Posted by Dene Hadden on Oct 08, 2019
SPOKES VOL. LXVI NO. 13                                                                               October 8, 2019
 
 
Our greeters this morning were Bill Roberts and Tom Renner
 
President Odland opened the meeting with “America the Beautiful” and Art Ayers provided another inspiring invocation.
 
Guests:
 
Our Guests this morning included prospective new member Brian Kurtz, District 6360 Foundation chair Jim Sullivan and Pat Day and Anna Krajecki from the Scott Club.
 
 
Presentation:  Jim Sullivan
 
Jim presented our club a check for $2500 from the Carl Sandlin District 6360 Foundation for a fire detection system for the Scott Club building.  We are matching that donation and the installation of that system begins tomorrow.
 
Spotlight: Scott Club
 
Anna Krajecki gave us a brief history of the Scott Club and its many current activities, including book discussions, of course, as that was the original purpose of the club when it was first founded as the Readers Society in 1883.  They also host presentations and other cultural events.  Foe a complete list of what they do, and when, pick up a brochure or go to their website: www.scottclub.org or twitter info@scottclub.org.  Anna and Pat were pleased to accept the check for $5,000
 
Announcements:
  • Haven Harvest is scheduled for Saturday October 19.  A sign-up sheet is being passed around.  We will be serving food and drink!
  • 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 will begin on October 11th 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.
Songs:
 
Larry Wittkop was our song leader today and he started the festivities with an old eastern European drinking song, “Stodola Pumpa”.The song tells the story of a young man pining for his love, who he had left behind, while he was supposed to be working.The chorus is the young man’s boss yelling for him to get to work!We followed that with “School Days”, written in 1907 by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards. Its subject is of a mature couple looking back sentimentally on their childhood together in primary school.We finished with “Sing Rotarians”.Rumor has it that the University of Wisconsin stole the tune of that song and now use it as their fight song.Go MSU!
 
50/50
 
We are back to Ted Weber winning the pot again as he walked away with a handful of money after drawing the “4”.  Art Ayres prayers were answered as he won the $2 jackpot.
 
Fines:
  • Larry Wittkop is celebrating the 15th birthday of twin grandsons Ben and Jake this week.
  • Rosalie Plechaty was a happy Rotarian after her husband had a serious health scare but is now good.
  • Tom Rummel’s son is on crutches, ending his senior year’s tennis and marching band career at SHHS.
  • Jean Stein’s granddaughter won several trophies at an equestrian contest is is now headed to the state.  She is coached by her older sister.
  • Dene Hadden is celebrating the birthdays of his son Brent and grandson Brandon on Thursday.
  • Mark Odland welcomed back Jerry Portman from a leave of absence and relayed thank you notes from SHAES and the Make a Wish Foundation.
President Odland and Tom Renner presented a program about Rotary Grants
 
Mark explained where our money donated to grants goes and how we get it back.
The Carl Sandlin District 6360 Foundation is an endowed foundation with over $250,000 in asserts plus money raised by the sale of raffle tickets each year.  That foundation grants money to projects that local clubs develop and are matching grants.
 
The second source of grants comes from money that we donate to the Rotary International Foundation.  That money is held for three years and then half of it is returned to our district for them to distribute as grants, separate from the Carl Sandlin grants.
 
This year we have received $3500 for a splash pad grant and $2,000 in scholarship money.  Both of those were matching grants.
 
Over the years we have occasionally applied and received grant money for other projects ranging from Marty Graber’s project in Kenya to additional money for our educational fundraising project.
 
One of the requirements to applying for a scholarship is that two members of the club have to attend a grant seminar each year.
 
Mark closed the presentation by urging members to go to the Herald Palladium’s website and vote for us as the best non-profit organization in South Haven.
 
 
We closed the meeting with the Four Way Test.
 
No meeting next week as we will be working the Haven Harvest Festival on the 19th.
 
Next week’s program: On October 22nd.  Art Ayers will be the program chair and will introduce Kathy Kraeger who will talk about her metal and glass creations.
 
Greeters:  Steve Miles and Bob McAlear
 
Editarian:  Dene Hadden