Back to School Time
Summer vacation is over and classes resumed today at Petoskey schools. As students were making their way to their classrooms, 34 Sunrise Rotarians converged on the First Presbyterian Church for their weekly dose of fellowship and learning. We welcomed prospective members Pete Uhlich and Megan Zaremba, Noon Club member Reg Smith, and our speaker Dr. Roger Gietzen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jenny Johnson was our wonderful greeter, Randy Evans led the pledge, Tim Murphy was here to lead the 4-Way Test and Matt expertly wielded the gavel. This, my friends, is a well-oiled Rotary machine!
This coming weekend is when we host the inbound Rotary Youth Exchange students for their orientation. They do this annually at Camp Daggett for the new batch of foreign guests. Former District Governor Mark Andresky of Charlevoix is coordinating the meals. I tried to find a block of time that we could fill with Sunrise Rotarians, but that didn't work. Mark just needs individuals in different time slots. Those slots are:
- Dinner, Fri., 9/11, 5 p.-7:30 p
- B-fast, Sat. 9/12, 6:30 a.-9:30 a.
- Lunch, Sat. 9/12, 11 a.-2 p.
- Dinner, Sat. 9/12, 5 p.-7:30 p
- B-fast, Sun. 9/13, 6:30 a.-9:30 a.
If you can help during one of the shifts, reach out to Mark at markandresky@gmail.com.
There are still plenty of seats remaining for the Rotary District 6290 Sunset Cruise on Little Traverse Bay. The cruise will be Mon. Sept. 21. Boarding begins at 5:30 p.m. and the boat shoves off at 6:00. The cost is $45/person and that includes food. A cash bar will also be available. Order your tickets here: https://ridistrict6290.org/events/rotary-on-the-bay-an-evening-of-fellowship-on-little-traverse-bay/
Reg Smith says plans are also underway for a multi-club mixer at Gypsy Distillery on Oct. 14th. The time is 6-8 p.m. Details will be coming soon.
Randy Evans has finished counting dots. Our dot-voting indicated our club would like to see a New Generation Board Chair to focus on attracting and retaining young people (17 votes). There were 16-votes for increasing member interactions so that everyone gets to know one another better. And 13 votes for linking members to service projects that utilize their talents. President Matt will continue to work to formulate an action plan for our club.
If you know of anyone who has a house available to rent in the month of February, Andy Hayes is looking to get back into the area that month to enjoy some home town winter recreating.
HAPPY BUCKS
Open those wallets folks! Who's happy?
Matt opened the Happy Bucks segment with a fiver in honor of his sister's 50th birthday today.
Dave Meyer had a wonderful Labor Day and he really enjoyed the bridge walk....across the swinging bridge in Alanson!
Tom Oelke enjoyed some mountain biking up in Copper Harbor along with a few dips in Lake Superior.
It was a great weekend for Jennifer Kolp who got to spend time with her mother and brother on Torch Lake.
Heidi was out on the lake too. She went on a boating excursion and felt like a little kid again. Is a new boat in Heidi's future?
Deedee had a fifty, but we didn't have enough change, so she got a freebie for the gorgeous weekend and to promote a Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra piano concert Saturday in Bay View.
Finally someone said it! Someone had to make light of U of M's poor football performance on Saturday and their gift of an extra play to win it. Kathy Motschall says there are new signs that say "Welcome to Ann Arbor. Turn Your Clocks Back 1-second!"
PROGRAM: Haiti
As part of the David Meyer Sunrise Rotary Lecture Series, David welcomed our good friend Dr. Roger Gietzen who provided an update on his work in Haiti.
Roger's Global Freedom Project is supported by Sunrise Rotary and supports efforts to teach new methods of farming in Haiti that provide better yields, restore topsoil, and improve sustainability, all as a means to help those in poverty.
He started going to Haiti in 2015 as a doctor to help train neurologists there. While there, Dr. Gietzen observed overcrowding, poor sanitation, deforestation, and land erosion. Over the years he tried different programs to help the people of Haiti and eventually discovered Agro Forestry as the program that was the most viable.
A key component of Agro Forestry is the planting of trees which is counter to the culture in the country which tends to get rid of trees. But trees play an important role in soil restoration and controlling erosion.
Roger spoke of some partnerships with other organizations, one of which is Mamoulay, a Belgian organization that has the best demonstration farm. Milot is a church, a school, and a farm and much of the work is youth and family focused. But Roger's pride and joy has been working with individual, local farmers and watching their farms start to thrive. Some farmers have even formed co-ops to share equipment, transportation costs, and other resources.
Working in Haiti comes with many challenges. A new issue is for protestors to block off key roads forcing travelers to take unconventional, cross-country routes. Plus getting in and out of the country is increasingly difficult. Roger is planning to go back in October.
Just recently, Roger purchased a home and 20 acres up in the Good Hart area where he hopes to practice some Agro Forestry by establishing his own orchard.
Thanks Roger for the important work you are doing to help the people of Haiti. You are an inspiration.
Have a great week everyone!
Respectfully submitted,
Carlin Smith
