SPOKES -- April 13, 2021

SOUTH HAVEN ROTARY SPOKES VOL. LXVII NO. 37 
April 13, 2021

http://www.southhavenrotary.org

President Thompson began our virtual meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by an invocation by Art Ayers with a quote from Albert Schweitzer about service and prayers for Jane Copping and Mike Livovich

Our guests this morning were our speaker, Liji Hanny, prospective members Emily Gruber and Griffin Graham and Assistant District Governor Dyann Chenault(pictured).

Announcements:

• We could still use two volunteers for the Thursday night dinner on April 15th.
   

• We still have openings for the Bronson Sneak Peek on April 30.
   

• Bill Roberts has been compiling a “White Paper” of all of the tribal knowledge of our pancake breakfasts and it is now ready for review.  That review will take place after our meeting on April 20th.
   

• We are still looking for a Vice President and Public Affairs Director.

• Nominations are open for our Club Hero, Rotarian of the Year, and Citizen of the Year.

• Education Donations   Since we are not holding our Educational fundraiser this year, members are encouraged to donate, through the club, to either or both the South Haven Public Schools Foundation or our own scholarship fund.
   

• Arbor Day tree planting will occur on Monday, April 19th. Please come to Johnston Park at 11 a.m.
  Bring your shovel.
   

• The South Haven weather buoy was placed in the lake yesterday.  We contribute to this project.
  
  

• Congratulations to these Rotarians who are either new or higher-level Paul Harris Fellows.

A Touch of Humor

Bob Copping returned to his position as chair of comedy today with a High School Exit test.  Only ten questions, four needed to pass.  Unfortunately, most of us will be returning to high school as our answers came up a little short.

Member Spotlight

Jean Stein was our member spotlight this morning.  Jean was born in Charlevoix and graduated (as the Salutatorian) from East Jordan High School.  Her mother was a nurse and Jean told an interesting story about women nurses could not be married if they wanted to work until World War II when there was a shortage of nurses.

Jean went to MSU where she studied Elementary Education, maintained honor roll grades and met her husband to be, Chuck Stein.  She and Chuck moved to South Haven and bought Triple S Orchards and ran that organization until the 1970’s when Chuck took over the family farm.  She is a long time member and former chairman of the library board and has served two terms on the Van Buren County Road Commission, having been appointed to that position upon the passing of her husband.

They had three children, Ross, who lives in South Haven, Robert, and Kelly Ann.  Ross is a long time township supervisor and Kelly Ann helps take care of her grandkids following the death of their father.

Jean finished by telling us of several adventures she and her family had while traveling our country, including interesting happenings in Boston, Pike’s Peak and Mount Rushmore.  Her father-in-law and husband were both long time Rotarians and club presidents and she carries on the Rotary tradition in the family.

50/50 and Fines

Dyann Chenault rewarded Dan Liehr with the big prize and guest Emily Gruber won the $2 prize.

Fines were charged to:

• Mike Livovich has a granddaughter turning 18 this week.

• Dene Hadden’s daughter is celebrating the birthday of her husband today.

• Marty Graber is celebrating the 18th birthdays of his twin granddaughters this week.

• Jerry Portman’s daughter is celebrating a birthday this week.

• Korky Ingersol is also celebrating a daughter’s birthday this week, his youngest.

• Larry Wittkop provided a birthday song in celebration of all of the festivities.

Sue Duval introduced our speaker this morning, local resident Liji Hanny.  Liji is the director of operations for the Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Benton Harbor.

Liji’s program was much more an interactive conversation than a presentation.  He began introducing the concept that diversity is really about getting out of your comfort zone in many areas – race religion, gender and other things different from us.

He asked us to talk about what we thought diversity was and members talked about inclusion and learning, being open to others and ideas.

Liji, who is married to the former Alyssia Yanik from South Haven, provided a perfect example of how being open, honest and clear is the best way to help people understand.  A little girl noticed that Alyssia is white and asked him why he married her.  His answer was simply that he fell in love with her and wanted to marry her.  A simple as that.

Liji lead us in the direction of understanding that another key part of diversity was understanding diverse opinions.

Also important was the difference, especially for our club, between acceptance and inviting.  Having club meetings in different and a variety of community settings is important to help the entire community understand what Rotary stands for and does and helps us get to know all aspects of the community.  Sometimes you have to get uncomfortable to understand.

Liji challenged our club to understand why diversity is important to our Rotary Club.

President Thompson thanked Liji for his thought provoking and challenging conversation with us and is providing him a thank you gift certificate from Clementine’s.