President Sarah Lee called the meeting to order.

Larry Neal led us in the Pledge of Alliance and national anthem, then we sang “Oh Canada” in honor of our speaker today.

Bob Cannon led “The Four-Way-Test” and Tom Davies gave the opening prayer.

Today’s lunch consisted of Chicken Marsala, roasted potatoes, broccoli, Caesar salad, and cake for dessert.

Sarah called on Robin Zanotti to introduce today’s guests. We welcomed our District Governor, Dr. Lee Halsted, our Assistant Governor Susan Bellefleur, then Jeanette Douglas and Oumaima Lairani, guests of Gary Felts.

FLOWERS

There was a mixup over who had flower duties. Was it Eric P, no not present, Malachi?, maybe, how about Tom Welsh. Ultimately, Gary F bought three flowers, one for Tina then one for each of his guests. President Sarah bought one for our district governor and another for Susan his assistant. Nancy D bought one for her granddaughter Luca in honor of an upcoming birthday. Gary bought a fourth flower, this one for Tom Davies who has recognition today. Tom Welsh bought the last one for Julie Miller.

MUSIC

Larry Neal stepped up for music today. We first sang “School Days” with Larry waving a ruler at any mischievous students. Then we sang “That Rotary Wheel” and with that Larry announced he was done with his month leading the music.

REMINDER

President Sarah reminded us that there will be no meeting next week, Sept.3, or the following week Sept 10. That is the golf outing. The week after that, the club meeting will be dedicated to a service project.

Sarah then paid a nice tribute to Dolly Parton whose life was marked by service to others, love and inclusion, not unlike our own philosophy as Rotarians.

RECOGNITION

Tom Davies had recognition duties. First a couple announcements. A sunshine report; Jessie’s father has been hospitalized, keep him in you prayers. Then Nancy D said that the golf outing counts as a meeting so lunch is included for everyone. That starts at 11:30 a.m.

Tom started by calling on Gary, acknowledging the good will of buying Tom a flower, but he fined him anyway for a late night text asking him if there was a meeting today. $2.

Bob Lee was fined for thumbing through the songbook during the national anthem. Don’t know the words? $2

Ted D’s songbook fell apart at the binding, $2 for property destruction. Larry Neal was recognized for coming back after a recent surgery. Tom fined Larry for bringing back bad memories with the whole ruler threat at school, $1.

Tom recognized Luca as our most missed Rotarian. Grandmother Nancy D was fined $3 for keeping her locked up — so mean! Tom Welsh was accused of not reading his emails, turns out he was really responsible for guests and visitors, not flowers. That cost Tom $2 as well as Malachi who sent out the assignments.

Kathy Best paid $3 for looking at her phone frequently during the meeting, a real estate deal pending? Val Miller paid $2 for looking good, she was today’s best-dressed Rotarian.

SPEAKER/PROGRAM

Sarah called on Susan Bellefleur to introduce today’s speaker,  Dr. Lee Halsted.

Susan’s introduction included several highlights, she is a member of the Hwy. 36 club near Pinckney, prior to that the Canton club and the Livingston Sunrise club. Lee had a 45 year career as an optometrist. He was a participant in several Rotary mission trips to Kenya in support of eye/vision health as well as a pilot project for the polio vaccine.

Lee started with a word about this year’s Rotary mission to “Create Lasting Impact.” To do that we have to grow Rotary. He’s challenged clubs to look back five years and find their most successful project or event.  Then, to repeat that and do it even better.

He said the Rotary is an upside down organization, the power is in the membership not the leadership. The club level is where the action takes place. He also compared Rotary to team sports. We work as a team but it’s different. In Rotary no one is on the sidelines; everyone’s a player.

He talked about the importance of engagement and that every Rotarian should remember one word, “Belonging.” Rotarians belong to a worldwide organization, no borders, and that gives us all pride.

Lee announced a few upcoming dates.

September 21 is a peace event involving three districts including ours.

October 21 is World Polio Day

November 5 is the District Foundation dinner at the Polish Century Club (flyer attached) and April 29 will be the district convention in Frankenmuth.