SPOKES VOL. LXV NO. 9 August 28, 2018
Bob Straits and Bill Roberts, assisted by Reverend Jeff Melvin were our greeters this morning.
President Mark Odland opened today’s meeting with “My Country ‘tis of Thee” and Art Ayers and his new knee provided the invocation.
Guests:
President Odland introduced guests Mary Pietenpol, Steve Teeple from the Lakeshore Club – here to monitor Larry Wittkop and other troublemakers – Carl Kincade and Jim Sullivan from the district foundation, SHHS student and delegate to the World Affairs Seminar Jackson Beck-Calvert and our speaker Stephanie Kohler.
Spotlight:
We began our spotlight by accepting a check from the District Foundation for $2500 for our project to replace the banners in the newly refurbished high school gym.
Dene Hadden introduced South Haven High School student Jackson Beck-Calvert who was the delegate we sent to the World Affairs Seminar in Wisconsin this summer. Jackson began by thanking us for this opportunity, an opportunity that he really enjoyed. He spoke about the theme of the seminar which focused in Innovation. He mentioned several of the prominent speakers they heard, from places like Amazon and Apple and the excitement that innovation brings to our world. He also enjoyed meeting kids from all over the world and exchanging ideas and experiences with them. His next task is to find a candidate for next year’s seminar for us.
Music:
Jim Davis was our song leader this morning, and we began slowly, tempo-wise, with probably one of the oldest songs we do, the 1899 hit “You Tell Me Your Dream, I’ll Tell You Mine”. It did sound like some of the local canines were not happy with our singing, so we switched to the much faster “Bill Bailey”. Hughie Cannon wrote the song in 1902 when he was working as a bar pianist at Conrad Deidrich’s Saloon in Jackson, Michigan. Willard "Bill" Bailey was a regular customer and friend, and one night told Cannon about his marriage to Sarah (née Siegrist). Cannon "was inspired to rattle off a ditty about Bailey’s irregular hours. Bailey thought the song was a scream [i.e. very good], and he brought home a dashed-off copy of the song to show Sarah. Sarah couldn’t see the humor.... [but] accepted without comment the picture it drew of her as a wife." We finished with the traditional Rotary/Christmas son, “Rotary, My Rotary.
Announcements:
- On September 18th any candidate for public office will be able to present their program to the club. The time will be divided into equal segments so each candidate/proposal will have equal time. Please let Bob Straits know if you know a candidate who wants to appear in front of our group.
- We have almost reached our goal for the purchase of the District Foundation Raffle Tickets. We will pass the hat one more time at next week’s meeting for anyone who has not donated.
- Special thanks to Jerry Gruber and his family for hosting our annual picnic last week. Well done Jerry and Ann!
- We have a box available to collect old eye glasses for distribution to those in need – a long held passion of Lions clubs worldwide.
- Bob Straits asked that anyone who has ideas for Haven Fest get them to Bob, Rhonda or Paul Hemmeter before their September 11th meeting.
- Peaches for the taking were available after the meeting, provided by Stein’s Farms and Cornerstone College.
50/50
Tom Renner drew the correct card and followed the wise advice of Jackson Beck-Calvert and drew the 2, winning half of the pot. Ted Weber won the $2 prize.
Fines:
- Art Bolt and his lovely wife Cindy celebrated their 56th anniversary this week.
- Bob Brickman announced his daughter’s anniversary and mentioned that his lovely wife Gail is celebrating her 59th anniversary.
- Scott Mark noted the birthday of his daughter
- Nick Tuit relayed the news that his son celebrated a birthday.
- Don Hixson’s grandson (one of them) has his name associated with a recently released movie, “The HappyTime Murders”, and celebrated a birthday. He told his grandmother that it is a very good movie but she should not go see it.
- Dene Hadden is celebrating the 17th birthday of his 6’5”, 200 lb. grandson.
- The Reverend Jeff Melvin, fresh from getting his Divinity Degree online, celebrated one son’s anniversary and is prepared to officiate his other son’s upcoming wedding.
- Bob Stickland celebrated his daughter’s anniversary.
- I have a note that Mark Odland celebrated something, too, but I forgot what it was.
- We sang a delightful Ludington Style version of our birthday song this morning.
- Before passing the basket, Bob Copping yielded the chair to Jeff Melvin who cited research done by Notre Dame that only one out of seven dwarfs are Happy.
Glenn Pietenpol, who has a long and strong relationship with Lory’s Place, introduced its Executive Director, Stephanie Kohler.
First of all, Stephanie invited us to visit their facility, which they are very proud to have to serve our three county community. They have helped more than 33,500 people since Lory’s Place was established 14 years ago.
They provide help in the form of support groups for elementary and high school students, plus adults, who have lost someone. This includes suicide support and support for those who have suffered a miscarriage or loss of an infant.
She expects that the next set of groups will focus on people who have suffered an accidental overdose death among their family of friends.
They have scores of groups including ‘in school” groups. In fact a state-wide support organization has contacted them to see how to organize and manage so many groups.
These groups provide the opportunity to share grief and to see and talk to people who have suffered similar loss.
Lory’s Place also provides crisis response to families, groups and even schools if needed.
Stephanie spoke for a minute about suicide and while they don’t do prevention, they help people get help if they are contacted.
Stephanie reminded us of their fundraisers, which include the well-known Run/Walk/Rock, their Dinner/ Auction and their annual appeal. They also do a “Cookie Walk” and Stephanie mentioned that our Rhonda Wendzel has donated thousands of cookies to this event.
Lory’s Place has a staff of 7 plus many facilitators who are people trained to run the groups.
Her latest program is a curriculum for 6th graders to teach them about the greaving process.
Glenn thanked Stephanie for her presentation and the great work she does for our community.
We closed our meeting with the Four Way Test.
Next week’s program: Bill Roberts will introduce Paula Manley from the Michigan League of Women Voters.
Our September 11th meeting will include breakfast and then a field trip to Red McFadden’s Car Barn.
Next week’s Greeters: Jeremy Burleson and Tom Renner
Editarian: Dene Hadden