John Stauffer is the current Executive Director of Helping Hands Respite Care. John was raised in the Lansing area but spent most of his professional life “on the move” having lived in 4 countries and 17 states. The exposure to these many diverse communities and cultures has helped John develop a broad understanding of how business, politics, economics, culture, and geographic location impact the ability of a business entity to be successful. He holds an undergraduate degree in Materials Logistics Management from Michigan State, and an MBA from Campbell State University (majoring in finance).
John has owned his own business, worked for a small and a large corporation, served on over a dozen boards. Because of his position as Executive Director for Helping Hands Respite Care he is associated with the Michigan Adult Day Services Association of Michigan (MADSA), where he is currently finishing his second year as president of this association.
John has been married for 34 years, he and his wife have raised three boys all of whom have recently graduated from college and all of whom have been married in the last 12 months. He is a man proud of his faith, family and country, having served seven years in Army Intelligence. John brings all of his business and life skills to play in assuring that the families who utilize the six respite programs delivered by Helping Hands Respite Care receive the highest quality of care available, along with the dignity and respect to each of the family members touched by the programs he oversees.
You, yes, YOU, are letting the club down. We need a couple of new editarians to keep McGillicuddy and me from hogging all the glory that comes with the title Editarian (which is a totally made up word). Rick Foster moved to assisted living to avoid being an editarian. Steve Schultz joined the East Lansing club to avoid being an editarian. Dean Sienko started a war in Iraq a few years ago to avoid being an editarian (he came back, avoided me for 3 years and then announced he’s moving to Atlanta, hope he doesn’t start a war there). Maybe these aren’t the best selling points for getting you to be an editarian, but it emphasizes the point that we need replacements. Specifically, we need you and you know who you are. If you’re semi-literate and occasionally attend our Friday meetings, this job’s for you. It takes less time than delivering food for meals on wheels, is food for the soul for ex-Rotarians like Stan Starnes (who still reads our weekly reports) and you’re only called upon 4-5 times a year to attend a meeting, take notes and pass the notes to Cathy. Cathy plugs your drivel into the Rotogram, typos, mis-statements and all. It’s like being a speech writer for Donald Trump! You can’t screw it up! If we don’t get volunteers, I’ll suggest the volunteers I want to our new President and he’ll get volunteers the old fashioned way, the draft. Please don't make me ask Jack Davis to help me do my editarian job, I'll owe him for the rest of my life. Email cathy@lansingrotary.com or schumacher@glassenrhead.com and we’ll put you on the schedule. Thanks, it’s really not that hard.
On Monday, July 18......In a ceremony at the White House.....Our country's highest military award....The Medal of Honor.....will be presented to 86 year old Michigan native Charles Kettles for performing an act of extreme bravery in Vietnam on May 15, 1967.
Kettles, who was born and raised in Ypsilanti, is credited with saving over 40 lives while flying his UH-1 helicopter into dizzying, withering fire to rescue a group of American soldiers who had been ambushed by North Vietnamese troops.
Prior to this award, Michigan was credited with eight Medal of Honor recipients for the war in Vietnam....the number now increases to nine....only two still living.
In keeping with tradition, the award ceremony for Colonel Kettles will probably be telecast live on 7.18, usually around noon on CNN, Fox and/or the major networks.
Colonel Kettles is the brother of deceased Lansing Rotarian Richard Kettles.
It was an amazing Centennial year for the Rotary Club of Lansing. As you see below, it was a very busy year of celebration and validation of why we are Rotarians!
June/July/August, 2015
Rotarians were interviewed on video to capture the oral history of significant Club happenings
Rotarians completed written “Rotary Reflections” to capture what Rotary means to them.
September, 2015
Rotarians tracked over 100 miles in conjunction with the Capital City River Run
October, 2015
Rotarians donated over 100 books to Ele’s Place, Boys & Girls Club and the Ingham County Health Department
November, 2015
A separate committee formed to create a spectacular Rotary 100 Years of Service Above Self Float for the Silver Bells in the City’s Electric Light Parade
February, 2016
Rotarians donated well over 100 cans of food and hundreds of dollars to the Greater Lansing Food Bank.
March, 2016
Dave Trumpie took an official Club photo to capture our Centennial Rotarians
April, 2016
Rotarians focused on 100 hours of service
May, 2016
Articles were published about the Lansing Rotary Club in the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and the Capital Area Women’s Lifestyle Magazine
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (read on the floor and submitted as Congressional Record)
U.S. Representative Mike Bishop (read on the floor and submitted as Congressional Record)
Governor Snyder
Senator Hertel, Representatives Cochran, Singh and Schor
Mayor Virg Bernero, City of Lansing
Lansing City Council
Ingham County Board of Commissioners
Friday, June 17, 2016
A night of celebration was enjoyed by Club members in recognition of the Centennial. President Smith started the evening off with a champagne toast followed by a poignant invocation by Dick Ammons. A fantastic dinner was served by the Lansing Center staff and centennial photos and Rotary reflections were displayed on the screen.
The program kicked off with remarks by President Lisa Smith and Centennial Chair Mark Hooper.
Past Presidents Crippen and Pence recognized Rotarians serving the Club for more than 40 years and presented them with a Centennial pin.
Gleason, Richard
40
Beachler, Kenneth
41
Guilford, Richard
41
Harrison, Michael G.
42
Bates, Jack E.
42
Cavanaugh, Michael
42
Williams, Wayne
43
Linnell, Paul
43
Spencer, J. Clyde
44
Stephenson, John
45
Kane, William
45
Wanger, Eugene
47
Anthony, Rick
47
Foster, Jr., Richard B.
49
Hines, Donald
50
Vernon, Duane
54
Neumann, F. Karl
54
Nugent, George
54
Nichols, John I.
58
Draper, Jack R.
63
Kelly Rossman from the Sergeant at Arms Committee presented the history and significance behind women becoming members of the Lansing Rotary Club.
Then, as is custom at Lansing Rotary, the first class entertainment began. Backed by a 5-piece band and led by John Dale Smith, Rotarians were entertained by featured vocalists Ken Beachler, Meghan Eldred, Jerry Krause, Janine Novenske Smith and Adam Wooley. Through song, we were taken through the decades concluding with a Gershwin medley.
The Sergeant at Arms Committee of Jim McGillicuddy and Dave Marvin made two appearances to roast the Rotary and provide a return of the always-amazing Marvack the Magnificent.
To wrap up the evening, the entire group sang a rousing version of God Bless America.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Our Centennial Club meeting featured the Rotary International President K. R. Ravindran as our speaker and he provided words of inspiration to Lansing and other area local
Rotarians.
Thank you to the entire Celebration Committee for a wonderful year for Lansing Rotary!!!
John Stauffer is the current Executive Director of Helping Hands Respite Care. John was raised in the Lansing area but spent most of his professional life “on the move” having lived in 4 countries and 17 states. The exposure to these many diverse communities and cultures has helped John develop a broad understanding of how business, politics, economics, culture, and geographic location impact the ability of a business entity to be successful. He holds an undergraduate degree in Materials Logistics Management from Michigan State, and an MBA from Campbell State University (majoring in finance).