Home Page | Rotary Club of South Haven

A South Haven teacher who changed careers out of a desire to serve young people is being presented the 2021 Education and Services Award by the Rotary Club of South Haven.

The Rotarians, in collaboration with the South Haven Public Schools system and the South Haven campus of Lake Michigan College, annually recognizes a teacher or educator in the community. The Rotary club contributes $250 to the South Haven Public Schools Education Found in the name of the honoree.

Candidates for the award are nominated by administrators at their respective school.

Madelyne Bettis graduated from Florida State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Her work as a project engineer at a Holland, Mich. company centered on the introduction of interior automotive components, but she felt a higher calling.

She decided to enter education and to pursue a Masters degree in secondary education at the University of Phoenix. From 2006-2013 she taught in the Covert school system. She became a member of the South Haven High School faculty in the 2013-14 school year.

She is the team-based teacher leader of the SHHS mathematics department and teaches all levels from pre-algebra to advanced placement calculus.

"Mrs. Bettis capitalizes on students' strengths as she provides opportunity and support for participation in her classes," said high school principal and nominator Ryan Williamson. "She provides ample time for all her students, both before and after school, to assist any student requiring additional understanding of the subject."

"Watching the growth of students at all levels is rewarding," said Bettis. "You can't control what happens when a child leaves your classroom, but you can control what happens when they are present by making it the most positive, encouraging, accepting place they know. Only then can the students be excited about learning."

She is active in the Lily of the Valley Church in Covert as a participant in praise, worship and dance, Sunday school and youth ministries. She has participated in Our Town Players productions and is a former Girl Scout leader.

She is an active member of the school improvement team and is the sophomore class sponsor at the high school. She has been a sponsor of the Student Council, Diversity club and Robotics team.

Mrs. Bettis and her husband, William, have three children. All have been in the South Haven schools system. Lauren is a 2019 graduate and currently a college student while Sydney and William are 9th and 11th graders respectively.

Service to Community

South Haven Rotarians marked the start of Earth Week and celebrated the birthday of Rotary International founder Paul Harris on Monday, April 19 by planting a bur oak tree in historic Johnston Park.

South Haven Rotary was among the supporters of Project CURB, an initiative to beautify through landscaping the outdoor areas at the high school. Work was recently completed at the entrance to the gymnasium-natatorium.

South Haven Rotary is among the supporters of the placement of a weather buoy on Lake Michigan approximately two miles offshore. President Dan Thompson presented our contribution for the project to Richard Chapman of the South Haven Steelheaders. Visit the buoy website

Rotary Supports Telemedicine Initiative

The Rotary Club of South Haven has awarded a $10,000 grant to Bronson Health Foundation to assist South Haven area residents with home healthcare and telemedicine needs.

The Rotary-Bronson Telemedicine Initiative will help people in need of care at home by providing durable medical equipment including pulse oximeters, diabetic monitoring supplies, scales and thermometers. It will also promote better access to care through telemedicine by providing tablets so residents can have virtual doctor visits and communicate electronically with their provider.

Funding for the first half of the grant was recently presented to the Foundation, with the second half scheduled for distribution in May.

“The COVID-19 pandemic really put a spotlight on the need for this type of assistance,” explains Dr. Richard Swanson, a member of the Rotary Club of South Haven’s board of directors and a retired rheumatologist. “A lot of people in our community live in rural areas and may not be able to get to a doctor’s office or may not have full internet access,” says Swanson. “These resources will allow people to monitor their health at home and give them continuity of care so they don’t have to make frequent trips to a physician’s office. In the end, this could help reduce hospitalizations and allow some that are hospitalized to go home sooner.”

Distribution of the resources to patients will be managed through Bronson South Haven medical practices. “This initiative is a great example of how Bronson and the community can come together to remove barriers to access,” says Liz Semaan, executive director, Bronson Health Foundation. “We are so thankful to the Rotary Club of South Haven for making this a priority project to assure the greater South Haven community is supported.”

Rotary Year in Review

2020 was unlike any other year in the history of the Rotary Club of South Haven. While we have been able to meet in person for nearly a year, it hasn't stopped South Haven Rotarians from being active in the community. Here is a collection of photos highlighting the Year in Review.