June 2. 2022 (Jun 02, 2022)

Planewave Instruments

Matt Swartzlander introduced today’s speaker, Rick Hedrick who is the CEO of Planewave Instruments in Adrian. The company manufacturers astronomical telescopes. Their HQ was in California and they had a facility in Deerfield Michigan. They moved their operation to Adrian 3 years ago after purchasing the former Adrian Training School property north of town and had 30 employees. Their staff now numbers 72! The company was founded in 2006. Since relocating, they have built one new building and have plans to build another. They ship products worldwide.

Rick said he attended a junior college in California where he studied physics and was going to transfer to UCLA but while he was there, he saw a professor who was an astronomer at a Science Club talk and which encouraged him to get into astrophotography. He did that on campus that hosed an observatory, dark room, etc. He was hooked, he said.

He and some fellow students looked in to starting a telescope-making class. They approached a professor and were able to sign 10 students up in 1991 and started making 6-inch mirrors. They then made 16 and 20-inch telescopes. Rick they got involved in Visual Amateur Astronomy. Then six in the class decided to make a 42-inch telescope which, at the time exceeded the largest one made to date which was 41-inch!

A neighbor who lived near the campus was curious enough about what they were doing that he eventually persuaded them to build the first CDK telescope which is now the one they make now at Planewave! By the time Rick and his team built this one, he was attending UCLA and working at the telescope manufacturer Celestron. Rick and partners eventually bought this company and announced plans to build a flagship telescope and used the CDK design. This was followed by a 20-inch unit and a mount. They eventually sold Celestron to a Chinese company as they were prohibited from selling to another US company. Rick and several others stayed on staff but left overtime. A number of former Celestron staff now work here in Adrian for Rick at Planewave.

When Rick looked into making telescope mounts, he met a person in Deerfield who was doing this on his own. That’s how the connection was made. Kevin was looking for someone to sell his mounts so asked Rick who met him at a conference in New York. They then started to do business together and built a machine shop in Deerfield. This meant that Rick did not have to outsource the business.

The same year Kevin was hired, Planewave came out with a new mount at a price of $23,000.

Planewave now builds 1-meter telescopes that sell for $600k! They recently built a telescope for NASA that they installed in Maryland. Rick concluded his presentation by showing various photographs of stars, exoplanets and galaxies taken by their telescopes.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Club Social - June 10 at the DuMars'. Bring a dish to pass. Libations provided. Bring your spouse, significant other, potential member. Starts at 5pm.

2022 District Conference- At last week's meeting, President Kathye told members about her experiences on Mackinac Island at this year's District Conference on Mackinac Island. Following this we played Jennifer Jones' presentation. She, as you know, is the very first female president of Rotary International. She is also from our district!

The club was also presented The Richard Hedke Award for Club Excellence in the area of PUBLIC IMAGE. .

Changeover Dinner - Scheduled for June 3oth at the Sam Beauford Pavilion. Bring a dish to pass. Starts at 5:30pm. BBQ chicken and all the trimmings. Help usher in a new year, president and board members. We will announce all new Paul Harris fellows.

Pic of last year's event.

2022 Lenawee Bike Tour - REMEMBER: We want EVERY member involved in this premier club fundraiser in some capacity or another. Nate had some positive news again on sponsors. Thanks for all your hard work on this,

Launch Lenawee - REMEMBER: Anyone interested in participating in their Entrepreneurial Boot Camp #5 should let Mary Murray know. This is for anyone looking to start their own business! Please visit launchlenawee.org

RI Convention – President-Elect Chip will be attending. It will be held in Houston this year and Jennifer Jones (from District 6400) will be inducted as the organization's very first female president!

Passing – Mary announced that PDG Dave Carpenter passed away recently. He was just at our District Conference on Mackinac Island. He was a great friend of our club and he will be missed. Please keep his wife, Lynn, and their family in your thoughts and prayers. Funeral services on the morning of June 3^rd. Details on the District 6400 website: www.rotary6400.org

FINE SESSION

Pre-empted due to the length of today's program.

HAPPY BUCKS - Pre-empted also.

50-50 RAFFLE

The small $18 pot was won by Mike Olsaver. Yours Truly's blue ticket was drawn but failed to pick the winning card that would have won her $600+!!!

Table Helpers

Table Helpers: Kathye and Rhonda

Songs: Nate

Invocation: Kathye gave a moment of reflection.

Guest today were: Former (Soon to be new) Adrian Noon Rotarian Rachel Kurowski!

Welcome to our Club!

Service Above Self

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Corner of Wolf Creek Hwy and US223
Adrian, MI 49221
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Kathye Herrera

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Rhonda Gage

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Allen Slater

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Gerry Burg

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Greg DuMars

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Bob Gardner

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Chip Moore

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Melissa Cruz

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Barry Reinink

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Kathy Williams

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Charles Chase

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June 9

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June 13

Clarke Baldwin

June 16

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June 3

Candace Reinink

June 20

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angela kuiper

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June 25

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June 7, 2018

4 years

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June 7, 2018

4 years

Mary Murray

June 28, 2007

15 years

Jim Potthast

June 29, 2016

6 years

District Governor Aruna

2021-22

RI President

2021-22

Shekhar Mehta

RI President

Elect (2022-23)

Jennifer Jones