Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

November 20, 2024

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:  Jeff Wynder

Invocation:  Jean Frentz

Optimism assumes that all will go well without our effort; pessimism assumes it’s all irredeemable; both let us stay home and do nothing. HOPE means a sense that the future is unpredictable, and that we don’t actually know what will happen, but know we may be able to write it ourselves.

Rebecca Solnit

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Howard Richards

Calendar Winners November 20, 2024

International Insight:  The Rotary Community Corps (RCC) is a group of non-Rotarians who share our commitment to changing the world through service projects.  They work in collaboration with local Rotary clubs to improve their communities.

Visiting Rotarians:  David Hamm, Sunrise Rotary   

Guests:  Emma Smith, Speaker; Matt Gawenda, Prospective Member; Sarah Ford, Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation

Life Events:  Bill Collins shared that his wife, Deanna, was recently hospitalized at McLaren due to sepsis. She was quite ill but, fortunately, has recovered and is now healing at home. Please keep Deanna in your thoughts as she continues to recover.  

Birthdays: 

Liz Ahrens

Nick Liebler

Paul Schemanski

Anniversaries:

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rotary Member Spotlight:  Doug Buck, a dedicated Rotarian and community member. Doug and his wife are proud parents of three adult children—two daughters, named after presidents Kennedy and Reagan, and a son. A longtime member of the Scouts, Doug credits his time in scouting—and later, his son's participation—with teaching him the principle of “leaving things better than you found them,” a value that resonates deeply with Rotary’s mission.

Doug enjoys staying active through exercise and tackling house projects in his free time. Recently, he opened a new office in downtown Petoskey and is excited about the opportunity to grow his staff and expand his work in the area. With over 20 years of experience supporting northern Michigan businesses, Doug brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to bettering the community.

Doug’s dedication to family, service, and professional growth exemplifies the values that Rotary upholds, and we’re fortunate to have him as part of our club.

Toys for Tots:  Let’s make this holiday season magical for kids in need! Join us in spreading joy by donating to Toys for Tots. Whether it’s a stuffed animal, a set of blocks, or that perfect action figure, your gift can light up a child’s face this year.  You can participate by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to our next Rotary meeting and drop it in the Toys for Tots bin at the Perry Hotel. If you’d prefer to make a financial contribution, please see Dave Thomas for details.

Holiday Party and Secret Santa:  Register now for the Holiday Party and optional Secret Santa exchange! We’re excited to invite everyone to our annual Rotary Holiday Party, welcoming all Rotarians and their family members for an evening of fellowship and celebration. Participation in the Secret Santa portion is entirely optional, but the party promises to be a memorable night filled with laughter and good company. The deadline to register for the Secret Santa present exchange is November 27th, while the deadline to register for the party itself is December 9th. The cost to attend is $10 per person, which will be billed to your Rotary account. A cash bar and appetizers will be provided. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ashley Whitney DeCarteret at ashley@harborbrenn.com or call her at 231-838-0313.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing:  The Salvation Army bell ringing will take place on December 13th and 14th from 10 AM to 6 PM outside the Katydid. Please sign up to help spread some holiday cheer while supporting a great cause.

Calendar Sales:  A sincere thank you goes out to all the volunteers who helped assemble and distribute the calendars. Please be sure to return your money to Karen by the end of the year so that your raffle tickets can be entered into the drawing.

PROGRAM  Emma Smith,  Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan

Emma Smith, from Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, spoke about their impactful Safe Haven and foster care programs. The organization has been dedicated to supporting Northern Michigan families through a variety of services aimed at addressing both immediate needs and long-term healing.

Emma highlighted how the Safe Haven program provides supervised visitation and exchange services, creating a secure and neutral environment for children and families navigating difficult situations. Additionally, she detailed the foster care program’s mission to provide safe, nurturing homes for children who have experienced trauma, emphasizing the hope for reunification with birth parents.

Through these programs and others, Child & Family Services continues to focus on restoring hope and helping children realize their potential Emma encouraged Rotary members to consider ways to support these efforts, whether through volunteering, fostering, or spreading awareness.

Learn about Safe Haven:
https://youtu.be/L8qmwoaVeb4?feature=shared

Learn about Reunification:

https://youtu.be/FJSN5GdqSlw?feature=shared

Anyone, including a child, who suspects child abuse or neglect, can make a report by calling 855-444-3911.

Next Week’s Program:  Kate Cohen, Dyslexia 101 with educational therapist