banner
 
Stories
Next Meeting: September 6th, 2019

ImageWe will not have a meeting this Friday, August 30, 2019 due to the Labor Day Holiday.  Our next meeting will be Friday, September 6th for Loftus Day at the Country Club. Please bring your flowers to decorate the graves.  Have a safe and restful weekend.  Thank you!

Ribbon Cutting Date Changed
The Rotary Park Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting has been moved to the raindate of Wednesday, August 28th at noon. Please note the Lansing Center parking lot will be full for another event. CATA’s trolley route runs outside the Cesar Chavez Plaza/Brenke Fish Ladder Parking Lot.
 
Gillespie Group is providing free parking at the former Clara's parking lot on Michigan Avenue and R.E. Olds Transportation Museum is providing free parking in the lot south of the museum. Both lots are a short walk to Rotary Park. See attached map for parking options. For attendees with disabilities, call the Community Foundation at (517) 272-2870.
 
Laurie Baumer
Loftus Day History
It all started in the fall of 1924 when 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 the first Friday in September honors deceased club members who are buried in the Lansing area. 
 
It was not surprising that Frank Loftus started this revered tradition.  A longtime grocer and life-long Lansing resident, he was known for his compassion, often extending credit at his store on Washington Avenue to families who were encountering difficult financial times.  His civic dedication was legendary.  He also gave his time to volunteer with the local Red Cross, with his church and with the Knights of Columbus.  He died on May 30, 1928, the major headline in the Lansing Capital News was "Loftus Dies Suddenly" and the accompanying article went on to describe the many contributions he had made to his community.
 
It is likely our club is the only one in Rotary International that remembers their deceased members in such a unique way.
New Member Proposed

The following proposed member has emailed their application to the office.  If anyone has a comment on this proposed member please forward it in writing within ten days to the Rotary office, before approval by the board of directors.  Thank you

  • Parker Sessa, Account Leader at Ciesa, sponsored by Nancy Eyde
Editarian Report for August 23, 2019
 
A good number of Rotarians were able to navigate the construction detours and make it to the Lansing Country Club (Is that why Dave O’Leary was absent). President Pat called us to order with the customary ringing of the bell. John Shaski delivered a thoughtful and Rotary themed invocation, and then the Club sang the National Anthem. Sue Hansen circulated the mic among our guests, of which there were only two that had found their way past the detours. Diane Sanborn shared that the health of the club is excellent.
 
President Pat announced Michelle Lantz’s new position as CEO of the Greater Lansing Food Bank; congratulations Michelle! Kevin Schumacher reminded everyone of the ribbon cutting for Rotary Park [note: now moved to the rain date of Wednesday, August 28], and spoke of how the Club’s contribution went from $40,000 originally proposed to a $400,000 contribution. Craig Spencer spoke about Loftus Day and encouraged all Rotarians to participate. Ryan Moore praised the August Birthday folks for 80% participation in donating to Rotary and we learned that John Dale Smith somehow vacationed west to Florida when he was young. Chris Chamberlain presented the Club with a donation from the Modern Workmen. The Club presented a donation to Helping Hands Respite Care, which Yvonne Fleener graciously accepted.
 
John Dale Smith introduced Rachael Cupples for the special music. She began with the Cole Porter classic “I Get a Kick Out of You,” followed by a number from her upcoming performance in Pippin called “Simple Joys.”
Wayne Sieloff capped off his time as Chair of the Month with also being Chair of the Day. He highlighted the impressive resume of our speaker, Mark Bathurst, Program Director of Aviation Technology at LCC.
 
Mark Bathurst titled his speech “Soaring to New Heights.” He highlighted LCC as the 3rd largest community college in Michigan which touches 25,000 students per year Specific to his program, he proposed it as a great career with a $57,610 median salary. There will be 212,000 employees needed in the field between now and 2039. At LCC people can be certified after a 2 year program with 30 hours per week. The content of the program is strictly controlled by the FAA. Certification after the program requires 2 FAA exams. The demand for this skill has never been so high. Common employers are airlines, airplane manufacturers, and airplane repair companies. The most recent class of graduates all had at least one job offer and one graduate was deciding among 13 offers!
 
Some last minute reminders: Rotary Park Ribbon Cutting – August 28; Rotary Park Shimmer on the River – September 5 (RSVP by August 30); Loftus Day – September 6 at the Country Club of Lansing
 
Chris Swope's email is:  Chris.swope@gmail.com
Speakers
Sep 13, 2019
"The 2019 Michigan Entrepreneurial Scorecard Report"
Sep 20, 2019
"Vietnam Revisited" at the Crowne Plaza
Sep 27, 2019
Cannabis Testing Labs @ the Lansing Center
Oct 04, 2019
"Educate and Advocate, Gun Violence 101" at Lansing Center
View entire list
Rotary Club of Lansing
P. O. Box 13156
Lansing, MI   48901-3156
Meeting Responsibilities
Chair of the Day
Nichols, John I.
 
Invocator
Schaberg, Richard D.
 
Greeter
Sabins, Jacob
 
September Birthday Chair
 
Remembrance
Sanborn, Diane
 
Editarian
Reynaert, Michelle
 
Chair of the Month
Gnass, Camron