Last hidden column for tag filter | |
---|---|
Gold Star Families
Nov 18, 2015
Dan Robinson was our speaker today and discussed the program; "Goldstar Families" which is a special organization honoring those who lost a family member in the service of our country. During World War I, military families started a tradition of hanging a small banner in the windows of their homes. The banner had a white background, a red border and one blue star for each family member in the military. If a family member died in service, a gold star replaced the blue. That gold star has become a simple, cherished symbol of a dead loved one, a parent’s way to hold tight a dead child’s memory. |
|
Japan Trip Experience
Nov 25, 2015
Sophie Cranney was our speaker today and talked about a trip that she did to Japan. What an excellent presentation. To view her presentation, click the following link: https://www.facebook.com/www.RotaryClubOfPetoskey/videos/1220826027934612/?theater |
|
|
|
Christmas Program
Dec 09, 2015
|
|
|
|
Rotary Park Fund
Dec 23, 2015
Pictured are the grant recipients presented checks today from the Rotary Park Fund. From left to right; Standing: Jeff Winegard, Steve Biggs from Top of Michigan Trails Council; Al Hansen, Dree Lo, Stefan Scholl from City of Petoskey Tennis Courts; Mike Walker, Howie Beck from Nehemiah Project; Lonnie LaPorte from Habitat for Humanity. Sitting: President Dave Thomas, Liz Ahrens from Crooked Tree Arts Center and Bob Waldvogel, chairperson of the Rotary Park Fund. The single picture is Gail Kloss from The Women's Resource Center. A total of $89,400 was distributed to these fine programs and projects. |
|
Piano or Organ
Dec 30, 2015
|
|
Great Start Collaborative
Jan 06, 2016
Andi Symonds as our guest speaker today from Great Start Collaborative. The Great Start Collaborative of Charlevoix, Emmet, and Northern Antrim counties is made up of community leaders and organizations from each county that have a vested interest in Early Childhood Investment. They include representatives from business, health, education, human services, higher education, non-profit, court systems, philanthropy, and parents who are implementing a plan to address the needs of young children within the Northern Michigan Communities. What a wonderful resource for families in Northern Michigan.
|
|
Starr Commonwealth
Jan 13, 2016
George Franklin and Sherie Veramay gave a wonderful presentation about Starr Commonwealth, an organization started in 1913 by Floyd Starr who wanted to build a residential center for troubled boys. And it is Floyd Starr's famous mantra, "there is no such thing as a bad boy," that continues to shape the commonwealth to this day. Excellent presentation and organization |
|
Great Lakes Center for the Arts
Jan 20, 2016
Jill O'Neill was our speaker today and she presented on the future Great Lakes Center for the Arts. This will be built in the Bay Harbor complex. It will allow the area to bring in the highest caliber programming across all genres of music, dance, theater, movies and film. It will be an intimate 500-seat venue housing a large stage that meets the demands of internationally acclaimed artists and companies. Excellent presentation. They are planning to be open in the Summer of 2018. For further information, visit: www.greatlakesscfa.org |
|
Branding & Web Design
Jan 27, 2016
Dylan Valade was our presenter today and he spoke about company branding; how a company comes up with a brand and a logo that will be the face of the company to the world.
Their job is making it easy for a company to use their team and resources they already have to make more money or traction toward strategic goals. They specialize in Manufacturing, Licensing, Higher Education, and Local Government. An important concept is to make the message simple and brief, so that people who are now inundated with data and messages, can sift through it very easily. For further information anyone can contact them at http://www.sngm.me/
|
|
Red Cross Smoke Detector Program
Feb 03, 2016
Our program today was Dan Shreve and he talked about the disaster relief division of the American Red Cross. He spoke about the Red Cross Smoke Detector Program. Just today, in the United States alone, 7 people died in fires because they did not have smoke detectors in their house, or the batteries were dead for a long time before the fire occurred. The American Red Cross is giving away at least 3 smoke detectors per household and also will test the detectors that are currently in a home. |
|
Club Assembly/Council on Legislation
Feb 10, 2016
The start of the meeting was a club assembly to report the ballot for the upcoming president nominee which will be Steve Cross. He will follow Bob Waldvogel who will follow Kent Cartwright. We also talked about the new Diamonds & Denim Project that will be in place for this current year. The project selected is the Great Lakes Center for the Arts. The second part of our presentation today was Jane Millar, presenting the Council on Legislation which will be voted on during an upcoming election at Rotary International. There are several items that will be contentious but, Rotary is a very large worldwide organization and there are issues that Rotary is entitled to take a stand on as long as it avoids going against the Four Way Test. Today we had mini debates on the following:
All the proposals can be viewed online. Voice any concerns you have to Jane Millar as she will be representing our district |
|
Author of "The Sparks"
Feb 17, 2016
Kyle Prue is the 19-year-old Award Winning Author of The Sparks: Book One of the Feud Trilogy. Kyle is also an Actor and Stand Up Comedian. Kyle is on a national book tour visiting middle and high schools students to inspire teens to read, write, and follow their dreams. Kyle’s assemblies are a huge hit with teens and he has been swamped with schools requests. The Sparks has won state and national awards for Best Book for Young Adults in Florida and the national award for Best Fiction for Young Adults from the Florida Author’s and Publishers Association. The Sparks was the runner up for Best Young Adult Fiction at the Florida Book Festival and won Honorable Mentions at the New England Book Festival, Midwest Book Festival, Southern California Book Festival, and the International London Book Festival. Kyle also won a prestigious International Moonbeam award for Best Young Author. |
|
|
|
State of the Economy
Feb 24, 2016
Bob Bleyaert, who has retired from The Bank of Northern Michigan, was our speaker today and spoke about the economic forecast for 2016. He went back and forth about his predictions for last year versus the predictions for the upcoming year. Currently the state of the dollar is strong which is hurting our imports. He had predicted that unemployment would go down last year which it has. He states that currently the labor market is not that strong. He predicted that oil was too cheap last year and that the prices would rise and admits that he was incorrect about that. He predicted that the feds would raise the interest rates in June and was incorrect on that as well. The Stock market was essentially flat last year. His current predictions is that during the current weakening currency rates in many countries, that the feds will probably not raise the interest rates further. His current predictions are, during the current weakening currency rates in many countries, the feds will probably not raise the interest rates further. The oil prices continue to decline which is confusing as, the stock market goes down while, personal spending and corporate profits are up. He predicts that there will be continued weak growth because of the current conditions. |
|
NW Michigan Habitat for Humanity
Mar 02, 2016
Lani Laporte spoke about Habitat for Humanity where she has been the Executive Director of the organization for the past 3 years. The organization began in Georgia and started the organization in 1969 and incorporated in 1976. They form partnerships with givers and receivers and the recipients of the loans have to work on the home that they will be occupying and they also have a small mortgage that they have to work to pay back. They have built one million homes since their inception in 1976. It is a non-profit, Christian organization. The group in Petoskey is celebrating 25 years and they have built 35 houses during this period of time. There are 3 homes being built currently and The Rotary Club of Petoskey is going to be participating in the construction of a home in Alanson, currently being built. We are helping out May 14th 9:00 a.m. - Noon. 7880 Lantern Lane at Pine and Milton in Alanson. There are 39 families which currently need housing and the organization is looking to expand so that they can continue to meet needs in the community. |
|
Traverse City Beach Bums
Mar 09, 2016
The Traverse City Beach Bums are a professional baseball team based in Traverse City, Michigan. The Beach Bums are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2006 season to the present, the Beach Bums have played their home games at Wuerfel Park. |
|
|
|
FEET Transportation Survey and Transit Options
Mar 30, 2016
Feet (Friends Enhancing Emmet Transportation) Cynthia Donahay and Martha Lancaster co-presented on the latest results on the efforts of developing public transportation in Emmet County. There has never been an attempt to recreate the wheel with this group and the group has met for over ten years to research the needs of the community and come up with the plan that has been presented to the county commissioners who will be deciding this Friday on the course of action to take. The plan is to have Straits Regional Ride roll the Friendship Center buses and operation in to their busing system and provide more service in to Emmet County. For further information you can visit their webpage and Facebook page: |
|
Leadership Little Traverse
Apr 06, 2016
Today we had Natalie Kasiborski and Sarah Ford from Leadership Little Traverse. Leadership Little Traverse has been going on for several years and provides an opportunity to develop new leaders in the community and help them to get to know their community. This years class had 16 new leaders.They get an opportunity to see many different businesses and non-profit organizations in the community. They focus on Environment; Past, Present and Future; Education; Human Services; Local Government; Creativity & Ethics; the Economy and; Where do we go from here. The last part is a personal leadership plan which involves a commitment to what each will do to become a better & involved leader in the community. |
|
|
|
STRIVE Kids will share their experiences with our mentorship
Apr 20, 2016
Tim Dykstra, Jean Frentz and BJ Shawn officiated the program today and presented about the STRIVE (Students taking A Renewed Value to Education) program. There are three leaders on the STRIVE Committee; BJ Shawn, Jean Frentz and Tim Dykstra. The program is 22 years old in the Rotary Club of Petoskey. The program is available to Petoskey High Juniors and Seniors. Many of the youth have underlying familial issues that cause them to have problems in school. STRIVE provides mentors for each student that sign up for the program. The goal is to help each student raise their GPA, (grade point average). The top three are awarded a scholarship towards college. Scholarship of 1 year presented by North Central Michigan College worth $1,500. |
|
Petoskey Chamber of Commerce Update
Apr 27, 2016
Carlin Smith was our speaker today and he gave us an update on the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce. There is a new initiative called Thriving Michigan and involves 7 different Chambers of Commerce in Michigan. The initiative involves Conscious Capitalism, where business is still paramount but involves doing good in the world, a Rotarian concept as well. He listed various organizations in the community who are readily seen as doing good in the community. He talked about an organization called Tom's Shoes, whose main purpose is to improve lives but, they sell shoes as well. If you go to their website it lists all of what they do for the community and the world they live in and you really have to drill down through their site to find the shoes that they sell. He also discussed a business that works to hire formerly incarcerated individuals and they sell bread. In the next few years there will be a work shortage as there are few that are moving up to take over the massive amount of employees who will be leaving the workforce. Customers, employees, owners/shareholders, suppliers, the community and the environment are all stakeholders in which conscious capitalism looks to have all achieve at the same level so that you have a thriving community. Business can work to help the human condition thrive better than government which has become so divided. Three area businesses Crooked Tree Arts Council, Manna Food Project, and Tip of the Mitt Watershed are prime examples of area non-profits who work towards a thriving community. He also discussed Tom Moran and his knowledge that area jobs who are aging out of the workforce is the trades. He knew that government was not going to solve this issue and has worked to build a trades college in Onaway which will educate and then supply workers to replace the trades positions.
|
|
Wings Over Northern Michigan
May 04, 2016
Don Cabble and Kerry Felder were our speakers today from Wings Over Northern Michigan, in Gaylord, which is an annual even. Gaylord's "Wings Over Gaylord" air show is fast becoming one of the premiere summertime events not just in this community but all of Northern Michigan. Gaylord Regional Airport director Matt Barresi, one of the organizers of the six-year event slated for Father's Day weekend, June 18-19, said "We feel we are becoming the air show of Northern Michigan." He added that this year's event can be condensed into one short phrase — "here come the jets." The show this year will be double of last year's event and is one of only 5 air-shows in the State of Michigan. Barresi explained further the allure of the mighty jets which will be in plain view — on the ground and in the air both days of the air show. "Basically we wanted to turn toward more jet performances," Barresi said. "We have a jet fighter plane dog fight which will be exciting for the crowd. Probably the jet aircraft in the air will get everyone's attention. The noise levels and low level of flight will be exciting. The one great thing about the show is that everything is up close and personal. It's not like watching planes flying over a lake in the distance." |
|
Petoskey Downtown Management
May 11, 2016
Katie Manthei was our speaker today and talked about Petoskey Downtown Management. She is responsible for the updated branding of Downtown Petoskey. The logo was changed to; "Light of the North." There was also a push to redo the website which now includes the ability to shop from your home at the various businesses. There is also a push to provide more in the way of activities and events. Kate shared the following new innovations she has spearheaded:
|
|
Teacher of the Year
May 18, 2016
John Hurd was the master of ceremonies for the Rotary Teacher of the Year Presentation. Each year we recognize a teacher for having a lifelong positive effect on students. This is the 24th year our Club has recognized an outstanding Petoskey teacher. “We ask a lot of our teachers, and as a society, we tend not to give them the recognition they deserve, particularly in these times, with so much focus on standards, rankings, teacher evaluations, testing, taxes, etc., etc.” John thanked the members of the Teacher of the Year committee for their efforts. Members include Bob Metzger, Steve Brummeler and Bill and Roger Winslow. John also did a shout-out to the leadership that enables excellent schools with great teachers. Dr. John Scholten and Kent Cartwright were recognized and were asked to convey Club appreciation to the Board and staff. Rick Wiles, a former recipient and Cal Prins, the principal of Central School said a few words before the introduction of the 2016 recipient, Jennifer Greer. Jenny was born in Caro, MI. Dad was a teacher and Mom was a “professional volunteer.” She graduated from CMU, received her teaching certificate from SVSU, and also earned a Master’s in Education. She was introduced to the area when she worked as a summer counselor at Camp Daggett. Her first teaching job was in Cedarville, and after a year, her dream job came open in Petoskey. She nervously applied for it and the school decision makers wisely hired her. Jenny has now taught 1st Grade at Central Elementary for 17 years. When asked where her passion comes from, Jenny talked about wanting to make a difference, and couldn’t imagine doing anything else as meaningful. She also talked about what a great feeling it is when a student “gets it.” She’s very active professionally. The Red Cedar Writing Project and the Foundation for Teaching and Learning are just a couple of examples. Jenny is also very involved in the community. She describes herself as a “chronic volunteer” and is involved with Girls on the Run, Central School Carnival and Band Boosters. Jenny was joined today by her husband Mike, children and two grandchildren. Congratulations to an exceptional teacher and a great contributor to our community |