SPOKES        VOL.LXXII No. 33   March9,2021                                      

President Thompson welcomed everyone, and we opened with the “Pledge of Allegiance", followed by Art Ayers’ invocation. Of special mention this morning were prayers offered for Jerry Gruber and his family, as they grieve the loss of Ann, as well as for Mike Livovich who, in addition to his other ongoing issues, was diagnosed with COVID and pneumonia. Mike’s wife, Mary Ann has also been diagnosed with COVID.

GUESTS: Griffin Graham, Assistant City Manager, and potential new member, as well as Dorothy Lockwood.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

+ We are still in need of 2 more volunteers for the Thursday Night Supper on March 18th.

+ There will be a regularly scheduled Board meeting immediately following today’s meeting. 

+ President Thompson gave a “shout-out” to LaRae and Mark Odland for organizing the work done at the Dyckman Bridge last week. Thanks also to those who assisted: Tom Renner, Tom and Karen Ruesink, Elaine and Don Kitchin, and Dan Thompson.

+ A reminder was provided regarding nominations for the upcoming “award season”. Forms are available on our website, www.southhavenrotary.org, for such awards as: Rotarian of the Year, Educator of the Year, Citizen of the Year. The Club Hero nomination form is available on the District 6360 website. Our club is also recruiting a vice-President candidate to begin serving on July 1, as well as a Public Affairs back-up for Tom Renner.

COPPING’S COMEDY RELIEF

Today’s comic photo featured Larry David.

Larry Gene David, born on July 2, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, is an American comedian, writer, actor, director, and television producer.

He and Jerry Seinfeld created the television series Seinfeld, of which David was the head writer and executive producer for the first 7 seasons.

David gained further recognition for the HBO series Curb YourEnthusiasm, which he created and in which he stars as a semi-fictionalized version of himself.

+ Bob’s “relief” this morning involved an Order of Franciscan Friars, who had decided to open a flower shop to create additional funding for their causes.

A rival florist thought this was unfair and asked them to close. When they wouldn’t, they pleaded to friends and family of the friars, whom they thought might influence them to close. THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN!

As a result, the rival florist enlisted the support of town “enforcer”, Hugh McTaggart, who proceeded to beat up the friars and trash their shop. This had the desired effect, and the friars closed their shop.

The moral of the story: Hugh and only Hugh can prevent florist friars

HAPPY BUCKS- Tom Ruesink

+ Tom Renner saluted the Hope College Women’s Basketball Team, which just completed their second consecutive undefeated season, having won 45 in a row!!

+ Nick Tuit’s granddaughter, Emma, is celebrating birthday #21 today.

+ We haven’t seen Barry Winkel on Zoom in a while, so it was very nice to have him with us today.

+ Melinda Gruber thanked everyone who provided meals, sent cards, or offered prayers for Ann and Jerry. Our “kindness meant so much” to the family.

+ Melinda also mentioned that her son, Griffin, celebrated his birthday last Thursday.

+ Song leader Larry Wittkop asked us to unmute and actually vocalize a rendition of “Happy Birthday”(Ludington-style). I heard that the “jury is still out” on the result. At least we tried!

+ Our Assistant City Manager, Griffin Graham, was chosen by Tom to pick the first number between 1-40. Griffin chose #5, which belonged to Mark Odland. Griffin’s second number was #26, which made a winner of Mary Sue Lyon. Enjoy your winnings!!

PROGRAM:

+ Our scheduled program, “Servant Leadership”,with Mike Livovich, had to be postponed due to Mike’s health issues.

+ Many thanks to Julie Sheppard, who agreed to join us today and provide a South Haven History Club update, on very short notice.

This is the 16th year of the South Haven History Club, and there have been students representing South Haven in the National Competition for 11 years in a row! During that “streak”, they have won the National Competition TWICE!

Students are eligible to join the history club when they reach the 5th grade.

This year, as expected, the competitions have been held virtually.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following South Haven students who won at the Regional level contest for Michigan History Day at Western Michigan University on March 6th. They will be advancing to the State Finals on March 31st.

This year’s National History Day Theme is “Communication in History”.

From South Haven High School:
+ Nic Sheppard and Myles Daugherty with their exhibit “Lincoln on the Front-Line", which has been nominated for the Civil War Roundtable Award.

+ Jessee Ford and Avery Daugherty with their documentary film Track to Trenches-Communicating at the Speed of an Olympic Medalist

+ Tabi Newberry with her documentary film Eunice Carter:Communication Through the Courtroom

From Baseline Middle School:

+ Isaac Chalupa with his documentary film Hitler’s Sons of Duty

+ Ruby Peterson with her performance of “The Riveters: Communicating Equality and Perseverance Through Rosie the Riveter”. Ruby also won the Best Use of Primary Sources Award.

From North Shore Elementary:

+ Brayden Williams and Carson Meachum with their documentary film Winged Soldiers

+ Jocie Dubbink and Kiersten Chalupa with their documentary film The Story of Ella Baker: Activist and Human Rights Defender

+ Aaron Crider with his historical research paper “Sightless Reading- A Brief History of Louis Braille and the Braille Reading System”

+ Victoria Moody and her performance of The Life of Susan B.Anthony

The history club has developed quite a legacy of excellence! Many thanks to Julie and the students for your fabulous work!!

Julie entertained several questions following her presentation, and President Thompson thanked Julie, not only for an inspiring presentation but, again, for agreeing to present her program on such short notice.

On behalf of our club, President Thompson will present Julie with a gift card from Clementine’s in appreciation.

 

Next Week’s Program: “A Developer’s Conundrum” with Steve Larsen

We adjourned with the Four-Way Test.

Respectfully submitted,

Art Ayers, Seasonal Editarian