The meeting started off with a definite lean toward the FUNNIER side as Randy Kamp’s reflections declared in southern voice that while one might not like flour, or other individual ingredients of biscuits that the finished product was delicious; so while we may not understand individual events in life what the Lord bakes up in totality will be even better than biscuits. The levity reached a new peak as Ramona Pleva sang one of the most clever song leader selections ever performed in the history of our club. To the tune of “On Broadway” we learned that “we’ll be making some money cuz we think we’re funny. But first we need to finish our ad sales”. And audible chuckles were room wide as she ended “They say a woman rules the club at Rotary. She doesn’t take no ‘bleep, bleep, bleep’ from nobody. She’ll be judged by this year’s show. We’d better make sure it doesn’t blow”. SO FUNNY!
That the Rotary Show final push is on was evidenced not only in song, but in announcements as Max Anderson strongly encouraged everyone to “GET THOSE ADS DONE”, and Bob Stow made his traditional plea for more people to join in singing with the chorus. Speaking from personal experience it really isn’t that difficult (especially since choreography has been minimalized this year) and they do allow people with marginal voices, and it’s just plain FUN. And Carla Weaver appears to completely be having FUN as Rotary Show Tickets are now on sale – buy at the Rotary meeting each week, or through an UPNorthLive 2 for 1 special for Wednesday night, or at the State Theater.
Announcements continued:
1)Al Bonney reminded that it’s your last chance to buy a raffle ticket to support the Rotary Foundation, augmented by a video supporting the multiple ways your support helps.
2) Ralph expressed a different way to have FUN by joining fellow Rotarians on March 14th to see the play “Moon Over Buffalo” at the Old Town Playhouse. He’s seen it three times and says he was misleading that it was FUN, because it’s even better than that, indeed “hysterical”.
3)Chris DeGood announced that the FUN of Kids Free Fishing Day on June 15th will begin with a meeting after next week’s Rotary meeting.
4)Haley, our outbound exchange student headed for Germany entreated all to join in the fundraising FUN at the Boathouse Dinner April 9th at 6:30p. Cost is $50 per person for a 5 course meal. YUMMY FUN!
Chuck Korn was all SMILES as he won the 50/50 for $55.
Doug Meteyer introduced new Rotarian Jody Fisk, who moved to Traverse City in 1997 after growing up in Bay City, is a builder who served 6 years on the board of the local Builders Association. She has been able to merge her skills with the passion of helping disabled kids initially through equine therapy, by becoming interested in accessible home design, and then forming her company EZ Able.
In other member news, Alexis Juett presented the IM Rotary Certificate to Jim Patrick.
For our program Linda Racine introduced Bob Eichenlaub, no stranger to many of our FUN club members, especially not to Becky Ewing, Bob’s FUN spouse.
Bob is also a passionate environmental steward. After retiring from TBAISD he started refurbishing properties and built a solar house; then joined the Citizens Climate Lobby which is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.
Thus our meeting steered away from FUN toward what in fact is a significantly relevant issue of concern. I will try to best summarize the points, but would highly suggest you connect with the links below for a much more in depth presentation on the impact of carbon emissions on our health and climate. Those with doubts would be best served by examining the facts from established science organizations rather than gleaming opinion forming information from social media, including politically based news coverage.
Carbon emissions and global warming is a natural state of regulatory being for our planet, and the planet has indeed over 800,000 years been in a cycle of warming and cooling. This cycle follows that of the levels of carbon emissions about 10 years later when measured in a number of ways. However, the excess created in relatively recent years from fossil fuel burning has created the situation that the normal pattern of cooling will not be able to occur due to an extra layer of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For most of the years carbon measurements ranged from 180-260 but are now, at a peak level already when normally a cooling pattern would start, at 400 making a subsequent cooling impossible unless steps are taken. Even then it is already too late to reverse the effects, but they can be stopped from progressing. If not then in 40 years that measurement is projected to double to a point of no return because while a small 2 percent of energy saving could have effect now, by then it would require a 30% reduction, a number which would be impossible to realistically achieve.
Citizens Climate sees the solution in reversing a market flaw whereby tailpipe emissions are not paid for. On the floor right now is HR 763, the “Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act” to provide penalties and rewards corresponding to carbon footprint impact generated. The four steps in the bill would serve to reduce carbon emissions while providing economic stimulus, and these are:
1) Establish a Carbon Fee of $.15 per gal, which would slowly increase. This would make costs predictable for businesses.
2) A Carbon Dividend paid back directly to consumers, so government doesn’t grow and about 2/3 of the people would break even between cost of tax and the dividend returned to them for less energy consumptive use.
3) A Border Carbon Adjustment on imports from countries not having the same fee system in place, would take care of the possibility that other entities would reap the benefit of the reduction of emissions without consequent cost being supported by them.
4) Limited Regulatory Adjustments – provides stability and economic stimulus in that businesses would not face new regulations.
So what can we do to put the FUN back into this, since 70% of the people think something needs to be done, and a full 97% of the scientists are genuinely alarmed about the situation? Talk to other people to encourage them to discover the facts themselves, recognize this is a real threat to existence (even right now with unhealthy air quality, as important as future consequences). Buy an electric car which is 75% energy efficient versus a combustion engine that is 17%. Write to Jack Bergman to encourage him (nicely and in a FUN way of course – or in any method if that isn’t your style) to get on the reality bandwagon and do something about carbon emissions by voting for the bill. And ask a farmer if its real – as Larry Mawby said last week, grape growers are seeking new hybrids in prediction of the change to come.
After numerous questions our Awesome and FUN Allison adjourned the meeting with a clang.
Rotarian Linda Racine with Presenter Bob Eichenlaub,
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