President Homer Nye: Opened the meeting God Bless America / Pledge of Allegiance;

• Ramona Pleva  – Thoughts of Gratitude and Reflection: Sharing  Thoughts of gratitude, friendship, and faith with fellow Rotarians and others you meet!

• Music by: Vern Gauthier -  “ The Stranger” to the tune of “The Gambler”, Vern’s wording to this famous tune was intended to preview his “Staying Healthy” speech for Today’s Program

• Vern also invited everyone to join the Rotary Show Chorus – on 2/24/20 @ The First Congregational Church on Center Road for rehearsals.

• Introduction of visiting & Guests – Steve Wade

• Autumn Soltysiak – Introduced Outstanding Students of the Week – From St Francis:

Lydia Schlueter – Her most important value is her Faith in THE LORD – She is headed for Michigan Tech to study math science & chemistry. Lydia was inspired to choose MTech by her Dad who is an engineer. 

Jack Williams-  A proud student of St Francis and his Faith, and family.  Jack expects to study Theology and serve others.

• Announcements:

• Mark Eckhoff – New members and others to attend the next IM Rotary Meeting;

• Al Zelinski – Rotary Show AD sales  - To-date = $ 50 K – goal is $120K

• A Bonney – 50/50 Raffle - $20.00 with $ 10 to prizes & $ 10.00 to good works.

Please Sign-Up Now!

• Homer invited all to stay for the Special Ben Whiting Show, after the meeting;

• 50/50 drawing - $60

Main Program:

• Program Introduction: Lisa Pointe :

• Vern Gauthier – “Staying Healthy” 

Vern (owner of “Fit-For-You”) is very knowable about health and fitness and his presentation was outstanding. I believe we learned much about our quest to stay healthy.  Vern explained the value of the “Metacheck Number” Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). He related the RMR to a Savings Account, what you put-in versus what you take-out, determines what you have. For example: Maintaining muscle & losing weight are related to your body needs. Vern cautioned that “Fad Diets” are hurtful. They have a “beginning and an ending”; not a consistent lifestyle.

He pointed out the four (4) most important factors that determine a healthy outcome:

1. Nutrition (protein);

2. Exercise (weight lifting & aerobics);

3. Sleep (7 hrs/night);

4. Entertainment (hobbies, fun, relaxing, friends, etc.).

Interested Rotarians and family members are encouraged to visit “Fit-For-You” and talk to Vern & Staff about their special services such as Metacheck Number, lean body Scanning or a Healthy lifestyle program.

The Mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Most of us never read this mission statement all that closely, but it is true: Rotary Foundation does not DO anything – WE do the work of changing Communities, Rotarians do the work of changing lives, Rotary clubs do the work of making the world a better place, one community at a time.

That’s why we donate to The Rotary Foundation: because THEY aggregate the donations from Rotarians all over the world and make those donations available to Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to undertake projects that change the world, improve lives and make the world a better place.  You and me. Over $300 Million dollars a year in donations from Rotarians are given back every year into project grant funds that turn good projects into GREAT projects. And the Traverse City Rotary Club shares in these funds every year because of your generosity.

Lest anyone get confused, this is the ONLY thing that donations to the Rotary Foundation are used for.

So when we run a promotion, like the 50/50 raffle in which we are asked for our participation, it is to add to that $300M pot in Evanston that becomes the Rotary Matching Grant program every year.

It’s also a bit of fun, too.  Remember four years ago when Dan Jonkhoff won the first prize of $3,600, I think?  He had a bit of fun that year! 

The more tickets we sell across the district the more the prize money is for the six winners.  Half the money from the tickets goes to the winners and half goes to The Rotary Foundation . . . ..and what happens to that money?

Remember that thing we call per capita: the requirement to have club giving equal to $100 per member on average: $10 of your $20 ticket purchase counts towards our $100 per capita, too.

So: do some good in the world, have some fun and contribute to our club reaching it’s per capita goal . . . . . buy a ticket.  I bought 5 – how about you buy 5, too!

After the meeting we will be in the foyer – this week and for the next two weeks.  Cash, check or put it on your club bill.

Thanks! Al Bonney