Forty-nine Rotarians gathered on the Zoom call shortly after noon to check in and socialize. At 12:27, Lauren Heinonen provided the “Zoom Etiquette” for members. At 12:28, President Joanne Pierson rang the bell to start the official meeting, she then introduced Tom Strode on the piano “Star Spangled Banner.” Elaine Didier provided the Inspirational message in memory and honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with a reading by Maya Angelou called “When Great Trees Fall.” Don Duquette presented an overview of Rob Northrup’s musical background and then joined Rob and his Ensemble to sing a coronavirus parody based on “Button Up Your Overcoat” Please click here for your listening pleasure.
President Joanne welcomed the members in attendance (87 by this time) and thanked our set up team consisting of John White, Sara Maddock and Lauren Heinonen; our photographer, Fred Beutler, Reporter, Kathy Waugh and attendance taker, Christina Ferris. She also celebrated a number of birthdays this week.
CAC/District Gran Awardee – Children’s Literacy Network – Betsy Durant and LaToya Elliott
Betsy Durant spoke about this volunteer-based organization that is celebrating a 30 year anniversary. BookPALS is based on the old idea of Pen Pals – branching on the idea that children may be more motivated to read if they are connected to people from afar. The goal is to increase children’s reading proficiencies. Children form a friendship around the shared love of books.
LaToya Elliott, coordinator of the on-line event, discussed how the virtual BookPals is going to work. She also urged volunteers to come on as reading mentors to work with kids in small groups to make sure their skill sets are being improved and they are understanding the literature they are reading. The program will run four weeks with a theme each week. Contact www.childrensliteracynetwork.org/ for more information. Janet Torno is also assisting with this project so you can also reach out to her to get involved.
Announcements from the President
- Adopt-a-Highway is FULL with 18 volunteers this Saturday, September 26 – all of these volunteers should have received an email and need to confirm receipt.
- Online GTO auction begins Oct. 19th and Donations are wanted – a Sign-up Genius has been created to pull together baskets: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D48ADAA22A57-gtoauction
- Pay attention to Zoom invite next week – increased security measures will require an additional step – Email to come.
Speaker for Today, John Drake, Recipient of the 2020 Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Service Award
Marcia Lane introduced the Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Service award and her devotion to Mr. Northrup. Five excellent nominees were considered for this years’ award. The individual receiving the award must have been involved in long-term service to humanitarian causes.
Jim Cook, who nominated this year’s recipient, introduced his friend and colleague John Drake. John Drake visited the Philippines as part of his work at CMS Energy and was appalled with the conditions he found there. He rose in prominence at CMS but ended up retiring early to continue his work with kids in the Philippines and lead the development of an orphanage there. He travels several times a year to visit and check on his staff.
John grew up in Michigan, attended in MSU and wound up in the Navy for four years. After attending Hillsdale College, he got a job at CMS Energy/Consumers Power Company where he met Jim Cook and Ashish Sarkar.
He presented many pictures of the Philippines from his visits there that showed the stark contrasts in the country. He showed us a number of squatter villages and spoke compassionately of the devastating poverty and despair hidden away from the beauty of the country that most people see when they visit there.
He became known as the “Orphan Guy” because of his interest in the children. He was taken to a converted pig slaughterhouse that was being used as a place for children to stay. The faces of those children in the slaughterhouse stuck in his mind for more than a year after what he thought would be his last visit to the country. In 2004, he had some blueprints built up and in 2006, the Ann Arbor Rotary Club helped furnish the Lingap Center – their new home. The center continues to thrive and grow.
For more information on John Drake and the wild success of the Lingap Center, visit: http://www.lingapcenter.org/
Marcia formerly presented the Humanitarian Award to John Drake!
Next Week’s Speaker
RCAA Board of Directors, 104th RCAA Anniversary Celebration
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President Joanne closed today’s meeting with a quote from Anitole France, “It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.” She rang the bell at 1:30.
