Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

November 6, 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 was not here today so we recited the Pledge of Allegiance  

4-Way Test:  Roger Winslow   

Invocation:  Becky Phillipp-Kranig

To make life a little better for people less fortunate than you, that’s what I think a meaningful life is. One lives not just for oneself but for one’s community.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Gary Baxter  

Calendar Winners November 6, 2024

International Insight:  Rotary members in a small town of Nova Scotia, Canada, took action to bring two families from war-torn Syria to their country, where the refugees are starting a new life.

Visiting Rotarians:  None   

Guests:  Dr. Allen D. Damschroder, Dale Herder, Art Tebo, Speaker

Life Events:   

Birthdays: 

None

Anniversaries:

Jeff Leslie – 16 Years in Rotary and 1 Year in our Club

Happy Anniversary:  The Rotary Club of Petoskey just experienced an anniversary on November 4^th. We inaugurated November 4, 1921. We are now 103 Years old.

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards was not here so we muddled through Smile

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The nominating committee presented the nominations for the Rotary Club’s 2025-2026 Board of Directors. 

For President:  Sharon Schappacher
For Board Members:  Megan DeWindt, Andrea Koch, and Kendall Klingelsmith

As per our bylaws, nominations from the general membership are also welcome, so if you would like to put forward additional names for consideration, reach out to Andrea Coronado by November 3rd.

Rotary Member Spotlight:  Jean Frentz

Originally from Iowa, Jean moved to Lansing when she was 15. She went on to receive 3 degrees from Michigan State University. Her focus was on special education.

Jean worked as a teacher in Haslett, then as a Special Education Director, then as an Assistant Superintendent. Jean and her husband, Chip, moved to Petoskey in 2010. However, they'd been coming to the area for many years before then, as Chip's family had built a cottage on Walloon Lake in 1906.

Jean was a Rotarian when living downstate, but didn't plan to continue her membership when she first moved to Petoskey. However, after attending a very heated political candidates forum in 2010, she found herself craving Rotary again. She desired to be among a group of people who embraced civility.

Jean and Chip have 2 sons - one in Petoskey, and one in Edwardsburg, MI. They have 5 grandkids, including 2 sets of 15-year-old twins and an 11-year-old.

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. See Dave Thomas for more info. 
Santa’s Secret:  Secret Santa is coming soon! A sign-up will be circulated soon to participate.

PROGRAM:  Art Tebo (Counter Espionage during the Vietnam War

Today we were joined by Art Tebo, who described his unique experiences serving in the earliest days of the Vietnam War. 

Art had an important intelligence role. He served as an undercover agent for the Army, pretending to be a civilian in Vietnam. He would go into villages and check in with local people. He'd ask about newcomers to the area, who the bullies were, what unusual things were happening. Some of his best intel came from prostitutes! 

Art also recruited Vietnamese people to gather intel for him.

Art shared pictures from his time in Vietnam, as well as moving audio he had recorded during a ground attack. For his courageous service, Art was awarded a Bronze Star Medal.

Next Week’s Program:  Vocational (featuring Chelsea Platte and Christian Smith discussing Fundraising)