Rotary Informer  

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

March 13, 2024

102 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Reg Smith; officiated the meeting.

If you did not get the chance to attend, you can read about it in this newsletter.

Pledge/Anthem:  Andre Strydom led us in God Bless America

4-Way Test:  Rocky Karr 

Invocation:  Sarah Ulrich

How about a little Irish blessing for St. Patrick's Day?

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Nick White

Calendar Winners March 13, 2024

International Insight:  Rotarians promote peace by serving in four roles – as practitioners focused on improving the quality of life for all; as educators who serve in government, schools, and non-governmental organizations; as mediators, negotiating humanitarian conflict to enable the distribution of the polio vaccine; and as advocates, creating clubs and communities that are connected, inclusive, and resilient.

Visiting Rotarians:  None 

Guests:  Liz McKenney, Angela Morris, Rich Perlberg, Prospective Members; Andre Strydom, Piano Man; Career Day Participants: Dana Phinney, Angie Kelly, John Wilcox, Jason Purcell, Cyndy Tomkavich, Vanessa Warren   

Life Events:  Bill Millar's Obituary Link

Birthdays:

Chris Etienne

Anniversaries:

Rocky Karr – 1 Year

Tim Dykstra – 22 Years

Chris Etienne – 33 Years

Singing/Song:  Andre Strydom led us in Smile.

ANNOUNCEMENTS  

PRCCI Grant Cycle:  The PRCCI Grant cycle has begun, the application is available on our website. Please send to the organizations you would like to apply.

District 6290 Conference:  Save the date for the Rotary District 6290 Conference “Hoofbeats and Handshakes” May 2-4 at the Double JJ Resort in Rothbury, MI.

Rotary Peace Fellowships:  Each year, Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders for continued education focused on peace. Applications now open!

April 3 is 'Bring a Guest to Rotary' Day:  On Wednesday, April 3 the Club will hear a program from Leadership Little Traverse. Members are encouraged to bring a colleague, friend, or family member who you think would be open to exploring membership with us. Rotary will pay for all guest lunches that day.

Spaghetti Dinner on April 18:  Mamma Mia! It’s time for the 72^nd annual Spaghetti Dinner. Save the date for April 18, 5 – 7 PM at Petoskey High School. Every Rotarian is asked to volunteer that day—from slinging spaghetti and working the ticket table, to washing dishes and cleaning up, there’s plenty of fun to go around. Sponsorships are available and we ask for your support to make this event a roaring success. There is still time to join the Spaghetti Dinner Committee – contact Drew Smith or Karen Ragland to learn more.

HANWASH Update:  Club members are aware of our commitment to support the District's efforts to bring clean water to Haiti through HANWASH - Haiti National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Project managers and supporters meet by Zoom on Wednesdays. At today's meeting, HANWASH Executive Director Ryan Rowe reported that the group's current top priority is to keep their people safe during the period of turmoil in the capitol city of Port au Prince. Sadly, one staff member was attacked and robbed last night but is, thankfully, physically unharmed. Director Rowe acknowledged that there are certainly significant challenges, as well as concerns that the conflict will spread beyond the capitol, but that there is also room for optimism that positive change will emerge. Work continues in the outer nine departments (provinces of Haiti) and, in fact, a new well was opened this past week. Access to clean water is one of Rotary International's priorities and, in this case, it is worth noting that the structured partnership between HANWASH and Rotary also serves as a model that builds trust among people. Thus, it also advances Rotary's commitment to peace.

PROGRAM:  Middle School Career Day and Jeff Leslie

Scott Koziol, Char-Em ISD

Scott gave a brief presentation and request for support of the upcoming millage to fund special education services in the Char-Em ISD. Voters will be asked on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 to consider renewing the long-standing special education millage for four years. If approved, the proposal will allow Char-Em ISD to meet the needs of 1,330 students with special needs in 11 public schools and two charter schools.  

Jeff Leslie and Education Staff, Petoskey Public Schools

Teachers and counselors from Petoskey Elementary presented on the recent Career Day, at which several Rotary members participated. At Career Day, approximately 30 different careers are represented by local business people. The eighth grade students sign up for four, half-hour sessions with the various representatives. Representatives spoke to 8^th graders about careers in the medical field, landscaping, conservation, law, construction, engineering, and more.

Next Week’s Program:  Janet Chambers – Build for the Future

Two-Week Notification:  The board of directors met yesterday and voted in Liz McKenney as well as three other members of Camp Daggett for a corporate membership. This is the first of a two-week notification. Steve Schnell, Kayla Pennington, Sam Matz are the three additional members.