A perfectly sunny day provided the theme for this week’s Rotary meeting as President John Racine radiantly opened the meeting followed by Gary’s invocation mentioning the shining beauty of the day and our region to help nurture our minds and bodies as God’s helps lead us in service above self-activities, and the Kingsley trio time 2 guided all in song through “You are my sunshine”
John Scott’s sunny personality was brightly exhibited introducing guests and visiting Rotarians. These included Lansing Rotarian Pres. David Marvin as well as Trevor’s aunt Diane, also a pres.-elect, and Village Press’s Terry who is a potential member, and Rotary Charities new staff member Evan who probably does indeed have a sunny disposition.
Announcements included the promise of a sunny evening on the water (already having taken place by the time of this writing) by Susan Krause, and on the golf course from Mike M. for the Annual Rotary Golf Outing August 14th at 1pm (more news later on potentiality of pickleball – say that one ten times real fast! – from Mike Jackson). And it was sunny Steve Wade’s birthday!
And as always defining the very definition of a sunny disposition was Marilyn Fitzgerald with an equally sunny announcement that a Rotary Global Grant had been approved for Las Americas, helping 88 women receive an education: with a contribution of $10,000 with $17,000 from Rotary Foundation.
Then nothing says sunshine like a summer picnic, and what would a picnic be without potato chips. Bruce Finlayson (with even a phonetic sun to complement the day’s theme) introduced Ed Girrbach, entrepreneurial owner of Great Lakes Potato Chip Company. Ed was definitely one of the most enthusiastic, energetic, and yes sunny presenters yet this year! We were regaled with stories of his development as an entrepreneur from selling ponchos created from his Mom’s blankets at the age of 12, where he learned his first lesson in “cost of goods sold”, through aviation and a plant store startup. But with his sons in food and beverage he collaborated on Pangea’s pizza, then venturing into retail with sauces but looking for expansion via a different product line versus franchising pizza; they settled on another product he enjoyed consuming – potato chips. He knew he could sell the sizzle of the beauty of the Great Lakes in the product and discovered Michigan had but one other producer so in combination with the yearning for “local” they went into the potato biz.
There were lots of impressive facts and figures presented by Ed including their growth from $60,000 in sales the first year of 2010 to $2,800,000 in 2016. They use about 80,000 lbs. of potatoes per week, with the winning flavor formula being skin on and kettle fried. The processing of other brand’s large batch potato has a second post slicing rinse that washes away the starch to prevent sticking when the pieces are run on a conveyor for oiling, but also rids much of the flavor.
They also do private labeling production which they have found to be an exploding niche market for them, including the delicious chips at Jolly Pumpkin on Old Mission Peninsula. The Great Lakes Potato Chip was voted “Best Kettle Chip” in the country by a Chicago Tribune tasting. And more sunny good news for entrepreneurs is the trend for big company producers toward getting squeezed out of markets for “local” because customers can verify the authenticity of claims via the internet, so those truly producing a locally sourced product are gaining ground; 80% of Great Lakes potatoes are grown in Michigan.
Long term plans are to stay in their location on west M72 but with some renovations, providing more high tech paying jobs locally; to follow the snowbirds with expanding distribution in the southeast (aka following the sun).
CURRENT CAREER – I am a happy real estate agent at REMAX Bayshore Properties with an office at the Grand Traverse Commons, and I have a little bit to do with the development of the Village at the Grand Traverse Commons. I do believe Ray may be designing a pink padded room just for me. He keeps collecting artifacts! It sometimes concerns me!
EDUCATION – Graduated from Escanaba High School and attended the College of Life. Over the years I’ve taken many professional classes but married young and never attended college. Although, in one year alone, we were paying for four of our kids to attend state colleges! I ran for office and served on the East Detroit Board of Education for two terms; served as president of the East Detroit Chamber of Commerce for a year; owned and operated a number of businesses including a construction company, so I hope I’ve learned a lot about life and living.
FAMILY- Married to Ray and we have five adult children who all pay property taxes in the Grand Traverse Region. They and their wonderful spouses have given us six perfect grandkids (3 girls/3 boys), ranging in age from 1 to 18.
FAVORITE DESSERT – Lemon Meringue Pie!
FAVORITE ACTIVITY – Singing with an ensemble—I’d bet everyone knows that!
LAST BOOK READ – The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker.
FAVORITE MOVIE – I have a new one! LA LA Land!
FAVORITE SONG – Harry Chapin’s Flowers Are Red (pretty much any one of his songs are my favorite) But also Bob Seger’s Against the Wind, and all the old hippy folk songs.
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF NO ONE IN THE CLUB
LIKELY KNOWS – As a young woman, I raced snowmobiles and stock cars and rode motorcycles. I helped build my own chopper. I had 27 different cars before I turned 27 years old.
LIFE ROLE MODEL – My Dad, Richard M. Morrison, who died last year. He was first and foremost a proud American who lived with honor; a Marine Devil Dog and WWII Veteran who fought the four major battles of the Pacific, and then worked for the American Legion until he retired.
MOST SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT – With my husband, saving the historic landmark of Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons.
PROUDEST MOMENT - Being present at the births of two of our grandchildren.
FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU - It wasn’t funny at the time!!! For many years while our kids were young, we would pack them, their friends, water toys and fishing gear and come “up North” to camp at the Boardman River. My Mother’s Day gift was to leave the kids in the tents and go fishing with just Ray and enjoy the solitude of the river. We were getting in the van to drive to our favorite fishing spot when Tony, the kid who could never sneak into camp, begged to come with us promising to be quiet and just let Mom fish. We got him set up on the bank, had that first aha moment when stepping into the river in early spring, got half way into the first cast… “MA, I GOT A SNAG!” …back to shore…new hook… back to middle of river… “MA! THE SPLIT SHOT FELL OFF!” …back to shore… gave him the whole bag. I stomped back into the river knowing the fish are now miles away, catch my foot on a branch and fall forward. My waders fill up with water and the last thing I see as I float with the current down the river is my son running away from the bank. Ray catches me as I float by, drags me to shore, helps me out of the water-filled waders, and makes the fatal error of saying: “Someday you’ll laugh about this!” I storm to the van, leaving the two of them trying to hold back the laughter, turn the heat on full blast ‘cause I’m cold and wet, and head back to the campsite. I can’t stop shivering. Suddenly, ahead in the middle of the gravel road, is a skunk. It’s a one lane road and he’s not moving! I stopped the truck, got out, and screamed at this creature to get out of my way. He looked at me for a minute and slowly walked away. I shivered all the way back to camp before realizing I had turned the AC on instead of the heat. Actually, I still don’t think it’s very funny. Eventually I did return to retrieve Ray and Tony.
SECRET AMBITION - Not so secret! To spend a few months in Italy soaking up the culture and learning the language, and to travel more.
IF YOU COULD BE ANYONE IN THE WORLD FOR A DAY (present or historical), WHO WOULD THAT BE---AND WHY? My grandmother when she was a young woman with 11 kids helping to run the farm in the U.P. I don’t know anything about her family before she married, where they came from, what her dreams were, and how she had the strength to continue to run the farm after her husband died young. I have so many questions.
MOST FAMOUS PERSON MET – I had lunch (on the dais) with President Reagan. He had his own server and although he ate the exact same meal as the rest of us, his personal chef arranged, prepared, and served his meal. He was as charming as you’d expect.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE –
I am nearly 67 years old and have had a full and interesting life, and am not ready to slow down anytime soon. I was invited to join Rotary in East Detroit in 1988 and foolishly did not because I was moving to TC within the next year. Fortunately, eventually, I was again invited to join and did. My advice to my fellow Rotarians is to remember to invite people to join. Most people won’t ask. It’s up to us to invite those we know would be dynamic members in order to continue the good work that has been done by this organization and our club.
You can be supporting your community and country while enjoying time with friends. Please consider participating in Traverse City’s first 9/11 Remembrance 5K Run/Walk by running, walking or volunteering for this inaugural community event! All Rotary Members will receive 20% off with this code: ROTARY2017
DATE: Sunday, September 10th
START TIME: 8:46 am EDT END TIME: 11:00am EDT PRICE/REGISTRATION: $25.00 Race Fee + $2.50 SignUp Fee (Sign up right away, as the price increases to $30.00 after August 11, 2017, at 7:00 pm EDT)
The 9/11 run is to honor those who lost their lives in the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks, as well as our Local First Responders and Veterans. Proceeds will go to the September 11thFamilies' Association Fund in New York, NY, http://911families.org/ as well as the Grand Traverse Area First Responder Coalition, a non-profit set up to help our local first responders (police, fire, EMS, Emergency Management, 911 Dispatchers.) This fund allows for education opportunities, scholarships, recognition, emergency financial support, etc., for those who risk their lives for us every single day.
We welcome all Runners, Walkers, and Wheelchairs! If you would like to be pushed in a wheelchair or volunteer to push, please visit our volunteer page.
The race will start at 8:46 am, the same time the World Trade Center’s Northern Tower was hit. We will gather before the race for a brief ceremony to remember and honor those who lost their lives that day, and show support to our Local First Responders who risk their lives every day to keep us safe- and then show our spirit with an amazing run through our beautiful downtown!
Want to run on the best course in Traverse City? You will get to run downtown, through historical neighborhoods and on Front Street!
The race starts right in town in historic F&M Park, then continues West along Washington St to the Court House, where you will be cheered on by some of Traverse City's finest, the TCPD, and other volunteers. You will continue West on 6th Street and make your way to Maple and Front at Fire Station #1 where you will be offered a cold drink from the team at Michigan Blood. From there, you will continue back to Cass Rd, where you'll make a left, go under Grandview Parkway, and continue East on the Lakefront Path, making your way back to F&M Park for music, refreshments, and prizes. (Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed in the race this year.)
They also do private labeling production which they have found to be an exploding niche market for them, including the delicious chips at Jolly Pumpkin on Old Mission Peninsula. The Great Lakes Potato Chip was voted “Best Kettle Chip” in the country by a Chicago Tribune tasting. And more sunny good news for entrepreneurs is the trend for big company producers toward getting squeezed out of markets for “local” because customers can verify the authenticity of claims via the internet, so those truly producing a locally sourced product are gaining ground; 80% of Great Lakes potatoes are grown in Michigan.
CURRENT CAREER – I am a happy real estate agent at REMAX Bayshore Properties with an office at the Grand Traverse Commons, and I have a little bit to do with the development of the Village at the Grand Traverse Commons. I do believe Ray may be designing a pink padded room just for me. He keeps collecting artifacts! It sometimes concerns me!
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