September 10, 2008 Upcoming Programs Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Legislative Update John Proos, State Representative Rotary Youth Leadership Jack Porritt If you missed the last meetings On Aug. 25, Carl Spikner spoke on Diversity with Inclusion, Christine Vanlandingham was Chair of the Day. A team from St. Joseph Schools, led by Superintendent, Al Skibbe, and St. Joseph School Foundation Board President, Bill Marohn, showed us The Classroom of Today.
Club Notes Your 2008-2009 Rotary Leadership Team at Work We have heard your concerns about increasing requests for donations and volunteers over the years and the "donor" fatigue experienced by many as a result. This has been partly addressed over the last few years via limiting announcements from the podium at meetings each week, including from speakers, and also returning Happy Bucks during the meetings to sharing of good personal or work-related news. Since we are a service club, the ewheel is still available as an avenue to ask for donations and/or volunteers. We've also introduced the Business/Community Calendar as another avenue. In the spirit of continuing to address your concerns, your Leadership Team recently adopted the following schedule of Club-related donation solicitations from the podium, except where noted. We have spaced these out as much as possible. Also, the timing may vary a bit from year to year. This does not include miscellaneous items like raffle tickets for District or Superbooks. July - District Governor Appeal (varies from year to year) August/September - St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation (Pledge reminders mailed) November - Report out of SJ/BH Rotary Foundation Grants at Quarterly Forum (no appeal) Periodic report out of Paul Harris (International) (no appeal) December - Salvation Army Annual Request, Blood Drive Request (blood and/or dollars and/or volunteers) February - Paul Harris (International) (appeal) March - District Appeals/Presently Bio Sand Filter (program, appeal) (will be April in 2009) April - Track Meet (ads, etc.) May - Local Service Project (program, appeal, varies from year to year) Blood Drive Request (blood and/or dollars and/or volunteers) June - Recognition of Paul Harris (program, appeal) Your Leadership Team sincerely appreciates all that you, as our members, contribute to the Club, including your service. We hope that adopting this schedule and the other actions taken will assist in relieving donor fatigue. For questions, comments, etc. on any of these items please contact Nanette Keiser, Club President, at nmksail@aol.com. Thank you! Rotary Foundation update from Steve Banyon, Executive Director The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation will be awarding up to $31,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations. Completed grant applications are due by September 26, and funds will be awarded later this year.
The mission of the local Rotary Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the greater Twin Cities area by supporting projects that support health, education and selfdevelopment. Projects that improve and enhance the physical aspects of the community are also supported. Particular emphasis is given to efforts that seek to better opportunities for youth and special needs populations. To access the guidelines and application, go to www.sjbhrotaryclub.org and click on the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation link. For questions after review of these materials, please call Steve Banyon at 429-4616. Donated school supplies delivered by Dominican Republic Rotary Club From Club Member, Josefina: Yesterday we finally went up to El Muerto to deliver part of the project supplies. We are so relieved because we had many obstacles to do this. It was raining and there was news that a tropical storm was coming and the transportation we originally had cancelled. Then we called a taxi and when the driver learned we would go to El Muerto he refused to go since the roads are too bad and were muddy and slippery. We couldn t find any transportation and decided to do it next week, then Miguel finally got a pick-up truck and we had a flat tire. We arrived two hours late. Some of the kids had left and some of them we ran into on the road that led to the school. You know, it was one of those days, and then, when we arrived the kids clapped and cheered and the ones that were on the way home came back. They were so excited and happy. It was great. Happy Buck from Alice Ford Rotary garage sale We are getting a lot of incredible donations! So far, some of the things delivered or promised include a brand new Epson photo printer, a lighted flamingo with a sweater for cold nights, everything for the kitchen...including the cabinets, a Lane Danish modern coffee table, sectional sofa, lots of jewelry, almost new twin beads with the sheets, yard and hobby items, and numerous other things. Each time someone unloads their car, it's
like Christmas. So, please get the word out. We have great stuff. We need buyers, too. AND, if you have any place to put a poster, I am attaching one. And don't forget, in addition to all of these bargains, you'll be contributing towards Rotary's PolioPlus, a program to make the world polio-free. Location: Ford's, 1424 Lake Blvd, SJ 9 am - 3 pm. Happy Buck from Melissa Schultz Lakeland HealthCare is pleased to offer our Flu Vaccination Program to companies in Southwestern Michigan and Michiana. Lakeland s Flu Vaccine Program is administered right at your workplace by registered nurses who adhere to Lakeland s high quality and service delivery standards. Lakeland HealthCare will begin work-site flu clinics on November 11, 2008. Flu season in our area usually starts in January and vaccines may be given throughout the winter. The influenza vaccine is the most effective way to protect against the influenza virus and its complications. Because the flu virus changes significantly each year, it is important to have an annual flu shot with the new vaccine each flu season. Keep your workforce healthy and prevent absenteeism by offering flu shots to your employees. Lakeland looks forward to helping you keep your employees healthy. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 269-927-5275. Be well - Melissa On behalf of the Rotary District 6360 Foundation The opportunity for our club to earn 20% ($4) from each raffle ticket sold for the Rotary District 6360 Foundation Raffle is here. This amount can be credited towards our club's registration fees for the 2009 RYLA Camps, for example. First Prize is $2,000 Second Prize is $500 (4 prizes) Third Prize is $250 (4) Fourth Prize is $100 (4) Only 1,500 tickets sold The tickets ($20 each) will be available at each Monday Club meeting between now and October 6 at the speaker's table. Business/Community Calendar
September 10 Ribbon Cutting (followed by an Open House) - Heathkit Educational Systems 2024 Hawthorne Ave - St. Joseph Charter Township - 4:30 p.m. All members are welcome! September 11 United Way of Southwest Michigan Day of Caring, Kickoff September 12 Soup Kitchen's Annual Golf Classic September 20-21st Third Coast Music Festival (St. Joseph Today) September 24 Ribbon Cutting - Central Packaging & Fulfillment - 1490 E. Empire - Benton Charter Township - 11:30 a.m. - All members are welcome! October 4 Harvest Fest & Chili Cook-off Visit the website at http://sjbhrotaryclub.org Nearby Make-Up Locations Monday Battle Creek 12:15 p.m. Burnham Brook Grand Haven 12:00 p.m. Community enter Kalamazoo 12:00 p.m. Kalamazoo Center Niles 12:10 p.m. Millennium Steak House Tuesday South Haven 7:00 a.m. South Haven Yacht Club Kalamazoo Sunrise 7:15 a.m. Café Radisson Plaza Hotel Berrien Springs 12:10 p.m. Timber Ridge Manor Wednesday Benton Harbor 7:00 a.m. Mercy Medical Center Paw Paw Lake 12:15 p.m. Watervliet Community Hospital Thursday Dowagiac 12:00 p.m. Elks Lodge Paw Paw 12:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church
Holland 12:10 p.m. Holiday Inn Lakeshore 12:10 p.m. 5 O Clock Sports Bar Friday Oshtemo 12:15 p.m. The Birches The fine print The ewheel is published by the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Club. The views expressed by the contributors to the ewheel are not necessarily endorsed or approved by the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Club or the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Foundation. The Club, the Foundation, nor the Editor of ewheel accepts any responsibility for the content or accuracy of information contained in this publication. We will also not accept any liability for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any person acting in reliance upon the information contained in this publication.