This was the last July meeting for Rotary on yet another perfect Pure Michigan summer day. President Julie Pingston seated each of us as if we were attending a wedding reception, 8 to a table, talk amongst yourselves until the festivities start. It is interesting when you are all seated at the same time, no angst about will anybody sit me (or maybe I’m the only one who worries if somebody will join me for lunch). I visited with Hari Kern, Dick Ammons, Cathy Andrews, Jim Dexter, Barb Whitney and a faceless, security conscientious Nick Heriford. We talked about Thailand, pasties (the UP variety) and debated which was better: gravy, ketchup or butter. John Dale Smith provided a still picture of a flag and patriotic music. It’s just not the same John, I mean, I’m used to seeing you tap your foot on the piano pedals to help me keep time with the music.
John Shaski provided a thoughtful invocation. Diane Sanborn reported on the health of the club. Apparently Kelly Rossman McKinney continues on her caring bridge journey through the tropic of cancer with Officer Dave at her side. He must have been looking at something shiny for a moment when she passed out, fell and broke her leg. What do you call a movie about a fish looking for cancer treatment? Finding Chemo. I've already heard like seven cancer jokes today...If I hear tumor, it's gonna benign. Kelly would be disappointed if I didn’t at least take a shot at making cancer funny. If you thought she was untethered to societal norms before, check out her caring bridge site and send her a little love: www.caringbridge.org/visit/kellyrossman-mckinney/journal
No guests this week. I must have stepped out during the birthday presentation, but Bob McKee’s question was along the lines of if you could go back to a particular time and place where would you go. The one I heard was Ralph Shaheen’s and he’d go back to spring break of his junior year of college. I’m pretty sure it involved fast cars, swimming pools and behavior that is no longer PC. Special music today was introduced by Courtney Mills and was the Third Marimba Dance, which is not to be confused with Mambo No. 5. Courtney is keeping the Lansing Symphony alive with a variety of innovations. Check out the at home version of the LSO at: www.lansingsymphony.org/concerts-events/lso-home
Now, I’ve forgotten the percussionist’s name who played the marimba for us today and it was, as one would expect, delightful. But, you can’t forget the chat during our weekly zoom meetings, especially if it originates with Jim Phillips: Our esteemed Mr. Phillips directed the following comment to Chris Holman: “Chris, I know you don't like socks, but that is all our percussionist is wearing. Maybe you could borrow some from him.” Don’t ignore the chat, half the fun happens there!
James Dover, President & CEO Sparrow Health System was our speaker of the day. He is Silicon valley born and raised and relocated to take the helm of Sparrow just in time for a Pandemic. Talk about great timing! I’m doubting “How would you handle a Pandemic” was one of the interview questions. He started his medical career as a phlebotomist (Greek for one who extracts phlegm from plants). As with all Sparrow presenters, we start with the Sparrow Pyramid, emphasizing patient care. Sparrow is the elephant in the room with 12000 employees, 1,295 physicians, 9,000 caregivers, a $27 million payroll every 2 weeks and $1.3 billion in annual revenues. It is the 9th largest hospital system in Michigan and a top 20 lab system in the nation. Sparrow Labs can create their own testing methodology. Sparrow as of this weekend has conducted 100k Covid tests since march 3. The nation is facing a lab reagent supply chain problem right now as a result of the flare ups in TX, AZ and FL and there are not enough reagents to go around. Sparrow is working on a mass spectrometry test to avoid being caught short. Sparrow is promoting the WEAR A MASK SAVE A LIFE campaign. If you wear a mask and are 3' away from another, you can reduce the infection rate down to 18%. If you wear a mask an increase the distance to 6', the rate drops to 2.5%. . His presentation was short and filled with enough statistics to make you dizzy. The Q and A went on for 20 minutes to fill out the rest of the program with many great questions. I’m not sure where he got it, but Dr. Michael Clark had a life size cut out of Dr. Anthony Fauci (sporting a mask) in his home. Nobody needs to Covid alone!
President Julie announced that’s all for this week. No word on how Covid affects the gizzard. I’m sure that’ll be covered in next week’s meeting when our featured speaker will be from Potterville’s famed Gizzard City! We had 52 in attendance this week!
Born and raised in Potterville, MI. Father of two boys Anderson 13 and Grayson 11. After graduating with honors from Potterville High School he attended Michigan State University which he received a Bachelor of Science in Food Service and Economics Management. From then worked within a few of the top Food Service and Hotel Chains (Marriott, Ruby Tuesday’s, Lonestar Steak House, Sheraton hotels)..jpg)
