Our meeting today was held at the U.S. COAST GUARD AIR STATION to honor Veterans Day. President Mike said this is always his favorite meeting of the year, the "toys" are so real. Homer Nye led us in prayer. With this also being Election Day, Homer asked us to come together at the end of the day and support one another as well as our newly elected officials. The Color Guard presented the Colors and we sang The National Anthem along with God Bless America prior to saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Bonnie Alfonso introduced three visiting Rotarians. There were no guests of Rotarians nor did we have any student guests. The 50/50 drawing consisted of $32 and was won by Steve Haskins.

 

1. Next week we're back at the Park Place.

2. Rotary Social – Painting with a Twist on Wednesday Nov. 16. Sign up through the Bulletin or email Kathy, tcrotary2822@gmail.com.

3. The annual Rotary Holiday Party will be held Tuesday Dec. 13 at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club. An on-line invite will be coming.

4. One Way Coat Day begins next week Nov. 15. It will continue on Nov. 22 & 29. Contact Pete Strom with any questions.

5. Don't forget to sign up for the Bike Ride to End Polio. It will be held anytime you'd like the week of Nov. 12-19 at Fit For You. Any questions, ask Vern.

 
Our speaker today was CDR Greg Matyas, Commanding Officer of Air Station Traverse City. He assumed Command in July, 2015.  This Air Station is one of the oldest air units in the Coast Guard.  It has proudly served the nation and the citizens of the Great Lakes since 1946. The unit consists of 120 active duty and civilian personnel, approximately 40 Coast Guard Auxiliarists, and 220 dependents.  Air Station Traverse City operates a fleet of four MH-65D helicopters executing Homeland Security and Maritime safety missions throughout Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and the northern half of Lake Huron.  CDR Matyas graduated from The Coast Guard Academy in 1996 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.  His Coast Guard duty has taken him to Washington, Flight Training at NAS Pensacola, Air Station Miami FL ( where he deployed throughout the Caribbean in support of search and rescue, as well as counter drug and migrant efforts), Alabama, Hawaii, California, and now Michigan.  
CDR Matyas showed us pictures and described a mission he took from Seattle, WA to McMurdo Station, Antarctica in 2005.  He was aboard the Polar Star which is the Coast Guards heavy Icebreaker.  They also have a medium icebreaker.  We were told the Coast Guard does three types of ice missions. They do Domestic Icebreaking, International Ice Patrol, and Polar Operations.  The Polar Star can go thru 6' of ice at 5mph.  The purpose of the mission was to escort two cargo ships thru the ice to McMurdo Town.  One ship brings supplies and the other brings fuel.  This occurs once per year.  McMurdo Town generally has 1200 people in the summer but only 200 in the winter.  It's the home base for a National Science Foundation.  The people who work there are scientists, carpenters, electricians, cooks, and people who don't want to be found.  The summer temperature is a warm –27F while in the winter it can be –133F.  NO THANKS!!! 
CDR Matyas showed us pictures of both airplanes and helicopters on an ice runway that exists in this desolate area.  Penquins are in abundance as are a small species of Killer Whales.  One picture showed a Small Killer Whale playing with a piece of ice, flipping it from place to place.  While there, CDR Matyas took a 3 hour plane trip to the South Pole Station.  He showed us both the old and the new South Pole Stations.  The new one has the ability to be raised when the snow depth increases.  He also showed us pictures of early explorer huts that were built between 1901 and 1904.  Everything in them is exactly the same today as it was then.  The cold preserves thing well. 
Great talk, CDR.

 

Come join the fun, November 16th from 6:00 pm -8:00 pm at Painting with a Twist.

1545 S Division St #120, Traverse City, MI 49684

Please sign up by clicking on the link below with the password: Rotary

 

The cost is $35.00 per person with includes the canvas, paint and instructions from the art teacher.

The photo is what we are going to each try and paint. 

 

Bring a dish to pass and whatever you would like to drink.

 

 

 

Match forms need to be sign and turned in by December 1st.

In 1999, Rotary Charities donated $2.5 million to the Community Foundation to establish the Rotary Endowment. The Endowment connects the shared work of Rotary Charities and the Community Foundation of promoting philanthropy to enrich the quality of life in our region. Today, the Rotary Endowment provides an opportunity for individual Rotarians and local Rotary Clubs to have their philanthropic support matched by the Community Foundation.

The partnership between the Community Foundation and Rotary Charities is reflective of the quality of philanthropic intent and integrity that makes this a wonderful place to live, work, and give.

Click Here to get the Match form 

 

This is the last week for the One Way Coat Drive, please donate your gently use coats, hats, gloves, sweaters...We will have a drop box at the meeting.