• At 12:00 pm the Zoom room will be available for our "breakout room/virtual tables" to have a conversation with other members.  President Julie will draw us all back into the main meeting room at 12:28 pm
   
• At 12:30 pm the meeting will be called to order

It all started in the fall of 1924 when Frank Loftus brought a bouquet of fresh garden 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 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 its deceased members in such a unique way.  This year, Friday, September 11th we will honor Jack Davis, Jack Draper, John Grettenberger, Sr. and John Stephenson at a Zoom meeting.  Immediately following committees can visit the graves they are assigned or plan a time any day that week.  Cones will be available at Rick Anthony's Flower Shop on Grand River at no charge.  At the bottom of the Rotogram in the "Download Files" is a listing of all members with their Committee Chairs.