Spokes September 24, 2019

Posted by Dene Hadden on Sep 24, 2019
SPOKES VOL. LXVI NO. 11                                                                               September 24, 2019
 
 
We were greeted by Larry Lewis and Robert Stickland
 
President Odland opened the meeting with “My Country ‘tis of Thee”and Art Ayers provided the invocation including thoughts for Tom Renner and the loss of his brother, surgery for Missy Thompson, continued prayers for Richard Swanson and others who we care about.
 
Guests:
 
Our Guests this morning included, prospective member and grandson of Jim Davis, Steffin Davis, prospective member Mike Livovich, Ron Wise and Paul Quinn from SHAES and our speaker Kirk Richardson.
 
Spotlight
 
Ron Wise and Paul Quinn spoke to us about the annual Fire Prevention Week and the activities associated with that week.  Fire Prevention Week is always celebrated on the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, allegedly started by Mrs. O’Leary’s cow.
 
In addition to the many classroom visits, the department hosts a family fun night on Friday of that week with all kinds of games, demonstrations, food and other fun stuff for families to do at the fire department.  Ron also spoke about the cooperation the local governments provide to SHAES which make it so effective.  President Odland thanked Ron and Paul for their presentation and presented them with a check for $250 towards Fire Prevention Week.
 
 
Announcements:
  • Haven Harvest is scheduled for Saturday October 19.  A sign-up sheet is being passed around.
  • November 21st is our Chamber ABO at the Moose Lodge with the Moose.  Volunteers needed.
  • December 10th is our Holiday Party at the Yacht Club
  • December 21st is the Open Door Dinner at the Methodist Church
  • December 21st is our day to do the Salvation Army Bell Ringing
  • Dene Hadden announced that the donations from the Educational Fundraiser will be presented next month.  The SHPS Foundation donation of $5500 will be presented to them at a School Board meeting on October 16th.  The LMC portion will be presented to Jeremy at an upcoming Rotary meeting and the scholarship winner will be determined in May.
Songs
 
Bob Boerma was our song leader this morning.A part of the Zeigfield Follies in 1909, “By the Light of the Slivery Moon” was our first song this morning.We followed that with “Give My Regards to Broadway” song written by George M. Cohan for his musical play Little Johnny Jones which debuted in 1904 in New York.We finished with “That Rotary Wheel”.
 
50/50
 
Richard Swanson had the lucky ticket this week but drew the unlucky queen.Don Hodgeman had the $2 prize.
 
Fines:
  • Deb Davidson is celebrating  her grandson’s birthday this week
  • Tom Renner’s daughter Suzie will be celebrating her XX birthday this week.
  • Ton Fleming reminded us of all of the benefits of a Fuel Rewards card on this, a Big Ten Tuesday.
  • Richard Swanson has a granddaughter turning 16!
  • Scott Mark’s lovely wife Sue also has a birthday this week.
  • Guest Ron Wise and his lovely wife Kim are celebrating their anniversary this week.
  • Tom Renner is celebrating the Bears (rather than the Cubs) this week.
  • Art Ayers is celebrating the birthday of his son this week.
  • Deb Davidson is “celebrating” the beginning of the Center Street reconstruction.
  • Tom Ruesink has enjoyed a visit from his son.
  • Art Ayers was simply doing a favor for Don Kitchin when he deposited a $1 in the pot for the Wisconsin win.  Don, who won the big pot a week ago has not been seen since.
Chris Wellington introduced Kirk Richardson from Bronson Hospital
 
Kirk, who began his career as an EMT, and still practices that skill, moved from EMT to nurse to hospital administrator.  He introduced us to the new South Haven Bronson Hospital.
 
He began with an outside view of the 50,000 square foot facility that will contain a 14 bed emergency room, 8 inpatient beds and includes the entire lab and diagnostic facilities that are in the current hospital.  He indicated that it was much less expensive to build a new building rather than try to remodel a building, that parts of were built in the 1940’s.
 
The state requires a certification of needs for each hospital bed and the South Haven facility was only allowed the 8.  Kirk implied that the old facility would have probably been reduced to the same 8 beds or fewer when it was recertified in 2020.
 
In addition, there will be 32 physician exam rooms on the second floor of the new building, replacing the physicians’ offices next to the current building.
 
Kirk also showed us a blueprint of the new building and pointed out where different services would be offered.  Copies of the renderings he showed us will be available on the hospital’s website www.bronsonhealth.com/southhaven after the groundbreaking and community reception the afternoon of October 3rd.
 
The current wound center and a surgeon’s office will be housed in a separate building.
 
Kirk was able to confirm that most money is paid for primary care and that the Bronson facility in South Haven, including the Wellness Center, is making money.
 
President Odland presented Kirk and Kris with a check to the Bronson Foundation from our club and passed out our speaker’s pens and thanked them for their interesting and informative presentation.
 
We closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
Next week’s program: Bill Roberts will present Assistant City Manager Kate Hosier who will present a Harbor update.
 
Greeters:  Jean Stein and Tom Rummel
 
Editarian:  Dene Hadden