Posted by Tom Renner on Mar 14, 2018
 
SPOKES
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 Meeting
 
** Today’s SPOKES has been written by President Renner. My apologies for any omissions. Tough to preside and record the happenings. **
 
Our greeters today were Jean Stein and Steve Larsen.
 
President Renner called the meeting to order at 7 a.m.
 
We opened with “My Country ‘tis of Thee”. President Renner offered the invocation.
 
We welcomed several guests, including prospective members Michael Vasko (sponsored by Bob McAlear) and Scott Smith (sponsored by Jerry Portman).
 
Several representatives of the South Haven High School Robotics team joined us  -- students Sophie Goodnough, Parker Jensen, Alex Rummel, Joel Rummel, Joe Nelson and Jackie Solis along with mentors Kevin Dee, Kim Wise and Ron Wise.
 
Announcements
* A thank you note was read for our sponsorship of the Ice Breaker Festival.
* A were reminded that we will be the servers this Thursday (March 15) at the congregational church dinner (6 p.m.).
* Richard Swanson has a surplus printer he is willing to give away. His offer was quickly accepted.
* Board Meeting to follow today’s meeting.
 
Songs
A new playing device failed us so we were once again “sang” acapela on “By the Light of the Silvery Moon”, “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “That Rotary Wheel”. Sorry Dottie.
 
Sergeant at Arms
* We celebrated the birthdays of Bob Coppings’ sons – Ludingon-style.
* Steve Larsen’s number was drawn, but he turned over the Queen. Our $2 winner was Rhonda, but only after a second draw (one of those days).
* Many happy dollars for the good basketball fortunes of MSU, Michigan and Purdue.
 
Program
We welcomed member of the South Haven High School Robotics team – Ramageddon. Now in its fifth year, they are 24 students strong. One of their sponsors, Kim Wise, pointed with pride to the fact their effort is student-driven.
 
The gender balance of the team is another point of pride. Last fall South Haven participated in a girls-only robotics competition finished fifth.
 
Team members have specific responsibilities – Business Plan Development and Execution, Programming the Robot, Building the Robot. This year’s theme is “First Power Up”. Work is year-round although they have only a six-week window to actually build the robot.
 
The team’s community outreach is impressive. They have done outreach in the elementary schools and middle school, participated in the Fourth of July parade, built an entry in the Ice Breaker Festival cardboard sled competition and helped with the We Care heat assistance fund raiser.
 
They expressed gratitude for the recent high school renovation which facilitated creation of a dedicated space for their program.
 
We were treated to a video showing their 2018 Robot which will participated in a competition at Gull Lake High School later this week (March 16-17) and again at East Kentwood High School on March 30-31.
 
South Haven Rotary is proud to be a sponsor of the Robotics Team. Tom Rummel presented the group a check for $750.
 
March 20 Meeting
* Greeters will be Jim Davis and Jerry Gruber.
* Heather Oestrike from Bronson South Haven Foundation will explain a new Child Safety Initiative. (Don Hixson, program chair).
 
We adjourned with the Four Way Test.