Today's meeting was held at Great Wolf Lodge. PRES. JOHN called the meeting to order, and we sang God Bless America and said The Pledge of Allegiance. Gary Hogue gave our INVOCATION. Ramona Pleva led us in song with the Christmas carol ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE. Hopefully, this will bring us some snow. There were no VISITING ROTARIANS, but we did have 4 GUESTS.

1. PRES. JOHN announced that Jennifer Casey has just welcomed a new baby to their home – HARPER. Congratulations!

2. Sid Van Slyke gave the "almost final" tabulation for the "FRIENDS OF THE BOARDMAN DINNER. He said it looks like the DINNER raised $12,000+ for THE RIVER. Thanks to the COMMITTEE and everyone who attended for making the evening such a GREAT SUCCESS.

3. Steve Wade said today is the last day we can contribute to the CHRISTMAS BASKET program. He said they currently have 79 families and over 320 people who are seeking assistance. We currently have $3400 to work with. Hopefully, this number will be much higher after today.

4. Susan Kraus reminded us that our annual ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARTY is tonight at THE GRAND TRAVERSE YACHT CLUB. (I was there. IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENING!!!)

5. PRES. JOHN said the ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION is scheduled for TORONTO from June 23-27, 2018. The Registration Fee goes up to $75 after Dec. 14. Register NOW for the best deal.

There was $700 in the 50/50 drawing today. Tim Tate was the lucky winner. However, he had already left the meeting. His "good friend" Mark Newhouse came to Tim's rescue and picked it up for him. Be sure to count it Tim. Sorry, Mark, I'm only teasing.

 

Allison Beers introduced our speaker for the day, our own Elaine Wood. Elaine came to Traverse City in 1975. She became a member of Rotary on January 21, 1997. Elaine has been very active in Rotary. She has served on the Rotary Charities Board for the past 4-5 years now. She has spent multiple years in education management and strategic leadership in both public and private roles. She has also received several prestigious leadership awards both locally and thru the State. Her resume is incredibly distinguished. Elaine's talk today is entitled "The Long View". She wants to discuss aspects of change. She says "change" is like a two-sided coin. We have to understand the good and bad associated with both. She discussed our urban sprawl over the past few years along with the pros and cons. She talked about neighborhoods, about N.M.C., about the development of the University Center, how Rotary Charities has left its imprint on both Grand Traverse County and the surrounding counties, how communities are going thru a renaissance, and how each generation brings improvement. The identity of the region has broadened significantly over the past few decades. For years Traverse City was known mostly as a "vacation spot". It still is! But now it's also recognized for its high-quality Restaurants, its variety of Arts, and Munson Health Center. T.C. has also become a TECH hub. Elaine said she has a neighbor who owns a business in the Netherlands and recently moved to Traverse City to run her business from her house. The Internet has made this possible. Elaine stressed how Leaders make things happen. Her parting comment - "IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS."

 

 

Sunday, December 10, 5:30 pm

Please join us for an evening of fun, fellowship and song.

Current, former, and future Rotary Chorus folks are welcome as well
as friends. exchange students, spouses & significant others.

We will meet at 402 Washington at 5:30, carol in the neighborhood
from about 5:45 until 6:30 or 7:00 and return for warm drinks
and snacks, maybe even more singing!

Please, bring your favorite holiday snack, appetizer or dessert.

 

“John McCarthy was a dedicated member of the Traverse City Rotary Noon Club. He committed himself to international projects in Africa, Guatemala, and Haiti. He participated in Polio Immunization Days in Africa and numerous water projects in Haiti and Guatemala. John loved the people and the mission of Pure Water Water for the World. He gave all his heart and energy to support its projects because he loved the kids it helped.” - Bill Donberg, Friend, Rotarian, PWW Board Member

John’s family has suggested that memorial gifts for John be shared with Pure Water for the World. To fully honor John and his benevolent spirit, Pure Water for the World will be purchasing a truck in Haiti that will carry his name and preserve his legacy of international service.

John would truly appreciate that, by honoring him with a truck, a critical problem will be solved. Trucks take PWW teams to very remote, underserved communities, carrying the essential equipment needed to make water safe to drink. They empower PWW to visit families and conduct training, as well as monitor and evaluate projects to measure efficacy. Today, the PWW Haiti team is falling short of meeting the needs of some of the families, simply because they are short on wheels.

By purchasing a truck in memory of John, his spirit will continue to bring life-saving safe water solutions to families who need it most, carrying on John’s legacy of selfless service and his love of the Haitian people.

“John was a ‘one-of-a-kind’ gentle man. I had the pleasure of traveling to Haiti with him twice. John has a great sense of humor – some of which was pointed at himself! However, he was serious about the work he was doing. He was committed, engaged, and passionate about serving. John spent countless hours working on behalf of the children of Haiti and Guatemala. He made the world a much better place, and he made me a better person. I will miss him.” - Carolyn Crowley Meub, Friend, Rotarian and PWW Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Basket Toy Pick Up

 

 

Toy for Tots, Toy Shopping Night