President Homer rang the meeting bell followed by God Bless America and the Pledge of Allegiance. Dan Buron shared thoughts of Gratitude and Reflection with thoughts on civility.
Bob Stow led us in a call and response of The Bear Song.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests were introduced by President Homer.
Autumn Soltysiak presented our Students of the Week from. St. Francis High School
Karlee King is active in Key Club, the Cheer Team and has her sights set on attending Hope College to study elementary and special education.
Isaac Lauckey is in the National Honor Society, Key Club and participates in a plethora of volunteer activities. He is dual enrolled at NMC and has aspirations of becoming a hematologist. The Student of the Week application asks to “list something unique about yourself”. What Isaac shared in his application (In which we only received a hint of during our meeting) is nothing short of incredible. He writes:
“My father arrived in the United States March 1994 as part of the University of Minnesota's Master's Degree Program in Agriculture from former Czechoslovakia (now known as the Czech Republic). He arrived with only a backpack of clothing. As part of this degree, he was placed on my aunt's father-in-law's cherry farm in Traverse City where he worked several summers. This is how my mother met and married my father.
In order to understand who I am and what is unique about me, you have to understand my lineage. I look and my personality is very similar to my father. My father, in turn, looks and his personality is very much like his father’s. All of us look and have the same thought process as my great-grandfather, Stanislav Laucký, who perished at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp during World War II in 1943.
Although he was not Jewish but rather Czech, Stanislav Laucký’s job was for the Czechoslovakian Postal Service. He was 6’ 10” and loaded large, heavy bags of mail onto trains. During World War II, he was part of a network of people along the railways to sneak anyone that the Nazis were looking for into the large mail bags, load them on the train as if they were mail, and transport them to a country where they would be safe. Somewhere along with the network, someone was caught. They disclosed the names of the rest of the network, and the Nazis showed up at Děda (grandfather) Stanislav’s place of work and arrested him and sent him to Mauthausen in 1942. Word spread to my great-grandmother, Anna Laucká, and she quickly hid my grandfather, Vlastislav, and his brother, Stanislav, who were five- and three-years-old at the time, at an aunt’s house. They hid in a cellar under the floorboards of the aunt’s kitchen. The Nazis came and arrested Babička (Grandma) Anna and she was sent to the Gross-Rosen concentration camp in Poland. My grandfather has shared stories with us about hiding while the Nazis looked for him and his brother and how his aunt had to sneak them food.
Babička Anna returned in 1945 after almost three years at Gross-Rosen. She raised my grandfather and his brother by herself. My grandfather, Vlastislav (who my middle name is after), took care of Babička Anna until she passed.
Dedication, tenacity, integrity, and determination are keywords to describe the Laucký men, including me. I am typically a private person, but this information may help you to understand my background and what makes me unique.”
WOW! What an incredible story. Isaac has already grown into an exceptional gentleman and will no doubt create a life of service to others.
Al Bonney shared that November is Rotary Foundation Month and explained how the monies given to the Rotary Foundation have a huge impact around the world. He shared a video that highlighted some of the important work Rotary does around the globe.
Sakura Tako announced that the 50/50 today would be going to the Traverse City High School’s Interact Club. And to get a look at what the students do there, there is coffee and snacks available for a small donation next Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 7:30 am - 9:30 am. Stop on by and show some Rotary support for the good work these students are doing!
And speaking of 50/50, Mike Caruso walked away with a whopping $110. We haven’t seen a pot that big since…… never!!
Next week’s meeting is at the US Coast Guard Station for our Veteran’s Day tribute. You won’t want to miss this! The food is always great and the Coast Guard crew are gracious hosts!
Sakura Takano
