Rotary Informer August 5, 2026

Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
August 5, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Sharon Schappacher 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:  Megan DeWindt

Invocation:  Drew Smith

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.  Mark Twain

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Alicia Lane

Calendar Winners August 5, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Dick Chambers, Holland, MI

Guests:  Art Hirsch, Speaker

Life Events:  

Birthdays: 

Jay Neff

Anniversaries:  

Gary Baxter – 18 Years

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The club continues to build excitement around the Great Grocery Giveaway Raffle. Members interested in joining the raffle sales team are encouraged to connect with Andrea Coronado or Sharon Shappacher to learn how they can help make this year's fundraiser a success.

Jim Wibby gave an update about Chris Hammond who's birthday is August 28th where she will be 70 years old. If you'd like to donate for Pancreatic Cancer please go to PanCan.org

Save the Date – Upcoming Rotary Events – August 19, 2026 Please remember, we will be meeting at NCMC in two weeks! To signup please see the following Link

Member-Hosted Community Events

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

Hand Bells in Bay View will be August 13, 2026 in John Hall Auditorium 7:30 pm. Come watch Dibby Smith.   perform. Free and open to the public, though donations will be accepted.

Jim Wibby gave an update about Chris Hammond who's birthday is August 28th where she will be 70 years old. If you'd like to donate for the new drug Chris is on please see Jim Wibby or Andrea Coronado. 

Member Induction:  None

Member Spotlight:  None

PROGRAM:  Art Hirsch, Microplastics in the Great Lakes

Our recent community event featured an eye-opening presentation by environmental engineering consultant and advocate Arthur Hirsch, co-founder of the Michigan Microplastics Coalition. Hirsch detailed the invisible crisis threatening our fresh waters, explaining that an astonishing 22 million pounds of plastic pour into the Great Lakes every year. Much of this pollution originates from major urban centers and flows through unexpected pathways.

The Key Takeaways:

• The Major Culprits: Industrial manufacturing pellets (nurdles), synthetic microfibers from everyday laundry, and vehicle tire debris washing into storm water drains are the leading sources of contamination.
• The Human & Wildlife Toll: Research indicates the average regional resident ingests about five grams of microplastics weekly—the weight of a credit card—with 81% of local tap water samples testing positive for fragments. Fish also suffer fatal internal blockages from mistaking microfibers for food.
• The Regulatory Gap: While environmental agencies recognize microplastics as an emerging threat, no federal or state laws currently exist to legally limit these discharges into our lakes.

Protecting our fresh waters requires a collective shift toward education, lifestyle changes, and systemic advocacy. You can start by expanding your learning through the extensive research maps hosted by the Michigan Microplastics Coalition and following regional updates from the Alliance for the Great Lakes. On a household level, reducing single-use plastics and equipping your washing machine with a microfiber filter can drastically cut down on the fibers entering municipal waterways.

True change, however, requires vocalizing your concerns to your local legislature. You can make a powerful impact by contacting your state representatives to demand a proactive Great Lakes management strategy, lobbying for strict drinking water monitoring laws, and voting for candidates who prioritize storm water infrastructure upgrades and environmental accountability. michiganmicroplastics.org

Next Week’s Program: Dr. Aaron Brown, McLaren, Prostrate Awareness Month