Thursday’s meeting was called to order at 12:15 p.m. by President Valerie Miller. The club met at our new temporary location, namely the ASPEN restaurant.
We started with Don Carnaghi leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Chuck Dib gave us “The Four-Way Test.” Sarah Lee lead us in prayer.
LUNCH
Lunch was a chicken and vegetable combination on pita bread with a fruit cup.
Doug Norris introduced our guests. They were: Susan Paynker, Rotarian from Halifax Canada, Tom Neveau, former assistant governor, and our speaker, retired General Douglas Slocum.
FLOWERS DISTRIBUTED BY SCOTT CHABOT
Doug Norris for Susan Paynker.
Don Carnaghi for Chuck Dib. Who we learned is soon to have a son. Congratulations Chuck.
Larry Neal bought a flower for our speaker.
Louise Rallis bought one for Bob Cannon.
Ed Mastry for Ken Steele, in recognition of his hard work as a set-up person.
Nancy Dedenbach bought Steve Chabot a flower for being wrong about Nancy taking peaches without color of title, as lawyers say. Steve got quite a lecture as the price of his flower.
PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Valerie brought forward the key people who arranged the giving of $60,000 to various local charities.
They were:
- Larry Neal, who as president of the Mount Clemens Rotary Foundation selected the beneficiaries.
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- Steve Krankota spoke on behalf of beneficiaries who watched the live stream presentation. He remarked that people were impressed with how classy our club is.
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- Don Carnaghi invited members to go to the website to review the online presentation of donations and the 50/50. Are you listening Nancy Dedenbach?
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- Karan Bates-Gasior informed us that many charitable organizations have cut back or stopped fundraising altogether. That is why our beneficiaries are so happy to get money this year from our club. All members should be proud.
- President Valerie announced that in light of Dave Meldrum’s resignation, Steve Krankota will take Dave’s place as President Nominee. Ed Mastry will take Dave’s position on the board of directors. Ed had been the runnerup in the last election for board membership.
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- The board of directors has voted to give $500 to a club in Ghana for water production. President Valerie stated that water shortages are the biggest problem in the world.
SUNSHINE REPORT
- Nancy Dedenbach won $5,000 in the 50/50 and has already given away most of it.
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- Ed Mastry bought new signs for the club.
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- President Valerie has a new grandchild, number 17!
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- The YMCA is giving away produce.
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- Eric Pierson reminds us that the Dick Pierson golf outing is 9-17. It starts with lunch at noon at the Gowanie golf course.
RECOGNITION BY LARRY NEAL
- Bob Lee was fined for reporting our President Elect Jeff Furest as President. Your reporter was fined one dollar for one mistake.
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- Nancy Dedenbach was “persuaded” to contribute $5 for winning money in the 50/50.
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- Bill Patterson was fined $3 for not knowing that the first female president of Rotary International comes from Windsor, Ontario. She is Jennifer Jones, who is slated to become president in 2022.
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- Eric Pierson was fined $1 for complaining about a female president.
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- Sarah Lee dodged a fine for knowing our speaker is called Odie. But Sarah was fined a dollar for not knowing what kind of plane General Slocum has not flown. Don Carnaghi correctly guessed it was the F-35 that Slocum has not flown. Dave Gerlach dodged a fine for knowing our speaker had flown over 4,000 as a pilot in command. Glenn Burton knew the general had oak leaf clusters.
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- Amanda Oparka was fined $1 for living in Harrison Township, which voted against the library millage.
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- Members who forgot to wear pins or badges were fined a dollar.
LECTURE
Our speaker was General Slocum, former commander of Selfridge Air National Guard base. The General spoke of lessons in leadership he had learned over 35 years in the service such as:
Among other things, the General told us the National Guard is actually the state militia.
Communication is key for leaders. It helps to mention people by their names, as they pay more attention to a leader who treats them as a human being.
It is good to be humble and remember where you came from.
Being available to your people whenever they want to talk to you is helpful.
Leaders are role models. They have to act like it all times. Leaders must set an example. Like staying under the speed limit.
Credibility is built through action.
Success is usually a product of a line of previous failures.
Speak about the future rather than harp on current problems.
Words have power. The General recounted how he talked to a four-year-old boy about fighter planes. The boy was excited and grew up to become a fighter pilot.
The duty of a lighthouse is to be seen.
50/50: Steve Krankota won $57.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
