Thursday did not look promising as the rain wouldn’t stop; and somebody told the kitchen staff at IACS that there wasn’t a meeting scheduled for June 30! So the staff scrambled to get a lunch prepared. It turned out to be the best lunch in a long time.
The Thursday meeting was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by President Larry Neal. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bill Patterson. The club sang the national anthem with Gary Felts at the keyboard. Karan Bates-Gasior directed the club in reciting “The Four-Way Test.” Tom Davies led us in prayer.
A delicious lunch was served which had the best lemon chicken with capers I’ve had in ages. Also served was green beans, roasted potatoes, rolls, salad and cookies for dessert.
PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
June is going to be all about the field trips!
June 6 we will meet at the Baker College Dental Clinic; June 13 we will not have a meeting but will be at Camp Rotary for the President’s Party; June 20 we will be at the YMCA for the ribbon cutting of the Neil Dempsey Kayak Lunch (no chairs, 20 minutes); and then we will wrap up the Rotary year here on June 27 with check presentations to our beneficiaries.
BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Joe Casasanta and Larry Neal had birthdays. The club serenaded them with HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Steve Krankota had a recent wedding anniversary.
GUESTS
Dave Zimmerman, Karl Haye, and Tommy Barnes. The club sang “WE ARE GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE AT ROTARY.”
FLOWERS
Flowers were sold by Mary Ann Hosey. Joe Casasanta and Larry Neal received flowers for their birthdays. Steve Krankota got a flower for his wedding anniversary. Gary Felts bought flowers for Tom Davies and Bill Patterson. Julie Huttenlocher bought one for her uncle Dave Zimmerman. Kris Howell bought one for me, Bob Lee. Thank you Kris.
SONGS
Kelly Allen led us in songs. The first song was “SINGING IN THE RAIN.” The second song was “VIVE LE ROTARY.”
GOOD WILL AND SUNSHINE REPORT
Kelly Allen asked for prayers for a coworker named Lisa (medical problem). Karan Bates-Gasior asked for prayers for her mother, who is having surgery done.
RECOGNITION
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Nancy Dedenbach saluted our two most missed Rotarians, Tom Davies and Bill Patterson. Tom had a medical excuse for his absence. Bill has none but they were both fined $2 just the same. Julie Huttenlocher paid her dad’s fine. Ryan Murphy paid
$5 for a photo of him in old clothes. Julie Miller didn’t want to pay $5 for her photo so Ken Steele paid. Don Carnaghi was fined $5 for a bad photo. Jeff Furest was fined $5 for enjoying his liquor. Karan Bates-Gasior was fined for not having her name badge. Kelly Allen was fined $5 for a non-Rotary announcement. Nancy then raffled off an antique clock. Sold to Kelly Allen for $20.
LECTURE
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Julie Huttenlocher introduced her uncle Dave Zimmerman to speak about CAMP ROTARY.
Julie reminisced about late summer days at Camp Rotary when she was young. It was a place where games and pony rides entertained kids. A place where Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts would camp out for several days. A place of fishing, swimming and campfires.
Dave Zimmerman is the brother-in-law of Tom Davies. His father-in-law was former club president Ray Davies. Dave is close to his relatives. Tom and Dave did their knee surgeries at the same time and recuperated for two weeks in Tom’s house. And they still get along!
In 1975 Dave was head of the Camp Rotary Foundation. Then he became club president in 1977.
Camp Rotary is located at 29 Mile Road and Wolcott Road.
The camp was founded in 1923. The total pledge was to buy the site for $12,000; it was collected at a single Rotary meeting. The camp was originally set up for disabled children. Over time other Rotary Clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and various churches have used the camp. Buildings and more permanent structures were built after World War II.
For many years a gigantic chicken barbecue was held. Two 40-foot grills were
assembled to cook as much as 1,700 half chickens. Over the years it became too difficult for the club to maintain Camp Rotary.
Around 1985 the camp was sold to the MetroParks and the money was given to the Mount Clemens Rotary Foundation. The foundation gives away 5 percent of its assets every year; this is about $23,000 a year. Good investments have allowed the foundation to keep up its overall value, $485,000.
50/50
Joe Casasanta won $28 in the 50/50 drawing.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
