Rotarians gathered this day at Lansing Community College for our weekly meeting. President Nick brought forth Nathan Triplett for our invocation. Nathan asked the club for a moment of silence for Clyde Carnegie, who served as one of seven District Governor’s from the Lansing Rotary Club before delivering the invocation to honor all Rotarians have done throughout the world. The club then sang God Bless America before reciting the Rotary Four Way Test.

 

Katie Krick toured the room for introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians, Irv Nichols introduced two Rotarians visiting from two other clubs, Steve Zebell from the Dowagiac Club and Sung Lee a member of the East Lansing club.

 

President Nick asked if anyone had any news on the current health of the club, Julie Pingston rose to inform us that long time club member Rick Anthony has been battling with Prostate Cancer and asked us all to keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers.

 

Terry was asked to rise to the podium to introduce our special music and to fill us in on the happenings at this week’s Jazz Fest in Old Town. Terry introduced the wife and husband duo, Bianca and Anthony Taylor, both are Lansing residents and will be performing this weekend at Jazz Fest. L.O.V.E and America the Beautiful with a Jazz flare and a “subtle” invitation to attend Jazz Fest and see them perform their full set at Urban Beat this weekend.

 

Next up were club announcements, first the membership committee is looking for new committee members and anyone interested should plan on attending immediately following our August 11th meeting. Susan Angel delivered the July birthday report, raising $665 for the club. Susan posed the question, what is your favorite birthday memory, answers ranged from a member wishing for the chance to hold a baby pig (Katie Krick), Lisa Smith turning 50 and being serenaded by her three kids sang her a song, Susan Angel celebrating her July 4th birthday in 1976 attending “her” birthday fireworks in our nation's capital, oh and some were celebrating our nations bicentennial to turning 21 (Dan Alward) while visiting Indonesia dressed in the traditional garments of the family he was staying with during his visit.

 

President Nick called Heidi McNaughton to present this year's Paul Harris awards, the list can be found in this week's Rotogram. Special recognition to members Jerry Granger, Mark Hooper and Clyde Spencer for giving over $9,000 during their time in the club and a major donor, Joel Hoffman with over $10,000 in giving to our club.

 

For this week’s speaker President Nick introduced our current District 6360 Governor Sharalyn Davis. Sharalyn shared this year’s Rotary International (RI) theme “Create and World of Hope” by Gordon McInally, Rotary International President. Sharalyn gave her perspective for this theme centering RI’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. RI by its nature has accomplished much in the DEI front as the oldest (118 years) and largest (1.4 million members) service club worldwide with clubs in over 200 countries, which is more nations than are members of the United Nations.

 

From a club level perspective Sharalyn is challenging clubs in our District clubs to expand our membership from more than a numbers perspective, but with the type of professions that may be less traditional than the current make up of clubs, this approach will lead clubs in creating a fresh vision, while increasing the membership numbers. For example, consider adding artists to push the creative edges, hairdressers, who through their profession get to know families’ challenges, their kids, life events and celebrations, therapists who understand and support the mental health of individuals and even individuals who own or work in cannabis businesses, which is the way many today spend their recreation time and socialize as an alternative to traditional bars. Sharalynn noted that clubs that embrace the principals that make up an effective diversity, equity and inclusion process is proven to enhance and increase club membership.

RI President McInally is directing clubs to our number one goal to eradicate polio worldwide once and for all, but is adding emphasis to empowering women and girls throughout the world by elevating women’s roles in communities and grow Rotoract programs to include the worlds youth, through this inclusion Rotary can keep younger people engaged in Rotary throughout their lives.

 

Sharalyn ended her program with the club singing “Change the World” by music artist Eric Clapton. President Nick thanked Sharalyn for her thoughts and words as we closed this week’s meeting. Next week we are gathering again at LCC with Heather Vida as our speaker.

 

Tim Adam's email is:  TAdams@manercpa.com