September 12, 2019
 

Our regular meeting spot was taken over by the bocci people. That caused several people to arrive late at the alternate, including your scribe. Time and Rotary wait for no one, so at 12:15 p.m. on September 12, President Karan Bates-Gasior called the meeting to order. Nancy Dedenbach led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Ted DeVantier in “The Four-Way Test.” Faithful Tom Davies gave the invocation. Today's menu was very good: roast beef in gravy, oven brown potatoes with a hint of vinegar, the perennial green beans, mixed green salad and chocolate mousse cake for dessert.

 

 

PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

It is still possible to attend the One Rotary Summit on September 14. There will be no luncheon meeting at IACS on September 26 as that's the Dick Pierson golf outing. In recognition of our 100th year, President Karan has chosen some unique experiences for us. In that spirit, our October 3 meeting will be at Zion Church – very fond memories for the old-timers. And the menu will be SPAGHETTI! Bring your bibs. And remember you must pay the meters across the street: they will fine you (unlike the old days, you old-timers.) There will be no speaker at Zion. Instead, we'll walk off the spaghetti going to Rotary Park, a short distance away, where Eric Pierson will update us on the rededication.

 

BYLAWS/CONSTITUTION CHANGES

 

Larry Neal went over the changes to the constitution and bylaws that he had earlier emailed to everyone (below). We had a quorum and voted unanimously to accept these changes.

 

Constitution: Eliminates limits on classifications.

 

Sergeant-at-arms position is now optional.

 

Bylaws: Eliminates the sergeant-at-large position.

 

Adds language to allow board to appoint a board position if it isn't filled at election; a vacancy on the board to be filled by candidate who receive the next-highest votes.

Increase the annual dues from $744 to $780 ($62/mo. to $65/mo.) Change secretary and treasurer terms to two-year, staggered terms. Retain our club's addition to the bylaws over the years. Publish names of proposed members in two issues of The Spokesperson. Remove requirement for additional signers for bills and two separate accounts. Adds a Corporate Affiliate membership. Includes a $75 initiation fee for new members, of which $25 is a donation to RI and with $75 in Paul Harris credit being awarded to the new member.

 

DISTRICT/RI NEWS

 

Tom Neveau, our assistant governor, spoke on Rotary Summit. He challenged us to do something for World Polio Day which is on a Thursday!  October 24. He shared the tri-fold and business card the Rochester Rotary uses to promote Rotary membership.

 

GUESTS AND VISITORS INTRODUCED BY JULIE MILLER

 

Tom Neveau, AG; Barb Dempsey, guest of Val Miller; Jodi McKay, our speaker; Sandy Blake, daughter of Paul Woodring; Dana Camphous-Peterson from McLaren.

 

 

Flowers, Birthdays, Anniversaries sold by Sam D'Angelo ... to Larry Neal for his fourth wedding anniversary (what about the other 31 he says) and to Ted DeVantier who almost got his club anniversary correct (34 years).Ryan Murphy bought flowers for Nancy Dedenbach and Karan Bates-Gasior for their participation in the soapbox derby.

 

Dana Camphous-Peterson for Barb Dempsey, running again for Mount Clemens mayor; to our speaker, Jodi McKay from Larry Neal.

 

MUSIC LED BY KEN STEELE

 

“Yankee Doodle Dandy” with another appearance from the Patterson Spoon Quartet and “All Hail to Rotary” (“Anchors Aweigh.”)

 

SUNSHINE

Frank Bernabei has a serious illness in his family.

 

GOOD WILL

Ellen Lysik asked us to please do something nice for our exchange student, Yun, by sending her a note or a text (good luck in school), $5 McDonald's card, or if your family is doing an outing, invite her along. Ellen has supplied copies of her contact information. (Hint: could we find out what she likes, her interests, her favorites from her host families? Much appreciated.) Remember, this is the CLUB's exchange student. Let's get to know her.

 

Yun A Gwon
52716 Tuscany Grove
Shelby Township, MI 48315
586-930-8079

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Mary Ann Hosey needs help at the welcome desk, please. Eric Pierson disclosed the cost of dinner at the Pierson golf outing ($30 for steak) with lunch being free. Larry Neal announced the first Mount Clemens Rotary Foundation meeting is next Thursday.

 

 

 

 

Please bring in Halloween candy to Nancy Dedenbach for the Trunk or Treat event in Mount Clemens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOGNITION BY RYAN MURPHY

 

Pumped by his success last week, Ryan anxiously asked us old-timers how late he could go (1 p.m.) His first victim was Nancy Dedenbach. Poor Nancy – why is she picked on so much? She has a free ride from the U.S. Government to attend her uncle's funeral in Hawaii. Her uncle died in the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack (he was on the OKLAHOMA.) His remains were recently identified. I didn't catch her fine, however. Bill Furest was relieved of $5, as well as his absent son Jeff $5, for relieving 22 pike from their watery home over Labor Day. Val Miller's phone went off during the meeting last week; she doesn't know how that happened. $3. I must admit I threw Steve Krankota under the bus for not observing our informal protocol of saving our seats, $3 and Amanda Oparka, $2, for being our most missed Rotarian. Ryan promises more for next week.

 

SPEAKER JODI MCKAY "BEHIND THE CURTAIN: A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR"

 

Jodi McKay's opening statement – "I usually speak to small children" -- showed her passion for her work. Writing children's books is a labor of love. Jody told us what is involved to get published by a publishing house. She has achieved that honor twice as author of “Pencil's Perfect Picture” and “Where Are the Words?” (Albert Whitman & Company.)

 

Jodi's creative talents took root in a childhood devoted to reading. She wrote her first story at age eight and a collection of poems at 19. However, she didn't become a children's author. Instead she pursued bachelor and master's degrees in psychology. Her love of storytelling returned when her son was born. Jody described her process.

 

Children's literature covers infants up to teenagers. The word count differs with the age target. Jody gets her inspiration from all sorts of unlikely places. Once the story is written comes critiques and revisions. Queries are sent out by her agent to publishing houses to see if there is interest. Next comes a long time of waiting. For the most part publishing houses will reject it. However, to put things in perspective, Jody showed a slide where the “Diary of Anne Frank” was rejected 15 times. It's not necessary to rhyme the text. In fact, you are encouraged not to do so. Working with an illustrator: you will be paired with an illustrator; you have no choice here. You are paid by given an advance. When sales surpass the advance, your agent gets a 15 percent and you get the rest. Jody doesn't do this for the money.

 

50/50
Won by Paul Woodring, $36

 

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September 19, 2019

 

On 9-19-19 our Rotary club was called to order by President Karan Bates-Gasior. Ed Mastry led us in the Pledge. Our singing of the national anthem has improved so much, thanks to pianist Gary transposing the original key to one we can comfortably sing. Larry Neal stepped up to lead “The Four-Way Test.” Tom Davies gave the invocation. Our menu was quite large: Jambalaya-type soup, chicken Marsala, vegetable medley, pasta (more like udon noodles) with red sauce, different type of rolls, green salad and chocolate mousse cake.

 

PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Our next two meetings (Sept. 26 and Oct. 3) WILL NOT BE at the Italian Cultural Center (our usual spot). September 26 will be the golf outing at Gowanie and you are invited to lunch there (part of our dues.) October 3 is very special to the old-timers.

 

Meeting at Zion Church, on Market Street, downtown Mount Clemens, 12:15 p.m. Julie Huttenlocher is preparing the Zion ladies' recipe for their famous spaghetti, along with their special assorted cakes. YOU MUST RSVP to Julie -- even if it's just you – to Julie.Huttenlocher@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

And remember to feed the parking meters across from Zion.

 

The Children's Hands Museum has invited all Rotarians to attend their event on September 24, at 5 p.m. Our club a long time ago contributed money to a startup campaign for a children's museum. It's now a reality – the old Art-o-Craft building is now theirs. We were individually sent an email invitation.

 

 

Guests and Visitors Introduced by Sam D'Angelo

Our guest speaker, Mark Einhaus, Douglas Norris and Dana Camphous-Petersen.

 

 

BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES

 

Wedding anniversary for Ted DeVantier and club anniversaries for Bill Patterson, Karan and Patty Kaufman – the latter two were inducted on the same day!

 

Remaining flowers were sold to Sarah Lee for our guest, Doug Norris, pianist Gary to Cecilia for doing music and Sam D'Angelo to Mary Ann Hosey (didn't catch the reason.)

 

 

MUSIC

 

"Button Up Your Overcoat" and "Viva le Rotary," percussion provided by the Patterson Spoon Quartet.

 

SUNSHINE REPORTS

 

Bill Furest had more sad news for his other son, who suffered a severe brain injury a year or two ago. His wife is now at U of Michigan for serious health issues.

 

GOOD WILL

 

Kris Howell has been working to restore the many flags Rotarians picked up over the years visiting other clubs. In the Zion church days, the flags were displayed at each meeting. Unfortunately, many of them are in bad shape. Linda Quinn had the idea to create table runners with parts of the flags all glued to the fabric. Kris had one on display at our meeting.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

RECOGNITION BY RYAN MURPHY

 

Ryan now has a reputation, rivaling Tom Davies, for this very assignment. In fact, Ryan began with a picture of Tom Davies having a – to put it nicely – wardrobe malfunction. Tom explained (please do): At an ice bar in Helsinki, Finland, Tom put on a snowsuit putting his arms in the leg holes and legs in the arm holes. Everyone in the picture was laughing. No, they weren't, said Ryan and fined Tom $4. Sam D'Angelo was tapped next for his sloppy way of introducing guests and visitors. Sam tried to make amends, but too late for Ryan, a $3 fine. Larry Neal was thrown under the bus in Tom Davies' invocation for Larry's upcoming Portugal vacation. Of course, that was too tempting for Ryan to pass up. Larry, the gentleman he is, just sighed and took a five-dollar bill out of his wallet. Ryan next asked Patty Kaufman why she was so surprised she joined the club the same day as Karan, when that anniversary comes up every year. $2 for Patty. Ryan was clearly in his element: "This is getting easy. You guys are just giving it up." Lastly, finally, the Patterson Spoon Quartet was recognized with Bill Patterson taking the entire fine himself: $5.

 

The last part of recognition was a quiz. Our table was first and with a trick question, we lost. $1 each. Table 2 and 4 got the correct answers but, alas, Table 3 did not, $1 each. Ryan, look to be recognition chair next year.

 

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SPEAKER MARK EINHAUS, OWNER, MEDIA HERO, LLC.  TELLING YOUR STORY VIA PHOTOGRAPHY

 

Karan introduced Mark Einhaus, our speaker and fellow Rotarian (West Bloomfield Club.) Media Hero, his business, works in all media to help brand a business, highlight events or if you like, take your portrait. Mark is public image chair for his club and an adjunct professor at OCC in traditional and digital photography.
Mark's talk was intended to here to give us a better understanding on how to tell a great story via photography. Mark has quite a portfolio, which you can see at his website, at mediahero.com (Jeff Daniels portrait.) We arranged our chairs to watch his video. The opening video went swell and then, poof, no more. Our aged equipment would not cooperate, and Mark was faced with no pictures to back up his points. Nonetheless, showing his Rotary can-do spirit, Mark gave a great talk.

His first point: When you take a photograph, ask why are you talking this image? There are four things to keep in mind: camera, managing images, light and composition.

 

Camera: different types: view camera (in studios), Single Lens Reflex (SLR) digital, point and shoot digital cameras and the smartphone. You need to be familiar with exposure, understand the white balance, what use will the image have (on a billboard or on a smartphone).

 

Managing Images: Have a system to store images, on your computer, in the cloud, Photoshop, Light Room. Put files into a folder. Take a lot of images, to get the right nuance. Digital photography shows the image taken instantly versus waiting for film to be developed.

 

Light: Gives shape and texture to the image. Knowing where to be somewhere at what time to take an image.  The golden hour is the hour to 90 minutes before and during sunrises and sunsets. The morning light will be bluer, and the sunset light will have warm colors. Using a DSLR, know the key light source and the fill light. On point-and-shoot cameras, there are settings for incandescent light, outdoor light.

Composition: The rule of thirds: Cut the image into three horizontal or vertical parts. This rule is rarely broken. Critical in cinema photography.

 

In closing, Mark said the more familiar you are with your camera, the better your pictures. It's worth the trouble to read the instructions to get better images. Today there are photographers and cell phone selfies. Which do you want to be?

50/50: Eric Pierson, $21

 

 

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