SPOKES VOL. LXIV NO. 12                                                                               September 26, 2017
 
 
Our greeters this morning were Dorothy Lockwood and Tom Rummel.
 
We opened our meeting with “God Bless America”, done acapella as Dottie is taking a well-deserved vacation, and Art Ayers returned to offer our invocation.
 
Guests:
Our guests today included Jane Copping, Tom Novier, official member nominee Jeremy Burleson, our speaker Thea Grigsby and her assistant Kerri Haggy.
 
Spotlight:
This week Dene Hadden and Deb Davidson presented Jeremy Burleson from Lake Michigan College our check for our educational fundraiser held last spring.  We are pleased to present Jeremy $5,000 to be used for scholarships for students attending the South Haven Campus of Lake Michigan College.  Jeremy spoke to the times he has been able to help students succeed at LMC because of the availability of this money.
 
Music:
Because of Dottie’s vacation, we asked Bob Boerma to lead us in the old favorite, “Smile’ this morning, accapella.  Those that followed Bob’s direction produce a nice song.  A few got lost a little, but still put forth an excellent effort.
 
Announcements:
  • Don’t forget the Club Runner App for your phones, it’s a great resource! It now features member birthday and anniversaries.  Hopefully consistent use of Club Runner will keep members aware of their anniversaries and save much grief.  Spokes can also be assessed through this app.
  • Don’t forget the District Foundation Raffle!  Tickets are $25.  In order to keep from being completely shut out of the raffle, President Tom asked each member to bring an extra $5 next week.  We will kick in whatever we end up with for raffle tickets.  If one of those tickets wins, we will donate the winnings to charity.
  • Snowbirds are reminded to let Bob Straits and Rhonda know when you will be gone and to take care of your financial arrangements prior to leaving.
  • Members are encouraged to move around each week so you get to know your fellow Rotarians, especially new members.
  • Our first Blessings in a Backpack work session is scheduled for November 3rd.  Let Rhonda know if you will be able to help.
  • The Blueberry Festival Harvest Party will be held at DeGrandchamp’s on Friday beginning at 6:00
  • A reminder of the Speaker’s Series finale on Thursday evening at LMC.  Yvonne Canul, Superintendent of Lansing Public Schools will be the speaker.
  • There will be an Open House at the high school on Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 to tour the newly remodeled building.  We expect to hold one of our meetings at the building in November.
50/50
Dene Hadden had the lucky ticket for the first time in several years and his luck held as he drew the 4, draining the slender pot.  Bob Stickland won the $2 prize.  In addition, we had drawings a can of chrome cleaner – won by Mark Odland and the NAPA bucket – a highly desired prize.  Bill Roberts was the lucky bucket winner!
 
Fines:
  • Bill Roberts also celebrated the birthdays of his son and grandson this week.  Bill also celebrated a hole –in-one this week!
  • Art Ayers’ son celebrated a birthday.
  • Richard Swanson celebrated his grandson Sam’s birthday
  • Nick Tuit also celebrated his grandson Sam’s birthday.
  • Dorothy Lockwood celebrated her granddaughter’s first birthday this week.
  • Bob Copping relayed the story of a man who suffered a serious accident but is all right now.
  • Tom Fleming repeated his announcement that everyone with a Shell Rewards Card will get 10 cents off each gallon of gasoline on a fill up on “Big Ten Tuesdays” for the next several weeks, at least.
  • Tom Renner is excited that the Cub’s magic number is now ONE!
  • Jerry Portman was able to tell all about the good news of his daughter getting great news that her son had returned from Afghanistan.
  • Don Hixson readily admitted that he had his picture in the paper. Again, some members seemed to forget that they had their picture in the paper last week.
  • Jean Stein was pleased to welcome a new granddaughter, born in the hospital parking lot when they couldn’t get into the hospital.
  • Stu Comiskey received a present from the hospital, another stent!  Glad he is OK!
  • Korky Ingersol will be having hip replacement surgery and a card for him was sent around.
 
Don Hixson introduced our speaker today, Art Center Director Thea Grigsby.
 
Thea began by announcing that the center had just received a $42,000 grant to help restore the buildings distinctive windows and other work.
Between grants, matching funds and donations the Art Center has been able to invest nearly $500,000 in the building, from refinishing the floors to adding an elevator.
 
She said that the current exhibition is one called “Just Drawing”.They have activities planned for Haven Harvest and the 31st annual Mistletoe Market begins November 17th.
 
She was also pleased with the turn out and results of this summer’s “Creativity Counts” kid’s summer art program.
 
They continue to work with local artists for downtown sculptures, and they expect their new landscaping, donated by Lawn Boys, to be installed shortly.
 
In the future, they will host student art shows, though they have rearranges the format, focusing on 3rd grade art.
 
The spring art show will feature an “Inside Out” theme.
 
Thea was pleased and proud to announce that the Summer Art Fair, now 60 years old, has been selected as one of the top art shows in the United States by a publication that rates such shows.
 
At the end of her presentation, President Renner presented Thea a check for the purchase of new chairs for the Center for the Arts to replace old, rusted ones that had outlived their usefulness.
 
President Renner thanked Thea for her presentation and gifted her one of our Rotary pens.
 
We closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
Next week’s program: Fire Prevention Week and tour of SHAES new ladder truck
 
Next week’s Greeters:  Tony Mortarano and Jean Stein
 
Editarian:  Dene Hadden