We will not have a meeting this Friday, September 2nd, 2016 due to the Labor Day Holiday. Our next meeting will be Friday, September 9th for Loftus Day at the Lansing Center. Please bring your flowers to decorate the graves. Have a safe and restful weekend. Thank you!
Loftus Day is a tradition unique to our Lansing Rotary Club. Every year at a September meeting, a Rotarian who has passed away during the year is honored. After an abbreviated meeting, if they so choose Rotarians visit and lay flowers at assigned grave sites of deceased Lansing Rotarians.
It’s a tradition that began in 1924 when club member Frank Loftus brought a bouquet of fresh garden flowers to the regular meeting of the club. Afterwards, he took the flowers to the grave of Charles W. Nichols, a past Rotary president who had recently died. The custom grew in an informal manner and when Loftus died four years later, the official Frank Loftus Day Memorial Service was held- a cherished Lansing Rotary Club tradition that each September honors deceased club members who are buried in the Lansing area.
It’s a time to remember, pay respect, and reflect on the many dedicated people who contributed not just to our club, but to the causes they’ve helped to support throughout our history, ranging from local charities to Rotary’s international outreach. This year, Loftus Day will be Friday, September 9th.
How Do I Participate?
A few weeks before Loftus Day, you will be sent the names of the members who are in your group, who the leader of the group is, and the assigned gravesites. The sites will all be in the same general area in the same cemetery. Your group and cemetery remains the same every year. At the end of the Rotogram, beneath "DOWNLOAD FILES" is the Loftus Day Committee Chairs for 2016. This will give you the names of the Chairs and each Rotarian in the committee with the gravesites. If you have any questions, contact cathy@lansingrotary.com
* Contact your group leader about the group’s plans for visiting the sites. Some visit the sites sometime during the week preceding the meeting. Most will visit the sites after the meeting on Loftus Day.
* Some members bring flowers from their gardens and some order flowers which will be on a table for you to pick up at the meeting. Smith Floral 484-5327 and Rick Anthony (Rick Anthony Flowers) 484-5387. Containers for the flowers will also be on the table for you to take.
*After an abbreviated meeting, your group will meet at your assigned site.
President Jack Davis called us to order on this last meeting before the unofficial end of summer (Labor Day). John Person gave an invocation recalling quotes from Abraham Lincoln, “We must not be enemies” and “Better angels of our nature” were in there somewhere. It sounded better in person. Ken Beachler led us in an a capella rendition of My Country Tis of Thee.
Lisa Smith introduced a dearth of guests and Sue Mills gave the all clear on the remembrance report. Laurie Baumer gave a Sixth Sense report on Loftus Day (You know the quote I’m thinking about). Loftus Day, it’s not as morbid as you think, especially when talking about Ned Legg (see photo insert). This guy did a triathalon with Umakanth, Craig Spencer, Paul Rathbun, Charlie Drayton and me, just because I asked. Ned was like a hundred years old but he cranked out a quarter mile swim at the Men’s IM pool! Spartans Will, Rotarians Do! Loftus Day remains unique to the club and a reminder of our club’s illustrious history.
Dena Vatalaro presented on being a new member. Let me know if you can find another Rotarian whose new member presentation included: fireman massage, Captain Nemo’s, Jimmy Hoffa flew Belle Isle stand by with Joni Mitchell in a stewardess habitat. Commas are so important. Jeff Crippen had to dig deep to find a question for the August Birthtarians to answer. He settled on, “If you were a car, what kind of car would you be?” I’m guessing Jeff has already sized up everyone in every room he’s ever been in and answered the question a million times already. Answers from August birthdays included: Brogan, a Buick; Filson, a ‘69 Boss 429; Hanes, a ‘60 Buick Invicta with its ample back seat; Crippen, a ‘56 Olds 98 Starfire and, saving the best for last, Alley, a Chevy Caprice Police cruiser coupled with a dash mounted Remington 870 shotgun. Nothing says “Honey, I’m home!” like having a firearm mounted to the dash of your car.
Terry Terry was in charge of special music and intro’d Mike Skory on the piano who warmed us up for the September 16-17 Blues Fest in Old Town. Mike gave us a brief introduction to tempo, beat and played I’m Tore Down and Georgia.
Jeff Dettloff was chair of the day and month and arranged for our speaker of the day, Arnold Weinfeld, Director of Urban Policy Initiatives at MSU. Professorial was the word of the day as Weinfeld schooled us all on the role of business in creating community prosperity. There’s a new world order coming to happening cities near you and if we’re not careful, Lansing’s going to miss the boat. Minneapolis’ Itasca Project (www.theitascaproject.com) is an employer led civic alliance that explores socioeconomic disparities, return on investment for transit infrastructure, improving higher education and many other focus areas. Weinfeld also talked about the next generation’s desire centering around quality of life, living wage issues, sense of community and place and leadership values as being drivers for making choices about where to live. He also touched on the B-Corp “movement” ( www.bcorporation.net). If you want to understand the movers and shakers of the next generation, click on this link. B-corps are interested in using business as a force for good. Michigan has 13 already, but none in Lansing. If you want to attract the next generation of quality employees, Lansing’s going to have to focus on the triple bottom line of environmental, social and economic benefits the business can promote alongside the traditional concepts of business endeavors.
Sorry, this one's not as funny as others, been getting ready for DALMAC, hope to see some Rotarians on the ride. Have a great week and a safe holiday weekend. Keep your eyes open for cyclists!
Loftus Day is a tradition unique to our Lansing Rotary Club. Every year at a September meeting, a Rotarian who has passed away during the year is honored. After an abbreviated meeting, if they so choose Rotarians visit and lay flowers at assigned grave sites of deceased Lansing Rotarians..bmp)
Sign up now for the 16th annual Lansing Rotary Foundation Golf Outing!
Lisa Smith introduced a dearth of guests and Sue Mills gave the all clear on the remembrance report. Laurie Baumer gave a Sixth Sense report on Loftus Day (You know the quote I’m thinking about). Loftus Day, it’s not as morbid as you think, especially when talking about Ned Legg (see photo insert). This guy did a triathalon with Umakanth, Craig Spencer, Paul Rathbun, Charlie Drayton and me, just because I asked. Ned was like a hundred years old but he cranked out a quarter mile swim at the Men’s IM pool! Spartans Will, Rotarians Do! Loftus Day remains unique to the club and a reminder of our club’s illustrious history.