar Winners June 22, 2022

Visiting Rotarians:  Dick Chambers, Holland, MI, Bob Swanson, Birmingham, MI

Guests:  Bart English as he had his last free meal prior to induction to the Rotary Club of Petoskey.

Life Events: 

It is with very heavy hearts; we need to share with the club that Bill Collin’s grandson Luke passed away Friday June 17th. Luke gave his all to fighting childhood cancer and had the love and support of his family and the extended Rotary family.

Bill, Deanna and all of Luke’s family are in our thoughts and prayers. Link to obituary

You can donate to the Special Wish Foundation, Inc. in memory of Luke Albright:

Special Wish Foundation, Inc.

Northeast Ohio

23 Public Square

Brecksville, OH  44141

Personal Updates:

Birthdays: 

Greg Somers

Anniversaries:  

Nick Liebler – 4 Years

Singing/Song: Howard Richards led us in Smile and Melissa Thompson joined into singing Nat King Cole; 1963 - Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Exchange of Officers Dinner on 6/30:  On Thursday, June 30 we will gather for dinner at the Perry Hotel to install our new Club President and board members. There will be NO regular Rotary meeting that week. Dinner is $45 per person and will include your choice of 3 entrees. Please click here to RSVP.

Volunteers Needed for July 4th Festivities:  July 4th is just around the corner and we are in great need of volunteers to help with the festivities. The festivities will include a downtown parade, waterfront entertainment and fireworks illuminating the sky over Little Traverse Bay. Please consider helping by volunteering to help keep the fireworks area safe and secure. Click here to sign up.

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.

Jump for Polio:  Grand Haven, Michigan June 25, 2022 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. All District 6290 Rotarians plus family and friends are welcome to come to Grand Haven on June 25 to skydive to raise money to fight polio worldwide.

Our very own Betsy Newton has volunteered to jump as skydiving has been on Betsy's 'bucket list' for a long time. Please support her with a donation! If you also wish to join her in jumping, as we can have two jumpers per club in District 6290, please see our club president. We are seeking to procure donations of at least $1,000 per jumper.

PROGRAM  

We began our program with a new member induction. Welcome to Rotary, Bart English!

Bart was raised in New Jersey. His family has been here since 1740! Early in his career, Bart worked in banking in New York and then he moved to Texas to pursue a career in farming and ranching, and also served as president of an insurance company. Bart has 4 children. He now lives full-time in Petoskey and Bay View. He loves sailing and also sings in a few community choirs.

Then we received a presentation from fellow Rotarian, Sarah Ulrich, who has served as the executive director of Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity since 2017. Sarah gave an overview of Habitat and then described some current projects.

Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity has been around since 1990. It is a licensed & insured builder, lender, social services provider, and housing policy advocate. Its main office and ReSore is located at 1840 M-119.

They serve households currently living or working in Emmet or Charlevoix Counties. Households must have "low to moderate" income based on Area Median Income (AMI) to receive Habitat's services.

Habitat builds brand new homes for eligible families, and also offers a critical home repair program to help keep existing housing stock in good repair.

Sarah stressed that Habitat is a "hand up, not a hand out." The home ownership program requires 200 hours of "sweat equity" from the homeowners, a $1,000 down payment saved, and participation in trainings to improve the homeowners' financial and living conditions. 

Habitat is currently working with a Michigan-based company to build modular-style, indoor stick-built homes with energy efficient upgrades. Habitat homes are around 1100 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

Sarah then highlighted 3 recent Habitat projects in our area:

Oden development - 4 houses

Lantern Lane -- a 6-acre site in Alanson, with 8 houses to be complete by 2024

Meadowlands subdivision -- 32 lots, in Alanson. The goal is to have 10 homes ready by the end of this year. Habitat will soon be launching a $5 million capital campaign to support this ambitious project.

Next Week’s Program:  No meeting next week – Officer Exchange dinner on Thursday night.