Rotary International Celebrates 105th Anniversary!

Gathered around a cake decorated with the Rotary wheel are (from left) Michael Hinkle from the Charlevoix club (founded in 1985), Pam Hartwick from the Boyne City club (founded in 1922), John Scholten of the Rotary Club of Petoskey (founded in 1921), and Joe Kanine from the Petoskey Sunrise Club (founded in 1997). Missing was Jim Slough from the East Jordan club (founded in 1939).

Presidents from four area Rotary clubs got together recently to celebrate the 105th birthday of Rotary International on February 23. Gathered around a cake decorated with the Rotary wheel are (from left) Michael Hinkle from the Charlevoix club (founded in 1985), Pam Hartwick from the Boyne City club (founded in 1922), John Scholten of the Rotary Club of Petoskey (founded in 1921), and Joe Kanine from the Petoskey Sunrise Club (founded in 1997). Missing was Jim Slough from the East Jordan club (founded in 1939). Rotary, a global network of community volunteers, is one of the largest and most influential international humanitarian service organizations worldwide. Founded in Chicago on February 23, 1905, today over 1.2 million members belong to 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members, as volunteers, conduct projects to address today’s humanitarian challenges, including illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, and environmental concerns while encouraging high standards in all vocations. Rotary members strive to build goodwill and peace, and provide humanitarian service in their communities and throughout the world.

Rotary Club of Petoskey helps to mobilize massive need for humanitarian aid in Haiti

Included in each Shelter Box is a tent big enough for a family, insulated sleeping mats and thermal blankets, water purification tablets, water purification kits, water containers/carriers, a trenching shovel, a multi-fueled cook stove, eating utensils and plates, a childrens’ activity kit and other essential items.

The Rotary Club of Petoskey-noon raised more than $4,000 to assist the victims of the killer 7.2 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, killing more than 200,000 people according to recent estimates.

The funds will go toward shelter, food and orphanages, said Ruth Bellissimo, a Petoskey Rotarian and chair of the club’s World Community Service Committee.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti as they deal with every day struggles of survival,” Bellissimo said. “We are proud to contribute funds and assistance to help them get back on their feet.”

Bellissimo explained that the funds collected are being put toward ShelterBoxes (www.shelterbox.org), which contain a 10-person tent, a water purification system and other survival necessities. In addition, the funds will help an orphanage operating in Haiti.

The money collected by the Rotary Club of Petoskey noon club are being combined with funds collected by other clubs within District 6290, which spans from Lowell, Michigan, to Wawa, Canada. Within District 6290, more than $80,000 has been contributed toward Haiti relief.

From raising funds to collecting relief supplies to distributing life-saving shelters in Port-au-Prince, Rotary clubs www.rotary.org worldwide continue to ramp up efforts to help save lives.

The Rotary Foundation has set up a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to streamline the flow of contributions, primarily for U.S. club members. Fund managers will work with local Rotary clubs and relief agencies to meet the most pressing needs of communities in the affected area. Funds will be used in the relief effort, and for projects providing longer-term support and development.

Other examples of Rotary’s worldwide response to the disaster in Haiti:

Rotary clubs in South Korea quickly raised $100,000 to support a medical team sent to Haiti by the Korean Foundation for International Healthcare.

In Honduras, The Rotary Club of Tocoa collected more than 70,000 pounds of food and medicine and arranged for three cargo flights into Port-au-Prince, with more on the way. “We remember how the world helped us after Hurricane Mitch,” said Rotary member Juan Gomez.

The Rotary Club of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, enlisted the Grand Prix Atlantic Regatta to set sail for the Dominican Republic with 24 yachts loaded with relief supplies. The fleet will arrive in Santo Domingo by the end of January, where local Rotary members will unload supplies for transport into neighboring Haiti.

When & Where we meet

Stafford's Bay View Inn

The Rotary Club of Petoskey meets each Wednesday at 12:15pm at Stafford's Bay View Inn.
Stafford's Bay View Inn is located just north of Downtown Petoskey on US 31.

Stafford's Bay View Inn
2011 Woodland Avenue
Petoskey, Michigan 49770
231-347-2771 main phone
231-347-3413 fax
bayviewinn@staffords.com

ROTARY CLUB OF PETOSKEY PEDALS TO ERADICATE POLIO

(L to R) Club President John Scholten Terry Newton, Nick White, and Past President Dianne Litzenburger

On Saturday, August 29th the Rotary Club of Petoskey raised $2,545.00 to assist with polio eraditation by holding their first ever Pedaling For Polio fundraiser. Although it was cold and rainy that day, the participants still had fun and exceeded their original fundraising goal.

Local Rotarians and their families road a distance of their choice, mostly along the Little Traverse Wheelway. The top fundraiser was Terry Newton. The most miles pedaled was 100 miles by our very own Club President, John Scholten. Thank you to everyone that made this event a huge success. It is likely that we will do this fundraiser again next year, so watch for more details to come next summer.