SPOKES VOL. LXV NO. 42 April 30, 2019
We were greeted by Tom Rummel and later by Dene Hadden this morning..
President Odland opened the meeting with “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and Art Ayers provided the invocation including special words for Marty Graber and his work.
We welcomed Ann Gruber this morning along with a hearty “welcome back” to Bob Stickland and Tony Martorano.
Guests:
Our special guest this morning was Julie Shepard from South Haven Public Schools
Spotlight:
We took the opportunity this morning to personally recognize the winner of our Educator and Citizen of the year award winner, Julie Shepard. Julie received the award for her work as leader of the local History Club and as an outstanding educator and volunteer in our community. She received a nice gift basket and plaque plus $250 for her to use in her classroom or other school projects. In addition, President Odland presented Julie with $1,000 to help cover the costs of the History Club’s trip to Nationals in June.
Announcements:
- Blessings in a Backpack will be filling backpacks this Friday at 1:15 at Lincoln School
- The Educational Fundraiser went very well Saturday evening with kudo’s all around. Scott Mark indicated that he believes we made $6,640.00 on the silent auction. He stressed that he hopes everyone takes the opportunity to thank the many merchant’s and businesses who donated auction items.
- On Tuesday May 7th at 11:00 AM there will be a Pure Michigan Trail Town announcement at Riverfront Park followed by a lunch.
- On Thursday, May 9th the South Haven Center for the Arts will host an evening of art and information. In addition to the 70th annual Members Exhibition and a special sesquicentennial exhibition by South Haven students, there will be a tax law presentation by Bobbie Otto and James L Moore, tax attorney.
- Songs
Jim Davis was our song leader once again and immediately caused a ruckus by leading us in “Take Me Out to the Old Ball Game” with Tom Renner and Dan Thompson inserting particular team names in the middle of the song, even though everyone knows that the best Cracker Jacks – but maybe not the best baseball - can be found in Comerica Park.We followed that with a song of hope – “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nelly”. Hopefully she will not have to wait too long. Our finish was a favorite, “Sing! Everyone, Sing”.
50/50
Ann Gruber drew Tom Ruesink’s ticket, giving Tom a chance to win the $274 Bob Straits left in the pot over the past three weeks.He also missed, drawing the Ace and leaving even more money for Ted Webber to win next week.Steve Larsen won the $2 prize.
Fines:
- Jerry Gruber returned from trout fishing in time to celebrate wife Ann’s birthday this week.
- Tom Rummel’s son celebrated his birthday this week.
- Tom Renner had three family members celebrate birthdays this week..
- Tom Ruesink casually mentioned it was his wife’s birthday this week.
- Marty Graber will also celebrate a birthday soon.
- Much to the delight of Marty and our other celebrants, we serenaded them with a well done Ludington version of the birthday song.
- Before we passed the basket, Jerry Gruber was reminded that he owed a fine for having his picture on the front page of the Herald-Palladium last week.
Steve Larsen, with much help from Marty Graber, was our speaker this week.
Steve recently traveled to Kenya to provide Marty some help with his mission near Ngoswani, Kenya and provided us an update on the progress of the maternal and Children’s Hospital there.
Steve had pictures of the hospital and the rooms and equipment that have been installed. It looked like a quality facility, well equipped to handle the work there. This type of hospital is especially important in that part of Kenya because many young girls are married off at 12 and 13 years old and are pregnant in the next year or so, before they are physically ready to give birth and must have a C-section.
There are about 20 rooms, including two surgeries and equipment to deal with premature babies. The hospital is totally ‘green’ with all power supplied via solar or wind power. While there is a bore hole for water, it is undrinkable without serious treatment so a 250,000 gallon tank is being buried at the hospital to collect and store rainwater for the facility.
The doctor who will run the hospital, who Marty sponsored through medical school, will arrive in May and the hospital is expected to open then.
There is still one piece of equipment that is needed, a digital x-ray reader and Marty is continuing to raise money to purchase and install this $25,000 tool.
Steve also showed us several shots of the abundant wildlife that lives in the area near the hospital.
Marty finished the presentation talking about the work that hospitals do in Kenya and what this hospital will do for this area of the country. He will return in May to help open the facility.
Marty also updated us on the school near the hospital which now includes 8 classrooms for 350 students. Our Rotary Club provided the direct funding for 5 of those classrooms.
President Odland thanked Marty and Steve for the presentation and special thanks for all of the work Marty has put into this mission over the last 39 years.
President Odland closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
Next week’s program: Don Kitchin will introduce Erin Miller, author of the book Final Flight, Final Flight. This is the story of the WASP’s and their history.
Greeters: Scott Mark and Bob McAlear
Editarian: Dene Hadden