Rotary Informer

Petoskey Rotary Noon Club NEWSLETTER

March 17, 2021

1921 – 2021         100 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey via Zoom on the world wide web. Ashley Whitney, President officiated the meeting. If you did not get the chance to attend, you can watch it from this:  Recording

Pledge/Anthem:  Howard Richards Played “America”

4-Way Test:  Sharon Schappacher

Invocation:  Neil Bidwell

In Honor of St. Patrick's Day, here is an old Celtic Blessing.......

May the blessing of light be on you--

light without and light within.

May the Blessed sunlight shine on you

and warm your heart

till it glows like a great peat fire.

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Bob Metzger

Calendar Winners March 17, 2021

Visiting Rotarians:  None

Guests:  Jake Manthei, Speaker; Eric Leister

Life Events:

North Central Michigan College:  David Finley announced that one year ago our community tragically lost NCMC instructor Larry Cummings to COVID-19. The college is holding a Celebration of Life gathering this afternoon.

Luke Update:  Bill Collins shared an update on his grandson, Luke. As Bill previously reported, Luke's cancer has returned, and he is undergoing treatment. Luke is currently stable, with no new lesions, and was recently able to return to in-person school. It is a tense time for Bill and his family. Your prayers and support for Luke are much appreciated.

Stuart Fenton Update:  Stuart Fenton recently accepted a job in the prosecutor's office in Otsego County, and unfortunately, he needs to resign from our club -- not only as a member, but also as a board member and as chair of the program committee. We are excited for your new opportunity, Stu, but we will deeply miss you!!!! 

Rotary Care List:

Birthdays: 

Jim Beno

Anniversaries: 

None

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in singing Smile.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

100 Acts of Service:  This year our club aspires to complete 100 Acts of Service for our 100 years. If you did something to serve others in the last week, please be sure to record it in our online survey -- click here. Thank you!

How Women Came to be Involved in Rotary:  Jane Millar made brief but spirited remarks on the history of women in Rotary. She focused on the actions of a club in California - the Rotary Club of Duarte - which challenged Rotary International on this in the late 1970's.

Board Position Available:  With Stuart Fenton stepping down to pursue a new job in Otsego County, we need someone to fill his 1.5 year term on Rotary's Board of Directors. If you are interested in serving our club in this capacity, please contact Ashley Whitney to discuss. To be eligible for the board, you need to have been a member of our club for at least one year, as well as be able to commit to monthly board meetings and oversight of your assigned areas.

Petoskey Rotary Club Charities Inc. (PRCCI):  Grant applications were due on March 15. PRCCI is now going to review them and will keep everyone posted on their funding decisions.

PROGRAM  

Today we were joined by Jake Manthei, President of Aster Brands. 

Aster Brands, which manufactures equipment and products for concrete manufacturers, does business in 16 countries. Locally it employs about 50 people. Its three primary brands include:

Redi-Rock -- concrete blocks used in construction / roadways

Rosetta -- focused on landscaping stones, patio stones, fire pits, etc.

Pole Base -- the concrete bases you often see in parking lot or street light fixtures

Aster Brands is a very values-driven company. It's stated purpose is "changing the world in concrete ways" and its main values are:

Lead the way

Never give up

Make time to care

They've recently made a number of investments that have created new jobs and opportunities. They bought new equipment and robots (!) for its steel processing facility. They also invested in a polyurethane laboratory and test frames.

Following Jake's remarks we had a great Q&A session, where members asked about Aster Brands involvement in addressing shoreline issues, how they invent new products, the history of the Manthei group of companies, etc.

Next Week’s Program:  Cathleen Anthoferfialon – Red Cross

Parting Shots:  Howard Richards closed with Molly Malone

In Dublin's fair city
Where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

She was a fishmonger
And sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they both wheeled their barrows
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

She died of a fever
And no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh!"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"

Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh
Crying "cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh"