Sharron Zimmerman spoke about the unexpected passing of John McCarthy, his life, his dedication to Rotary and his passion for bringing safe water to people living in poverty. Please keep John’s family in your thoughts.
President John called the official business meeting to order, where Club members voted on new incoming board positions.
Music: Allison Beers lead us in her very own Rotary Noon Club-inspired version of “Piano Man.”
Lorraine Beers welcomed our guests.
Congratulations to our Outstanding Student of the Week: Lauren Norbeck
Congratulations to Pat Parker for winning the Pat Dochterman Award, which recognizes individuals who act in distinguished and dedicated service to both Rotary and Scouts.
Whether you’re ready for Christmas or not, it’s Christmas Basket time! There are a few ways Rotarians can get involved: 1) Over the next two weeks, you can contribute money to the overall Christmas Basket fund. 2) You can sign up to become a shopper and purchase food, clothing and toys for families. 3) Or, you can sign up for a family, but contribute money on your own. Look for sign up sheets and envelopes on your tables over the next couple weeks. Contact Dale Chilcote, Dan Rickard or Steve Wade for more info.
Don’t forget about Every Rotarian, Every Year, which helps the club participate in District grants.
The Rotary Holiday Party is December 5th at 6:00 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Yacht Club. During the party, the social committee will be collecting donations for Father Fred’s food pantry.
Next week (November 28) is the last week to donate to the One Way Coat Drive.
Congratulations on being appointed to the Rotary Club Board of Directors, Katy McCain, Sakura Raftery, Ramona Pleva, Bob Stowe as Secretary, and Homer Nye and the next President-Elect.
Leslie Falconer gave the club an overview of her company, Mother Goose Time.
Mother Goose Time provides parents, teachers and childcare staff with tools they can use to deepen the learning experiences of kids. It helps children develop the skills they need in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.
The tools are not based on traditional education. The course developers follow learning models from all over the world, including Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zeeland.
The developers use curriculum that emphasizes new approaches to learning. For example, instead of emphasizing ‘school readiness,’ they focus on a child’s holistic development and instead of standardized testing, their tools focus on a child’s ability to identify patterns, sort and problem solve.
Mother Goose Time also has a subscription service where educators, childcare staff and families can have lesson planning and training tools delivered right to their doorstep. Those tools include Teacher Guides, Discovery Bags for hands-on learning and Daily Videos.
Each year our club reaches out to the community to help needy families celebrate Christmas with gifts of food, clothing and toys. Last year showed 85 families what it means to live service above self. These families not only had food and presents, but also the wonderful feeling of knowing others care. There are several ways for each of you to participate in this wonderful program. First, give. Each of the next few weeks you will have the chance to make a contribution during our meeting. If you won’t be at a meeting go online or contact Kathy Bussell to have your donation added to your Rotary account. Another way to help is to be a shopper for one of the families. Just ask anyone in the club, it is one of the most rewarding things you can do this holiday season. If you’re interested in shopping for a family, contact Dale Chilcote, Dan Rickard or Steve Wade. Thank you!
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 the byDecember 1st deadline.
“John McCarthy was a dedicated member of the Traverse City Rotary Noon Club. He committed himself to international projects in Africa, Guatemala, and Haiti. He participated in Polio Immunization Days in Africa and numerous water projects in Haiti and Guatemala. John loved the people and the mission of Pure Water Water for the World. He gave all his heart and energy to support its projects because he loved the kids it helped.” - Bill Donberg, Friend, Rotarian, PWW Board Member
John’s family has suggested that memorial gifts for John be shared with Pure Water for the World. To fully honor John and his benevolent spirit, Pure Water for the World will be purchasing a truck in Haiti that will carry his name and preserve his legacy of international service.
John would truly appreciate that, by honoring him with a truck, a critical problem will be solved. Trucks take PWW teams to very remote, underserved communities, carrying the essential equipment needed to make water safe to drink. They empower PWW to visit families and conduct training, as well as monitor and evaluate projects to measure efficacy. Today, the PWW Haiti team is falling short of meeting the needs of some of the families, simply because they are short on wheels.
By purchasing a truck in memory of John, his spirit will continue to bring life-saving safe water solutions to families who need it most, carrying on John’s legacy of selfless service and his love of the Haitian people.
“John was a ‘one-of-a-kind’ gentle man. I had the pleasure of traveling to Haiti with him twice. John has a great sense of humor – some of which was pointed at himself! However, he was serious about the work he was doing. He was committed, engaged, and passionate about serving. John spent countless hours working on behalf of the children of Haiti and Guatemala. He made the world a much better place, and he made me a better person. I will miss him.” - Carolyn Crowley Meub, Friend, Rotarian and PWW Executive Director
If you wish to honor John by donating to Pure Water for the World and continue his commitment to serving vulnerable families you may send your donation to:
Pure Water for the World | PO Box 55 | Rutland, VT 05702
You may also call 802.747.0773 or visit www.purewaterfortheworld.org to make your gift using a credit card.
The temperature is dropping, soon the snow will be falling. A sweater, a hat, gloves and boots and you are ready to go out and face the elements. Can you imagine having to do that in your sneakers, with an old sweatshirt and a windbreaker and nothing more? Too many people in our community are just making it financially and are unable to afford the winter clothing that is needed to go to work, go to school, the grocery store and more. If you have gently used winter clothing: coats, hats, gloves, mittens or boots that you would be willing to share with our neighbors in need, we would gladly distribute them. Each year we have families in search of these items. Frequently they are working, just not making enough to handle rent, food, utilities, medical bills AND winter gear. Please consider helping out your neighbors when you are replacing your winter gear by donating those gently used, clean items to The Father Fred Foundation.
Each year the volunteers in our Clothing and Household Goods area hear comments from our guests as to how grateful they are to be able to get a warm coat or perhaps a pair of boots at The Foundation. So many in our community are working jobs that pay at or near minimum wage and with housing and transportation cost a bit higher in our area, affording expensive clothing items is challenging at best. Whatever you can do to help lighten the load for those in need, is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all that you do in our community. It is thanks to donors just like you that we can all make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
God bless you,
Deb Haase
Executive Director - The Father Fred Foundation
We will be collecting at our Club meetings on November 14th, 21st & 28th.
as well as monitor and evaluate projects to measure efficacy. Today, the PWW Haiti team is falling short of meeting the needs of some of the families, simply because they are short on wheels.
