When the star of the show couldn’t make it Tuesday for our Rotary meeting, his understudy stepped up and stole the show.
     Michael Moore was scheduled to make his annual appearance prior to the Traverse City Film Festival, but was busy wrapping up his latest movie. So fellow Rotarian and Film Festival Executive Director Deb Lake stepped in and took a well deserved curtain call.
     “Every year at the film festival our goal is to do the impossible,” said Deb. “We try to provide movies for as many people as possible in as many sites as possible. We’ve expanded our sites over the last few years and now we feel if we add one more, we’ll be at the perfect size.”
     The popular Open Space movies cost $30,000 a night to put on, she said.
     Overall, the weeklong festival will show 240 movies this year. That wouldn’t be possible without the help of the 3,000 festival volunteers and 500 sponsors.
     “Our volunteers put in 150,000 hours just during this week,” she said. “And the age range is from 8 to 92.”
     In addition, more than 100 film makers came to town during the week.
     “This is a big event and it would never have been possible without Rotary,” she said. “”Rotary not only saved the State Theatre, but helped sustain it.”

     ROTARY SURVERY IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT: President Dale Chilcote reported on the recent Rotary survey in which 72 members (30% of club members), took part. The survey covered everything from weekly programs to quarterly dues to food served at the Park Place. The results? Satisfaction with the meetings and dues and concern about the food cost, selection and quality. “It’s nothing we haven’t heard before,” said Dale. “But we will continue to work on upgrading the weekly menu.”

     A SALUTE TO SALLY: Outgoing Rotary Club administrator Sally Erickson was feted with a Paul Harris Fellow and the cherished Red Rose Award. Sally is leaving us and was given a standing ovation for her years of service to the club.

 

     MEETING NOTES: Allison Beers knocked it out of the park in leading us through “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond… Homer Nye gave the invocation… Marsha Smith won the 50-50 drawing worth $36.