January has been an active month and I don’t see Rotary slowing down in February. As I look out and see snow on the ground and actual blue skies, it is a beautiful day and I think of the future.
I know that many Rotary Clubs are busy with planning for activities, fundraisers, and hopefully meeting in person sooner rather than later.
Greenville Rotary Club in conjunction with the Greenville Interact Club held their first Food Truck with Feeding America West Michigan and they did an outstanding job. They served over 160 families and they have several more planned. I was able to make this service project and help out. I appreciate them for letting me know.
The Rotary Club of Cadillac and Houghton Lake are planning on their Spring Auctions happening in March and April and just check out their Facebook Page for more information. The Rotary Club of Grand Haven is raffling off a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The Mancelona Rotary Club is getting ready to raffle of a ¼ of beef. These are the fundraisers that I am aware of at this time. Please check them out and let me know of others! And make sure that you have your Club events on your website and get them on the District Calendar. The more people that know the better.
February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month. I am not sure how I will be supporting that other than I will be donating another pint of blood this month. The Rotary Club of Traverse City is hosting an event in their community and I urge you to consider hosting one also.
In attending meetings this past month, I want to highlight two Clubs for inducting new members this month, the Rotary Club of Ludington inducted 4 new members in one meeting! Congratulations to the new members. I also was on with the Rotary Club of Muskegon and they were ready to induct a new member. That is wonderful for the new members, the Club, and the community as more people working to make our communities a better place, more people to help out with Rotary ideals around the world IS a good thing! It has been a challenging year in recruiting, retaining, and engaging with new and prospective members. But remember what RI President has stated to try and find one new engaged Rotarian this year and it will be considered a success.
R.I.'s Cliff Dochterman and John Morrison with the Wawa club's Polio Plus wagon, Wawa conference 1998.
What is your Rotary A-ha moment?
In January 2000, 54 Rotarians and partners, Canadian and American, flew to India to attend a district conference in the state of Gujarat, to be followed by splitting into several groups to support the Polio Immunization program taking place in various parts of that state. There were eight of us from Wawa. The group was led by Dave Groner and his wife Barb, Dave being a classmate of mine from Kalamazoo. We attended many Rotary meetings as we were moved from town to town by car, train and bus, being billeted with Rotarians, visiting projects along the way, all prior to the actual immunization day. After many speeches at one meeting where we were treated like royalty, one local Rotarian stood up and thanked us for coming. I shall always remember his words….
“I joined Rotary three years ago. I am a doctor so my club said, ‘Oh good, you can chair our Polio Immunization program.’ I was pleased to step in. That was three years ago. We have immunization clinics twice a year. There are 5 million people in our city and every child must be identified. Every doorway marked [when following up the next day], polio drops ordered, kept cold, volunteers set up at numerous locations, etc. etc. This takes time. We do it twice a year. When we are done, it is time to start planning the next one. I am TIRED. I want to QUIT. But when I see and talk to you from North America who have volunteered to come to India to show your support in order to rid our country of polio, I will NOT QUIT. I will see this through.”
That was a special moment that, for me, justified our being there.
India was declared Polio-free some years ago. We like to think we made a difference!
What are you most proud of in your Rotary Career?
As District Governor in 1997-98, I met a great number of Rotarians who were obvious leaders. Prior to my year, Rotary International had suggested that we develop a leadership plan for the district, incorporating Rotarians who showed leadership abilities into an Assistant Governor role, to assist District Governors in their task of informing and overseeing clubs in various areas of the district. I chose to incorporate this idea during my year with what I consider to be a great success. The result of this effort means that we now have a pool of trained Rotary leaders who carry our goals and messages back to the clubs. I’m proud to say that several of my original Assistant Governors followed in my footsteps as District Governors.
Carlin Smith is the unsung hero of our club. Carlin has been in the club since 2007. He has served as President, Secretary, Program Chair, served on various committees and volunteers for almost all of our events. Carlin writes our weekly newsletter, The Rotary Spoke, and it is always entertaining; our club gets many kind remarks for his clever humor. He recently spearheaded the Club's leadership in bringing a 4th of July firework celebration to Petoskey. With plans to collaborate with all the area's service clubs, Carlin is sure to make us bring the BOOM!
When the club needs volunteers Carlin typically shows up, and when he can't make it he sends his children and/or wife to fill in. He's coordinated our volunteer efforts for Petoskey's Festival on the Bay; Salvation Army bell ringing; blood drives; and several other events. He also serves as our Program Chair and keeps that running without a hitch. He's spent extra hours ensuring our guest speakers are prepared with tech and confirm engagements. Carlin has helped coordinate some unique, fun programs that fit the style of Petoskey Sunrise. He even gave a riveting historical presentation of President Theodore Roosevelt. Carlin is a hero for our club because he is always willing to help and he does a lot in the background that most of our members don't even know about. Carlin is the definition of service above self!
Carlin is the community affairs manager for the northern Lower Peninsula for Consumers Energy. He has more than 20 years of chamber management experience and served most recently as president of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce since 2003 (or as we like to call him Mr. Petoskey). Previously he served as downtown coordinator for Petoskey and executive director of the Harbor Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. Carlin is a graduate of Central Michigan University and completed a Chamber Management Course at the University of Notre Dame coordinated by the U.S. Chamber and Institute for Organization Management. He also volunteers for youth-related programs and serves on boards to bring more affordable housing to the region.
Heather Marra was inducted into membership of Rotary International through the Rotary Club of Houghton Lake in December 2019. She has selflessly engaged the object and the mission of Rotary, and has taken opportunities to serve in many ways!
Hungry for action, Heather asked questions of club mentors and she utilized Rotary’s online information to educate herself and to share information with others. She quickly offered talent and creativity in designing event flyers and she became involved with our Rotary Club image on social media platforms.
Heather has educated our membership in several capacities, from how to share posts of our Facebook site to the method of procuring an item for an online auction, with handout materials included.
Her enjoyment of photography and her energy to impact others has been paramount in providing advertisements and in sharing outcomes for our projects and events, as well as her participation in them. This year, these include Restoring the Village Store, Car Cruise, Stuff the Bus Project, Facebook Auction, Member Bio Project, Thanksgiving Food Pantry Dinner Boxes, and Christmas Live Sale. Heather has volunteered as co-administrator of our upcoming Spring Online Auction site that will take place in April. She has kept our Facebook site updated with club and community information, and she serves as our club’s Public Image Chairperson and Sergeant-at-arms, as well as Director on our Rotary Board.
Heather is unassuming and exemplifies ‘Service Above Self.’ Her bright smile and positivity are contagious as she brings hope to help meet the needs of our local communities and those throughout our world. She is our club’s Unsung Hero!
Ernest Hemingway Mainland of Petoskey, Michigan, died on January 12, 2021. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on December 2nd, 1938, to Kenneth and Madelaine "Sunny" Mainland. He died as a result of complications due to total kidney failure. He writes this obituary.
I want to be remembered for being the best family man I could have been and adhering to the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.
I was honored to have the lead, thru Rotary, in establishing drinking fountains in the Petoskey downtown and parks area. I introduced the STRIVE scholarship program to the Petoskey School system, and it spread across the state and into northern Indiana.
I was active in re-building Junior Achievement in Northern Michigan and being a co-lead in Petoskey's Winter Sports Park revitalization. To help fund Rotary's effort to rid the world of polio, I established an excellent fundraising effort, the Rotary Raffle Calendar, that is still being used by the Rotary Club. I was proud to serve the community as a board member and President of the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Thru the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, I learned the beginnings of the skill of fundraising. A gift that helped me while on the boards of both the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Foundation and the North Central Michigan College Foundation. Most recently, I have been assisting the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy build their Guardian Fund balance.
I enjoyed being the Scoutmaster of Troop Five in Petoskey for about ten years. During that tenure, eight boys earned their rank of Eagle Scout. I was recently honored to be named the Sponsor of the 2019 Class of Eagle Scouts in the BSA's Northern District.
In my church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, I was active as an acolyte director and as their first Verger. During a tumultuous time, I left Emmanuel and established First Anglican Church in Petoskey. Now known as New Life Anglican, it is vibrant and succeeding in spreading the Gospel. My church home is once again Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
And lastly, my family. My wife of over 52 years, Judith Gamble Mainland, Judy, has been my faithful companion and has held the marital ship's tiller with a steady hand all these years. Our son, John Kenneth Mainland, Ken, is a successful life and health insurance agent, Scoutmaster, former Fire Fighter, Rotarian, and all-around good guy. He and his entire family are very humanitarian oriented benefitting local non-profit agencies and entities. Ken, married to Megan Rader Mainland, have two sons, Corbin and Kurtis, and one daughter, Mackenzie, all of whom have given me so much joy.
Due to Covid restrictions a private family service will take place.
If you wish to consider a memorial gift, may I suggest the Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy; Post Office Box 579; Walloon Lake, Ml 49796 for "The Guardian Fund", or the North Central Michigan College Foundation; 1515 Howard Street; Petoskey, Ml 49770.
Happy holidays! I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season and great start to the new year! I am lucky enough to have a sister living in Prauge, Czech Republic and was able to go visit her during the winter break before all the borders closed again.
Back in Cologne, the semester is wrapping up and with it our projects. This semester I have been working on a drought analysis of the Yarmouk Basin, in Syria and Jordan, which is hopefully where my Master’s thesis will be based. I have been working in conjunction with an ecological and social risk assessment of the disasters in the area and am excited to continue my work in this area. It is a pivotal region and water management issues play a major role in the cultural and political landscape.
I have also been working on the Clean Tigris project with a team from Iraq focused on water quality and availability in the Euphrates and Tigris basins. We have been working with a team from the German and Iraqi governments doing research and building informational products for the website so that it can be used as an educational and outreach tool. They just did the first focus group with a combination of scientists, activists, and citizens and it seems like it’s going to be a really useful tool in addressing water quality issues in the area. I’ve included the sites below!
Hopefully, it will be possible to do community work and gather once again! I will have more updates on my project in the next letter. Thank you all so much for all you do and happy 2021!
Thank you for your continued support and advocation for The Rotary Foundation. During the past year, we were able to offer financial support to 20 district local and 2 district international grants, doing great work in our communities and the world.
This is only possible through your support of our Rotary Foundation. For the 13th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S. The Foundation earned recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only one percent of the organization's Charity Navigator evaluates have received 13 consecutive 4-star evaluations. "Your achievement and 4-star rating will enhance your organization’s fundraising and public relations efforts,” says Michael Thatcher, president, and chief executive officer of Charity Navigator. "This exceptional designation sets the Foundation apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness."
It is through your contributions to our Rotary Foundation that our district is able to offer grants that will raise your good project to a grand project. Having a match of 100 % to your club dollars will double your available dollars and have a major impact on your community.
The Rotary Club of Houghton Lake pooled their money and with the match from our Rotary District Funds, they purchased and installed playground equipment for the physically handicapped children in their community. Now all children, regardless of their abilities, are able to enjoy Houghton Lake Sullivan Beach Park, where the equipment is installed.
The Rotary Club of Gaylord MI, where our grant dollars not only helped to improve lives in their community but also saved lives. The Rotary Club of Gaylord purchased with the matching dollars from our district two (2) Defibrillators for the local Police Department. This grant was approved in the 2019/20 grant cycle and according to Police Chief, Frank Claeys, within the first twelve months in operation, these devices saved two (2) presses lives. During the last grant cycle, the grants committee approved another grant application from the Gaylord Rotary Club and they purchased 3 more Defibrillators. These life-saving units are now installed in every police car within the Gaylord Police Department.
The picture above is of Officer Coalton Huff, showcasing this life-saving device.
So, it’s not only that your grand dollars support great community projects, your grand dollars can save lives in your Community.
It is NOT the amount We Give; it is the idea that through our giving, we together are able to provide support to our communities that have long-lasting impact.
If you desire more information about the works of our Rotary Foundation or if you like to donate but not sure how don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me your email address and I will be happy to answer your questions.
Please give a warm welcome to Val Gerhart who will serve as Assistant Governor for the Manistee River Region. Val will give inspiration and help to our Benzie Sunrise, Frankfort, Ludington, and Manistee Rotary clubs!
The Salvation Army Fulton Heights Citadel presented the 2020 Golden Kettle Award to the Kentwood Rotary Club. The vigorously contested trophy wasn't decided until the last day of the Red Kettle Campaign by less than thirty dollars!
Representatives of the Kentwood Rotary Club were excited to receive the vigorously contested Golden Kettle Award on January 19 from The Salvation Army at Fulton Heights Citadel Corps. Auxiliary Captain Mika Roinila presided over a brief ceremony in which he shared the thanks of The Salvation Army for all the volunteers and service clubs that participated in this year’s annual Red Kettle Campaign.
From amongst the several competing service clubs that sought the award, the Kentwood Rotary Club raised $3,316.01 and narrowly defeated the Pilots for Christ by only $28. What an amazing finish it was! Kentwood Rotary Club thanks its own "students of the month" from East Kentwood High School, who helped ring bells on the last three days of the campaign to eke out the Pilots for Christ.
Without the help of all volunteers, and without the generosity of the Grand Rapids community, the Red Kettle Campaign would have been in trouble this year. National projections estimated a 50% loss in giving, with less kettles and workers manning locations, and a much higher need for assistance from The Salvation Army. And while expectations may have been grim, the Kent County area was able to avoid such projections. Divisional Commander Major Glen Caddy has reported that The Salvation Army in Kent County has slightly surpassed its goal of $1.3 million! The kettle campaign itself raised a total of $291,675.98 which brought in more to the Fulton Heights organizers than they were able to raise last year. Thank you Grand Rapids!
So what happens with the Golden Kettle Award for the remainder of this new year? According to Kentwood Rotary President John Verbrugge, the trophy will spend a few weeks in the homes of all Kentwood Rotarians as the traveling trophy visits all members throughout 2021. As a traveling trophy, the award is now in its second year and will undoubtedly be sought by others in the coming Christmas season once again. The Salvation Army welcomes more groups to join this worthy service project and to compete for the Golden Kettle. May God bless one and all.
A recent Community Appreciation Celebration was held for retiring Cedar Springs Meijer Store Director Larry Levin after 50 years of service. After reading Tom Noreen’s article in the November edition of The Bugle, numerous community organizations wanted to personally thank Levin and the Meijer Corporation.
Among those involved was the Cedar Springs Rotary Club. Rotary Club President Stacy Helsel, Darla Falcon and Donna Clark presented a Service Above Self Award that stated the Club would be donating $1,000 of Simply Give funds in Levin’s honor to the Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry. The Club used the double match day and the $1,000 yielded a $3,000 donation to the food pantry.
As a note, Fred Meijer was a charter member of the Cedar Springs Rotary Club when it was founded in 1942.
Picture Caption:
Rotarians Darla Falcon and Donna Clark; Larry and Kathy Levin; and Club President Stacy Helsel
Thank you, Junior, (District Governor Jon Catlin) for my new End Polio Now kicks! I will wear them with pride and in honor of all Rotarians who are working effortlessly to eradicate this horrible disease. WE ARE THIS CLOSE!
In my study this week I came across this reading "I've Learned"
Read it, peruse it or discard it....
I've learned...
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for. That money doesn't buy class. That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. That to ignore the facts does not change the facts. That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you. That love, not time, heals all wounds. That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am. That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile. That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them. That life is tough, but I'm tougher. That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss. That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. That I wish I could have told those I cared about that I love them one more time before they passed away. That one should keep his words both soft and tender because tomorrow he may have to eat them. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it. That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it. That the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.
Thomas K. Schmidt
Interim Pastor
Solon Center Wesleyan Church
GLR Ambassador for the Great Lakes Region of The Wesleyan Church
