The Spokesperson October 14, 2021 (Oct 14, 2021)

Opening Activities

President Jeff Furest led our October 14 meeting that started at 12:15 p.m. President-elect Steve Krankota led fellow Rotarians in “The Four-Way Test.” Kenny Spear led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and in the absence of Gary Phelps, and some of the better Rotarian vocals, the group sang a very acceptable a cappella version of “The Star Spangled Banner” – Frances Scott Key would definitely approve. Although sadly, Kenny needed to pull up the verses on his phone to ensure he didn’t miss a beat. Tom Davies provided a heartfelt invocation and at the completion Rotarians and guests were invited to enjoy the lunch buffet. Even though Eric Pierson was at the head of the lunch line, there was plenty of delicious food available to all in attendance. The lunch menu included a tasty salad, dinner rolls with creamy butter, steamed fresh broccoli, chicken breast with a wonderful mushroom sauce. There were no obvious routine green beans although several Rotarians did notice that the facility managed to sneak some cut green beans into the pasta primavera that was enjoyed as the starch. Rotarians and guests were served frosted vanilla and chocolate cupcakes for dessert.

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Presidential Announcements

Moving right into the business of the day, President Jeff Furest introduced Membership Committee chair and board member Kim Jarvis who explained that to increase membership the board has decided to incentivize the process. Any current Rotarian who asks a new guest to attend a meeting will be eligible for a monthly incentive drawing for $100 Visa gift card. And, for those looking for a passive income stream - there is no limit to the number of Visa gift cards a member can received. May the luck of the Irish be with all Rotarians who encourage guests to join our lovely group!

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Guests & Visitors

Steve Krankota announced guests and visitors. Chiropractor Dr. Sam Wireman, Larry Johnson, Hunchfree team members Autumn Quigley and Matt Pitters.

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

Sadly, there were no birthdays, anniversaries or other notable dates to announce this week.

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Flowers

Amanda Oparka passed out flowers for the meeting. Scott Chabot to Bob Cannon; Ed Mastry to all the lovely ladies at his table; Ken Steele to Jessie Johnson for doing a bang-up job as treasurer and keeping track of all the fines, Louise Rallis keeping with tradition bought one for our most gracious server extraordinaire Tina in the absence of Gary Phelps who usually buys her the flower.

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Music
No music this week due to lack of Gary.

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Sunshine
None

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Goodwill
None

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Member Announcements

None this week.

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Recognition
Tom Davies did his best to maximize for good cause all the fines this week. First up was Kenny Spear at $3 for using his phone to recall the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner Bob Cannon was fined $2 because no one gets a free lunch especially when discussing township business at his table with Scott Chabot who was also dinged for $2 for being a willing participant or more like an instigator in said discussion. Eric Pierson was put on the spot to explain his unique way of eating a cupcake. As he explained, his kids showed him that if you split the cupcake in half and put the cakey bottom on top of the frosting you make an interesting cupcake sandwich. Hats off to the ingenuity of youth, however, that move cost Eric $2. Poor Eric was also made another $4 poorer for going back for a second plate of food. We told you above how tasty the lunch buffet was this week! It was probably the lack of green beans that took it up a notch. Ed Mastry and Ken Steele tried to fly under the radar with their glasses of wine with lunch, however, they couldn’t escape the eagle eyes of Tom Davies who made them pay $3 each for drinking on the job. Lastly, all Rotarians present who were not wearing their Rotary pin were fined $1.

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Speakers/Program
Moving into the feature presentation, President Jeff Furest introduced Autumn Quigley and Matt Pitters, the design geniuses behind the new Rotary website via Jimmy Gwizdala and his Hunchfree team of creatives.

The riveting presentation outlined the enhancements to a new website which will include both an easy navigable landing page for guests and other interested parties and also a member accessible personal account along with other administrative portals to make the site a one-stop shop for:

member fees and fines
bulletin archives
event information and RSVP capabilities
Mount Clemens Rotary interest forms
contact information
testimonials

and a host of other goodies that will make Rotarians clammer to the site

The site should be Rotarian ready after the first of the year. Hats off to Hunchfree for doing what looks to be a spectacular update of the Mount Clemens Rotary online presence and making the new website easy to navigate, modern, and presenting a clear message about what Rotary is all about.

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Ted DeVantier was this week’s the 50/50 raffle winner of $32.

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from Jessie Johnson

Please note the location change for our lunch meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 21

Reminder that our Rotary lunch meeting scheduled for October 21 will NOT be at Italian American Cultural Society, but will be at the new North Branch of Clinton-Macomb Public Library location at the following address:


54100 Broughton Road
Macomb MI 48042

We will be in the meeting room across the main community commons space under the dome.

*Please note the new location is just south of 25 Mile Road and east of Romeo Plank Road. 25 Mile Road is closed west of Romeo Plank Road to Hayes due to construction. You will see the library with the big dome on the left as you enter the Town Center. Turn left into the library's parking lot just before the building.

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CALENDAR of EVENTS

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OCTOBER 21

Larry Neal

Meeting followed by tour of

new North Branch Library,

54100 Broughton Road, Macomb MI 48042

NOVEMBER 18

Rufus McGaugh, author and world traveller

Joyriding with a Terrorist in Yemen: and Other Travel Tales