The Rotary Club of Lansing meeting was called to order at 12:30. President Chris Swope led us in the four way test. Just realizing we forgot to congratulate him on his resounding victory last week on Election Day!
Kelli Ellsworth-Etchison led us in a reflection. She is still in our club? She said only John Cauley can get her here.
She read a reflection about Power. Let us tap in to our power to leave our legacy. So please get started on that, ideally by tomorrow.
Our patriotic song for the day was America the Beautiful.
Our guests for the day included Kylee Mohammed, who is a financial advisor and certified divorce analyst at Ameriprise Financial in Okemos. She can help you build wealth and then fairly divide it forever. Sara Majeske was my guest from Custom Built – here to build custom relationships. Assistant Director of African Studies Isaac Kalumbu from Zimbabwe joined us as well.
John Lundy is Dunder Mifflin’s Assistant to the Regional Manager. I mean Assistant District Governor for our club – I’m told this is an important title. Chris Sell joined us as Director of Alumni and Entrepreneur Engagement at the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship along with Ed Phillips who leads the travel program at MSU. A professional vacation curator.
Cameo King was in attendance – she is Executive Director of Grit Glam and Guts as well as the Director of Corporate Relations and Annual Giving for the Capital Area United Way. Sounds like lots of big jobs. Health of the club – Sarah Garcia is sporting a fashionable orthopedic boot. Congrats to Bobby Hoffman on his retirement from Wharton Center. Now free to chase his dreams full time!
Courtney Millbrook introduced Shruthi Kattumenu who played the violin for us today. She is also the Marketing and Communications Manager at Lansing Symphony
Orchestra. Some people collect stamps. Shruthi collects jobs. The International Grant Application process is open from October 15th through November 15th. The link for the application is located in the Rotogram and our website.
Orchestra. Some people collect stamps. Shruthi collects jobs. The International Grant Application process is open from October 15th through November 15th. The link for the application is located in the Rotogram and our website.The 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch is on January 18th, 2026 at the Lansing Center at 11:00 am. To sign up, contact Bilky Joda-Miller to take your deposit to confirm your seat.
There will be a committee meeting after todays meeting for Loftus Club. If you’re just reading this, you’re too late!
We have a volunteer opportunity at the Greater Lansing Food Bank on Tuesday, November 25th from 9-11 a.m.
Chris Holman came up for the October birthdays. There are only two people who haven’t donated yet and Chris is confident they will participate. The question for the month was “What was your favorite Halloween costume?” Jerry Granger was Big Bird – whose nose is larger than his! Nathan Tripplet dressed as a Minute Man before dressing up like Lin-Manuel Miranda was cool.
John Cauley, our Chair of the Day, introduced Renee Branch Canady, our speaker.
Renee’s presentation was titled “Timing is Everything: A Call for Leaders to Lead.” Renee has been a public health professional for almost forty years and currently is the CEO at Michigan Public Health Institute. Her work began in the 1980’s – and that is when she continued to see that differences were driving inequity in the public health space. Plot twist – this is still a thing.Renee thinks that now is a Time for Change. We are getting some things wrong. She reminded us of a quote from Patrick Henry – United we Stand, Divided we Fall. Ironic that Patrick Henry was not known for needing health insurance, but sure.
The challenge of making peace with difference. She spoke about the “excuse me, but” phenomenon – because it’s time to speak up. “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friend” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
We then did an exercise in which we read the sentence “I didn’t say she stole the book” at our tables. And each time we emphasized a different word in the sentence. This shows how we all use the same words that can mean entirely different things. Turns out, depending on which word you emphasize, the sentence can mean anything from a denial to a polite accusation to full-blown gossip. So yes, YOU are the reason your emails cause problems. Inaction is as problematic as wrong action. She introduced Productive Outrage. “That’s all I can stand, and I can’t stands no more!” – this is a quote from Popeye. He was the original DEI consultant. Productive Outrage is not screaming in your car, but rather indignation that fuels change. Why aren’t YOU pissed off, too!?
Change Agent Tables Stakes
It’s not about you. But it’s all about you.
Relationships are primary. All else is derivative.
Keep people whole and Keep them at the table.
We do this work not because we have to, but because we get to.
“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the worlds grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it” – Talmud.
Next week, we will be back here in the Michigan Room and our speaker will be Dick Peffley, General Manager with Lansing Board of Water and Light. Prepare to be productively outraged about data centers and the fact that your bill has never been the same twice!!!
Email for Ben Rathbun: Ben@rathbunagency.com