Rotary Informer September 9, 2026

Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
September 9, 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 God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Stafford Smith

Invocation:  Jeff Wynder

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. W. Clement Stone

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Steve Brown

Calendar Winners September 9, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  Jenny Johnson, Sunrise Rotary

Guests:  Mike Size, Speaker

Life Events:  Christine Hammond has just been approved for the new medicine that has been successful in extending the lives by a few months for some pancreatic cancer patients. Chris herself doesn’t need help but in honor of her 70^th birthday, you are encouraged to donate to PanCan which supports research for pancreatic cancer. Please keep Chris and her husband Tom in your thoughts and prayers. PanCan.org

Birthdays:  None

Anniversaries:  None

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Smile

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rotary Club of Petoskey Centennial Grant — Now Accepting Applications. The Rotary Club of Petoskey has launched its Centennial Grant Program, making up to $277,000 available for a bricks-and-mortar community project in Emmet County. Eligible organizations — including nonprofits, municipalities, educational institutions, and public agencies — are invited to apply. Projects must be shovel-ready and capable of completion within 12–24 months of award. This is a capital investment grant; events, programs, and operational funding are not eligible. Applications are open now through November 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET via the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation's SmartSimple grant portal. An optional Zoom information session will be held September 24 at 1 p.m. ET. Visit petoskeyrotary.org to learn more and apply.

Get ready! The Rotary Great Grocery Giveaway Raffle officially kicks off August 26.
Tickets are $25 each, and every Rotarian is asked to sell at least 10 tickets.
1st Prize: $100 a week for a year — $5,200
2nd Prize: $50 a week for a year — $2,600
3rd Prize: $25 a week for a year — $1,300
Tickets and everything you need to start selling will be available at our regular meeting on August 26. Get ready to sell! 

Monday, September 10, 2026 Petoskey Rotary’s STRIVE Program will be the featured community nonprofit at the September 10 performance of Come from Away! STRIVE will receive $1 from every concession sale, have a table in the lobby to share information about our high school mentorship program, and be recognized during the pre-show announcement. We’re looking for a few Rotarians to help staff the STRIVE table beginning at 6:30 p.m. Complimentary tickets available for volunteers. Interested in helping? Let Sharon Schappacher know! To buy tickets click on the following LINK

Rotary Youth Exchange Inbound Orientation Conference.  — We are preparing to host fourteen new exchange students this year on Friday evening, September 11th - Sunday morning, September 13th and can use your help. Here are the meals during which volunteers are most needed:

Friday Dinner, September 11th - (5PM - 7:30 PM)

Saturday Dinner, September 12th - (5 PM - 7:30 PM)

Sunday Breakfast, September 13th - (6:30 AM - 9:30 AM)

Please let me know if you might be able to assist. 

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to provide!

Mark Andresky <markandresky@gmail.com>

Saturday, September 19, 2026 Mark your calendar for our fall Rotary Roadside Cleanup! Join fellow Rotarians as we help keep our community clean and beautiful. More details, including meeting time and location, will be coming soon. Save the date and plan to lend a hand! Register here LINK

Monday, September 21, 2026 Set sail with fellow Rotarians, family, and friends for a sunset cruise aboard the Little Traverse Bay Ferry. Enjoy a relaxed evening of fellowship, great food, and beautiful views of Little Traverse Bay. Bring your spouse, a guest, or a prospective Rotarian!

$45 per person includes:
2-hour sunset cruise
Appetizers, wraps or sandwiches, and dessert
Cash bar available onboard.

Boarding: 5:30 PM | Cruise: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
101 E. Lake Street, Petoskey
Space is limited Click on the LINK to register

Good news! We’ve been approved to set up a Rotary booth at the Downtown Petoskey Holiday Open House on Friday, December 4, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. It is FREE. We’ll have a tent in Pennsylvania Park near the chamber and stage where we can sell grocery raffle tickets and can hand out cookies, cocoa, or another holiday treat. This is just a heads-up for now. I’ll announce it to the full club and put together a volunteer sign-up as we get closer. We’ll need people to staff the booth and some bakers willing to donate cookies. The timing should be great since it’s just a few weeks before the ticket sales deadline and drawing, so hopefully we can move a lot of those last tickets! Just wanted to get it on everyone’s radar and calendars. 

Member–Hosted Community Events

September 14 is a croquette challenge with the Kiwanis Club. See Andrea Koch for details.

Member Induction:  None

Paul Harris: Dibby Smith – Dibby reported that while we are phasing these pools out, we still have 3 pools in progress. Today’s Paul Harris awards: Becky Phillip-Kranig, Karen Ragland, and Dibby Smith.

Member Spotlight:  None

PROGRAM:  Michael Size – Michael Size from EGLE - Michigan's Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy - shared information about the State’s Dam Safety Program. 

Background

In 1970s there were two major dam failures - Teton Dam failure in Idaho that killed 7 people and the Buffalo Creek Dam in West Virginia, which killed 125 people. States then took action to establish Dam Safety Programs.

There are over 2600 dams in Michigan - 75% are privately owned and most are earthen embankment dams.

Common Deficiencies and Why Dams Fail?

• Most common causes of dams failing:
  • 70% floods and overtopping
  • 15% seeping and piping failures
  • 15% not known, because it wasn’t witnessed
• Common Deficiencies
  • Trees in the dam - EGLE advocates cutting down trees on embankments
  • Debris buildup - EGLE recommends that owners clear debris
  • Animal burrows can erode the embankment from within
  • Slope failure
  • Wave action

Dam construction started in the 1900’s and peaked in the 1960’s. Dams have a lifespan of 50–75 years, which is the age of most of our dams. This past spring, Michigan only had 6 dam failures in the state, mostly due to overtopping and flooding. It should be noted that all dams leak, and the biggest driver of risk is what material it is carrying. There are three classifications of dams in MI: high, significant, and low, based on the downstream risk and impacts. For those dams at the end of their life span, options include repair or removal. There are pros and cons to each, including one-time and ongoing costs and impacts on the surrounding environment. You can contact Mike if you come across a dam that you believe has issues – Mike Size 989-619-4295 sizem@Michigan.gov

There are also sites available for further review: Michigan Dam Safety Webpage: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/dam-safety and 

Association of State Dam Safety Officials: https://damsafety.org/

Next Week’s Program: Abe Manthei – Culture of Care, Coaching and Commitment