Rotary Informer

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 the Beautiful”

4-Way Test:  Karen Ragland

Invocation:  Jeff Wynder

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

― John Lennon

Calendar Winners:  Read off by Bob Metzger

Calendar Winners March 24, 2021

Visiting Rotarians:  

Guests:  Eric Leister, Induction today; Janice Smith; Cathy Anthofer-Fialon, Speaker

Life Events:

Rotary Care List:

Birthdays: 

Dave Thomas

Matt Breed

Anniversaries:  None

None

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in singing Happy Birthday & 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!

Beach Cleanup:  Save the date! On April 24 our club will participate in a beach cleanup at Petoskey State Park.  Stay tuned for more info. Please contact Jeff Wynder if you have any questions.

Spaghetti Dinner:  Save the Date! On April 22 we will hold our annual spaghetti dinner at the Grand Unity Events Center (1106 Charlevoix Ave., Petoskey). We will be offering carryout service only, from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. To celebrate our 100-year anniversary, this year's spaghetti dinner will be FREE for the community. There will be no ticket sales. Members will be billed $100 this year (instead of $90). We recognize that not selling tickets means members may not have the chance to recoup their individual $100 expense. If this creates a hardship for you, please don't hesitate to say so -- contact Christian Smith directly. Also keep your eyes peeled for an email about this event, with information on volunteer opportunities.

4th of July Festivities:  Sunrise Rotary has taken over Petoskey's annual 4th of July festivities. They are asking other service clubs to become involved -- cash contributions, or join the program committee to plan the parade, etc. They have raised half of their $30,000 fundraising goal. Please contact Karen Ragland if you are interested in donating and/or helping with this on behalf of Noon Rotary.

Thrive45 Virtual Roundtable:  On April 7 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM, Thrive45 (a young professionals' network) is hosting a 'virtual' roundtable for young professionals to learn more about local nonprofit organizations. Ashley Whitney will be representing our club.

New Member Induction:  Eric Leister

Eric is from Marionette, WI. After high school he joined Young Americans. He completed five 3-month tours spanning12 countries! 

Following his time with Young Americans, he worked for Boyne Highlands as Director of Guest Services. in 2016 he left Boyne to become Executive Director of the Homebuilders Association of Northern Michigan. Eric has since "come full circle" and has returned to his love of performing arts. He now manages special events, volunteers and box office operations at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts.

Welcome, Eric!! We are delighted to have you join us.

PROGRAM

Following our new member induction, we enjoyed a program by Cathy Anthofer-Fialon, the

Executive Director of the American Red Cross - Northern Michigan chapter. Cathy oversees Red Cross operations across 28 counties.

Cathy described the American Red Cross's five lines of service:

(1) Blood services -- while this is a major line of service for the Red Cross overall, the Northern Michigan chapter no longer collects blood in Northern Michigan due to our lower population here.

(2) Disaster cycle services -- the Red Cross sends volunteers to other disasters nationwide -- natural disasters, home fires, etc. The Northern Michigan chapter has the most volunteers in Michigan who willingly help with disasters elsewhere. The Red Cross provides disaster victims with financial assistance, temporary lodging, 'comfort kits' with blankets and other amenities, etc.

(3) Armed forces services -- This is the Red Cross's oldest line of service. It dates to Clara Barton providing support to soldiers in the Civil War, regardless of which side the soldiers were fighting for. 

(4) International services -- Vaccinations, reuniting families who have been separated by military conflict.

(5) Training services -- The Red Cross offers classes in first aid, CPR and more.

Next Week’s Program:  James Harrington – Opioid Misuse Prevention

Parting Shots:  Howard Richards closed with 1931 S. Simons/ G. Marks “All of Me”

All of me
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
I'm no good without you

Take my lips
I want to lose them
Take my arms
I'll never use them

Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
How can I go on dear without you

You took the part
That once was my heart
So why not take all of me

All of me
Why not take all of me
Can't you see
I'm no good without you

Take my lips
I want to lose them
Take my arms
I'll never use them

Your goodbye
Left me with eyes that cry
How can I go on dear without you

You took the best
So why not take the rest
Baby, take all of me