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Stories
The Next Meeting:
When: Friday, December 15th,  2017
Where: Lansing Center, First Floor
What: 94th Annual Children's Christmas Party
Special Guest: Santa
Chair of the Day: Ken Beachler
Invocator: Student from North School
Chair of the Month: Ken Beachler
Remembrance: Anne Cauley
Microphone: Maria Lenz
Greeter: Wayne Sieloff
Editarian: Linda Lynch
 
December Birthdays
Ellsworth-Etchison, KelliDec 01
Thomasma, JulieDec 02
Brown, JeffreyDec 04
Carnegie, ClydeDec 04
Granger, GlennDec 04
Watkins, ScottDec 04
Smith, LesaDec 07
Holoweiko, MarkDec 15
Ding-Mejok, PeterDec 18
Cavanaugh, MichaelDec 19
Lilje, MissyDec 19
Lyon-Moore, TobiDec 23
Kmetz, TeresaDec 29
Reynaert, MichelleDec 29
Achuonjei, PeterDec 30
Special Music
We will be rewarded with a real treat this Friday, December 8th.  Hometown guest Demi Fragale will be honoring us with a performance being in town to perform with the Lansing Symphony and the MSU Youth Chorale for a Holiday Pops at the Wharton Center on Sunday, 3:00 p.m.  It will be an afternoon of timeless carols and festive tunes.  Her father, Tony Fragale was a member with us for a number of years.
Social Media
Do you like us on Twitter? Do you like us on Facebook? I know you do not like us on Instagram as we just set up this account, so go like us! We need your help spreading the good work of Rotary and what it is we do for the Lansing Community on all of our social media channels. Going forward we will be awarding a lucky rotarian each week a Biggby Gift card to purchase a coffee on us just for posting about rotary.
 
Here is how you can take advantage. Post to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Tag our Rotary page and/or use our rotary Hagtag of #LansingRotary and we will draw a winner each week to receive a gift card….oh and one stipulation, you MUST be present at the meeting to win.
 
ClubRunner's Mobile App
The ClubRunner Mobile app allows you to view our club's member directory, contact other members and read the latest articles posted to our website right from your smartphone or tablet.
 
Immediately view the most up to date member directory, upon login.  You can browse other member profiles which give you the necessary contact information you need to connect with just one click.  Make a call to any of their phone numbers, email them directly from your device, or even add them to your contacts list.
 
To download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play, simply type in 'Clubrunner' in the search bar.  The mobile app is compatible with all versions of the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch sets that have iOS 8.0 or later and with versions of Android that are 2.3.3 or better.  You will need you ClubRunner login credentials to login to the app.  If you need help with your credentials, please contact Cathy@LansingRotary.com
Editarian Report for December 1, 2017
On the first day of the last month of 2017, President Brewster rang the bell promptly to begin this week’s meeting. Jack Davis gave the invocation and the club sang the Star Spangled Banner.
 
Lisa Smith roamed the room delivering the microphone for Rotarians to introduce their guests. All of our guests are either in the process of becoming members, so the free lunch is almost over for them. Anne Cauley started to declare the club generally in good physical health, however Jenn Dubey informed the club that Jim Phillips mother passed away. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim and his family.
 
Next President Brewster awarded a new member red badge to Hari Kern. Welcome to the club.
 
Ken Beachler introduced special music for the day, none other than Bob Baldori on the piano. Boogie Bob entertained us with two number “Down the Road a Piece” and “I’m so Glad I’m Living in the USA”. Boogie Bob’s attempt at a club sing along failed miserably and left him wondering if he was in the USA.
 
Former club President Jeff Crippen had the honor of introducing our speaker for the day, Marcos Purty, GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant Manager. Mr. Purty has been with GM for 23 years and in his time with the company has held posts in the organization that has taken him to Canada, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and back to living in the USA in his current position with GM.
 
Mr. Purty noted that while GM will always be a vehicle manufacturer at its core, the company has transformed itself to a technology driven business. With technology driving the industry there will be more change in the automotive industry now than in the last 50 years. He used the analogy of Sears which evolved from a catalog mail order company to its current department stores over 100 years of existence to where it is today versus Amazon which has transformed the retail market in a little over ten years. Technology has forced business to change more rapidly than ever in our history.
 
GM has embraced this technological change by redefining the sale of automobiles to personal mobility. Personal mobility centers around connectivity, alternative propulsion, autonomous driving and ride sharing. GM has led this change beginning with On Star which was available in their vehicles in 1996. Mr. Purty noted that he believes plants like the Delta Township facility are today better defined as technology parks.
 
Connectivity today revolves around 4G LTE cellular connections and how today’s vehicles must be able to interact with this technology to stay relevant in the market. Alternative propulsion includes electric and hybrid vehicles. GM has introduced the Chevy Bolt which has a range of 240 miles per charge and the Volt hybrid which has been available for some time.
 
Mr. Purty noted that autonomous driving is not years off but already here with Cadillac offering the Super Cruise – hands free driving system. GM has tested self-driving vehicles throughout the country including places such as San Francisco and Scottsdale, Arizona and has driven millions of miles testing these systems.
 
Ride sharing is becoming a popular option with Millennials and in certain urban areas where owning a vehicle can be cost prohibitive due to the high cost of parking and storage, as well as the inconvenience due to congestion in these cities. GM has formed a strategic alliance with the transportation network company - Lyft. Additionally, GM has started a company called Maven a car sharing company to position itself for this area of making vehicles available for use only when needed versus owning, storing and maintaining a vehicle individually.
 
While some of us may wonder if the future will be void of vehicles that we can own, put gasoline or diesel into the tank and still drive ourselves to our destinations, Mr. Purty assured us that these things are not going away anytime soon. Our need for speed and controlling our destiny will be there in the future.
 
After a number of good questions, our meeting was adjourned until next Friday by President Brewster. Next week is our clubs annual meeting and presentations by new members.
 
Tim Adam's email is:  TAdams@manercpa.com
Speakers
Dec 15, 2017
at the Lansing Center
Dec 22, 2017
Dec 29, 2017
Jan 05, 2018
Andy Schor, New Mayor
View entire list
Rotary Club of Lansing
P. O. Box 13156
Lansing, MI   48901-3156