Rotary Informer 

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER 
November 5, 2025
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. 

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards was not here today so we recited the Pledge of Allegiance 

4-Way Test:  David Hamm

Invocation:  Neil Bidwell

Thanks for all we take for granted. Be Grateful!

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Elaine Keiser

Calendar Winners November 5, 2025 

Visiting Rotarians:  John Regan, Elgin, IL

Guests:  Dianne Litzenburger, Sarah Wiese, Lisa Charles, PM

Life Events:  

Birthdays:  

Joe Blachy

Ron Snyder

Rotary Club of Petoskey is 104 Years Old as of November 4, 2025

Anniversaries:  

None

Singing/Song:  Georgia Abbott led us in Happy Birthday and Smile. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dibby Smith awarded the following Paul Harris pins in recognition of contributions made by members to the Rotary Foundation:

Greg Shannon PHF presented by Joe Blachy

Andrea Coronado PHF presented by Joe Blachy

David Finley +1

Sharon Schappacher +3

Jean Frentz +5

John Emley +6

Terry Newton +8!!! One left to become a major donor!

Limited Quantity of 4-Way Test Plaques:  Georgia Abbott recently cleaned out the Rotary cupboard at the Perry. She found some cool 4-Way Test plaques and is offering them to Rotarians for a donation to the Rotary Foundation. There are only 8 plaques - first come first serve! Contact Georgia if interested.

Can you help us "Build Good Will and Better Friendships"? Help our club recognize and support the challenges and achievements of each member. Our club's Care and Concern Committee reaches out to Rotarians who need encouragement and support, and to those whose accomplishments should be celebrated and shared. If you know of a club member (past or present) who would benefit from knowing that we support them, please let Chris Hammond know. Her email is christinehammond989@gmail.com; mobile number is 517-449-1149. Chris will reach out with a card or call on behalf of our noon Rotary club.

Northmen Den Youth Services:  With the federal government shutdown threatening SNAP benefits, thousands of families across Michigan could soon face additional food insecurity. At Northmen Den Youth Services, we’re making sure no student goes hungry — no matter what happens in Washington. Every child in need within the schools we serve has access to food and hygiene products, no questions asked. But we can’t do it alone. Your support fills backpacks, pantries, and bellies when families need it most. Please consider making a gift today to help us continue feeding local youth during this uncertain time. Together, we can make sure every student has what they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Link

Toys for Tots Begins This Week:  It’s that time of year again — Toys for Tots kicks off this week! If your business or organization would like a donation box, please let us know and we’ll make sure you get one. Let’s help make this season brighter for local children in need.

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events

Nov. 19 Meeting at Manna Food Bank:  There will be no lunch meeting at the Perry Hotel on Wednesday, November 19. Instead, join us for a volunteer day at Manna Food Project, from noon to 1:30 pm, to help pack food boxes. A $10 donation will be added to your next invoice (no lunch charges). Please make your own lunch arrangements—pack a lunch to enjoy outside or grab a bite afterward with fellow Rotarians. Space is limited to 25 participants, so register soon to save your spot! There are 10 spots left open: Link

Rotary Holiday Party:  Mark your calendars for the Rotary Holiday Party! December 8th | 5:30–7:30 PM. Hosted at Sharon Schappacher’s home. Secret Santa participation is optional — come enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun!

Salvation Army Bell Ringing:  Save the date! On Friday, December 12 we will staff a bell ringing station at D&W Grocery store. And bonus, we'll be set up in the breeze-way, out of the weather.

Member Spotlight – Megan DeWindt
Although Megan was born in Flint, her heart has always belonged to northern Michigan. Growing up, she spent her summers in Bay View — a place she says can only be truly understood by experiencing its charm firsthand.

At just ten years old, Megan became a Rotary Youth Exchange student in France, forming bonds she still maintains today thanks to “the magic portal” — Facebook. Up-on returning home, she introduced Senator Carl Levin at a school assembly, a moment that led to her becoming a page in Washington, D.C. She attended the State of the Union and even met President Bush — experiences that ultimately confirmed that politics was not the career for her.

Megan later moved to Chicago, becoming the events coordinator for Union Station be-fore deciding to return to Michigan. Along her journey, she discovered sales wasn’t her calling, pursued a remote job ahead of its time, and earned a teaching degree from Roosevelt University, eventually teaching elementary school.

A proud mom of two, Megan has passed her love of skiing on to her son, now a senior at Petoskey High School (Go Northmen!). Life brought her back to northern Michigan once again, where she reunited with and married her high school sweetheart and chose to make Petoskey home.

Today, Megan leads the Bay View Association and strongly believes in the power of connection. Networking, she says, is essential — and Rotary has played an important role in her life, offering community, purpose, and lasting relationships.
PROGRAM:  Jane Millar: Women in Rotary

In the 1950s, Rotary did not permit women to join. Despite growing interest and sup-port, this policy remained in place for decades — even as Rotary began to realize that expanding membership could help strengthen clubs. Still, women were not yet welcome.

In 1977, the Duarte Rotary Club in California quietly began admitting women, listing them by first initial and last name to avoid detection. The effort worked — until the district governor visited and discovered women participating as full members. What followed was a legal battle that made history. The courts sided with the Duarte club, affirming that women could not be excluded from membership.

On May 4, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court officially ruled that Rotary clubs could not deny membership to women. Soon after, Sylvia Whitlock, then president of the Duarte club, posed another powerful question: “If women can now be included, why can’t people of color?” Her challenge pushed Rotary to expand its vision of who belongs.

By 1989, Rotary International formally changed its constitution to welcome women worldwide. Progress followed quickly — in 1990, the first woman became a Rotary club president. Membership continued to grow, reaching 195,000 women in 2005 and over 270,000 by 2020. Here at home, in 1989, Pat Ryde became our club’s first woman member, representing a proud milestone in Petoskey Rotary’s own journey toward equity.

Today, Rotary continues to embrace the art of inclusion — recognizing that strengthening our communities starts with welcoming and elevating all voices.

Next Week’s Program:  Vocational Team