This was the time for our annual District Governor visit, by DG Paul M. Heroman, from the Ada/Cascade Club.  His wife Barb also attended with him, and we were provided with the vision of RI for this year of  Imagine the Possibilities, our theme for the Year.   At this same meeting we were visited by Noor Berie, Student of the Month from Spring Lake, and her father Ricky and sister Angie.   Mom was home resting with an expected new child next month or so.   Noor is a Sikh, her family having been from Northern India, and she and they now reside in Spring Lake where the family had a commercial business.   Noor is an outstanding academic student, plus participates in three varsity women’s sports, and also volunteers in community events.   She is a wonderful young lady who inspires those adults attending that there is a great future after Generation Z!   She will do well representing herself, and our Rotary Club as a Student of the Month, along with her community.

 

A reminder that our Interact Club members help to fund support to Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital was that Kathy Hegedus’ grandson received necessary medical care at this Hospital recently, and he benefited from the skilled care received during his Hospitalization.   Our Interact student members are finding the way to Imagine Rotary.   Thanks to our DG for updating us on this matter.

 

Paul brought up the name of David McCullough, an accomplished author, as an example of a person who uses Historical persons and events, to inspire others to accomplish the difficult and sometimes overwhelming moments of life, to provide HOPE and RESOLUTION of necessary tasks.  His connection between this author, and ROTARY, is that Rotarians need to tell our stories.   He listed several ways this can occur:

In our DG travels to so far over 50 District Rotary Clubs, he found people in each club that were dealing with Imagine Rotary.   Our Spring Lake example was the sky diving participation by Jacques Labo and Barb VanHorssen.   Each went for the ride, raising funds in the process for service to others, and helped themselves to a great experience, and encouraged others to support their efforts.   Dick Grout, a 104 year old WW II D-Day and Battle of the Bulge Veteran jumped from the plane also.   He wants to encourage others to take opportunities to serve others, while you can.  He thought an angel was helping him survive WWII battles, but discovered it was medical care on a Hospital Ship.  Another person who jumped at the Airport was a wheelchair bound young lady, Kate Riters, who as a specially challenged lady decided to recruit a couple of folks to lift her into the plane.   She did the rest, and loves to talks about the confidence she now has in taking on tasks.

 

We were able to view a message from RI Pres Jennifer Jones, a resident of Windsor, Ontario and our next PE, from Iowa about the activities of RI involving Polio plus eradication, Clean Water efforts in areas of the world where there has not been longevity because of water pathogens, Reading skills for formerly illiterate folks, all focusing on bringing Hope, Peace and Love to populations denied these experiences.  The DG asked, do you Imagine Rotary Doing all this??   How does each Rotarian have this ability to:

 

Our District 4290 will be bringing Clean Water and facilities to Haiti beginning this year, with the projects to continue over the next 5 years.  We know that with clean water and sanitation, babies will become adults, health of everyone will improve, and that local efforts can begin to focus on better infrastructure, education, and economic development.  DG Paul noted that there are 525,000 minutes in a year and each person in this world has the same amount of minutes.  The question that each Rotarian must ask is how will those minutes be used?   As commented by him, being a Member of a Rotary Club there are many opportunities, both locally, nationally and around the world to spend many minutes and hours of Service.   RI has the organization to direct activities when members Imagine the Possibilities.  DG Paul Heroman concluded his message by stating that each of our members has the ability to Imagine Rotary and provide Service from what we each and collectively can do.

 

Thanks for the visit DG Paul and spouse Barb.   We all appreciated the encouragement to continue with Service above Self.   As we finished our meeting, it was apparent that Rotary has a great volunteer leadership corps, with a Mission and many opportunities to Serve. 

 

Your scribe, Tom Boven (exchanged for Brad Mac’s opportunity to go to the Tenn Vol football game, beating Kentucky😊) PPS..Thanks for the acknowledgment of my 50 years of opportunity for Service!

 

Ps.  We are saddened to know that past Member Gary Hanks-Carpenter has passed.   He helped create enthusiasm for his entertainment venue known as Seven Steps Up, and also for all visiting musicians and entertainers along with those attending these special presentations. Condolences to his widow, Michelle.

The following is a link to sign up to volunteer to help pick the pop cans up from Herman Miller and drop them off for our interact kids. 

 

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4aacae23a4f58-herman

 

If you can help, please click the link and sign up!  Thank you!!