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Happy New Year! This is mid-year for our club and an appropriate time to hold a Club Assembly. Treasurer Rhonda update members on the NYE event reporting that 130 people signed up to attend and only 6 did not show. The stats she shared were: Sponsorships - $7,200; Ticket Sales - $3,500; Live Auction Proceeds: $5,720; Silent Auction Proceeds: $490. TOTAL GROSS RAISED: $16,910. Expenses: Estimated - $4,800. NET RAISED: $12,110!
Rhonda explained that the club has an Appropriations Committee who, on a quarterly basis, reviews requests for donations that come in and make their recommendations to the full board for approval or denial. The money allocated comes into the club from the Adrian Rotary Foundation every new year based on their holdings as of December 31 of each year. Kathy Williams, Dane Nelson, Nate Smith, Sue Lewis and Rhonda make up the committee. Thus far, the club has appropriated $6,700. In 2017 donations are expected to be around $3,800. The Adrian Rotary Foundation provided the club the generous sum of $17,500 for the 2016-17 club year. Committee member Dane Nelson mentioned that there were specific criteria the committee follows in granting money each quarter and that the committee will be looking at the results of the club visioning meeting some time ago and decide if the criteria should be changed.
Yours Truly followed Rhonda and recapped the first 6 months of the 2016-17 club year:-July 7th – first meeting of the new Rotary year
-Completed a successful Changeover Dinner at the Gage’s
-Brent Mercer was presented with the Rotarian of the Year Award
-Board members: Kevin Marti and Greg Adams joined the board this year; Kathy Williams replaced Bobbi Dawes; Kathye Herrera took the place of Dan Buron; Sue Lewis replaced Bill Gross
-Great summer club social hosted by Greg and Debbie DuMars on July 22
-Steve Benz was presented with his PHF +1 pin
-Mike Olsaver introduced his Bottle cap recycling program
-Club embarked on District 6400’s Passport program – so far we have visited the Morning, Blissfield and Tecumseh clubs
-New members inducted so far this year were: Nathan Salazar, Jim Potthast, Mike & Susan Tobey, Anna Mortimer and Marje Simay. Jim, Mike and Susan were inducted a second time by RI President John Germ in Plymouth on November 11th
-A new member brochure for prospects was developed
-We presented a $10,000 check to the Croswell Opera house
-On July 21st we made the decision to plan for another NYE event
-Our club met at the Adrian Center for the Arts on September 8th and toured the facilities
-DG Sue Goldsen paid an official visit to our club on September 15 as the new District Governor
-A very successful River Raisin Cleanup was held on September 24th and headed up again by Mark Murray
-Started another Fluency Friends cycle at Michener Elementary thanks again to Mary Murray and numerous member volunteers
-October 7 – a number of club members helped out with painting at the Child Advocacy Center
-The district’s Million $ Legacy Dinner was held in Plymouth on November 10th – Joe Wagley and the Murrays attended
-We helped the Chamber sponsor the new incoming freshmen from Adrian College and SHU
-Perfect Participation Awards were given out by Allen
-Sinner-of-the-Year Award Presentation was handled by Kevin Keller (PP Rod P.)
-Participated in the annual Art-A-Licious program
-A Fireside Chat was held on November 1st at Kathy Williams home which doubled as a Club Social thanks to Kathy Williams and Nate Smith
-Presented Mike Tobey with a PHF pin
-Onion Sale Drive spearheaded by Kathye and assistance from Nathan
-Two high school students attended the annual RYLA conference at Schoolcraft College and were sponsored jointly by our club and the AM Club
-Very successful Wreath Sales program was headed up by Nate Smith and assisted by Nathan Salazar
-Comstock Park Riverwalk was extremely successful thanks to Mary Murray
-A first ever Bike Tour Program is in the planning stages for execution next September thanks to chair, Chip Moore
-A fun Club Christmas Social was held on Dec 2 at Theresa Soto’s home
-We rang bells all day December 9th for the Salvation Army thanks to Kevin Keller who coordinated it again this year
-A PHF + 8 was presented to Mark Murray
-A plaque was presented to Frank for his very generous Lenawee Cares Pillar’s Club support
-We presented a check for $10,000 to the Adrian Center for the Arts
Coming up between now and June 30
-Art of Mingling – January 19
-Mid-Year Meeting – Chuck will attend on January 22 (for current presidents in the district)
-District Grant Writing session – January
-Vocational Lunches – January 26th
-Two scholarships to be awarded in May/June
-Junior Rotarian Day – May
-District Conference – May 11 - 15
-Devils Lake Festival of the Arts – June – Brent
-Nate to attend a number of district training events
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2017 Rotary Bike Tour - Chip updated members on the latest happenings. He said he met and made a presentation to promote the event with the Morning Club yesterday who will be assisting us. He will be asking members to serve on various committees as we will need everyone’s help so please be prepared to say “yes” when asked. A sponsorship team is being organized to seek donations. The first day is an “On road” event where bicyclist can choose on of for courses: 25 (approximately 1 hour to complete), 40, 62 or 100 (5 to 6 hours) mile distances. Safety and water stops along the way. St. John’s Lutheran Church on M52 and Valley Road will be the starting point for this event. Those on the 60 and 100 mile tour will go on up to MIS and on their 400-acre property and loop back around. In future years, bikers touring this route will be allowed to take part in an on-track event. The Sunday event is a timed event at Heritage Park across from the MJR Theater. Both events have been announced and published in the recent issue of the Michigan Ride Calendar.
Lenawee Lifelong Learning - REMEMBER - What an extensive roster of great educational programs that will begin April 4. Registration forms were also distributed. Costs: $25 for the first class and only $10 for all additional classes! Checks should be made out to: LCF (Lenawee Community Foundation) and mailed to: LLL, PO Box 308, Adrian, MI 49221. You may call 517-403-4319 for more info or e-mail to 
Paul Harris Fellow Recognition - The Adrian Noon Rotary Club recognized its newest recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow, member Susan Tobey, in appreciation for her gift to the Rotary International Foundation made by her husband, Mike, in her honor. Gifts to the Foundation are used to support humanitarian efforts around the world. Shown with Susan is her husband, Mike, on the left and Yours Truly. Congratulations Tobey’s!
New Member Recognition – Today John Elchert (second from right) n, President and Publisher of the Daily Telegram received his official pin as the newest member of our club. He has been a Rotarian for the past 11 years and recently moved to Adrian with his wife and family from Minnesota. His membership will be transferred from the Greater Mankato Club to ours. Also shown is Jim Perri, District Membership chair, next to Yours Truly. John’s sponsor is John B. Welcome aboard, John!
April 21 - 100th Anniversary of RI Foundation - Marilyn Kremer and Yours Truly visited the Blissfield Rotary Club last week to promote the event and think several couples will be attending as a result of our visit. It will be held at the Lenawee Country Club. It will be held at the Lenawee Country Club. At this dinner which will be attended by DG Sue and other District 6400 dignitaries, special recognition will be presented to members who qualify to receive Paul Harris awards. If you are close to completing a PHF for yourself, you may want to make that contribution so that you may be recognized. All clubs in Lenawee County will be invited to attend. A mini auction is planned so if you have any noteworthy Rotary memorabilia you’d like to donate, please let us know as all of that money will go to the RI Foundation. We’ll also have a 50-50 raffle. Cost: $25 per person, cash bar. Social hour from 5:30pm-6:30pm; Dinner at 6:30pm; Program at 7pm. A sign-up sheet will be passed around again next week. If signed up, please remember to wear your Paul Harris bling that evening!
