September already?! And school is in session, both virtually and in person…the new normal.
I don’t know if anyone can tell but I love Rotary. I have a passion for this organization and I am a little enthusiastic when I am able to make any presentation about Rotary. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting, whether in person or via Zoom, each and every Club so far. Each Club is the same (great people wanting to do good and service in their community and the world) and unique (every club has their own culture, process, and personality).
This month is Rotary’s Basic Education and Literacy Month, Sept. 8th was International Literacy Day and to hear how many Clubs work toward literacy in their communities has been amazing. We are all trying to make things better. I mean without the ability to read who would be reading this message?! I want to thank all the Rotarians in our District that are doing so many things, especially this year, to help our schools. We need to support our teachers, our administrators and the students to try and get as normal of a year as possible. It is a challenge for all and we are all in this together. How many Clubs are looking at working with adult literacy? I know that Rotary Club of Cadillac has worked on that in their community. Are there others? When everyone can read we all benefit.
Bill Knape is the epitome of a Rotarian! He is a long time member and past President who gives his all to Rotary – his time, talents and resources. Bill is the President of his family business. He has an Engineering degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Our Club has two main events each year and Bill is always actively involved from planning through clean up. He spear headed the effort and figured out the logistics to purchase a 23’ tall rubber duck that has been the showpiece for one of our main events, The Big Daddy Duck Race, that is held each year during Rockford’s Start of Summer Celebration. The duck is just one of many projects that Bill completed to involve the community in Rotary efforts. The duck race helped to raise nearly $20,000 and involve more than 200 local businesses. It has become a well known community event that everyone looks forward to each year. The other main event is the Chicken dinner sale each year in the fall. Bill is the first one out selling tickets ahead of time to local businesses, he is on set up and clean up crews and is the one who takes care of all the tasks no one wants to do. He picks up shifts that are slow and not much fun but still need to be done.
In addition to his time, Bill donates warehouse space to store equipment and supplies and to build and create a float for the annual Start of Summer parade. Despite working long days, he is the first one with his sleeves rolled up doing whatever needs to be done. He is never too tired and he is never too busy for anything Rotary whether it be planning or doing for Rotary or fellow Rotarians.
Bill is always thinking of ways to engage Rotarians and looking for new members to join our Club. Bill is a grand champion Rotarian who dedicates more time and energy to Rotary than required because he believe in Rotary and what is stands for. He will tell you how satisfying it is to be involved in Rotary and how much he enjoys the fellowship of fellow Rotarians.
Thank you, Bill, for all you do for Rotary. It is a great honor to work with you and to be a part of Rotary with Rotarians like you!
It is truly difficult to describe in words all that Bob Marcus brings to the Rotary Club of Cadillac. When one thinks of "Service Above Self" and all things that Rotary represents it is hard not to think of Bob. Whenever there is a project or other need Bob is always one of the first Rotarians to step up and assist in whatever capacity he is able. Bob joined the Rotary Club of Cadillac in 2004 but his Rotary service dates back to leadership in the Missaukee County Rotary Club in the 1980s before that club was dissolved.. During his time in the Cadillac Club Bob has served as Club President, Treasurer (current role), and currently as the District Treasurer. This is in addition to the multiple committees in which Bob is a member. According to a fellow Past President, “Bob was always available to provide perspective and help me navigate issues and challenges during my presidency. He was my go-to person, the one I could talk things over with before addressing the board or full club.” Bob has truly made his mark in our community and our district and both are significantly better off with Bob as a Rotarian. We are continually grateful for Bob's service and all that he gives to our Club and our District
Meet Jack Harnish of the Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club. Jack and his wife Judy made their Platte Lake home their year-round residence in 2013 when he retired after 43 years serving as a United Methodist minister. The congregations where he served as the senior pastor included Birmingham, Ann Arbor, Flint, Dexter, and Washington. For seven years, he worked for the global United Methodist Church as a staff member at the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. His career also included serving as a trustee at theological seminaries in Ohio & Estonia and at Adrian College. Additionally, he served in leadership roles as a conference delegate at both the state and world level.
Jack first became a Rotarian in 1990, when he joined the Downtown Flint Rotary. While he served in Ann Arbor, he joined the Downtown Rotary in 2000.
What makes Jack the Unsung Hero for the Benzie Sunrise Rotary is the role he has played as a community leader. For the past three years, Jack has served as the president of the executive board of the Advocates for Benzie County, a non-profit begun in 2016 to address issues of housing, education, employment, and childcare. Jack and Judy are active members of St Andrews Presbyterian Church and volunteer regularly at the Benzie Area Christian Neighbors (BACN), which provides food, clothing, financial assistance, education, and social support in collaboration with area resources.
One of Jack’s hobbies is weaving rugs, using the 1915 loom he inherited from his Grandfather. Recently he sold some of his rugs raising $800 for BACN.
In addition to his gift of bringing people with different views to the table to work toward collaborative solutions, he is a weekly guest columnist for the local paper, The Record Patriot, and is a regular contributor to the Michigan United Methodist MiConnect, a weekly publication of the conference. You can follow Jack on his weekly blog, “Monday Memo” at jackharnish@wordpress.com.
In all of his work and writings, Jack reflects the true nature of Rotarians, being people of action providing service above self in their community.
Starting with next months newsletter, we will feature one of our Past District Governor's. We want to tell you about their service to Rotary and what makes them so passionate about this amazing organization! So stay tuned........
Gifts to Rotary's Endowment ensure that future Rotarians will have the resources they need to design and implement sustainable projects year after year. Donations to the Endowment Fund can be made as an outright gift or a planned gift, such as a bequest in your estate. As of the 2018-19 Rotary year, Rotary’s Endowment totals US$374.5 million and has US$828.9 million in commitments.
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
During these trying times, Covid-19 is on the minds of almost every Rotarian in the world. Many clubs are using grant funds to provide a financial life line to local food banks and other charitable organizations. Our own Rotary Foundation has been asked to approve more than double the number of global Grants than in the previous years.
We contribute to the Foundation Annual fund because we understand that our contributions keep our foundation alive for important current projects to help people right now.
You may be interested that contributions to the Rotary Foundation Endowment Fund can provide a continuing stream of funds to the Annual Fund also. This continuing flow keeps supporting Rotary’s works around the world not only today but in perpetuity.
Please click read more for just such an experience from our own PDG Al Bonney, on how easy it is and why he and Joan decided to support the endowment fund.
Hope you find Al’s experience interesting. Maybe his story will help you make your next giving decision to The Rotary Foundation.
Every year, Rotarians and Rotaractors across the globe mobilize for World Polio Day to raise awareness about eradication polio for good. If we stay committed, polio will be the second human disease ever to be eradicated. Click HERE for tools for your to take action.
Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. Our members promote economic and community development and reduce poverty in underserved communities through training, well-paying jobs, and access to financial management institutions. Projects range from providing people with equipment to vocational training. Our members work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
Join Rotary and help grow local economies around the world. Give now to promote economic growth in communities.
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