Spokes May 9, 2017

Posted by Dene Hadden
 
 
 
SPOKES VOL. LXIII NO. 43                                                                                May 9, 2017
 
 
65% of our members read Spokes last week, up 4%.
 
We were greeted by Bob Stickland this morning.
 
We opened the meeting with “My Country ‘tis of Thee” and Art Ayers’ invocation.
 
Guests:
We welcomed guest Don Shook
 
Music:
After a vigorous discussion, it was decided to sing this morning and started with the touching ballad “Together”, the 1928 #1 hit and the song was recorded by Connie Frances recorded in 1961, reaching the BillBoard top 10.  After a pep talk from this week’s song leader Bob Boerma, we performed the Louis Armstrong hit “When You’re Smiling” exceptionally well.  We finished with “Rotary, My Rotary”.
 
Spotlight:
No Spotlight this week.
 
Announcements:
  • It is time to nominate folks for our Community Service Award and Rotarian of the Year.  Nomination forms can be found on our website.
  • Transportation should be all set for the District Conference in Battle Creek this weekend.  Please contact Art Ayers if you have any need for this information.
  • Don’t forget the Club Runner App for your phones, it’s a great resource!
  • Blessings in a Backpack has asked us for more help so we are scheduled for This Fridayt at 1:30 at Lincoln School.
  • Our Induction dinner will be the last week in June and Steve Larsen will organize a golf tournament.
  • Dick Averill and Art Bolt returned to the fold this week.
  • Don’t forget the hospital’s annual golf outing on June 9th.
  • President Art was pleased to present fellow Rotarian Stu Comisky with his Paul Harris Award this morning.  Thanks Stu!
  • Individuals who plan on working the Senior PGA next spring should let Bob Straits know as soon as possible so he can report our numbers to the volunteer office.  You can invite others to join us.
50/50
Larry Wittkop had the lucky ticket this morning and he misread the “10”, thinking it was a “4”.  Time for a vision check.  Tom Rummel was the winner of $2!
 
Fines:
  • Jerry Gruber celebrated the birthdays of his daughter Amy and granddaughter Sierra..
  • Several members spoke in memory of Don Woodhams, a quiet but strong member of our club, who passed away last week.
  • Tom Ruesink remembered that he had his picture in the paper.
  • Jerry Gruber also announced that Melinda’s son recently earned a double degrees from MSU and has earned a full ride to IU.
  • The fine basket was placed at the door for members to deposit reparations for their various transgressions this past week as we left the building for our field trip.
We closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
Our Program today was a field trip to Spencer Manufacturing.
At the Spencer facility we were given a brief history of the business and updated on the latest fire truck and blueberry harvester manufacturing techniques.
 
Spencer’s, who currently hire 40 people, is experiencing strong growth right now and are planning a two phase expansion.The growth is due to the quality of their work and their expansion into the harvester business.
We were treated to a tour of the facility which was crowded with harvester and fire truck parts, including the chassis for South Haven’s new ladder truck.
 
Spencer’s have perfected the method of paining the plastic material that now makes up most fire truck bodies and is contracted by other companies to do their painting.
 
Next week’s program: A Tasty Presentation by Amy Nichols, Food Service Director for SHPS.
 
Next week’s Greeters:  Bob Boerma and Stu Comiskey .
 
Editarian:  Dene Hadden