Bruce Goldsen who will turn the big 6-0 this year and our newest member and a recent transfer from the Adrian Morning Club, gave his member moment today. Bruce said he grew up in Connecticut and started his radio career in 1976 in Wilmington, NC at a “big” radio station WMFD. His first day on the job he hosted their Tradio Show called Swap Shop, he said.
He said he met his wife, Sue, while living in Connecticut and going to school there. Bruce said he then went to a station in Tennessee and then in Florida and ended up in Jacksonville when he got a call from a friend who said that there were stations in Jackson that were for sale. So, in 1990, Bruce and Sue moved to Adrian and admitted that they didn’t know anybody so looked for a service club he could join to meet people.
He decided to join the Adrian Rotary Club who were meeting at the YMCA at about the time the organization admitted ladies. The Adrian club was quick to admit six. Bruce said it was an excellent move and that we still need to have more diversity. He said he was president in 1997-98 but then transferred to the Jackson Club due to his work with the radio stations there. Two years later he, along with Dave Maxwell and a few other Rotarians decided to start a Morning Club in Adrian which was chartered in 1999.
Bruce said that he has been a part of the Radio Industry for many years and very involved in it, too. He served on the 70+ member board of the National Association of Broadcasters as their Michigan representative from 2003-2009. Julie Koehn from WLEN, he said, served from 2009-2015. Bruce is doing another 6 year stint along with serving on their 10 member Executive Committee.
On the Rotary side of things, Bruce said that while radio is his vocation, Rotary is his passion. In 1993 he hosted the club’s first Youth Exchange student, Adolfo, from Brazil. Since then, he said, they have hosted his sister, and brother and others totaling seven altogether! They have kept in very close contact with all of them, he said, sharing their excitement when their own children were born who they consider their own grandchildren!
Bruce said that they travel extensively around the world with much of it being for Rotary. They have been to many Rotary International Conventions. They will be attend the one in Hamburg this year, he said. The past 3 years he has been proud to serve on the RI Youth Exchange Committee as well as serving as chair for the Youth Exchange meeting as part of the pre-convention activities. He, of course, has served as District Governor in District 6400 in 2008-09 as did Sue two years ago. They have been part of various service project oversees for Rotary in Ghana, India, and they look forward to their next project “wherever that may be”.
They remain very involved in the district with chairing many district conferences including the one coming up. Bruce said he also had the honor of chairing a Zone Institute for past RI Vice President, Jennifer Jones. There are 39 zones around the world comprised of a certain number of districts made up of local clubs.
When asked if he had any ambitions about becoming a future RI President, he quickly said without hesitation – “NO!”
Thank You Note – President Kathye read the note from Carrie Hartley thanking us for our recent $250 donation to Habitat for Humanity.
Networking Event – Formerly known as the Art of Mingling was held immediately following today’s meeting. A total of 17 students were involved along with Yours Truly, Barry Reinink and Jim Potthast who served as mentors during the hour and a half program. Melissa (Growden) Tsuji from the Career Department at SHU led the program assisted by Michael Orlando Dean of Students and Justin Gifford from Visit Lenawee. Thanks to all who volunteered.
Walk for Warmth – Nathan also announced the upcoming program scheduled for March 1st. More info coming.
Financial Reality Fair – Patty announced the date as Friday, February 22. TLC Community Credit Union along with Midwest Energy Cooperative as well as Adrian College are partnering again to host the Financial Reality Fair – 8:15-11;30 AM AT THE Tobias Room at AC. Patty is in need of volunteers, If you can help, please let her know.
Goodwill Casino Night – Nathan Salazar announced this first ever event which took place last Saturday evening at the Legacy Golf Course. The club donated $500 to the event and hope that it was hugely successful!
Attention All Retired Farmers – Kathy Williams is looking for one to help run Neighbors of Hope’s Third Day Farm Program. Please let her know if know of someone with farming experience. It is a paid position. Crops grown this summer will be sold at their Farmers Market and will subsidize programs at their Food Pantry.
Woodworking Warriors - This committee met again following today's meeting. Then next meeting will be February 21st at 1pm.
Upcoming Programs:
February 14 – Fun Day
February 21 – Angela Pooley – Homeless Students
February 28 – Patrick Hartory, author
March 14 – Dick Eppstein – Toledo BBB
March 21 –
March 28 –
April 4 –
April 11 – Rick Caron
April 18 –
April 25 -
DATES TO REMEMBER
Guests: SHU Rotaract member and grad student, Havert Buell, guest of Mike Warfield and Barry Reinink; Junior Rotarian Madison Roberts from AHS; David Ames, guest of Catherine Sala.
Fines – Mike fined the following Rotarians: Barnett (2), Burg, Herrera, Pender (2), Chase, Mary M. (2), Davis (2), Goldsen, Clark, Sala, Moore (2), Salazar, Williams.
Happy Bucks – Bendes, Smith, Cjase, Mary M., Moore, Goldsen.
2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin wants Rotary members to Be the Inspiration
Rassin, a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. “I want you to inspire in your clubs, your Rotarians, that desire for something greater. The drive to do more, to be more, to create something that will live beyond each of us.”