Past President John Racine opened the afternoon meeting to appreciative applause as he pinched hit for President Beers who was off doing election service on this most important of civic days. PS: Don’t tell Allison!
Christopher Cox offered some fine words of thanks and Marlene Bevan found her way to “work across the aisle” with a song we could all agree on: The Rotary Song! No arguments there.
Tom Kern introduced our visitors and guest for the week admonishing us to be on our best behavior. He also reminded us to get our Shingle Vaccine Shot - speaking from his own personal experience.
Paul Heidbreder introduced a new member to the club. Alexander (Alex) Wood joins the club and comes to us with an extensive personal and professional pedigree. He is a commercial banking careerist in addition to being the son of longtime member Elaine Wood.
Steve Wade introduced the holiday season with the annual Christmas Basket appeal. He, Dan Rickard, and Dale Chilcotte are seeking shoppers for local families in need this year. Once again, new members will be called upon as are other asked to step up and join in this most fulfilling of our service activities.
One-Way Coat time is upon us as Tony Anderson reminded us that he and Herb Lemcool will be collecting hats, coats, and gloves so bring ‘em in over the next two weeks!
Marcia Billings announced the Twilight Club’s Calendar Raffle she will be offering for purchase for $25 for chances to win up to $25,000 in prizes throughout next year over the next few weeks. Proceeds funds their Good Works programs.
Holiday time brings cheer, too, and Susan Krauss announced a gathering at the Top of the Park for Martini Nite for fun and revelry on Tuesday November 13 after work. The Holiday Bash will be at the Traverse City Golf and Country Club on December 5th so make your reservations soon.
Marlene Bevan updated the club on Rotary Charities and the board’s role in the changing environment.
It is the primary responsibility of the board members to serve the greater good of this community as the board determines it should be rather than responding to the voices of individuals, including those members of our own club who might be influenced by their own personal beliefs. All of us on the board are inspired by your support in electing us to oversee the investments Rotary Charities makes in our community. We’ve changed the language in our roles and responsibilities to document and to reflect our ongoing commitment to good stewardship of our resources in the name of our community guided by the four-way test
We’ve also expanded the portfolio of regional impact investments targeting intermediary financial institutions to provide capital for regional opportunities yielding financial and community return. An investment of $500,000 has been made in the Michigan Community Capital, which provides equity and patient capital for the development of workforce housing. This is our third investment. We have also invested in IFF, which fills gaps in non-profit lending, and in Venture North a community development financial institution in our region providing capital to start-up and growth businesses.
Kurt Rivard kicked of Rotary Foundation Month with a short video that helped establish the import of Paul Harris funding and the three-fold impact our gift makes as it returns to this community and our club for projects both local and worldwide. Watch for Kurt’s letter later this month. Every Rotarian, Every Year!
Join Al Bonney as he Rides for Polio eradication. In two weeks On November 17th Al will ride his bike in Tucson AZ. He’s hoping to hit the $4K mark…so you can go to his site linked elsewhere in the bulletin and add your donation!
PLEASE NOTE: Next Week’s Meeting will be at the Park Place NOT at the Coast Guard Station as in the past.
The program for the day was introduced by Dan Buron. Kevin Bozung along with his wife and business partner Beth Holmes-Bozung, Principals of Safety-Net, Managed IT Services spoke to us about Cyberterrorism and hacking especially as it comes close to home.
Kevin gave us a brief overview of his organizations work dealing with the various types of dangerous cyber activity we are all faced with each and every day from the simple malware and virus to the far more disruptive and insidious Ransomware that has infected many.
In spite of all the antivirus programs, maybe the worst elements we deal with on any given day are those threats that come through our email systems. Some of them are obvious scams and have been around for some time even years, evidence that they work. Others are phishing techniques attempting to gather pertinent information about you that can be used against you or to get information that allows hackers to access sensitive and financial information.
Still, Bozung warns us to be very careful when opening documents or clicking on any links, even those we think are okay, as hackers have become very good at spoofing these days and often surprise even the best in the business.
If you aren’t sure…just don’t click, and if you think you need help, Safety-Net is just a phone call away. The Bozungs and their team are there to help.
To All New Rotarians - Each Christmas our club adopts dozens of families and provides them with food, presents, and other treats to help assure they have a wonderful Christmas. As someone who joined the club in 2018 you are asked to shop for one of these families. The committee will provide all of the money and other resources needed. After Tuesday’s meeting we’ll take 5 minutes to go over the program and timeline. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday! If you have questions contact Dale Chilcote, Dan Rickard, or Steve Wade.
The board had a discussion about its roles and responsibilities, and concurred that its primary responsibility is to serve the greater good of the community as the board determines it to be, rather than responding to the voices of individuals - including members of our own club - who are influenced by their personal beliefs. All of us on the board are inspired by your support in electing us to oversee the investments Rotary Charities makes in our community. We've changed the language in our roles and responsibilities document to reflect our ongoing commitment to good stewardship of our resources in the name of the community, guided by the 4-Way Test.
Also, we have expanded our portfolio of Regional Impact Investments, targeting intermediary financial institutions to provide capital for regional opportunities yielding financial and community return. An investment of $500,000 has been made in Michigan Community Capital, which provides equity and patient capital for the development of workforce housing. This is our third investment. We have also invested in IFF, which fill gaps in nonprofit lending, and Venture North, a Community Development Financial Institution in our region providing capital to startup and growth businesses.
For the past 10 years, Rotary has fielded a team of around 100 riders to raise money to eradicate polio during a road ride called the Tour de Tucson. Over the years these Rotary riders have raised (with the match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) over $45 Million. Last year alone they raised $10 Million. This kind of money provides enough health workers, training and vaccine to immunize three-million children, building a robust fire-wall in over 36 at-risk countries. By denying the polio virus a human host, the virus will die in the wild.
Certification of eradication requires zero new cases for three consecutive years. This can be done. It will cost $1.5 billion. Nations and organizations have pledged $900 million. Rotary, with the Gates Foundation, pledged an additional $450 Million. Now we must make good on these pledges.
I will be a member of the Rotary Riding Team this year. Our goal is to raise $10.4 Million, including the Gates Foundation match. I have personally given $100 towards my pledge of $2,000. I am asking my fellow Traverse City Rotarians for a similar donation which, thanks to the Gates Foundation match, will actually be $300; enough to immunize 100 children.
You have been wonderfully generous in the past when I have asked for your help. Several of you have already donated and I thank you for that. Please join me in supporting this cause. While you are welcome to send me a check payable to the Rotary Foundation, the easiest way is to donate online. CLICK HEREand go to my personal funding page.
The need to eradicate polio is real and success is just around the corner. Eradication, however, is not possible without funds to get the job done.
Thank you. The children and families who will never suffer from this disease thank you, too.
Get into your closet and clean it out. We need Coats, Hats, Gloves, Sweaters, and Sweat Shirts for adults and children. Go to your businesses and ask fellow employees to get them to get you their unused Winter items and bring them into Rotary on November 13th and 20th
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.
Match forms need to be signed by you and the non-profit and turned in to the Rotary office byDecember 1st deadline.
