SOUTH HAVEN ROTARY SPOKES
August 6, 2024
August 6, 2024
We were greeted this morning by Bob Straits and Bill Roberts
President Angelica opened at 7 a.m.
We sang “America the Beautiful”
Art Ayers offered the invocation.
GUESTS
Mayor Annie Brown
Program presenter Mick Middaugh and Nick Culp
Prospective members Amy Forker and Kirk Wiley
Brook Blanchard from Caring Connections
Mayor Annie Brown
Program presenter Mick Middaugh and Nick Culp
Prospective members Amy Forker and Kirk Wiley
Brook Blanchard from Caring Connections
ZOOMERS
Steve Larsen
Brandon Hinz
Steve Larsen
Brandon Hinz
SONGFEST
Larry led a less than energetic group of singers in:
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco”
“The Band Played On”
“Rotary Wheel”
Larry led a less than energetic group of singers in:
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco”
“The Band Played On”
“Rotary Wheel”
All hands on deck this coming Sunday, please.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
* District Membership Webinar is approaching. Contact Angelica if interested.
*Don Hodgman presented final details for upcoming Flyin-In Breakfast. Signup sheet passed around for final time.
* Dana asked for help picking up pancake promotion signs after Sunday breakfast.
* Volunteers needed for August 24th Back to School Event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Signup sheet passed around.
* A reminder about Oktoberfest 5K
* No meetings on August 13 and August 20.
* Jerry Gruber is hosting Summer Picnic on August 20. Signup sheet passed around.
“ August Board meeting will be August 27th.
* A Thank You note from a scholarship recipient. Very heartwarming from this future nurse.
* District Membership Webinar is approaching. Contact Angelica if interested.
*Don Hodgman presented final details for upcoming Flyin-In Breakfast. Signup sheet passed around for final time.
* Dana asked for help picking up pancake promotion signs after Sunday breakfast.
* Volunteers needed for August 24th Back to School Event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Signup sheet passed around.
* A reminder about Oktoberfest 5K
* No meetings on August 13 and August 20.
* Jerry Gruber is hosting Summer Picnic on August 20. Signup sheet passed around.
“ August Board meeting will be August 27th.
* A Thank You note from a scholarship recipient. Very heartwarming from this future nurse.
President Angelica presented symbolic donation check of $10,000 for Caring Connections program to Brook Blanchard and Robin McGinnis.
JOKE OF THE DAY
Todd Heinrich parachuted-in for Bob Copping.
Todd Heinrich parachuted-in for Bob Copping.
50-50
Our winner was John Mellein but he drew the “8”
Dave Campbell took home the $2 prize
Our winner was John Mellein but he drew the “8”
Dave Campbell took home the $2 prize
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES (with apologies for reporting errors)
There were a ton of them this week.
* Clark celebrated Jerry’s 88th soon
* Kaleigh has a boat load of kid’s birthdays
* The same for Dan Thompson
* The Melleins will soon mark their 50th anniversary
* How about the Brickmans – 65 years!
* Jerry Portman will be cutting cake soon
* The Campbells are looking at 22 years
* Six years for the Hagans
* Happy 90 years to Sandra’s mom
There were a ton of them this week.
* Clark celebrated Jerry’s 88th soon
* Kaleigh has a boat load of kid’s birthdays
* The same for Dan Thompson
* The Melleins will soon mark their 50th anniversary
* How about the Brickmans – 65 years!
* Jerry Portman will be cutting cake soon
* The Campbells are looking at 22 years
* Six years for the Hagans
* Happy 90 years to Sandra’s mom
Exhausted, we sang a traditional “Happy Birthday/Anniversary to you…..”
PROGRAM
Today’s program seemed like a re-run in reverse.
Mick Middaugh and Nick Culp, representing Holtec International, talked of efforts to repower the Palisades plant. It wasn’t long ago that the two were telling us about the plant closing.
Palisades generated it first power in 1971. Holtec International acquired and started decommissioning the plant in 2022. In recent years the powers-to-be realized Michigan is going to need more power and Palisades has the capability ot generating electricity for 800,000 homes.
The process of getting federal approval to repower the plant is underway with a goal of restarting it in 2025.
Our speakers praised the support they’ve received from local and state officials and the community.
When operational the plant will provide approximately 1,000 fulltime, high-paying jobs. It is estimated that one-third of the employees will be Van Buren County residents, most living in the 49090 zipcode. In addition, approximately 1,000 specialty workers will be at Palisades during refueling and maintenance outages. A recent study (by the University of Michigan) estimated the closing of Palisades resulted in an annual loss of $259 million in labor income and value to the tri-county region of Berrien-Cass-Van Buren Counties.
Restarting Palisades will be historic. A first in the USA!! And a boon to the local economy.
President Angelica thanked Mick and Nick for their presentation and presented them a gas
gift card courtesy of Fleming Brothers Oil.
We concluded with the Four-Way Test.
Respectfully reported by Tom Renner, co-editarian with Art Ayers