Rotary Informer 

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER 
October 8, 2025
103 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 led us in God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Bill Topham

Invocation:  Jean Frentz

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.  What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. Jane Goodall

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Christian Smith

Calendar Winners October 8, 2025 

Visiting Rotarians:  Don Swank, Charlevoix

Guests:  Timothy Wilson, Rotary Scholarship Recipient at NCMC

Life Events:  Joe Blachy shared the sad news of the passing of longtime Rotarian Roy Longworth. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Petoskey, with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.

Birthdays:  

Megan DeWindt

Anniversaries:  

None

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the 2025 Pizza Buddies program, raising over $3,000 to support STRIVE! Neil Bidwell, Joe Blachy, Steve Brown, Walt Byers, Ashley DeCarteret, Megan Dewindt, Terry & Betsy Newton, Chelsea Platte, Sharon Schappacher, Mike Snyder, and Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council.

Paul Harris Drawings:  Dibby Smith drew many names from different Paul Harris Fellowship Pools and the following people won a Paul Harris Award: Sharon Schappacher, David Finley, Elaine Keiser, Greg Shannon, John Emley, Teri Donaldson, Terry Newton.

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.

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events

Pedal For Polio Event:  John Scholten announced that Pedal for Polio will be slightly different this year. Bikers, please start logging your miles individually from September 15 – October 15. These will be tallied and then all cash donations will meet the 2 for 1 match by Bill Gates. Donations can be given to any of the participants. Pedaling for Polio has reached over 1,400 combined miles in since September 15th! To support the ride, you can make a cash donation that will be applied to your monthly invoice.        

Ribbon Cutting with Rotarian David Hamm:  Join Rotarian David Hamm for a ribbon cutting celebration at Lake Effect Restoration, Thursday, October 10, 4–6 pm. Enjoy wine and appetizers at 2245 Charlevoix Ave, Petoskey. Additional parking is available across the street.       

Drug Take-Back Event:  Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council will host a Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Drop-Off event at McLaren Hospital on Saturday, October 11, from 9 am–1 pm. Help keep our waterways clean and our community safe!     

Free Tickets: Nathan & Jessie Concert:  Rotarians have been offered free tickets to see Nathan & Jessie at the Crooked Tree Arts Center on Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 pm. Only 20 tickets are available—first come, first served! To reserve, call Michelle at 231-937-2377 or email kimberly@crookedtree.org                             

Wednesday, October 15
Rotary Third Wheel Social at Elder Piper 5:30-7:00
Theme: “Awkwardly Seeking Inclusion” – make a match, meet a friend, or fall in love with Rotary. Members drive.

Saturday, October 25
Film Screening – Join or Die – Time: TBD and will be announced
Crooked Tree Arts Center Theater
Followed by a welcome reception with local service clubs.

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! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA4A92EA0FEC61-59154415-manna#/

Member Spotlight – Walt Byers
This week’s Member Spotlight featured Walt Byers, who shared his life story in five minutes. Walt grew up in a large family on a farm surrounded by combines and country life. He met his wife, Nancy, in college—she was a cheerleader, and he announced the school’s football games on the college radio station. When the team played away, Nancy would listen to his broadcasts from campus.
The couple raised two children and now enjoy time with their grandchildren, who keep them happily busy. Before moving to Petoskey, Walt and Nancy lived in Saline, where Walt met fellow Rotarian Karen Ragland through community projects and volunteer work. Today, they enjoy life up north, spending time with family, grandkids, and their Rotary friends.

PROGRAM:  Ethel Larson: History of Petoskey Area Garden Club
This week, we heard from Ethel Larson of the Petoskey Area Garden Club (PAGC), who shared the remarkable 90-year history of the organization and its impact on our community.

Founded in 1934, the club began as a small group of residents determined to restore Petoskey’s natural beauty after decades of logging and industrial activity. Over the years, members have beautified public spaces across the city—from Bayfront Park’s waterfall gardens and the Little Traverse Historical Museum flower beds, to the iconic Gazebo and plantings in Pennsylvania Park.

Ethel highlighted PAGC’s pivotal role in saving Pennsylvania Park in 1973, when members led a successful petition drive preventing the park from being turned into a parking lot, an effort that also resulted in club member Barbara Waters becoming Petoskey’s first female mayor.

Today, the Garden Club continues to plant and maintain numerous floral beds and city entrances, support pollinator habitats like the Monarch Way Station, and fund the bridge hanging baskets each summer. Looking to the future, PAGC is spearheading the creation of the Kitigaan Children’s Garden, a new educational space celebrating native plants and Odawa culture, planned for Arlington Park overlooking Little Traverse Bay.
Ethel’s presentation was a reminder that Petoskey’s beauty didn’t happen by accident—it was cultivated through decades of dedication, stewardship, and community spirit.

Next Week’s Program:  Vocational – John Emley