President Bill Roberts called our first in-person meeting in more than a year and a half to order with the Pledge of Allegiance. We were joined by several members via ZOOM. Art Ayers offered our invocation, including prayers for Bob Copping and Mike Livovich. We followed that by singing “America the Beautiful”.
Our guest this morning included Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast Chairman Ron Seiler.
Announcements:
Thanks to Barry Winkel for his assistance and leadership in getting our new location, Peace Lutheran Church, set up and ready for us and Steve Miles for the tech help and everyone else who had a part in getting us underway. We should expect to set up the room each week and return it to its previous situation after our meeting.
We will be working with the Kiwanis Club to put on a Pancake Breakfast during Blueberry Festival on August 14 and 15. A sign-up list is available and we are especially looking for help for the afternoon shifts both days. Contact Rosalie Plechaty.
Our August 7th meeting will take place as a tour and picnic at the Portman Preserve near Paw Paw. Tours will begin at 2:00 and a picnic at 4:00. Save the Date! Please RSVP Jerry. Jerry noted that it is a potluck and asked those with last names beginning A – G bring a casserole; those with last names H – M bring a salad or side dish and those in the N – Z group bring a desert.
We will not be meeting on August 3rd or 17th because of the above mentioned activities.
Celebrations of Life for the Averills and Bob Stickland will be held on July 31st and August 8th, respectively.
50/50 and Fines
Ron Seiler drew Rhonda Wendzel’s number for the 50/50 chance and she then drew the “4” to take home the prize. Bob Straits had the $2 winning ticket.
Dan Thompson had a long list of birthdays this week, which he rattled off very quickly but which included, among others, his brother, daughters, grandson, daughter-in-law, niece Natalie Thompson and possibly himself.
Nick Tuit’s Granddaughter Allie celebrated her 25th birthday
Don Hodgman’s granddaughter was married on Saturday
Pete Swanson has a celebration this week
Steve Miles also had a celebration this week.
Tom Fleming and his lovely wife Dorann celebrate a wedding anniversary this week.
Dave Campbell also had a celebration this week.
Steve Larsen had a birthday and a family trip to Alaska
Jean Stein announced that her granddaughter, who is turning 16, has been elected president of her regional FAA organization.
Mark Odland announced how proud he was of our club and the strength we have shown over the last year and a half.
Melinda Gruber, after studying an Internet video, spent a night in the back of a Ford Escape.
Art Bolt had many celebrations over the last 18 months which he quietly paid for.
We brought out our famous “Ludington Style” out for the first time in a many months
Songs
We brought out our excellent singing voices out of storage this morning as Bob Boerma led us in song, including a new melody, “My Kind of Song” and an oldie “Rotary My Rotary”. Bob added an old favorite, “Smile” to make our morning sing complete.
Rotary Club Hero Presentation
President Roberts was pleased to announce that our club hero, Tom Rummel, was recognized by our District as our Club Hero for his volunteering to be our interim treasurer for the past few years. Thank you Tom!
We did not have a program per-se this morning, but President Roberts arranged for us to cover three important topics: The Pancake Breakfast, the Portman Preserve Picnic and the Rotary International Raffle.
Ron Seiler spoke to us about the pancake breakfast coming up August 14th and 15th. He said set up will be at 6:30 on Saturday and 7:00 on Sunday. The initial set up includes moving supplies from one trailer to another, table and grill set up and the other usual items. Hats and gloves are required for most positions and there will be a hand washing station. We will have new aprons for those who need them. Both groups will use their own signage. We have also purchased a “Square” credit card program so patrons will be able to pay for their meals via card.
The goal is to serve 3,000 meals over the two days.
Jerry Portman spoke to us about our Potluck Dinner on August 7th at the Portland Preserve neat Paw Paw.
We were treated to a video showing the beauty of the preserve and the diversity of the wildlife and plant life in the preserve.
Jerry handed out a flyer with all of the details which are included in the announcements also. He suggests arriving about 2:00. Social hour will begin at 3:15 and dinner at 4:00.
Finally, Bill spoke about the Rotary Raffle. In the past we have purchased all of the tickets we were assigned and we hope to do that again this year. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by contacting our treasurer Mike Livovich (michaellivovich@gmail.com) . More on this later.
Bill reminded us that our goals for the year are Membership, Fundraising and Hybrid meetings. He adjourned the meeting with the Four Way Test at 8:00 AM
NEXT WEEK: Deb Howe from SCORE will present our program.
Editarian: Dene Hadden