SPOKES VOL. LXIV NO. 22 December 5, 2017
We were greeted by Jerry Portman and Art Ayers this windy Tuesday morning.
President Renner opened our meeting with “My Country ‘tis of Thee” and Art Ayers offered our invocation, including prayers for Carol Averill who suffered a heart attack, Korky Ingersol who is having hip replacement surgery today and Jean Stein who continues to recover from her broken arm.
Guests:
Our visitor this morning was our speaker, Sarah Yore-van Oosterhaut.
Spotlight:
This morning we had the privilege of inducting Dan (also known as “Pat”) Thompson into our club. Dan was inducted by his sponsor, Mark Odland. Dan is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and the nuclear training school of the Navy. He spent many years managing power plants across the country be for moving to South Haven, where his family has deep roots. Welcome to Rotary!!
Music:
Jim Davis was our song leader this morning and he had a tough assignment. Our first song was “Together”, a slow tempo 1928 hit. A recording of "Together" plays in the background on the John Lennon and Yoko Ono album Two Virgins, released in 1968 on Zapple Records. Our second selection was a little faster. It was also a 1928 hit, “When You’re Smiling” which was once featured in the Seinfeld episode "The Jimmy", Mel Torme dedicates the song to Kramer. The version recorded by Louis Armstrong was featured in an advertisement for Apple's new iPhone 4 in 2010. We finished with the Christmas themed “Rotary, My Rotary” sung to the tune of “O Tannenbaum”.
Announcements:
- Snowbirds are reminded to let Bob Straits and Rhonda know when you will be gone and to take care of your financial arrangements prior to leaving.
- Our Christmas Party has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 12th at Hawkshead. There will NOT be a morning meeting next week. Donations collected next week will be distributed to We Care.
- Bell Ringing will take place on Saturday, December 23rd. Please put this date on your calendar and plan to give us a (cold) hand.
- Blessings in a Backpack stuffing will happen this Friday at 1:30 at Lincoln School.
- Jerry Gruber reminded everyone that we will work the Open Door dinner on December 19th and we will pass a signup list around at the dinner next week.
- The slate of officers for 2018-19 has been determined and was announced by President Renner. We are still looking for a vice president who will become president-elect in July 2018 (and president in 2019) and a vice president who will become president elect in July 2019 (and president in 2020).
50/50
Bob Stickland had the correct ticket but drew the ten, going home potless. He did draw a $2 winner for Jim Davis.
Fines:
- Bob Stickland is celebrating his sister’s 91st birthday this week.
- Richard Swanson celebrated his son’s birthday.
- Jim Davis had a granddaughter’s birthday to pay for today.
- Dene Hadden paid for a birthday for his daughter-in-law’s birthday.
- Dan Leihr had taken pictures of a couple of visiting Snowy Owls.
- Richard Swanson, in Bob Copping’s absence, told a brief story which resulted in a plea for Bob to return as soon as possible.
- Jeff Melvin reminded us that the Hospital Auxiliary is holding a book fair this week.
- Don Hodgman noted that the ice rink opened to a huge crowd this weekend.
- Art Ayers noted that the Lions and the Silverdome implosion both failed this weekend.
- Larry Wittkop was pleased with the MSU men’s basketball team and their #3 ranking.
- Tom Fleming reminded us about Big Ten Tuesday at Shell stations.
- Dan Thompson is happy to be a Rotarian and “Go Navy”.
- Tom Ruesink has determined that if it looks like fudge but is on the ground on Mackinaw Island, it is not fudge.
Richard Swanson introduced our Speaker, Sarah Yore – van-Oosterhaut, Executive Director of Lighthouse Immigration Services.
Sarah began Lighthouse Immigration Services two years ago when it became apparent that there was not a place to provide services to immigrants in Ottawa County.In that time they have helped more than 600 immigrants.It is a non-profit organization.
Sarah wanted to make sure that we understood that most immigration violations are civil infractions, on criminal and are handled differently under the law.
DACA was instituted to provide law-abiding, working young people with a path to citizenship.In order to be eligible, immigrant children brought into this country under the age of 16 must not have a criminal record.The goal was to provide a 15 year path to citizenship (Dream Act).
Sarah’s main argument is that the goal of both the civil and criminal justice systems for children is rehabilitation, not punishment.These children did not and do not understand the immigration system or that they were brought into the U. S. in violation of various and complicated immigration rules.
There is also a huge economic price to pay by punishing these children estimated to be between $230 to $480 billion dollars.
She hopes that Congress will soon pass legislation that will offer a path to citizenship for these young people.Two of the lakeshore area congressmen are in favor of passing such legislation while Congressman Huizenga does not appear to understand the situation these children are in.
President Renner thanked Sarah for her presentation and wished her luck in her mission.
We closed our meeting with the Four Way Test.
Next week’s program: Christmas Dinner at Hawkshead (No morning meeting)
Next week’s Greeters: Santa and the Yoopers!
Editarian: Dene Hadden