May, 2021 (Apr 21, 2021)

Good Day Rotarian's,

Passion: Is one of the great things about being in Rotary.. Everyone has a deep passion to help others. Whether it is in our own community or the world community, a Rotarian will be there to help. That has never been more true than with our small but determined group of civic minded people. Please keep that passion alive! We all want to help and make a difference, how we get there is sometimes a challenge. It is like driving to Florida, do you take 65 or 75? Do you take the direct route thru Atlanta or go the long way around? You end up in the same location. It is just how you get there.

A lot of our service depends on dollars we generate from the BBQ. Many obstacles have been placed before us this last year, the park being rebuilt; Covid; and the economics facing individuals and businesses.We have very capable people in our club. I am going to suggest that we not do BBQ’s this coming year. I will ask the Alpine Township Board to support CP Rotary with a substantial grant. I have talked to the Manager of Plainfield Township about them considering the same. The monies would come from the Federal Recovery money. I am sure that this is one of the ways we can use some of the grant funding we are provided. My plan is not to give any back to the Feds at the end of two years. We all love the BBQ and all that comes with it, but one more summer will allow the park to fully grow.

This will also allow us to direct our energy toward other endeavors. Speaking of which, I went by Grotto Park at the Veterans Facility and it looks really nice. I do not know when the entire build project will be done for the new veterans home and care facility but the Grotto looks great.

Do not forget to read all the District 6290 updates, there will be a District virtual fund raiser which is in the works, and they are asking for our support.

One other thing, stress is good and bad, it is a stimulus that generates our resilience and activates our senses and body systems to react and change, becoming stronger physically and mentally. Yet the wrong stress left unchecked will lead to health problems. Stay healthy and use your good stresses to keep the bad stress at bay. See everybody on May 4th. Greg Madura, President

UPDATE FROM OUR YOUTH & SCHOLARSHIP LEADER - Bob Homan

The past twelve months have been full of weirdness and the unprecedented. Just focus on a 71-year tradition of the annual Life Leadership Conference attended by high school students sponsored by the clubs in Rotary District 6290. Every summer since 1949 there was this exciting and product four-day event that went “POOF!” last June. However this year, despite the threat of COVID-19, District 6290 wasn’t going to let that happen again. Just like so many other organizations who fell back on ZOOM and similar remote platforms, this year’s LLC will be attended by more than 100 chosen high school students online from May 20-23, seven of whom are being sponsored by OUR club. They await this special event, and we await news about how well it was handled and received.

On a related note, Comstock Park Rotary Club is again presenting $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from Kenowa Hills and Comstock Park High Schools. I hope to be presenting them to Madison Voogt of KHHS and Kyler Smith of CPHS within the next few weeks. One presentation will be live at CPHS gymnasium and the other will be on ZOOM. I’m looking forward to representing our club there.