SPOKES -- October 8, 2024

 

We were greeted this morning by Bill Roberts and John Mellein.

At 7am sharp, we were welcomed by President Angelica Gallegos­ Dickerson, and we began with the "Pledge of Allegiance", followed by Art Ayers' invocation, which included healing prayers on behalf of Rotarian Kevin Schooley who is experiencing cardiac issues.

 

 

GUESTS:  Zach Morris

 

ZOOM ATTENDEES: Bob Brickman, Brandon Hinz, Shelley Ammerman, Steve Larsen

 

 

SONGS: Bob Boerma was our maestro this morning, and he led us in singing "When the Saints Go Marching In", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and "All Hail to Rotary".

 

 

 

+ Salvation Army Bell Ringing announcement will be coming soon.

+ Blessings in a Backpack began, for our South Haven Rotary Club, on October 3rd, at North Shore Elementary School.

+ The next" Blessings" will be this Thursday, October 10th at North Shore Elementary.

+ Beware of "fake news", but Jerry Gruber announced a prayer session was to be held on Thursday for Michigan football going forward.

+ There will be a Board meeting on Tuesday, October 15th, following the regular meeting.

+ Our Social Gatherings will begin again tomorrow, October 9th, from 5:30-7pm at Three Blondes.

+ It has become necessary for GB Richmond to relinquish his position as Youth Committee Chair. Please let us know if you have an interest in the position.

+ Thanks to those who helped remove the flowers from the bridge last Thursday

+ Grant Refresher Training will be held on November 7th.

+ John Mellein, chair of our Mental Health Committee, announced Mental Health/First Aid Training is to be held on Monday, October 21st, from 8:30am-4:30pm in Kalamazoo. Lunch will be provided. For further details, contact Cathy Knauf at cathyknauf@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Bob related the tale of a man, his wife, and mother-in-law, who traveled to the Holy Land.

Sadly, during their trip, the mother-in-law died. The man questioned local authorities about how to proceed, and he was told that he could have the body shipped home for $5000, or she could be buried in the Holy Land for $150.

He surprised the official by indicating that he preferred to send the body home.

When the official questioned his decision, he stated that a man died here 2,000 years ago and came back to life 3 days later, and he just didn't want to take that chance.

 

 

+ Zach Morris was chosen as today's "honest and reliable" attendee, and he drew Dene Hadden's ticket.

Dene, however, drew the King, so no pot was won today. Sandra Reno won the $2 prize and returned it to the basket.

+ Dene Hadden's son and nephew have birthdays on the 10th.

+ Mary Sue Lyon's "much older brother" will be 80 on Thursday.

+ Art Ayers announced the marriage of his youngest son, Graham, in Seattle, this past weekend.

+ Jeff Wilhelm's daughter, Katie, will be celebrating 49 years tomorrow.

+ Jerry Gruber's friend in California, Steve, will be 95 years young.

+ Sandra Reno's daughter-in-law, Kelly, celebrates a birthday.

+ Angelica's niece celebrated her 2nd birthday on the 5th. On the 6th, her dad would have been 81 years old, and, on the 12th, her sister and brother-in-law will be hosting a gender-reveal party.

Our collective effort at singing "Happy Birthday/Anniversary" as a "round" fell woefully short of anything close to excellence.

We'll need to work on that!! HAPPY BUCKS

+ Larry Wittkop- "Go Green" and glad for a bye week.

+ Don Hodgman- "Go Lions"

+ Tom Noverr is happy to be in Michigan rather than Florida.

+ Kaileigh Eddy apologized for the "missing pastries" this morning due to a communication issue.

She also announced that Friday is the last football game, as the South Haven Rams play Kalamazoo United, which is coached by former South Haven coach Troy Ayotte.

+ Dan Thompson celebrating that "Navy is undefeated".

+ Jerry Portman referenced the frequency of hurricanes and the adverse effects of global warming/climate change.

+ Tom Renner announced that Thursday night is "Fire Safety Fun Night" at the Blue Star Fire Station, beginning at 5pm.

The tradition of physically pushing new trucks into the station will continue with the "push in" of this new truck. This is a Rotary-sponsored event

+ Todd Heinrich mentioned that, as he watched Kevin Hagen place his $1 in the basket, he thought how glad he must be, as an insurance agent, to not be in Florida. No doubt Tom Rummel would relate.

 

PROGRAM: Zach Morris, Executive Director of Market One, which "has the principal responsibilities for economic and community development throughout Cass and Van Buren Counties".

 

PROGRAM CHAIR: Griffin Graham

 

+ Successful economies are built on the "symbiotic"

relationships between community, talent, and business.

+ Differences between Primary and Secondary Employers:

Primary employers produce goods and services that are sold outside of the community. Once sold, the new capital returns to the company. The capital is then paid out to the community in terms of wages, taxes, and local services.

Secondary employers turn over the capital within the community, provide services that talented people desire in their community, and make investments in commercial spaces and improve the tax base.

+ 7 Point Plan

Form an Economic Development Organization Create a County-wide Economic Development Plan Develop County Industrial Sites

Augment the Current Revolving Loan Fund

Develop County-wide High-Speed Internet Connectivity Establish a County Land Bank

Develop County Business Connect program ALL have been completed EXCEPT #7.