Notes from Rotary Meeting of August 26, 2013
President Tyler Smith called the meeting to order and led members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test of Rotary. Dale Wratchford offered the invocation.
Leigh Morris led in singing “All Hail to Rotary”.
Happy $$$’s – Tyler Smith, Mitch Feikes, Deb Varnak, Leigh Morris, Mike Rosenbaum, Gene Burrows, Mike Seitz, Norm Juday, Dale Wratchford, and Dave Dykstra.
Sergeant-at-Arms – Mitch Feikes raised money for the club (with the help of Neil Mangus wielding the collection basket) with questions about Labor Day including: the date of the first celebration (1882), the date of the first labor strike (1636), and the other event Labor Day celebrates (beginning of football season!)
Announcements – President Smith called members’ attention to the listing of members and their classifications which was available on each table. H e reminded members that there were over 200 classifications not represented in our club, including realtors, car dealers, and athletic and fitness organizations. He encouraged Rotarians to seek out possible members using this listing. He also reminded members that one of the annual goals is for each Rotarian to bring a guest/potential member to a meeting.
He also announced the Foundation Dinner to be held on October 4 in South Bend. The Smiths, the Varnaks, and the Morrises plan to attend. Part of the cost for the evening includes a contribution to the Rotary Foundation. If you are interested in attending, please contact Tyler for more information.
Mike Seitz, chair of Rotary’s corn roast booth at Sunflower Fair in downtown La Porte on Saturday, September 21, encouraged Rotarians to sign up for work shifts on that date. Set up is from 7 to 9am, clean up is from 2 to 4pm, and selling shifts are from 9am to noon and noon to 2pm. Contact Mike to volunteer.
Program – Steve Laue, Maple City Chess Club
Deb Varnak introduced Mr. Laue, a well known individual from his past role as Chaplain at IU Health LaPorte Hospital and from his weekly newspaper column. He discussed the newly formed Maple City Chess Club in his usual gentle and thoughtful way. He said there were three key guidelines: Have fun, stretch your mind, and help the community. He began his presentation by using a chess board covered in quarters to invite Rotarians to support the club with an immediate financial contribution. H e also spoke of his vision for the future of the club by advocating a week-long session next summer in which adult volunteers would mentor and teach chess to 16 at-risk children in the park. He invited all who are interested in learning or playing chess to attend a session on the second Thursday of the month at Karmel Coffee House, and the fourth Thursday of the month at El Bracero. Among the volunteers for the Chess Club are Rotarians Dale Wratchford and Christina Dougherty, as well as Doug Busby, Frank Aerts, and retired teacher Mike Powers. And while he was giving his presentation, he was also playing a game of chess with President Tyler Smith, who graciously conceded the game in order to adjourn.
Rotarians in attendance were: Mike Arnett, Gene Burrows, Ron Cmiel, Dave Dykstra, Mitch Feikes, Ron Gigliotti, Judy Hamilton, Bill Hedge, Norm Juday, Neil Mangus, Leigh Morris, Dale Parkison, Mike Rosenbaum, Mike Seitz, Vern Sikora, Tyler Smith, Dale Wratchford. Guest: Randy Thorpe, La Porte Community School Corporation.