Rotary Informer March 11, 2026

Petoskey Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
March 11, 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:  Paul Schmanski

Invocation:  Kassia Perpich – Inspired by what she learned in last week's program on Artificial Intelligence, Kassia Perpich asked ChatGPT to write a brief poem for Rotarians, blending the act of service with the desire for spring weather to return. She gives the following a solid B+ for effort:

While the earth renews with every spring,
so can lives through acts we bring.
One kind word, one helping hand,
Can bloom like flowers across the land.

Calendar Winners Read Off By: 

Calendar Winners March 11, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  

Guests:  Chrissy Woodbury, Huntington Bank, Prospective Member

Life Events:  

Birthdays: 

None

Anniversaries:  

Ian Straley – 1 Year

Adrian Karr – 3 Years

Tim Dykstra – 24 Years

Chris Etienne – 35 Years

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Smile. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events 

Wednesday, March 18: – International Project Discussion
11:30 AM (30 minutes before the regular meeting)
Joe Blachy will lead a brief discussion before the meeting about a potential international Rotary project. All interested members are welcome to attend and learn more. RSVP not required. 

Wednesday, March 25: Centennial Funds Vote 
The club will vote on the next step for our Centennial Project funds at the March 25 meeting. Voting will take place in person only during the meeting. 

Wednesday, April 8 – Vocational Meeting 
Great Lakes Center for the Arts at 12:00 PM
We will meet offsite at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts and will not meet at Stafford’s Perry Hotel that day. GLCFA staff will share about their work and what happens behind the scenes to bring performances and programs to our community. Lunch will be provided by Julienne Tomatoes and will include assorted sandwiches, chips, cookies, and beverages. The cost will be billed to your next Rotary invoice at the normal lunch rate. Please Register by Monday, April 6. Register HERE

Thursday, April 30 – Rotary Spaghetti Dinner
Petoskey High School, 5:00–7:00 PM
Our annual Spaghetti Dinner is back. Join us for an evening of great food and fellowship while supporting Rotary’s community projects. Dine-in and carry-out will be available. Sign up to Volunteer HERE 

Member-Hosted Community Events

Monday, March 16: Northern Community Mediation – Oscar After Party
Hosted by Rotarian Jane Millar
Northern Community Mediation will host an Oscar After Party on Monday, March 16 at 5:30 PM at Odawa Casino. Hosted by Rotarian Jane Millar, the evening will include appetizers, trivia, raffles, prizes, and Oscar-themed fun. Tickets are $30, and Rotarians are encouraged to attend and support Jane and this wonderful organization. Event information and tickets HERE 

Thursday, April 9: Building Supportive Communities 
Hosted by Rotarians Andrea Coronado and Andrea Koch
Join Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan for an evening with nationally recognized survivor advocates Samantha Stites and Dr. Danielle Moore. Samantha’s 13-year experience with stalking is featured in the Hulu docuseries Stalking Samantha: 13 Years of Terror. Dr. Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist and survivor of the Olympic Doctor Larry Nassar. The evening will include presentations followed by a facilitated discussion and audience Q&A. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Program begins at 6:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. Register HERE 

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 – Ashley DeCarteret – Centennial Project Update – In 2021 our club selected the Winter Sports Park Pavilion as a legacy project for the centennial celebration. We granted funds through our Parks and PRCCI donor-advised funds and generous pledges from past presidents, intending to build a year-round pavilion over the outdoor rink. Despite the tireless efforts of Parks & Rec Director Kendall Klinglesmith and strong support from members, the City has decided not to proceed. Cost estimates ballooned to more than $3 million, and the council declined to move forward. Only $167,315 was transferred out of our donor-advised fund; the $40,000 challenge grant, $10,000 PRCCI commitment and $60,000 in past presidents’ pledges remain in their accounts. The board will be voting to cancel the grant since the project is not moving forward.  With the grant canceled, we now have two options: (1) redeposit the $167,315 into our combined donor-advised fund, increasing earnings for future grants; or (2) set aside all centennial funds for a new “to be determined” shovel-ready project. We will be voting on these options on March 25th – if Option 2 passes, we will form a committee to review potential projects before full club vote on final outcome later in the year.

PROGRAM:  Jeff Leslie- Career Day

Jeff Leslie, Superintendent, Petoskey Public Schools 
Petoskey Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Leslie gave an update on the upcoming millage that supports public schools and shared an overview of how Petoskey Schools are currently performing. He discussed the importance of the millage in maintaining programs, staffing, and services for students, and highlighted the district’s continued focus on strong academic outcomes and opportunities for students across the school system.

Next Week’s Program:  Kyle Bagnall--Strange but True Tales from the Straits of Mackinac