The Spokesperson February 17, 2022 (Feb 17, 2022)

Opening activities

President Jeff Furest called the Mount Clemens Rotary Club to order at 2:15 p.m.

Tom Welsh led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Joe Casasanta led the club in “The Four-Way Test.” Sarah Lee gave the benediction.

The day’s menu featured roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables, chicken cutlets with mushrooms, tossed salad, and Neapolitan ice cream.

President Jeff Furest noted that today’s speaker had to cancel due to the weather.

Former club president and Assistant District Governor Sam D’Angelo has submitted his resignation due to his work schedule challenges at Martha T. Berry due to the pandemic.

President Jeff indicated that the Nancy Lopez Experience went very well for the lucky winner (Bob Cannon’s secretary’s parents.)

At this week’s club board meeting, Don Carnaghi and Kris Howell were elected as directors-at-large for two-year terms on the Foundation board.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a joy to welcome one returning member and one new member to the club,

Dana Camphous-Peterson and MaKaya Gardner both from the YMCA.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The slate of officers for the club board was announced and the ballots presented for members for voting. The ballot will also be sent via email.

Sam Wireman has kindly stepped up to replace Steve Krankota as president-elect (president for 2023-24) since Steve relocated to Bay City.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kathleen Best welcomed guest Vita Simmons who through her enthusiasm in the day’s meeting already made it feel like she was a member of the club!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sam Wireman announced the only, but milestone birthday of Valerie Miller who could pass for someone half her age. He also sold flowers as follows:

From Ken Steele to Sam Wireman for taking on the president-elect role
From the super awesome Rotarian Bob Lee to his sister for being patient with him over all of these years
From Valerie Miller to Dana Camphous-Peterson and MaKaya Gardner to welcome them into the club
From Bill Furest to guest Vita Simmons because her first name is the same as the first lady he dated
From Sam Wireman to Kim Jarvis and Jessie Johnson for twisting his arm to getting him to run for the president-elect role. Hopefully he was able to perform his own physical therapy to untwist it!

Since we were a cappella, always a risky situation, President Jeff carefully selected just one song, “Sing a Song to Rotary.” There have been worse renditions with a piano accompaniment.

There was no good will or sunshine report.

Awesome Rotarian Bob Lee made the rounds hitting up every Rotarian in the room! For example, MaKaya Gardner paid $2 just to get used to how things work for new Rotarians. Valerie Miller paid $4 for basking in the warmth of the Hawaiian sun for her big birthday. Kim Jarvis paid for guessing Valerie’s age. Bill Furest paid $1 for his good looks. Joe “Santa’s House” paid $2. The bulletin writer paid $1 for his comments about the “honor” of stepping in to do the writing this week (thanks, Amanda!). Sarah Lee paid $1 for her beautiful singing. Sam Wireman paid $2 for having the courage to step in as president-elect. Glenn Burton paid $2 for not being very brave. Ken Steele offered to be the official pin-putter-oner for new club members of the opposite sex, $3. Louise Rallis-Wibbelman paid $2 for being asked to talk about the upcoming Crystal Ball fundraiser.

There was no speaker so President Jeff used the opportunity to discuss this year’s fundraiser, chaired by the vacationing Scott Chabot. The fundraiser will be held on Friday, May 13 at Zuccaro’s. The theme is, “Rockin’ around the Clock: A Roaring ‘50s Party.” Dennis Miller’s “Same Old Guys” band will provide the music. Other ideas were shared as possible features of the party:

Drive-in movie screen prop
Diner with malts, hamburgers and crispy French fries
Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and other impersonators
Classic car display (let Scott or Jeff know if you know someone with a car from the 1950s)
Hula hoop contest
Best-dressed, vote by dollars, possibly live-streamed
Tentative time: 6 p.m. to midnight
Tentative ticket price: $100
This event will take place in less than three months so we will need to move extra quickly on selling tickets, sponsorships, tables, etc.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Newby” Tom Welsh won $30 in the 50/50.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

CALENDAR of EVENTS

*
* *

February 23, 1905

February 23 is Rotary's Birthday. That day is also called World Understanding and Peace Day.

On February 23, 1905, little did Paul Harris and his three friends realize what they were starting when they met in room 711 of the Unity Building in Chicago.

* * *

MARCH 10

GLENN BURTON & FRIEND

ECUADOR TRIP