Madame President (Awesome Allison Beers) opened the meeting on the tippy-top floor of CenterPointe. “God Bless America” was sung with spirit, and the Pledge of Allegiance taken facing Old Glory on an outside flagpole surrounded by a gorgeous view of the marina and Traverse Bay.
Nicki Sobkowski gave an invocation, which now is called the Gratitude & Reflection, a more inclusive phrase for this important part of any Rotary meeting.
Vern Gauthier led a rousing rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” whilst Byron Hanson and Christopher Cox provided keyboard accompaniment.
Alas there were no visiting Rotarians to introduce, but Regina Jaeger facilitated the welcoming of Becky Ewing’s guests: Freya Bradford – Director of Strategy & Learning, and Tori Craig – Manager of Strategic Communication. Both are Rotary Charities staff. Linda Bishop was also introduced and welcomed.
There were no students to celebrate, nor did Madame President have any announcements. A gasp arose from the audience regarding the latter.
Next came the club announcements:
- Al Bonney continued his educational efforts to eradicate club ignorance about polio. Today’s under 2-minute lesson highlighted the origin of Rotary’s involvement – Rotarians in the Philippines took steps to eradicate polio from their island. After that success, Rotary’s global efforts commenced in 1988. Thank you, Al, for your thoughtful and concise instruction.
- Jamie Keillor did not wear a clown suit nor an astronaut costume while informing the club about upcoming opportunities for weekly meeting amusement. Sitting with fellow college alumns, making nominations for Rotary “Oscars,” slinging sandbags during Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) are just a few of the Fun Committee’s dastardly plans for cultivating hilarity over the coming months.
- You have been warned. Randy Kamps reached back to the heady days of Woodstock and Wavy Gravy’s Peace Police to discuss his role as Sergeant at Arms. This peaceful warrior will ensure that any person attending one of our Rotary meetings who is running for public/political office and attempts to “work the room” will be stopped and shamed in a gentle yet effective manner.
- Lee Torrey gave a Camps & Services update:
Rotary Camps & Services Minute
September 25, 2018
Camp Sakakawea
• Camps purchased Camp Sakakawea (a/k/a Saki) in 1955 to make a special camp for Girl Scouts
• It now totals more than 550 acres on Bass Lake in Green Lake Township
• Girl Scouts pulled out last year after 62 years
• We entered into a trial lease with Camp Lookout of Benzie County to pilot camp operations at Saki this summer.
• Lookout runs at capacity with a wait list.
• They spent most of the spring doing major improvements to the camp, which had a lot of deferred maintenance.
• Lookout ran a successful pilot season with 80 campers
• They also mobilized over 100 kids and families from Saki in the Crystalaire adventure to Isle Royale, Inland Seas schooner trips, Manitou Island, etc.
For the Future
• Camps will continue to work with Camp Lookout, who has rechristened the camp “Camp Carvella.”
• Camps are also working with Green Lakes Township to have them acquire 500 acres of the property for a public nature preserve/park.
- John Noonan reminded us about the free Family Fun Adventure Day & Photo Shoot at Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center. Sign up at https://gorec-photo-shoot.eventbrite.com
$69 in the 50/50 Raffle kitty did not go to me, the scribe of this bulletin entry, but to Homer Nye.
The joint annual meeting of Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps & Services was led by Elaine Wood and Sharron Zimmerman. The most pressing order of business was the election (by ballot) of three trustees for each of the organizations. Election results were announced at the end of the program. Congratulations are in order to: [list of names of winners]
Rotary Charities Rotary Camps & Services
Allison Beers Chris DeGood
Marlene Bevan Dan Rickard
Greg Luyt Katy McCain
A presentation of the Rotary Charities annual report
(Click Here) and next phase of grantmaking, informed by an intensive strategic planning process, was provided via a tag team effort by Marsha Smith, Becky Ewing, Jeff Hickman, guests/staff persons Freya Bradford and Tori Craig. Rotarian values of truth, fairness, goodwill and mutual beneficence have guided Rotary Charities evolution in approach to addressing complex systemic problems. Rotary Charities now centers on serving: leaders – at all levels an in all sectors, and networks – organizations, communities. Rotary Charities roles are focused on the following: funder/investor, convener/connector, capacity builder/learner. Stirring terms used during the presentation included: impact investing, adaptive leadership, communities of practice, impact as durable progress through collaboration. The following grant categories are now in play: Assets for Thriving Communities, Systems Change Accelerator, Changemaker Fellowships and Seed Grants.
For the strategic planning geeks among us, as well as all who care about making this world a better place through service, this was a thrilling conclusion to the last Rotary meeting of September 2018.
Respectfully submitted,
Alison A. Ernst
