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It was the snowiest day of the year this past Friday, with most schools closed and even the postal service refusing to deliver mail. That didn’t deter Lansing Rotarians as a quorum of more than a thousand living and deceased Rotarians showed up for the annual meeting and to celebrate one more pass around the sun for this little blue green marbel we call home. With a full agenda before her, President Sue Hansen called the meeting to order. But we were not to be corralled like a mindless Christmas goose although some of us admittedly half baked. We defiantly listened to Sandy Dragoo’s invocation exhortations to be our better selves. Ha! We scoff at the thought. We sang an off key God Bless America and surprisingly John Dale Smith intentionally missed a beat. Past President Julie Pingston, our only past President who was denied the right to stand at the podium before a live audience, herded the Rotarian cats to order for the annual meeting. Tall tales of the accolades of the incoming President Elect Dean Sienko were told (he apparently single handedly wrestled a guinea worm to death on pay per view, Jimmy Carter paid to see that). New board members were chosen by a process akin to a bingo ball roller: I-9, must be Dan Ayward; Casey Jacobsen, was chosen B-4 newly minted board member Nicole Baumer, who finally doesn’t have to sit at the kid’s table. Of course, there was a theme for this week’s special music. Holiday tunes, Christmas music, yuletide joy. Call it what you will. I like to call it, all the noise, noise, noise, from Whoville. Lisa Smith, Mark Hooper, John Dale Smith, Heidi McNaughton and of course that cheerful little elf himself, Ken Beachler ran roughshod over two rounds of that harbinger of December commercial excess, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. What December meeting would be complete without a singing of Santa Clause is Coming to Town and shore enough a three sheets to the wind Santa showed up on cue. Santa toured the Great Hall B of the Lansing Center, pointing out who’d been naughty and nice this year and I swear there was a true twinkle in his eye pointing out the naughty ones. Santa knows. Next up, more special music and what the hey? How did Pat Hanes get a special request and none of us even knew that was an option? Anywho, Lisa Smith sang a beautiful rendition of some holiday song that only Pat knew the words to. I’m putting my request in right now for Santa Claus and His Old Lady by Cheech & Chong (if you don’t know it, google it). Heidi McNaughton did her solo effort with Let it Snow with John Dale Smith focusing on the snow colored keys on his piano. Again, like we need more of that fluffy white stuff, but if you’re going to do it, let’s do it right. Next year, I want to hear the Copper Country version of the Heikki Lunta snow Dance Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWzUBsnrg4M  We did have a guest speaker, Mayor Andy Schor. I think this was the first time we heard him speak when he wasn’t just filling in for his better half. He was given an honorary Rotary Badge so hopefully he’ll show up just for some Schlitz and giggles meetings down the road. Mayor Schor regaled us with a twas the night before Christmas reading of his recent years in politix: 64% mandate, tremendous accomplishments, as in Rotary Park, super secret future development stuff that Chris Holman let out of the bag (he’s probably the naughtiest Rotarian) infrastructure bills and even more policy wonk stuff. Just like the night before Christmas, it put all the little kids to sleep (just kidding). And then to finish out the meeting, Ken Beachler, with that made for radio voice he has, read us the  one Dr. Seuss book that hasn’t been banned from libraries, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. His voice. His tone. His timing. One by one, Beachler touched the child hood selves of the Rotarian quadragenerians, quinquagenerians, sexagenerians (the funnest group), septuagenerians, octogenarians and even the 2 nonagenarians (Dave O’Leary and Irv Nichols) with the story about how everybody loves a thief at Christmas. All in good fun folks, and yes, …, I know, …, I’m not getting any presents this year, …, again. Happy holidays to all, we had a great meeting with great additions to our club leadership, inimitable special music and an esprit de corps that keeps us coming back. Looking forward to meetings with you all in 2022! Kevin Schumacher's email is: schumacher@glassenrhead.com |
at the Country Club of Lansing, 2200 Moores River Drive, Lansing, with appetizers and a cash bar. John Dale Smith will be performing on the piano. The Country Club of Lansing required a count last Friday, thank you to those of you who RSVP'd.
• Dean Sienko has been a member of Lansing Rotary for 30 years. He has served on committees including the Club Board of Directors. Dean is a public health physician who has worked in local, state, national and international public health. He was an Associate Dean at the MSU College of Human Medicine. His last job was as the Vice President for Health at The Carter Center in Atlanta. He also had a three-decades long career as a U.S. Army Officer achieving the rank of Major General. Dean is enjoying retirement with Mary Jean, his wife of 37 years. Mary Jean and Dean have three adult children--Carolyn, a RN in Wisconsin; Peter, a medical student at the University of Michigan; and Michael, a 1st lieutenant in the Army. Mary Jean and Dean enjoy spending time with their family (including Ozzie their standard poodle) and traveling to interesting places around the globe.