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President Smith called the meeting to order at the Lansing Center. The invocation was presented by Dick Ammons which was followed by the singing of God Bless America.
Guests were introduced and amongst our guests we welcomed two visiting Rotarians.
Dennis Fliehman provided the Remembrance Report of the health of the Club being good. Berl Schwartz added that Joan Bauer’s husband is in a rehab facility and on the mend.
President Smith reminded Club members of our Centennial Celebration activity for February to bring a food or cash donation for the Greater Lansing Food Bank. We will be collecting for the next two meetings in the month.
President Smith announced that the East Lansing Rotary is coordinating a Weekend Backpack stuffing event for all Rotarians in Area 13 on Monday, March 21 from 11:00am – 1:00 pm at the University Club. Free lunch is provided although donations are welcome.
Michelle Raynaert presented a big check to the Michigan History Foundation as one of this year’s Foundation grant recipients. The check was accepted by the State Archivist Mark Harvey who explained the project will allow the History Foundation to preserve the photographic negatives from the Leavenworth Photographic Collection maintained by the State Archives. Mr. Leavenworth was a Lansing area photographer who documented many key events in Lansing’s history beginning in 1919. Mr. Harvey thanked Rotarians for helping to preserve Lansing’s history and story.
Michelle also announced that the Lansing Rotary Club Foundation grant application is now open for online submissions. Applications will only be made online and the deadline for submission is Friday, March 4 at noon. Help spread the word to those interested in applying for a grant.
Ken Beachler welcomed his family from Grand Rapids to today’s meeting and his nephew Tony Beachler introduced today’s special music. Tony was proud to introduce his 13 year old son Cameron who has been playing the piano for 4 years. He a part of the Piano Cottage in Grand Rapids and has already played at ArtPrize and at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. Cameron entertained us with four selections, one he wrote himself. Rotarians loved the performance and gave the next generation of Beachler performers a standing ovation.
Our Chair of the Day and Month, Joe Wald, introduced us to Prabu David, the Dean of the College of Communication Arts & Sciences at Michigan State University. Dean David is a wonderful addition to MSU and his research emphasis is communication technology and health.
Dean David provided a broad presentation on his goal of for the college to help create a more civil society through communication. Technical skills are taught and developed but soft skills are an important component to student learning. Important soft skills include the ability to communicate, relate, provide leadership and understand diversity and engagement. Through the College, MSU is taking ideas to the world while bringing the world to campus through such outlets as WKAR which will create better understanding. The reality for media today is mobile media, biosensors and big data but communication is really about human relations and listening, working together and solving problems.
President Smith thanked Dean David for his presentation and let him know a donation to the Bio Sand Filter project will be made in his name to provide pure water to under developed countries.
Our next meeting will be at the Lansing Center with the New Member Presentation to get to know our new members better. See you then!
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For our Centennial Celebration activity in the month of February, we're asking members to donate a few non-perishable foods for the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Please bring your donations, which can even be a cash donation if that's easier, to a meeting in February and we'll get the donations passed along. Thanks!