Posted by Dene Hadden on Oct 22, 2019
SPOKES VOL. LXVI NO. 14                                                                               October 22, 2019
 
 
Our greeters this morning were Steve Miles and Bob McAlear
 
President Odland opened the meeting with “Pledge of Allegiance” and Art Ayers provided another inspiring invocation including our most prayerful thoughts for Bob McAlear and the loss of his sister, Ted Weber for the loss of his father and Dan Thompson and the loss of Missy.
 
Guests:
 
Our Guests this morning included prospective new members Brian Kurtz and Stiffin Davis, Molly Brush from Maple Grove School, Sally Ernst from the Lakeshore Rotary Club and our speaker Kathy Kreiger.
 
 
Presentation by Dene Hadden, Deb Davidson, Scott Mark and Rhonda Wendzel
 
Dene presented Jeremy Burleson from Lake Michigan College a check for $5,500 for the South Haven LMC Scholarship endowment fund.  This money was raised at our annual educational fundraiser and marks the 15th year of our contributing to this fund and brings our total to about $150,000.  Some of the money is put into an emergency loan fund for students who need just a little amount to get through a semester and who pay it back.
 
In addition, a similar check was presented to the South Haven Public School Foundation at the school board meeting last Wednesday evening, bringing our total to that group’s annuity to about $40,000.  We also put $1,000 of that fund raising effort into our scholarship fund.
 
Spotlight: Maple Grove School
 
Molly Brush explained the Book Backpack program at Maple Grove School through which kids each have a book bag in which they can take books home from school every night to read at home.  With two new teachers this year, there was a need to purchase new bags and submitted a grant request to our organization.
 
President Odland presented a check to Molly for the purchase of new book backpacks for these teachers and thanked her for her presentation.
 
Announcements:
  • Thanks to all who volunteered for Haven Harvest.  The weather was great and everyone had a great time and it looks like we made a nice hunk of money.
  • We are pleased to announce the Al Ruppert is the winner of our Rotary District “Golden Trowel” award for his service to our community.  The Award will be presented to Al on October 30.
  • 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
  • Blessings in a Backback next stuffing will be on November 1st at 1:15 at Lincoln School
  • We have new member applications from Mike Livovich, Steffin Davis and Brian Kurtz.  Anyone with concerns about any of these prospective members are urged to speak to their sponsor before consulting Board members.
  • President Odland announced that Mary Pietenpol has donated $1,000 to our scholarship fund, bringing the total amount to $5,000 this year.  One of the requirements for applicants is that they have to have a letter of recommendation letter that describes how that student has lived up to the Four Way Test.  They also have to write an essay describing how they have contributed to our community while a student at SHHS.
Songs
 
Jim Davis had the good luck to be our song leader today and he got two good ones! First, we began with the 1908 Tin Pan Alley song, “Shine on Harvest Moon”.Then came the clinker – the 1903 hit inspired by a girl who worked at the music counter of a New York department store, “Sweet Adeline” and its accompanying wolf howls.We were expecting animal control to show up any minute, especially when a horse was heard.We finished with one of our favorites, “Smile, Sing a Song”.
 
50/50
 
Tony Martorano got to do the drawing today and try as he might, he could not pull one of his own tickets, getting one digit wrong.  He did find the ticket belonging to his table mate, Pete Swanson but he was unable to find the two or the four.  Richard Swanson had the $2 ticket, keeping the Swanson name in the money.
 
Fines:
  • Larry Wittkop was our Sergeant-at-arms this week.
  • The only birthday was from Tom Renner remembering his mother’s birthday.  She would have been 103 this week.
  • Don Kitchin was quietly happy with the Illinois victory on Saturday.
  • Our other Illini, Dan Liehr, was a more vocal celebrant.
  • Jean Stein’s granddaughter was married this weekend and another granddaughter celebrated a Grand Champion award in equestrian competition.
  • Dene Hadden visited a remodeled Jennison Fieldhouse at MSU this weekend to watch Penn State dismantle the MSU Women’s volleyball team.
  • Nick Tuit was pleased to announce that his granddaughter flew her first solo flight this week on her journey to becoming an airline pilot.
  • Sally Earnst from the Lakeshore Rotary Club paid to announce a Girl’s Night Out for Rotarians, wives and friends to raise money for Polio Plus.  Next Tuesday at Celebration Cinema in Benton Harbor. $15.  Register at rotary6360@gmail.com .
  • Tom Renner said he had a great time handing out food at Haven Harvest, especially the Turkey legs.  Thanks to Mark and Taste for providing the food.
  • Scott Mark visited Madison Wisconsin Saturday and told us about the local Rotary club there and how they have a Tailgating fund raiser before each U of W football game.
  • Steve Larsen is celebrating the opening of their new facility in Port Huron.
  • Ross Woodhams enjoyed a trip to Charlevoix this weekend.
  • Kaleigh Eddy, mother of four fall athletes and wife of a football coach mentioned that fall sports are almost over.
Art Ayers introduced local artist Kathy Kraeger as our speaker.
 
Kathy, who has a degree in Social Work and worked in that field for a number of years and also had a dad who was a craftsman and she picked up his love for crafting things. 
 
As she began working as an artist, she came to love working with metal and making a material so hard and strong into something flowing and beautiful.  Her sculptures now include metal and glass.  One of her first pieces was the “ART” sign in front of the art center and her favorite compliment is when kids saw it for the first time and loved it.
 
Her studio is behind the Rock and Road Bike Shop and she does her design, cutting and welding there.  If you visit her there you will find her with dirt on her face and clothes and probably a cutting or welding mask on.
 
Outside is a ghost bike she created in memory of the five people killed on bikes near Kalamazoo a few years ago.  She was also contracted for and built the “Summer Breeze” sculpture outside of Taste downtown.  She is part of a group that is promoting the placement of more sculptures in downtown.
 
Kathy also related the story of the sculpture dedicated to the memory of Glenn Pietenpol, how it was proposed, designed and constructed following the things that Glenn loved and his family.  That sculpture is now placed downtown outside of the Chemical Bank building.
 
President Odland thanked Kathy for her interesting story and presented her with one of our valuable speaker’s pens.
 
 
We closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
Next week’s program: On October 29th.  Bob Straits will introduce George Erickcek from the Upjohn Institute who will present some “Thoughts on economic Development in South Haven”.
 
Greeters:  Tony Martorano and Don Hodgeman
 
Editarian:  Dene Hadden