Spotlight 02-01-11, Vol. 73, No. 4

Posted by Elizabeth Walker 
 

Program:

Program host Ron Cleveland intended to introduce Mike Hatty as his speaker, but due to a murder trial, Mike was unable to appear at Rotary today.  Our every nimble Ron shared an interesting vignette from his past.

 

Brighton Rotary Spotlight

Jeremy Jones, President

February 1, 2011, Vol. 73, No.4

 

Guests:            Adrienne Knack, wk3; Mike Murphy, Liv. Sunrise Rotary

 

Announcements:

An Evening with Jeff Daniels concert on 3/19 at 8pm continues to sell well-all VIP tickets are sold and five more students are needed to help usher. George Moses created a FaceBook page about the concert and you can invite your friends to view and attend this event.

Thank You Rotary Readers (Bill Anderson, Brian Donovan, Dave Hartsook, Mike McManus, Melanie Moses and George Moses) for the wonderful job at Community Connect on Saturday, January 28, 29011!

Our Brighton Rotary Foundation has initiated a Sustaining Fund Drive to create an endowment fund that will generate interest to support scholarships and Club endeavors.  Jeff Toole distributed pledge cards and the Foundation has set a goal of raising $1,000 per person, payable in ten $100 annual installments.

The Fowlerville Rotary has challenged our Brighton Rotary to reserve at least two tables for the American Red Cross Everyday Heroes Dinner on Thursday, 2/17, 6:30pm at Crystal Gardens.  Lori Lalama has already reserved one table of 10 for $280, and has a few seats available there ($28/person) or we can add another table.  See Lori for info.

George Moses encouraged the Club to help this week decorating and naming our camel that will be racing in the Brighton Optimist's Mardi Gras Big Camel Race on February 5th at 6:30pm at Crystal Gardens in Howell.  $30 admission includes dinner and drinks. See www.BigCamelRace.com for more information.

Interact and Sylvan Learning Center are hosting a Practice ACT test on Saturday, February 5th at a cost of $25 in advance, $30 at the door.  Register at the Brighton District Library or Sylvan Learning Center.

Mike Murphy from the Livingston Sunrise Rotary encouraged Rotarians to support OLSHA's "Walk for Warmth" on Saturday 2/12/11 at the Old Hartland High School.  Nancy Johnson and Dave Hartsook have formed a Brighton Rotary walking team and welcome others who wish to walk and raise funds.  Additional pledge forms will be circulated at next week's meeting.

The VINA Dental Clinic is trying to expand their services to meet community needs and is hosting a Dinner-Auction at Lakelands Country Club on February 5th.  Tickets are $75/person and items for purchase include a timeshare in the Bahamas and other trips.  Cathy Riesterer has twenty tickets left for those interested in attending.

A new dance company club is forming at Brighton High School and a workshop and informational meeting is being held on April 23rd, 6:00pm at Michelle's Academy of Dance.  Interested students can contact www.BHSDanceCompany.org.  A performance supported by founding club members will be held on February 26, 6:00pm at the BCPA.

Upcoming Events:

01/29/11                            Rotary Readers, Community Connect @ Cornerstone Church

03/19/11                            Fundraising Concert with Jeff Daniels at the BCPA

04/29/11-05/01/11             District 6380 Conference in Traverse City

06/28/11                            President's Night

 

Program:

Program host Ron Cleveland intended to introduce Mike Hatty as his speaker, but due to a murder trial, Mike was unable to appear at Rotary today.  Our every nimble Ron shared an interesting vignette from his past.  Ron worked with a distributor of fruit packing supplies when he lived in the state of Washington.  We all know about the famous Washington apples and other fruit products grown in Washington, and his firm supplied Jiffy pads, and cardboard pulp products such as those used to ship apples to the farmers.  Because his firm wanted to produce the pulp products rather than purchasing them, Ron and the other stock owners attempted to start a joint venture with the pulp product supplier.  When those efforts failed, Ron and company found an old machine in New Zealand and used their engineering knowledge and resources to  create a product that replaced their previously purchased pulp products.  They eventually captured 40 percent of the market in their Washington area.  Ron concluded his presentation with the statement:  Ïf you have a bunch of guys that don't know that they can fail and a group of large companies that think no one else can duplicate what they do-an opportunity is found.  Sound a bit familiar to our Big Three car companies?  

 

Progressive 50/50 Drawing :  $360 pot and 43 cards remain.  Jerry Hardesty drew a King of spades, Brian Wutz drew an Ace of hearts, and Pam McConeghy drew the Four of hearts.