Music: Marsha Minervini led us in singing “Hail to the Victors” and that other song by some team that wears green and white, “Victory for MSU.”
Bonnie Alfonso welcomed our guests.
Nate Coulter and Elizabeth Teklinski became our newest Rotarians. Welcome, Nate and Elizabeth!
Congratulations to our Outstanding Students of the Week: Erin Murphy and Ryan Farese!
See Al Bonney is you’d like to support National Immunization Day, where millions of kids will get the right vaccines they need to prevent the spread of polio. If you’d like to help Al purchase bed nets that he will deliver to kids who need them, they are $5 each. Al will collect donations next week.
The 10th Annual Jim Van Work Bee is Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Rotary’s East Creek Reserve. Contact John Noonan at jnoonan@rotarycamps.org if you’d like more info.
Congratulations to Evan Gray on winning the 50/50!
President Racine introduced our guest speaker, District Governor Edward Swart, Ph.D.
District Governor Ed Swart presented his vision for District 6290. Over the next year, he wants us to take the Making A Difference theme seriously.
He knows Rotarians are people who take action, so he would like all the clubs in the district to join together on a collaborative effort that makes a difference.
There are a few upcoming opportunities where our club members can participate in District-wide activities:
The district’s strategic planning event will be held in Roscommon on October 14. There, Rotarians will create plans around the following topics: Leadership, Membership, Image, and the Foundation.
Next summer, the district will celebrate all the action of the past year in Holland, MI. Stay tuned for more information on that.
And, of course, district Rotarians are invited to the International Convention in Toronto, June 23-27, 2018.
Thank you, Governor Swart, for the inspiring message and for your service to the district!
CURRENT CAREER – Financial advisor specializing in helping people going through a transition, especially divorce and retirement.
EDUCATION – Chemistry/Biology teaching degree from Ferris State University.
FAMILY- 4 kids: well, three kids and a husband who acts like a child. Cameron, age 11; Madeleine, 9, and Gisele, 5.
FAVORITE DESSERT – Anything with sugar or chocolate. I never say no to dessert.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY – Running, biking, traveling and drinking wine.
LAST BOOK READ – "Before we were yours" by Lisa Wingate and I'm currently reading "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham.
FAVORITE MOVIE – Waking Ned Devine and Space Balls.
FAVORITE SONG – Anything by Dave Matthews Band or Garth Brooks.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF NO ONE IN THE CLUB
LIKELY KNOWS – On my 5th birthday, I was stuck atop a double ferris wheel during a lightning storm.
LIFE ROLE MODEL – I am in awe of my Great Grandparents who immigrated from Belgium not knowing the language or culture. They started a farm and had 14 kids in a country that they were unfamiliar with. I can't imagine what strength and courage it took for them to do that.
MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT – I feel like every day I help my clients plan and realize their dreams is an accomplishment. I feel very proud when they trust me to help them plan and I can walk with them on that journey to realize their dreams.
PROUDEST MOMENT - When my kids were born. Becoming a parent is truly one of the hardest but most rewarding things!
FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU - This is a hard question. One time in college I was on my way to visit friends and I hit a dead deer. I had to explain to my Dad that the deer wasn't even moving but yet I managed to hit it.
SECRET AMBITION – I have always wanted to hang glide through the Grand Canyon. I imagine it would be the closest you could come to feeling like you were flying.
IF YOU COULD BE ANYONE IN THE WORLD FOR A DAY (present or historical), WHO WOULD THAT BE---AND WHY?
I would like to be Allison Beers. Who doesn't want to be Allison, she's always fun!!!!
MOST FAMOUS PERSON MET - In college I met the entire Red Wing Hockey Team at a charity event.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE – My son Cameron was named after a Toyota Camary. When I was 6 months pregnant with him I rolled my car on a freeway. The name Cameron seemed very fitting and served as a reminder how fast life can change!!
In response to the recent hurricanes, the Club Board decided to match, up to a total Club contribution of $5,000, charitable contributions which our Club members have already made in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria, or which are made prior to October 26, 2017. The Club’s portion of those matching contributions will be made to funds set up by Rotary International which is specifically tailored to assist in the relief of those hurricanes. You may click on this link to donated directly
You may also provide payment (payable to Rotary Camps & Services) to Kathy Bussell, or request a specific amount be contributed and charged to your Rotary Club account. Otherwise, if you have made your contribution directly to some other charitable organization, let Kathy know the date and amount so the Club can then match that amount.
Here by popular demand, NorthSky is proud to host Principles & Techniques, a world class course from Indiana University’s Fund Raising School. Principles and Techniques gives you the foundation and inspiration to lead your nonprofit to its financial goals. In an intensive 4-day program, you will receive a framework for operating a successful total development program. If you are from Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse or Leelanau County and are interested in applying for a scholarship, please email egray@rotarycharities.org to learn more, before October 16. This internationally recognized course will run November 6-9 at the NMC University Center. Full registration and tuition details available here: http://www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org/learning-opportunities/
WEHOP (formerly HHOP) is going to Honduras again in 2018. The travel dates will be between February 16, 2018, and February 26, 2018. Details are still being worked out but most of the trip will be spent installing bio-sand water filters and building latrines in the mountains surrounding Comayagua. We will also work with the Merendon Rotary Club in San Pedro Sula.
This trip is open to Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interact Junior and Senior High school students. The estimated cost will be around $2000 for the week and includes air, lodging, and meals. If you are interested in going on this intergenerational, life-changing work trip, please contact Gail Ringelberg at gailring@netscape.net
Rotary's NorthSky Nonprofit Network, is pleased to announce its fall 2017 professional development series. To learn more and register, visit: http://www.northskynonprofitnetwork.org/learning-opportunities/ -Check out the list of course instructors; you'll notice some of your fellow Rotarians! Please share this line-up throughout your personal network, and encourage your colleagues to sign up!
]Saturday Night Live in Elk Rapids...a Saturday Night Live show that will have you singing, moving and perhaps dancing in the aisle. The Blues Brothers, Cone Heads and all your favorite Saturday Night Live characters are coming to the Annual Elk Rapids Rotary Show on October 6 and 7, 2017. The cast, chorus, along with Steve Stargardt and the Elk Rapids Rotary Band will be rocking the Elk Rapids High School Peterman Auditorium. The Elk Rapids Rotary Show is Friday and Saturday, October 6 and 7, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the show are $10 and are available online at https://squareup.com/store/ERRC
The Elk Rapids Lions Club will be serving dinner both evenings in the Elk Rapids High School Cafeteria from 5–7 p.m. The cost of this delicious chicken dinner is $11 and tickets can be purchased at the door.
The temperature is dropping, soon the snow will be falling. A sweater, a hat, gloves and boots and you are ready to go out and face the elements. Can you imagine having to do that in your sneakers, with an old sweatshirt and a windbreaker and nothing more? Too many people in our community are just making it financially and are unable to afford the winter clothing that is needed to go to work, go to school, the grocery store and more. If you have gently used winter clothing: coats, hats, gloves, mittens or boots that you would be willing to share with our neighbors in need, we would gladly distribute them. Each year we have families in search of these items. Frequently they are working, just not making enough to handle rent, food, utilities, medical bills AND winter gear. Please consider helping out your neighbors when you are replacing your winter gear by donating those gently used, clean items to The Father Fred Foundation.
Each year the volunteers in our Clothing and Household Goods area hear comments from our guests as to how grateful they are to be able to get a warm coat or perhaps a pair of boots at The Foundation. So many in our community are working jobs that pay at or near minimum wage and with housing and transportation cost a bit higher in our area, affording expensive clothing items is challenging at best. Whatever you can do to help lighten the load for those in need, is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all that you do in our community. It is thanks to donors just like you that we can all make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
God bless you,
Deb Haase
Executive Director - The Father Fred Foundation
We will be collecting at our Club meetings on November 14th, 21st & 28th.
CURRENT CAREER – Financial advisor specializing in helping people going through a transition, especially divorce and retirement. 
