Rotary Informer

4 Way Test:  Thank you Anne McDevitt

Invocation:  Dave Thomas gave us all a good laugh by sharing a few quotes from “The Best from Hollywood Squares”. Very clever!

Life Events/Requests:  There were no announcements this week

Calendar Winners:  Calendar winners can be found at:  Link to Winners

Song of the Week:  Steve Cross led us in “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding: Link to Song

Visiting Rotarians:  There were no visiting Rotarians

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Donation:  Randy Evans presented a check for $100.00 to Gary Baxter for PRCCI. The donation is a percentage from the sale of Randy’s book; “Red Sky Anthology.” Please think of purchasing this delightful read. The book can be purchased locally at McLean & Eakin: Link to Book and on Amazon at the following link: Link to Book

Camp Daggett Fundraiser:  There will be a raffle on April 26^th. The prize…a Kayak. Tickets are $10.00. See John Scholten if you are interested in purchasing one

Bay View Association:  Melissa Thompson announced that the Summer Schedule is out. A few of the live performances this summer are Indigo Girls, June 30^th; Paula Cole, July 8^th; Evita, July 14^th; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, July 28^th; and Rossini’s Cinderella on August 3-6^th. Tickets are already selling quickly. To purchase tickets, click here: Link to Tickets

MANNA:  Deb Noblett extends her thanks for the work done by Rotarians last week. A lot of work was accomplished

Habitat For Humanity:  Save the Date. Our Club will be participating May 7, 2016, 9:00 am to Noon in Alanson. Please sign up online for a work group. Also, liability forms need to be filled out for Habitat. Please fill them out and turn in to Tim Dykstra or Terry Newton

Roadside Clean-Up:  Paul Schemanski handed out roadside trinkets found during the clean-up. It looks like the Club can get into the hubcap business. Paul and the Club would like to thank the following persons for their assistance:  Mr. Keefe, Colin Caldwell, Tim Dykstra, Jeff Bodette, Heather Schemanski, Tom Earhart, Chris Struble, Neil Bidwell, John Hurd, Tim Kaufman, Paul Hramiec, Jeff Peters, Dennis Kelly and Jon Terry

The Club also received an Annual Recognition Award from the State along with an award for 25 years of roadside cleanup. Well done everyone!

Top of Michigan Trails:  The Club will be sponsoring an Aid Station for the Memorial Week-end Marathon Event.  The event is on May 28^th from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

What we also need are a team of runners and walkers. See Angie Cranney to sign up. Logo T-shirts will be provided

Beach Bums:  Save the Date of June 11, 2016 to attend a ball game in Traverse City. Cost will be $8.00 and we need 25 people to go. You will be receiving an e-mail to prompt your registration. Click here to sign up

President’s Board Report 4/12/2016:  Please see Dave Thomas or a Board member if you have any questions regarding the following:

• Rotary Foundation Education Plan (to help address misconceptions of what Rotary Foundation does and does not do) will be led by Chris Etienne

• There were no changes in membership

• Rotary Park Fund – there will be no Spring Grant Cycle due to the down turn in the Market

• D&D Partner Update: Reg Smith has agreed to be the Co-Chair for this year and the Chair for 2017

• John Calabrese requested funds for the Haiti Water Project. The Board awarded $1,438.00

• The Presidential Fund: Of the $10,000 the following has been awarded thus far:

• $3,000 to the Marine Corps League Honor Guard Uniforms

• $1,000 for Club upgrades such as Bell Top, photo directory, Foundation and Membership Banners, Past President’s Plaques and Polio Basket  

Program

The program today was hosted by Jean Frentz, BJ Shawn and Tim Dykstra and the topic was the STRIVE Program. The Club has been a STRIVE sponsor for 22 years. The program is for high school students who want to improve their present educational status and their life prospects. It recognizes and rewards students, academically ranked in the lower one third of their class, who demonstrate their desire for success by achievement. The main speaker today was a former 2004 STRIVE student, Jeff Neil, who shared a very poignant presentation, how STRIVE changed his life. I doubt if there was a dry eye in the house. Jeff is a successful business and family man in our community and he attributes this to the mentorship he received in the Program.

We also heard from a number of the mentors and learned what the program meant to them. Neil Ahrens, Melissa Thompson and Steve Brummeler shared their experiences. They all mentioned that if you have not volunteered to be a mentor, please do so as, you will be deeply rewarded

STRIVE = Students Taking a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education

Next Week’s Program:  Carlin Smith will be presenting the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce and Updates from The Chamber