The meeting was called to order at 12:20 p.m.  Eric Pierson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. After, Nancy Dedenbach led us in “The Four-Way Test.”

Our prayer was given by Sarah Lee, and lunch followed. Today, we enjoyed baked chicken, broiled potatoes, broccoli, salad and fresh fruit.

Our guests were announced by Valerie Miller. Today, Lois Pierson was a guest of the club. Brian Manninen, a teacher from L’Anse Creuse. And our Dick Pierson Scholarship recipient, Matt Tauiainen along with his mother, Karen.

The club business of the day — 

• Nancy Dedenbach agreed to lead the club as president after Sarah Lee is done with her year. Thank you Nancy!
• We will be having a Sip and Stroll coming up as well. Sarah gave us an update on the interest survey. 71 percent of us wanted to keep the weekly meeting and keep singing and the current way of doing the invocation. All the parties were high on the list … Christmas Giving tree, boat outing, Christmas party, Pierson Golf Outing and the President’s Party. This year, we will be having a float at the Santa Parade … thanks to Jasmine who is going to help us out. We are also going to participate in the Soap Box Derby again after Labor Day.

 

MUSIC

Today’s music was led by Stephanie. Our first  song was “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.” And our Rotary song was “Vive Le Rotary!”

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

We had no birthdays today. Sam Sengupta celebrated his wedding anniversary on June 11.

FLOWERS

Malachi sold flowers. Julie Miller bought one for Tom Davies for being unintentionally mean to him last week. Nancy Dedenbach bought one for Tom Davies for being intentionally mean to him. Gary bought two flowers … one for Tina and one for Lois Pierson.  Dave Gerlach bought one for our recipient’s mom, Karen. Eric Pierson bought one for both our scholarship recipient Matt and his teacher Brian. Julie Miller also bought a flower for Julie Huttenlocher (and I thank her very much!) for being my dad’s daughter.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Julie Huttenlocher announced the President’s Party on Thursday, June 25 at the Huttenlocher house. We will be enjoying a luau! If you have not RSVP’d yet … there is still time!
• Nancy announced a joint service club party at the Discovery Center in Mount Clemens on Wednesday, June 24. Cocktails and food will be served. Our service club challenge will also be discussed … be there to represent Rotary!
• Mount Clemens Rotary Boat Outing will be on July 16. Signups will be available next week. This year’s theme is a regatta so wear your nautical clothes! Cost is $35 per person.

 

RECOGNITION

Tom Davies started by recognizing Julie Huttenlocher for going to Boston to celebrate her niece’s birthday. Also, Elizabeth Wilson visited Chicago and went to a great store that sold Birkenstocks. Your scribe and Elizabeth LOVE Birkenstocks. Charged $2 for the shoes.

Eric Pierson was asked to stand to look at a picture with some of his family members. Lois helped us see who was in the picture. Tom talked about Dick Pierson and how much he loved doing recognition. Eric and Lois were each fined $1 for Dick’s love of doing recognition.

Tom recognized the table with Ken Steele and his roses. Ken was surrounded by four ladies ... so the ladies were charged $1 for the privilege of being able to sit with Ken!

Tom fined Julie Huttenlocher for a picture of her with Jeff Baldwin taken at Mac & Ray’s. Julie turned around and fined Tom for a picture of him with his Dad at the passing of the gavel at the President’s Party in 1995.  We each paid $5.

PROGRAM

Today our club was honored to award the Dick Pierson Scholarship to Matt Taurianinen.  Matt is a mechanical drafting and construction technology student at The Pankow Center in L’Anse Creuse Public Schools. 

Eric Pierson came up and talked about his Dad. Dick Pierson was a Rotarian for many years.  He was a past president as well as served in every capacity in the club. The Pierson family generously donate money to  Mount Clemens Rotary each year. When Mary Ann Hosey was president, we started this scholarship to honor Dick Pierson.  The recipient is selected because of a construction/building background.  

Brian Manninen, a teacher at Pankow Center, has worked with this scholarship for about five years. He has been teaching for 22 years. He sees a day like today as such a gift that he can honor a student for being a hard worker. He expressed appreciation for a family like the Pierson and our club.

Matt, our awardee, has had five classes at the Pankow Center. He has excelled in the CAD program and many other areas in the Pankow Center. As a senior, he has been in the construction class and he has been a huge help in the class. He continued to excel in each class that he was in.

Next year, he will be attending Michigan State to study mechanical engineering. This is a well earned award for Matt. He will be missed at Pankow Center!