I’m a bit behind in my newsletter writing. And it has been noted that I have not been including club visit numbers. I won’t number every visit but from time to time I will include it. I honestly have not been keeping track.
Some have also noticed they we are having fun during our visits. The truth is we are having so much fun I almost feel guilty. Every club brings us close to the great Rotarians in our district. I honestly wish that everyone could experience what we are experiencing this year.
Visit number 14 brought us back to the lakeshore in Grand Haven. We attended the Grand Haven club’s Monday, August 7 noon meeting. President Kirsten Runschke comes by her Rotary involvement naturally. Her father is PDG Gernot Runschke.
The Grand Haven Club is involved in many local projects and activities. Some of them include highway cleanup 3 times a year, a winter coat drive for elementary kids, club quarterly socials, a beach safety program, a mentorship program at Central High School, and Life Leadership Conference for Interact Student of the Month.
The club’s international work includes water projects in Honduras, work trips to Honduras, remodeling the hospital Die Occidente, and shipping generators to Honduras during Covid
Current fundraising efforts include a Jeep raffle to support a local project and international efforts in Honduras and the D'vine social event fundraiser supporting Ferry/ Voyager Elementary School and International Projects.
On August 9 we made our way to Frankfort. Don’t we all love the lakeshore during the summer? President Bill Collin related that the Frankfort club is coming up on its 100th year anniversary. They are planning a celebration during the 2024 calendar year. A robust and active club, they have enjoyed as many as 100 members in the club at previous times. A large group of members left and created a new club (Benzie Sunrise) several years ago bringing membership down closer to 50. They have been adding members and relative youth to our roles over the last several years and are hoping to continue to attract many of our newly year-round.
They have an annual golf outing that raises $12000 - $20,000 for their to Willoughby Foundation and local college scholarships. President Bill also spoke about a BEHAG project for dramatic increase in fundraising.
On Thursday, August 10 we visited the Suttons Bay-Leelanau County Rotary Club. President Chet Janik and his fellow Rotarians are doing great things in the community.
President Chet related that in 1945, Kenneth Hoyt, a pharmacist in Suttons Bay, became interested and agreed to help organize a group of Suttons Bay area businessmen. Ken was successful in finding 24 men who were interested in forming a club. The Traverse City Rotary Club agreed to sponsor this new group in Suttons Bay. An application was submitted to Rotary International in the fall of 1945 and was officially approved on January 2, 1946.
It was a great honor to have Dick Grout, our 102-year-old elder statesman Rotarian, in attendance at the club meeting. You may not be aware that Dick landed on Normandy beach on D-Day in World War II. Last year he made the jump out of an airplane raising money for Polio eradication.
During my visit I was able to present Paul Harris awards to Barb Duvall and Barb Conley.
The club is especially passionate about helping the youth in the area. Support for past programs include Suttons Bay Schools Robotics Program, Leelanau Christian Neighbors, L.1.F.T (Leelanau Investing For Teens), Leland Schools Forestry Exchange, Boys and Girls Scouts, Inland Seas Association, and Blessings in a Backpack
In spite of small populations in the Leelanau County area the Frankfort and Suttons Bay clubs have 50-60 members and are growing.
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