President Greg rang the Rotary bell following a beautiful piano prelude by Past President John

Ackenhusen. A full assembly of Rotarians and guests rose to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Greg then addressed the room: “Good afternoon, I’m doing the Inspiration today. This Friday marks the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The architect of that attack was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. There is a quote attributed to Adm. Yamamoto following what many thought was a successful surprise attack: ‘I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.’ The Japanese…leadership thought that the U.S. was too soft and would not be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to win a global war — especially after most of the Pacific fleet was destroyed by that surprise attack. They underestimated the U.S.’s resolve. A generation steeled by the Depression rose to the occasion backed by a nation unified with a ‘terrible resolve.’…We must never forget what [that generation] did, and the sacrifices they made for our country.”

Following this stirring Inspiration, Dave Keosaian came forward to lead us in song. He told a story from his early school days about music class: “As you know, most kids are reluctant to sing. His remedy was to suggest we put three fingers in our mouths, which is as wide as is needed.” His audience got the point, and sang an impressive “The Sidewalks of New York” — “which we used to sing as kids,” Dave added. Next came George M. Cohan’s “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” with perhaps a few in the assembly recalling Jimmy Cagney’s classic rendition in “Yankee Doodle Dandy” — a film, by the way, that came out in the year of Midway, when Japan’s leadership was experiencing the first shocks of that terrible resolve.

Greg, returning to the podium, greeted everyone warmly and thanked all volunteers, devoting special attention to Frode Maaseidvaag and Lauren Heinonen. Indeed, like an exhausted mountaineer marshaling all his remaining strength for a last thrust for the summit, he achieved something of a victory in pronouncing their last names. A genial wave of spiritual high fives radiated to him from his appreciative audience. All this accruing to a man, our president, with the the straightforward name of Stejskal.

Dave Keosaian would find himself rebounding to the podium as club treasurer Mark Ouimet bestowed on him a much-deserved Distinguished Service Award. After greeting Dave’s wife, JoAnn (“Is she your wife? I thought she might be your

daughter!”), Mark described how “Dave stepped in big-time” as our Endowment Treasurer for 12 years. As a result, as Mark pointed out, “both our Endowment and its complexity have bloomed, with a present value of about $2,000,000. In addition to our traditional Community Service Assessment and support of international projects, community service grants, and scholarships, we have taken on additional fund raisers such as the annual Golf and Tennis Outing, and we have taken on huge one-time projects such as the Rotary Centennial Playground…Who has been guiding our financial operations during this time? It has been David Keosaian…[Therefore], it is with heartfelt gratitude that the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor celebrates the distinguished service of David Keosaian….” Then, Mark added a fitting summation: “More than just accounting, it’s the thought that goes with it.” Immediate Past President John Ackenhusen informed the assembly that Dave would also receive a Paul Harris Award, “the number of stars indicate this is just the latest increment as Dave has received many Paul Harrises.” Resounding applause showed the appreciation of the club for Dave’s outstanding service.

Next, Rotarians introduced their guests. Among them were Joe Bellanco, introduced by PP Norman Herbert, and Sal Barbatano’s son, James, whose story as told by Sal brought the room to tears and a standing ovation: “Nineteen years ago our doctor told us that James’s autism was so severe that he should be permanently institutionalized. Today, as a student at WCC, James is doing his first professional voice work in a film being made by a 15 year-old student with autism.” Sal didn’t say it but his listeners knew instantly that this was the result of his and his wife’s herculean love and dedication to their son. James glanced around the room, uproarious with applause, with a smile at once shy and self-possessed. What a triumph, what a family!

Shelley MacMillan came to the podium next to do what couldn’t be done last month for lack of time — introduce Reed Vander Slik, president of Glacier Hills since March, 2017. Shelley, who is the executive director of Glacier Hills Foundation, headed a bevy of fellow-Rotarians supporting Reed’s membership, began “Burt, Betsy, Alfred and I are pleased to introduce Reed, and wholeheartedly support his candidacy.”

She highlighted Reed’s long career with Porter Hills Retirement Communities in Grand Rapids, as well as his education. He succeeds Ray Rabidoux, who served Glacier Hills for 18 years, and brings a wealth of experience to his new position. “Reed is also resilient,” Shelley added. “Including Glacier, he actually manages 11 properties for Trinity Health [the parent company].” As to personal matters, Shelley emphasized that Reed’s primary concern is “family time first” — the building of a strong family. “This is the Reed Vander Slik you are welcoming to our club today,” Shelley said in conclusion.

Greg then made the announcement that “Maggie Conger and Elaine Didier are having surgery. Think of them during their convalescence.” Next, Barbara Eichmuller read the list of nominees for club leadership. She called for a vote “to accept the slate of nominations,” which was passed unanimously.

Annual Report: Immediate Past President John Ackenhusen came to the podium to describe the impressive 2017-2018 Annual Report “as one of the duties of IPPs. When I came [to the presidency], we had just completed two signature activities — opening of the Universal Access Park (a culmination of a six-year project; and a World Peace Conference, headed by Rosemarie Rowney and PP Ashish Sarkar. We were tired. So my focus was to ‘reset and reengage.’ I started the initiative of the poker chips — green for an engaging program, red for the [less enjoyed]. We tried that for awhile, until we were getting 100% green chips, when we stopped.”

John stressed that “sustainability of our club’s ability to help others” remains a central goal:

“to get to $100,000 in charitable giving each year.” He pointed out that $58,000 were distributed in grants in 2017-18. In addition, he explained that the operating loss of $2,547 was due mainly from reimbursements to Weber’s for lunches, “the agreement for which enables us to get these rooms for free.” John concluded by citing John White’s and Dave Keosaian’s dedication, and that their respective roles have been “combined with those of Lori Walters,” our new administrator. He added that the weight of Lori’s duties preclude her becoming the ‘go-to person’ for “every this-or-that.” Barbara Eichmuller, in fact, will assist her in taking as much of these requests off her shoulders as possible.

John passed the informational baton to PP Norman Herbert, Endowment Committee chair, who launched into the most well-ordered blizzard of financial results as one could imagine. But, first — “Thank you, John, for your leadership.” Then, after describing the 501(c)(3) status of the Foundation and its leadership structure, Norman underscored the purpose of the funds: “Donated funds are invested permanently to build long-term, stable support for our many humanitarian projects — saving lives and improving health and well-being of those less fortunate abroad, and providing educational opportunities and other improvements in the lives of our young people locally — projects adopted by the Club.” As Norman asserted, “Our Foundation…is both a true endowment holding funds in perpetuity and using the income therefrom to support designated charitable activitie

s and our club’s tax-exempt vehicle through which we raise and distribute other funds in support of such activities.” The results:

1. With a Spending Policy of a 4.25% annual distribution of assets, “the amount distributed over the last 15 years totals $732,000,” with an average distribution increase of 6.8%. The crowning glory, as Norman made plain, is the successful growth of the ‘distribution engine’ — an endowment fund now worth $2,148,709. This “provides about 33% of our annual Community Service Budget.”

Following a breakdown of the sources of the Community Service Fund, which established a total budget of $227,204, Norman illustrated that those funds were directed to Community Allocations ($63,000); Scholarships — WCC ($20,000), STRIVE ($15,000) — and Int’l Humanitarian Grants ($31,500), and All Other ($97,704). “Bottom Line: …The Club’s Foundation is supported by voluntary charitable contributions primarily from Club members, memorial gifts and bequests.” Norman emphasized a particular goal — “to increase the contributions to the community from the Foundation to $100,000 annually.”

After Norman’s presentation, Dave Shotwell came up to highlight the performance of the Club’s

investments, the subcommittee of which he chairs. The goal: “To grow the principal by 7.25% per year. All funds are held in no-load mutual funds “no individual stocks, bonds, or funky hedge funds.” With this

kind of guidance, it seems assured that our commitments will be met…of course, with a little help from stable markets.

Greg adjourned the meeting with a quote from George H.W. Bush: “No definition of a successful life can do anything but include serving others.”