John T. Reurink has served as publisher and CEO of Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS) since January 1996.  During his tenure, John has managed the firm from a photo copied newsletter with 100 subscribers to a web based political news service that attracts 40,000 visitors a month and informs 18,000 Michigan businesses each week on key Michigan public policy developments. 

 

For the last 12 years MIRS has been voted "best capitol coverage" by Lansing insiders according to a survey tabulated by the independent, Lansing based polling firm of EPIC/MRA.

 

John is a member of the Advisory Board of the Michigan Political Leadership Program (Institute for Public Policy and Social Research MSU) and serves on the Executive Board of National Online Legislative Associates (NOLA), a cooperative educational organization made up of capitol news and tracking services from across the United States.

 

H is a member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Chamber Foundation and a 2008 Leadership Michigan graduate.  He is a frequent guest on the Union Edge, Labor Talk Radio Network airing on stations in 15 states across the country including five in Michigan.

 

John served the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) from 1990 to 1996, the last two years as Director of Communications.

 

Prior to joining the MMA, John served as a communications assistant in the office of the State Budget Director under former Gov. James Blanchard.  He earned his bachelor's in social science and justice in 1989 from James Madison College, Michigan State University.

We were scurrying like rats to get to our seats as President Brewster called the meeting to order two minutes early. He must really have something spectacular in store for us and we were not disappointed! Invocator extraordinaire Sue Mills called upon the creator of all that is or will be to infuse in Rotarians a sense of purpose to do that which righteously must be done! Our patriotic spiritual house was called to order by John Dale Smith with My Country Tis of Thee. Three Rotarians had guests, some of which are possible new members and the health of the club is good.

 

Laurie Baumer re-introduced us to the upcoming September 8 Loftus Day parade of the Rotary Walking Dead when we present flowers to the graves of the Rotary Grateful Dead. Yes, I know, this is bordering on sacrilege, but as Laurie pointed out, if you have a crazy good tour guide, tramping through a cemetery can be fun! Because Rotary without golf is like a day without sunshine, the Golf Outing is on. Chris Holman says it is a go for September 18, 2017. More on that later.

 

The energizer bunnies of Rotary musical hope, Ken Beachler and John Dale Smith again dug deep, deep into the Rotary Song Book to find Smile-Sing a Song. We did our best to read the sheet music and remember the tune. We were a committed group of singers, but I fear we once again disappointed our musical maestros with sharps and flats in all the wrong places. Knowing the eternal optimism that springs from their musical breast, they probably thought we were trying to harmonize.

 

Today’s meeting was Rotary pageantry at its finest. New member presentations, where you get 5 minutes to justify your existence and seek soulful validation from a roomful of strangers. First up was Kent Coenen. An Air Force Brat (AFB?), the map to Kent’s various childhood homes was an exercise in interpreting a Jackson Pollock painting. With only 13 years, Kent is outranked in more than the usual way by his wife Julie’s 29 years of National Guard service (insert oblique reference to Jack Nicholson quote from A Few Good Men here). Kent is a commercial loan officer at Horizon and loves MSU, fishing, golfing and Nebraska Cornhuskers (hopefully in that order).

 

Paul Dankert, another banker, but with a deadly twist: he's also a facilitator at Elle’s Place, rides a Harley, has a tatoo, works out and is packing heat. Rotarians were lining up to curry favor, asking if he wanted another cookie. When Daddy’s from the same union as Jimmy Hoffa and you start out life on your own at age 15, you have to decide early on how to respond to life’s disappointments. A tatoo (location unknown) of a Phoenix rising from the ashes in honor of becoming a father says it all for Paul.

 

Lisa McCormick gave a shout out to Lisa Smith for introducing her to Rotary. She’s a screaming Eagle from Philly who came to Lansing via Cooley and stayed. She was stunned by Lansing’s hospitality (good morning at a QDairy is enough to shock the conscience for East Coasters). She’s the chief assistant prosecutor for Ingham County, loves public speaking (and it shows) and is a founding member for Small Talk, www.smalltalkcac.org (If they haven’t presented to us already, they should).

 

Eric Schneidawind is the poster child (retiree) for volunteerism. He is the current voluntary president of the National AARP and searching for his next volunteer gig. He’s a Cal Berkley grad (‘67) and a U of M law grad (‘70) with experience in Scouting, insurance and wind farms. Rotary’s service above self tag line is what drew him to our club.

 

Finally, Jordan Sutton. Try as she might, she could not leave Lansing despite numerous attempts. A fierce competitor in volleyball, basketball and golf, she attended Centre College in Kentucky for her undergrad and then University of Kentucky at Lexington for her MBA. She went to London but she couldn’t cut the cord with Lansing so she returned home to attend Cooley and be a part in the family business.

 

Our new members graduated to the next color up in the Rotary badge color scheme to the fuerte aplauso of their fellow Rotarians.

 

Gentle reminder, the registration deadline for the Detroit International Full and Half Marathon is August 28, 2017. If that’s too much, try the Tour De Troit, their registration deadline is September 16, 2017. Be there or be square!

 

Kevin Schumacher's email is:  Schumacher@glassenrhead.com