The Spokesperson November 4, 2021 (Nov 04, 2021)

Opening Activities

President Jeff Furest led our November 4 meeting that started with a beautiful quote about friendship credited to Muhammed Ali at 12:15 p.m. Eric Pierson led fellow Rotarians in “The Four-Way Test.” Gary Phelps tinkled the ivories, and thank goodness there were some of the better Rotarian vocals in the attendance. Sarah Lee provided a lovely invocation and at the completion, Rotarians and guests were invited to enjoy the lunch buffet. The lunch menu included a tasty salad, dinner rolls with creamy butter, fresh green beans, asparagus and garlic fettuccine, chicken breast prepared wonderfully piccata style. Rotarians and guests were served frosted chocolate cakes for dessert. Although Glenn Burton added to the sugar buzz with a handful of remaining Halloween candy at the center of each table.

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Presidential Announcements

Moving right into the business of the day, President Jeff Furest thanked everyone that volunteer to do some bell ringing at the annual Salvation Army fundraiser at Kroger on November 26. Those who selflessly plan to skip Black Friday shopping include Beth Pryor, Jeff Furest, Ed Mastry and his granddaughter, Val Miller, Nancy Dedenbach, Karan Bates-Gasior, Scott Chabot.
Membership Committee chair and board member Kim Jarvis introduced the first official new member incentive drawing for $100 Visa gift card for any Rotarian who brought a potential member to a meeting over the previous month. And, of course, the self-proclaimed Luckiest Man Alive, President Jeff Furest, won the first $100 Visa gift card.
Moving on to more sobering and also exciting news, President Jeff Furest announced his sadness that our current President-elect-elect Steve Krankota would be leaving his position at the YMCA Mount Clemens to take on an even larger position as the President and Executive Director of the Bay City Area YMCA. This is a move that brings the Krankota family back to their hometown, but also leaves some very big shoes to fill at the Mount Clemens Rotary. This move will leave a vacancy in the president position. President Jeff Furest encouraged anyone who might be interested to throw their hat in the ring for consideration.

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Guests & Visitors

Dr. Sam Wireman once again graced our meeting with his presence. Those in attendance treated Dr. Wireman to a rousing rendition of “We are glad to see you here at Rotary,” accompanied by the wonderful piano talent of Gary Phelps.

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

Ryan Murphy did a fine job acknowledging the chapter anniversaries of some fine Rotarians in attendance: Bill Furest – 43 years, Scott Chabot – 3 years, Larry Neal – 16 years.

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Flowers

Gary Phelps in keeping with tradition treated Tina to a flower, Ken Steele beat Ed Mastry to the task of purchasing a flower for all the ladies at his table.

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Music

With all the collegiate spirit they could muster, those in attendance sang a heroic version of the MSU fight song followed by everyone’s favorite “Roll Rotary.”

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Sunshine
None

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Goodwill
None

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Member Announcements

Christine LaTour announced that she Val Miller, Karan Bates-Gasior spent some time at Rotary Park cleaning and picking off leaves. They left the park better than they found it, but there is still some fall clean-up work to do for anyone interested in picking up a rake.

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Recognition

Glenn Burton did his best to maximize all the fines this week to ensure November began with a bang. First up were all those Rotarians who are UofM alumni. Sarah Lee, Gary Phelps and Larry Neal were dinged for $2 each. Eric Pierson, Kim Jarvis, the other Kim Jarvis and Ken Steele forked over $2 for the Western/Central rivalry in which Central Michigan won a surprising victory. Steve Krankota thought he’d slipped the eagle eye of Glenn Burton when he went back to the buffet for a second helping of fettuccine, but no such luck and that cost him a whopping $1. Bob Lee sauntered into the meeting late, arriving during his sister’s invocation so that tardiness cost him $1. Stephanie Mirabile was awarded Best Dressed again this week for a sweet chapeau she was wearing, but it cost her $1. And, even though it is a generous act, Nancy Dedenbach was penalized $1 for offering to take over recognition duties while Glenn Burton is out of the country on his exotic excursion.

Other recognition penalties were tablewide and based on the selection of a predetermined amount contained in a mystery envelope. Bravo to Glenn Burton for being creative and getting the whole room involved.

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Speakers/Program

Moving into the feature presentation, President Jeff Furest introduced an absent but present on video Amanda Oparka, Senior Planner, Parks and Natural Resources for Macomb County, to talk about the county’s current and future plans for parks and other natural community spaces. Although Amanda was under the weather and unable to join in person, she did join the luncheon via a prerecorded YouTube video and PowerPoint presentation.

Overview of the presentation included:

Three primary areas of concentration

Blue Economy – waterways
Green Macomb – parks and public walking trails
Coastal Program – emphasizing restoration and management of the Lake Saint Clair shoreline
Other initiatives include the Green Macomb Urban Forest Partnership which recommends be a 40% urban forest canopy. Currently, there is only 20%+/- in Macomb County.
To address the canopy shortage, a fall tree planting program realized 50 trees planted in Armada, 54 trees planted in Harrison Township, 25 trees planted in Clinton Township.
Any Rotarian wishing to find out more about the program area should contact Amanda directly at amanda.oparka@macombgov.org.

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50/50 Drawing

The luncheon wrapped up with the 50/50 draw in which Nancy Dedenbach was the lucky recipient of $37 for holding winning ticket number 462805. Karma-wise, one would theorize that means President Jeff Furest isn’t always the Luckiest Man Alive.

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World Polio Day Fundraiser - Delivering on a Promise

The 2021 theme for World Polio Day is “Delivering on a Promise.” Use of the poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus, developed by Albert Sabin, led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988. Today, five out of six World Health Organization regions are certified free of wild polio, including the WHO European Region, which was declared polio free in 2002. Only two remaining countries in the world have endemic circulation of wild poliovirus.

Oct. 24, 2021 was World Polio Day. The Mount Clemens Rotary Club would like to provide a fun way to help support the Rotary International goal of eradicating polio. The pandemic has delayed previous eradication efforts. So, our support is even more needed! With that, let me introduce a fun game that will help...

"Adopt-an-envelope"

There are 50 envelopes pictured with each envelope containing a donation amount that will range from $5 to $25. The envelope(s) you choose will be the amount you will donate to this great cause!

There's also a "Your Donation" envelope in case you'd just like to choose your own amount.

All you have to do is send me your envelope(s) options. I will inform you of the amount and you will let me know how you'd like to make your donation (i.e. charge your account, or give a cash donation that I would be glad to pick up from you).

HAPPY PICKING!

Christine LaTour
Cell Phone (586) 876-7901

E-Mail(s): cilatour62@gmail.com

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CALENDAR of EVENTS

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November 11 (Veterans Day)

Jeri Hunley

Single Family Living Assistance

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November 18

Rufus McGaugh

Traveling Author

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November 25

Thanksgiving

No Meeting

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December 2

Beneficiary Award Meeting

Jeff Furest - MC Rotary

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December 9

Fraser Singers

Fraser High School

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December 16

Christmas Party

Jeff Furest – MC Rotary

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December 23

No Meeting

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December 30

No Meeting

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January 6

Dr. Sam Wireman

Apex Chiropractic - Chiropractic Medicine

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January 13

TBD Jeff Oldham??

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January 20

Shock and Save Foundation

Medstar Ambulance - Susan Burkhart

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January 27

Clinton Township Update/Visioning

Bob Cannon – Clinton Township Supervisor
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