Spotlight 10-13-15, Vol. 77, No. 38

Posted by Beth Walker

on Oct 13, 2015

PROGRAM:

Program host Steve Belanger introduced Major Prezza Morrison of the Salvation Army, Livingston County

Brighton Rotary Spotlight

Cathy Riesterer, President

October 13, 2015, Vol. 77. No. 38

GUESTS: Major Prezza Morrison; Salvation Army

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Happy Birthday wishes to Mike Archinal; Rich Perlberg; Julie Smith; and Joe Leugers. Happy Anniversary toPam & Kevin McConeghy, and Jane & Stan Schafer (27 years)!

Kim Leugers had surgery on Monday and will be recovering for a while, so we are sending out get well wishes for a quick return to health and Rotary!

It was good to welcome back Dan Danosky and George Kudla who returned after bouts with illness and injury!

A Letter of Commendation was received from State Representative Lana Theis about the Dash or Crash fundraising.

A Thank You Note was received from Shari Davis-Schoech from Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

George Kudla alerted Club members that Rotary membership holds the key to finding world-wide friends wherever you may travel.

Two Truths & a Lie: This week, Brian Donovan and Tom Janego. Brian began by stating that most people know that he is in construction, but early in his career he worked 1) as an exterminator/tester for an agricultural company, 2) he was entered into and won a beauty contest, and 3) when young, his family lived in St. Clair Shores where his father was a milkman. One day the family went ice fishing and his brother fell through the ice and Brian rescued him. Tom Janego guessed that #1 the exterminator was the lie. Brian said that it was actually his father that rescued his brother, so #3 was the lie. Tom Janego stated that 1) he once had a hole-in-one while golfing, 2) they he flew with the Blue Angels, and 3) that as a banker, he once was able to lower a customer’s interest rate down to 25%. Brian guessed that #1 the hole-in-one was the lie. Tom said that he missed flying with the Blue Angels by about 10 minutes, so #2 was the lie.

Next Week: George Moses and Fred Bodnar.

Anne Belser, Carole Bullion-Mincy, April Dertian, Pam McConeghy,and Maribeth Regnier reported on last Tuesday’s US-23 Highway Cleanup in poetry verse!

Jane McManus presented a Rotary Club flag received from the Seaside Oregon Club where she and Mike had traveled last week and met that Club’s District Governor on the official visit.

Mike McManus alerted members to the November 7^th Rotary Foundation Gala for the District that will allow attendees to see what other Clubs are doing and which grants are being pursued. Cocktails begin at 5pm, Dinner at 6:30pm at the St. Nicholas Cultural Center. Tickets are $45 per person. More details to follow as the date approaches.

Jeannie McMillan circulated a volunteer registration sheet to help with the November 25^th Turkey Dinner Deliveries. Gleaners Food Bank has offered to help provide food we may need, and Jeannie mentioned that we need to forge a new turkey connection to acquire the birds for cooking.

Next Tuesday’s lunch will celebrate Rotary’s World Polio Day (officially held on 10/24) with a special tailgate organized by Tom Coates. Tom asks everyone to wear their school colors for this outdoor tailgate which will include a chili bar, prime rib French dip, potato salad and desserts. Bring your appetites, guests, and donations for polio! One Club member has volunteered to match $ for $ what funds we raise (make tax-deductible checks payable to Brighton Rotary Foundation, with a notation For Polio). This means that for every $1 donated, the Member and Gates Foundation match will turn into $4!

Greg Gray reminded about the November 3^rd Special Education Millage that will restore approximately $7million to local districts ($1.8 million to Brighton’s General Fund) if the proposal passes.

Nancy B. Johnson encouraged members to attend the Brighton District Library’s (BDL) Friends Book Sale, Oct. 12-18, and Beth Walker distributed postcard sized signs for placement in windows and doors to support the 11/3 BDL Millage Proposal.

Dennis Whitney alerted the Club that today is the 240^th Birthday of the US Navy and also his bride’s 71^st birthday. He thanked Rotary for helping to give him a purpose and reason to keep going when he lost his wife.

Upcoming Events:

10/20/15 World Polio Day Celebration—special lunch menu to support polio efforts

11/07/15 5pm Rotary Foundation Gala, St. Nicholas Cultural Center, Waterford

11/25/15 Turkey Dinner Deliveries

05/15-16/16 Rotary District Conference at Chatham, Ontario, Canada

PROGRAM:

Program host Steve Belanger introduced Major Prezza Morrison of the Salvation Army, Livingston County. Major Morrison has three siblings that work for the Salvation Army at sites around the world, and also has a 15-year-old son that attends Howell High School. The Salvation Army celebrates their 150^th year of existence this year with a presence in 127 countries. 2016 marks 125 years in Livingston County. In addition to providing disaster services/assistance for major catastrophes like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, they also operate orphanages, hospitals, feeding stations, churches, help with housing needs and whatever is lacking in a community. Within Livingston County, the Salvation Army has helped shelter 150 households this past year and provided 40 $250 vouchers for back-to-school shopping at the Salvation Army Store. They are gearing for the Red Kettle Holiday Campaign and looking for volunteers to ring the bell. Register at the Salvation Army website. Walmart & Kroger will allow volunteers to ring between the two outside doors this year. To help fuel donations, the November 7^th Red Tie Gala will be held at Mt. Brighton beginning at 5pm. Donations are $50 per person, $90 per couple, and can be reserved by contacting our Brighton Rotarian April Dertian at 517-295-4344.

50/50 Drawing: Dennis Kallio, Karen Gill, and Salvation Army Major Morrison were unsuccessful in locating the Ace of Spades to with the jackpot.