Leading our meeting for President Dale Chilcote was President-elect Mike Meindertsma. Dale was feeling under the weather, and Mike did an excellent job on short notice!
Christopher Cox acknowledged the Students of the Week from Traverse City Christian School.
Moments of silence were taken for two Rotarians we recently lost: Jack Otto and Howard King.
A beautiful and touching moment of remembrance for Howard was led by Marsha Smith and Mike Jackson. Marsha sported a maize and blue U of M hat to honor Howard, the voice of Michigan Stadium. She then shared heartfelt stories of their friendship, and detailed his impact on Rotary’s grants and services to improve the capabilities of charities and non-profits.
Mike recalled Howard’s contributions, caring, and humor, along with his pride for the Wolverines and U.S. Marines Corps. The club was then led in our music for the day, “Hail to the Victors” and “Marine’s Hymn”.
The visitation for Howard is Friday, May 20 from 3-5 pm at Reynolds Jonkoff.
The funeral is Saturday, May 21 at 11:00 am at the Presbyterian Church of Traverse City.
It was powerful moment as his wife, Liz Sayre-King, was given a single red rose and his Rotary badge.
We honor these Rotarians who touched our lives, as they lived our motto of “Service Above Self.”
Other news: NMC Barbecue is Sunday May 22nd. Steve Haskin announced that 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm are the times that need the more volunteers! 118 Club member of the 248 Club members were in attendance.
With a very special World Community Service Announcement and presentation, Sharon Zimmerman provided a unique opportunity to hear about a Rotary grant-funded project in South Africa via a live audio connection.
David Wreford, Program Director for Hermanus Rainbow Trust gave a real-time, picture journey detailing the good works by that organization. One part of the program, David explained, is the farming of microgreens: a crop that can be harvested in just 20 to 30 days, and provides a highly nutritious food for those in need in that community.
He explained their important efforts to “rebuild the fabric of society” in that region, and to help families by feeding, protecting and educating those in need.
The Grand Traverse Conservation District is celebrating 75 years of protecting our environment, and providing wonderful ways to explore it.
Marsha Barber Clark and Steve Largent shared great information about their group’s efforts to protect the region’s natural resources.
The program started with a video retrospective of this area’s long history of cherry farming, and vast opportunity found early in that industry. But as over-farming took its toll, and The Great Depression affected Grand Traverse area, it created the need for The Grand Traverse Soil Conservation District. Forming in 1941, it was started to help protect soil and water resources.
Today, the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program verifies good farming practices. There are over 100 MAEAP verified farms in our region, including the wineries on Old Mission Peninsula, and Brewery Terra Firma in Traverse City, Ms. Clark said.
The District’s five focal points are agriculture, the Boardman River, parklands, forestry, and nature education. And “our focus has always been on the future”, she said, noting the need to share the importance of natural resource conservation with the next generation.
She also described on-going efforts – like their seedling sale – that help fund projects and support the District.
Mr. Largent shared information on their over 20 years’ of stewardship efforts to provide “safe, sustainable access to the Boardman River.”
The Grand Traverse Conservation District has helped restore over 250 stream banks, completely refurbished access sites, and stabilized river banks after bridges and roads were repaired.
That area is also home to the largest dam removal effort in Michigan’s history, he said. The District remedied the effects of the removal of the Brown Bridge Dam on 2 ½ miles of the river.
Some local Rotarians assisted in healing those natural areas by planting native vegetation.
Mr. Largent also mentioned the impact of The Gourmet Game Dinner/Friends of the Boardman and shared the plans for a foot bridge over the river, near Brown Bridge Dam.
FAMILY- Wife Anne, married 59 years; three talented
Children and seven perfect grandchildren.
FAVORITE DESSERT - TWIX, a 90 calorie bar.
FAVORITE HOBBY, ACTIVITY – Fly fishing
LAST BOOK READ – “The Quiet Game” by Greg Iles.
FAVORITE MOVIE – “To Kill A Mockingbird”
FAVORITE SONG – Don’t really have one, but enjoy symphonic music.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF NO ONE IN THE CLUB
LIKELY KNOWS – My favorite doubles tennis partner is fellow Rotarian Ross Biederman. Every once in awhile, we win a set from the “kids” we play.
Love it! But whatever the result, it’s always great fun.
LIFE ROLE MODEL – My Mother
MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT – Having the courage to move to Traverse City in 1960.
PROUDEST MOMENT - Getting here!
FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU - Falling in the mud while adjusting artillery fire at a demonstration in Japan before going to Korea. The general roared---then made me his aide-de-camp. Couldn’t trust me as a forward observer, I guess.
SECRET AMBITION – Shoot my age in golf. Dream on!
IF YOU COULD BE ANYONE IN THE WORLD FOR A DAY (present or historical), WHO WOULD THAT BE---AND WHY?
Winston Churchill – A great leader, persuader and true friend of America. He writes well too.
MOST FAMOUS PERSON MET – George H.W. Bush and Jim Baker, and playing tennis at the White House in 1982.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE – This Rotary Club’s “Fantastic” in what it does to help make Traverse City the best place in America to live, work and raise a family.
World Community Service Month
May 2016
“We are Global Citizens”
As Rotarians we look beyond our own backyard. We feel our commitment to world causes. Our service to international projects stems from the fact that we are Global Citizens. No, not just lip service to helping those beyond our borders, we act. RCTC members should be particularly proud to have been involved in over 30 major projects in some 16+ countries around the world in the past 10 years. That is a legacy of leading!
Do you realize that your club has led fundraising for projects in Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Peru and Nepal, to name just a few? We have either initiated or co-sponsored projects in these countries which improved the lives of men, women and especially children, living there. By our Club leadership, funds were collected from multiple Rotary Clubs, then leveraged to multiply the positive impact those generous donations had. We don’t follow; we lead.
Your contributions this year will go towards three major projects: medical care to Peruvians in remote villages along the Amazon; Business literacy training for women in Guatemala; and to PolioPlus. In addition, we will support smaller projects in South Africa and Haiti (school & a midwife center), depending upon the availability of funds. Our goal this month is $15,000 in total contributions; But more importantly, to see greater than 80% membership participation. So please join us as Global Citizens in
Traverse City Rotary With a Tax Deductible Contribution at our next meeting. Please click here to see full document
The World Community Service Committee
Please consider donning your work boots and gloves and joining us for a work bee at the Discovery Center from 9-noon on Saturday, May 14th. We will be working on both sides of the road - on the campus and on the newly acquired coal dock property! RSVP on our website or email me: bewing@rotarycharities.org
Open to all. Up for another singing gig? We have all the information now on Howard King's memorial service: Saturday May 211, 11 am at the Presbyterian church at 701 Westminster Rd in Traverse City. Kind of behind the old Fox Haus Motel and just east of the Munson medical building.
We have been asked to sing two songs:
The Marine's Hymn and
The Yellow and The Blue (Michigan Alma Mater)
Both charts are attached.
We will sing only one verse of each and we will sing with the music if you need it. Harmony, if you know it, from your college days (or from the 2013 Rotary Show) is welcome but we will not spend a lot of time teaching the harmony in our rehearsal. Singing the melody is just fine.
Bob Stow is working on a rehearsal venue for us which will hopefully be for one your on Wednesday evening May 18. We will all hear from him on that shortly. Hope you can come.
I will ask Byron if he can play for us at the rehearsal and the service and let you know if that is possible/ Regardless we will have a piano supporting us.
Thanks to everyone for trying to make space in your calendar for this. Rotary was very special to Howard and he gave a lot back to the club and to the community. I spoke with his wife, Liz at lunch today and she was quick to point out that our being asked to sing was not a nod to the Rotary Show but rather a recognition of how important Rotary was to Howard's life.
Well, that's it for now. Hope to see you on the 18th. If you come, please DO bring your music! ;-)
NMC BBQ Sunday May 22nd: Sign up now for a time slot and have a great time hanging out with your fellow Rotarians. We need about 60 Rotarians to sign up for this event. The available times to choose from are 8am-11am, 11am-1pm, 1pm-3pm and 3pm-5pm. If you haven’t signed up already, you can sign up at the next meeting or contact Steve Haskin at 231.995.4587 or steven.haskin@53.com
Last week, Rotary Camps & Services met with representatives from the City of Traverse City and Traverse City Light & Power to officially close on the former coal dock property.
In addition to Traverse City Mayor, Jim Carruthers, and City Manager, Marty Colburn, attendees of the signing included members of the Rotary Camps & Services Board, the Rotary Charities Board, and members of the Rotary Camps & Services Harbor Committee. “The committee is eager to begin work on making this property the community asset we all want it to be,” said Bob Stow, Harbor Committee member.
Moments of silence were taken for two Rotarians we recently lost: Jack Otto and Howard King.
The Grand Traverse Conservation District is celebrating 75 years of protecting our environment, and providing wonderful ways to explore it.
CURRENT CAREER – Retired Record-Eagle Publisher
EDUCATION – MBA, University of Michigan; J.D., Cleveland State University
Please consider donning your work boots and gloves and joining us for a work bee at the Discovery Center from 9-noon on Saturday, May 14th. We will be working on both sides of the road - on the campus and on the newly acquired coal dock property! RSVP on our website or email me: 
NMC BBQ Sunday May 22nd: Sign up now for a time slot and have a great time hanging out with your fellow Rotarians. We need about 60 Rotarians to sign up for this event. The available times to choose from ar
Last week, Rotary Camps & Services met with representatives from the City of Traverse City and Traverse City Light & Power to officially close on the former coal dock property.
Next weeks Club meeting, August 2nd will be at the Park Place Hotel Dome Room
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