The first meeting of our centennial year caught some Rotarians by surprise. President Karan was hustling before the meeting for volunteers to take over writing the bulletin, doing recognition and replacing our speaker who cancelled last minute. Nonetheless, she prevailed in getting these slots handled and so called the January 9 meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.

 

Ted DeVantier led the Pledge. Gary took his time to reach the keyboards for the national anthem. Mark Zuccaro read off “The Four-Way Test.” Tom Davies recited the prayer. Our menu was a hodgepodge offering of chili, smashed potatoes, green beans with cauliflower, chicken stew, green salad, rolls and chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

 

 

 

The IACS raised the cost of lunch by one dollar -- just after our dues were raised. It won't change our dues this year. However, visitors will pay $13 going forward.

 

 

Valerie Miller, President-Elect,

 

Karan got her gavel back at the last December meeting.

 

 

No Guests or Visitors

BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES

 

This list covered two weeks. Many Rotarians celebrating milestones were not here. But Sam D'Angelo was present, and he was serenaded for his 12/23 birthday.

 

 

 

To Jessie Johnson from Kris Howell; to Piano Gary by a remorseful Bill Patterson and to Valerie Miller for her victory, courtesy of Bill. For Tom Davies, involving a special martini recipe, by Larry Neal and the last two flowers purchased by Dana Camphous-Peterson for her daughter and co-worker Louise Rallis.

 

 

 

Ken Steele chose the first verse of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “R-O-T-A-R-Y.”

 

 

 

A relieved Bill Furest reported his daughter-in-law came through her surgery successfully. Kris Howell said her concert went very well and she wrote a nice check for those 84 tickets sold tied to a charity(ies). Karan's son met his fiancee's parents in China.

 

 

 

Dana asks that we RSVP by January 17 for the January 23 reception and tour of the new McLaren ER and trauma center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new fundraiser website will be launched to the public January 15. The fundraiser itself has a new look. At the last meeting in 2019, Jeff announced he got another a $22,000 cash sponsor. To his astonishment, so far in excess of $225,000 in cash donations and services have been raised. We have sold 100 50/50 tickets so far. Our goal is 175 tickets to cover the cash prizes. These tickets will be sold on the new website with a counter indicating how many are left. The best tables will go to first-come, first-served to ticket buyers and Decades sponsors. We need 350 people to attend to fill the room. The food will be outstanding, Jeff says, as George Penna is including menu items he has only done four times in his 45-year catering career.

 

 

 

Tom Davies asked I post this fine first and in big print. TO ERIC PIERSON: $4.99 for failure to do your Recognition chairperson job: either appoint someone or come yourself to do Recognition.

 

Tom then asked Rotarians to stand who were out of town for the holidays. Kris Howell went to Belle Aire, Michigan, fined $4. Bill Patterson took his family on a 7-day Caribbean cruise, $3 and was fined a $1 his insulting remark to pianist Gary.

 

Tom was going to fine Glenn Burton big-time for his Holy Land Christmas vacation but reduced the fine to $4 as Glenn agreed on short notice to be our speaker.

 

Jeff Furest gave up two bucks skiing at Boyne over Christmas. Valerie Miller paid $4 for her trip tomorrow to Hilton Head with a $1 rebate if it is still raining there.

 

Larry Neal didn't get away with "slinking back to his table with a hidden cookie" for a fine amount I didn't catch. Mark Zuccaro is now back after assigning his brother to take over Thursdays. Mark's table paid a $1.

 

Bill Furest's table was charged $1 each and Frank Bernabei's table got the same courtesy: $1 each member.  You must be careful where you sit at our meetings.

 

 

 

Our scheduled speaker had to cancel last minute due to family issues. With two-hours' warning, Glenn Burton admirably stepped up to talk about his amazing trip to Israel over Christmas.

"It was a trip of a lifetime," Glenn began his story. Planning began six months earlier. Glenn was fortunate to have Bo and Jenny Palmer, family members, with an inside connection to Israel.

 

The trip began with a flight to Paris. The City of Lights was undergoing another strike, seemingly a permanent situation there (at least when your scribe has visited). That made getting around the city a challenge since the trains were not working, taxis at a premium, etc. Still the Burton clan "hit the town," saw the sights and reported that the damaged Notre Dame "has a long way to go" toward restoration. It was a nightmare getting out of Paris to the airport where they flew to Tel Aviv.

 

From Tel Aviv the group drove an hour to Jerusalem, where they checked into their Airbnb, located near the Orthodox Jewish section. It was Shabbat (their Sabbath) when no driving is allowed.

Glenn's family got a first-hand encounter with the local Orthodox boys pounding on their car to stop driving.

 

The old city of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters: Jewish Quarter, Christian Quarter, Muslim Quarter and Armenian Quarter that divide the city culturally, religiously and even historically.  Glenn noted that each group puts a different spin on the religious sites. The Armenian quarter has the site of the Last Supper. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built on the site of Jesus' crucifixion and His tomb.

 

Incidentally, the YMCA has a large building in Jerusalem, where the Rotary club meets. No, Glenn, was able to do a makeup.

 

Next, the Burton group visited the Western Wall, a.k.a. the Wailing Wall, believed by devout Jews to be the Western Wall of the Second Temple of Jerusalem (destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE). The Muslims dispute this, believing the wall is part of their mosque on the Temple Mount. To visit the Wall, males of Glenn's group had to wear white caps and wash their hands. The sexes are separated: one side is for the males and the other is for females. Glenn observed the male side to be very noisy with prayers and the female side sedate.

 

Next, they visited the Dome of the Rock, behind the Wailing Wall, which is open only four hours a day for visitors. Very strict rules: can't wear shorts, can't hold hands.

After some serious sightseeing what does one do? Eat, of course, especially shawarma. Glenn's group sought out any place serving shawarma, comparing each place to the last one. As for the beer and wine, the quality was meh. There are also JFS's, Jerusalem Fried Chicken and no lox and bagels for breakfast; it's salad.

 

The group drove to the Sea of Galilee, past Jericho, the lowest sea-level point in the world. Terry, Glenn's wife, got a kissed by a camel there. (No more details.)

 

They visited Capernaum, where Jesus lived with his family. Glenn learned that Jesus had seven siblings (not half-siblings or cousins.) Jesus and his father Joseph had a carpentry business. Joseph was "killed on a construction site," when Jesus was a teenager that put him in charge of the family. Here is where Jesus also recruited his apostles. Glenn's group visited the house where Jesus lived.  

From the Sea of Galilee, the group went to Akra, once a large trading post, and down to Haifa.

 

Christmas Day the group spent in Bethlehem to visit The Church of the Nativity and Manger Square, the birthplace of Jesus. It was a two-hour wait to get in the church, so Glenn and his cohorts checked out the shawarma restaurants instead. Bethlehem is known for its olive wood where it's made into religious items. It's also a walled city. Glenn mentioned the Walled Off Hotel, created by the artist Banksy, intended to show you the Palestinian perspective.

 

From Israel the group made an arduous journey to Jordan. After meeting special entry requirements and going through four checkpoints, it was all worth the trouble.  First was the visit to Petra, an ancient city, once a thriving trading post, carved out of rock. The Raiders of the Lost Ark was filmed here. Glenn commented on the breathtaking walk through the canyon pass. Here he rode a camel.

 

Second, the stop at Ackaba on the Red Sea, where Glenn could see three countries: Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia. His children spent a night in a tent with the Bedouins. Third stop was at the Dead Sea, where you can float, but don't shave beforehand.

Lastly, Jordan let the Burton party leave for Tel Aviv where they hopped a jet home via Paris. Just a layover this time.

 

 

 

50/50: It took a few minutes for Ken Steele, to realize he was the winner of $30.