Meeting Notes

President John clanged the Rotary Bell and everybody stood to belt out The Star-Spangled Banner to Tom Strode’s accompaniment. It sounded great. So did Past President Beth Fitzsimmons’ Inspiration: “[Historian] Bruce Catton is best known for his many books on the Civil War, but he loved Benzie County. He writes of Frankfort, Michigan: “How could […]

President John rang the bell, and after belting out a Rotary rendition of “God Bless America,” Eric Lipson provided the day’s inspiration. He asked, “What inspires me?” and answered, “The people in this room inspire me, Rotary inspires me, both words and deeds can be inspirational, acts of courage and bravery and decency. And, yes […]

The real opening of the luncheon meeting occurred during the piano prelude – President John killed it. Your reporter can’t cite the music performed, only say that it was a beautiful, continuous ‘wall of sound’; the Rotary equivalent of the B-side of Abbey Road. Then, jumping from bench to podium in a second, John announced, […]

Harpoon Notes for March 7, 2018 By Ed Hoffman, photos by Fred Beutler President John struck the Rotary bell gently as Deanna’s superb piano prelude luffed in our consciousness like regatta pennants at sunset. All rose to sing a full-throated “My Country, Tis of Thee” with a gravitas worthy of our speaker and her subject. […]

After a beautiful piano prelude by Joan Knoertzer, President John opened the luncheon meeting with a whack of the Rotary Bell. All stood to sing “God Bless America,” and a spirited one it was. Laura Thomas came to the podium for the Inspiration. “I thought I’d read a poem by Shel Silverstein for all you […]

President John rang the Rotary bell, and the assembly rose to sing “My Country, Tis of Thee.” Richard Carlisle delivered a fascinating Inspiration about former U.S. presidents as fathers: “I can recommend Joshua Kendall’s book, First Dads. It’s not about presidential indiscretions, about which we have heard a lot, but about presidents as First Fathers.” […]

On Wednesday, Feb. 21, our club welcomed the latest group of Junior Rotarians from Greenhills: Liz Shoenfeld, who intends to get a degree in public health, Richard Shi, who will be pursuing a career in engineering, and Jacob Berger, who plans to follow his dream to become an opera performer.

The luncheon meeting opened with a gentle ringing of the Rotary bell by President John. A lusty “Star-Spangled Banner” followed, after which Amy Goodman came forward to deliver the Inspiration. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” Amy began. “This is the day when one billion dollars’ worth of chocolate is sold world-wide; a billion Valentine’s cards are sent […]

President John rang the Rotary bell, opening our meeting, and motioned to Paul Smith for the Inspiration. Paul came to the podium and immediately declared, “I detest politics.” However, after lamenting most of the presidents “in my lifetime,” he expanded on the legacy of one “I have recently come to admire. His real name was […]

Following a beautiful piano prelude, President John cut short a myriad of pleasant table conversations with a smack of the Rotary bell. A crowded Anderson Room rose in unison to sing “God Bless America,” hands firmly over hearts. John then stepped aside as Ian Bund came to the podium to deliver the Inspiration. “Thank you, […]