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Paging Kevin.. Pagin Kevin.. Well if this isn’t Ben Rathbun overload. Kevin was a no show for his Editarian duties, so y’all are stuck with my notes as well! Friday’s meeting convened at 12:30 PM, opening with a reflective message from Raeanne Mardigan that set the tone for the meeting—encouraging members to embrace positivity and shun negative self-talk. The gathering commenced on a patriotic note with the collective rendition of "America the Beautiful." We passed on introducing each guest individuallys, due to the size of our crowd drawn by the prospect of hearing keynote speaker Governor Rick Snyder. Andi Earl stepped forward to introduce Katy Troyer from the KGSA Foundation, providing a detailed update on the impactful projects supported by the Rotary Club in Kenya over the past three years. Our club joins four other clubs that are lending KGSA Support. Raeanne Mardigan gave her blue badge presentation, officially welcoming her as a new Rotary Club member. Next up was Governor Rick Snyder's address on Resilient Leadership. Snyder's talk unveiled his vision, encapsulated by the planning model of Vision, Engage, Adjust, and Accelerate, emphasizing the necessity of embracing multiple contingency plans (A/B/C/D) to navigate the intricate landscape of an ever-evolving world.  Governor Snyder delved into a comprehensive exploration of forces shaping our global landscape. His insights covered responses to geopolitical risks, acknowledging the need for critical thinking and strategic leadership. Regarding climate change, he emphasized the inevitability of dealing with it and advocated for proactive, pragmatic participation, long-term planning, and contingency strategies. Cybersecurity was highlighted as an area demanding proactive measures, with technology identified both as a vital asset and a substantial risk. Supply chain challenges prompted Snyder to underscore the importance of strategic analysis and relationship-building, emphasizing the need for contingency plans. Addressing demographic shifts, he highlighted the need for increased productivity, lifelong learning, and ongoing engagement with seniors. Discussing the erosion of civility, Snyder advocated for a shift towards compromise, relentless positive action, and avoiding win-lose scenarios. Governor Snyder further touched upon artificial intelligence, urging proactive research and application, coupled with considerations for ethics, rules, and boundaries. In the context of pandemics and unknowns, he stressed the importance of learning from past experiences, preparing through contingency planning, and conducting thorough reviews of successes and challenges for future reference. The heart of Snyder's message was encapsulated in his call to make informed decisions, foster innovation, and recognize the digital nature of technology compared to the analog nature of human interactions. Trust-building, win-win solutions, and relentless positive action were presented as cornerstones of effective leadership, with Snyder sharing his approach of avoiding negative discourse about others and simply focusing on getting the job done. As the meeting concluded, members left with a renewed commitment to embody Snyder's principles of trust, innovation, and relentless positive action in their Rotary Club activities. The slides from Rick's presentation are at the bottom of the Rotogram. Up next week, my wife will be speaking about Elderly Instruments – America’s Top Small Business! Ben's email is: Ben@rathbunagency.com PS Thank you so much to Ben Rathbun, besides being Chair of the Day & Month he was asked to be the Editarian at the end of the meeting. |
Lillian Werbin is President/Co-Owner of Elderly Instruments, a world-renowned fretted and stringed musical instrument retailer in Lansing, Michigan. When not managing Elderly Instruments, Lillian spends her time advocating for marginalized musicians, agonizing over spreadsheets, and enjoying music-related events of all varieties.