Rotary Informer October 21, 2026

Rotary Club NEWSLETTER 
October 21, 2026
104 Years of Service Above Self

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Petoskey. President Sharon Schappacher officiated this week’s meeting. 

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

Patriotic Song:  Howard Richards led us in My Country ‘Tis of Thee

4-Way Test:  Joe Blachy

Invocation:  Becky Philipp–Kranig

Fall encourages us to pause and be grateful for the year that has passed. Birthdays offer the same opportunity, inviting us to celebrate both memories made and possibilities ahead.  As today is my birthday, I liked this quote by Robert Browning:

“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” — Robert Browning

Calendar Winners Read Off By:  Ian Straley

Calendar Winners October 21, 2026

Visiting Rotarians:  None

Guests:  Derek Hartline, Speaker; Jay Olson, Melissa Williams, PM

Life Events:  Jean Frentz gave an update on Chris Hammond. She is receiving hospice services now at her home. She’s in less pain and sleeps a lot. Their son is here and hopes to stay a couple of weeks. Please remember them in your thoughts and prayers.

Birthdays:  

Becky Philipp–Kranig 

John Regan 

Patricia Wimmer 

Anniversaries:  

Megan DeWindt – 3 Years

Liz McKenney – 5 Years 

Singing/Song:  Howard Richards led us in Happy Birthday and Smile

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rotary Board nominations:  The annual Club election will be here before we know it! Now is the time to nominate people for Rotary board positions and/or the President Nominee position. If you are interested in serving on the Board, or would like to recommend that someone be considered, please speak with Sharon Schappacher, Andrea Coronado or Drew Smith.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing:  Doug Buck reminded everyone that an online sign-up sheet is going around for Salvation Army bell ringing, which will take place on December 4 at D&W grocery store. All the morning slots are filled (thank you!) but there are still several afternoon slots available. 

Rotary Club of Petoskey Centennial Grant — Now Accepting Applications. The Rotary Club of Petoskey has launched its Centennial Grant Program, making up to $277,000 available for a bricks-and-mortar community project in Emmet County. Eligible organizations — including nonprofits, municipalities, educational institutions, and public agencies — are invited to apply. Projects must be shovel-ready and capable of completion within 12–24 months of award. This is a capital investment grant; events, programs, and operational funding are not eligible. Applications are open now through November 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET via the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation's SmartSimple grant portal. An optional Zoom information session will be held September 24 at 1 p.m. ET. Visit petoskeyrotary.org to learn more and apply.

Get ready! The Rotary Great Grocery Giveaway Raffle officially kicks off August 26.
Tickets are $25 each, and every Rotarian is asked to sell at least 10 tickets.
1st Prize: $100 a week for a year — $5,200
2nd Prize: $50 a week for a year — $2,600
3rd Prize: $25 a week for a year — $1,300
Tickets and everything you need to start selling will be available at our regular meeting on August 26. Get ready to sell! 

Members are encouraged to keep selling raffle tickets. Anyone who sells tickets will be entered into a drawing for a special prize as an extra incentive!

Karen reminded everyone that we have the potential of making $75,000 from the raffle sales if we sell all 3000 tickets.  We’ll get about half of that if everyone sells only their required amount.  If everyone would just try to sell a couple more tickets, it would make a big difference.

Grocery Raffle update:  Rotarians now have a fabulous opportunity to sell our grocery raffle tickets outside of D&W grocery store! A signup sheet is forthcoming. Remember, if we sell all 3,000 raffle tickets, we will raise $75,000 for Club activities. Karen Ragland gave a shout-out to Stafford Smith and Dibby Smith for their raffle ticket sales.

Good news! We’ve been approved to set up a Rotary booth at the Downtown Petoskey Holiday Open House on Friday, December 4, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. It is FREE. We’ll have a tent in Pennsylvania Park near the chamber and stage where we can sell grocery raffle tickets and can hand out cookies, cocoa, or another holiday treat. This is just a heads-up for now. I’ll announce it to the full club and put together a volunteer sign-up as we get closer. We’ll need people to staff the booth and some bakers willing to donate cookies. The timing should be great since it’s just a few weeks before the ticket sales deadline and drawing, so hopefully we can move a lot of those last tickets! Just wanted to get it on everyone’s radar and calendars. 

October 28 Meeting: Don't forget to wear your Halloween costume to our October 28th Rotary lunch!

Member–Hosted Community Events

Member Induction:  None

Paul Harris Fellow:  None

Member Spotlight:  None

PROGRAM:  Derek Hartline – Elk Expansion in Michigan

We were joined by Derek Hartline, a conservation biologist with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians' Department of Natural Resources. Derek gave an interesting presentation on LTBB efforts to expand the elk population in Michigan.

Elk are culturally important to the LTBB, and they also present ecological and tourism opportunities. Elk had died out in Michigan long ago, but were reintroduced in the State in 1918. The population steadily grew, and eventually hunting was permitted. The elk habitat is currently in and around the Pigeon River State Forest area. 

LTBB is looking to expand the elk habitat into other appropriate areas throughout the state, and steadily grow the elk population. They are focused on areas that have less agricultural activity, less ecological disease, and lower population density. Research revealed up to three potential areas for elk habitat expansion: Roscommon, Manistee, and Baldwin. LTBB recently received a $1.3 million grant to conduct a movement analysis of the current elk herd, to understand their movement patterns and how that would translate into expanded areas.

Next Week’s Program: Mary Grace McCaskill from Anne’s Nest