Dan Buron introduced our speaker – Detective Bob Kellogg from the Economic Crimes Unit in Lenawee County. Bob was a member of the Charlotte, MI police force for 28 years, and a two-time recipient of the Police Officer of the Year Award. Bob is now head of the Economics Crime Unit for the Lenawee County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Bob came to this community last April with his wife and he admitted that were very impressed with what they saw. Bob worked at GM many years ago and would meet with his brother on breaks. His brother was a police officer and admired what he was doing. So, he quit GM and joined the Charlotte police department himself. After several months in the department he became a detective.
During that time he had a very close working relationship with Charlotte’s prosecuting Attorney. He talked to Bob about a special program called “Diversion” that would target certain minor criminals, first time offenders. By giving them “diversion”, their crimes would not be prosecuted nor would they result in a criminal record but they would have to go through certain corrective programs.
Among Bob’s job’s was to get concessions out of these individuals so was often referred to as “Father Bob”! The diversion program gave many young criminals a break, an opportunity to change direction so they would not be headed for a life of crime. The program involved bad check writers at first. It grew to address retail, welfare, and rental property fraud as well. Soon the department went from business to business to promote the program. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been returned to victims since this program was implemented.
Bob headed the program in Charlotte for 11 years and was getting ready to retire when someone dropped his name to Burk Castleberry while they were at a convention for prosecuting attorneys and told him the success Bob was having with the Diversion program. Burke called Bob to see if he’d like to forego retirement to implement the same program in Lenawee County which he agreed to. Bob now has a staff of 6 Cooley Lay School interns as well as two legal assistants.
Bob and his wife have a permanent home up north. He has a home locally but returns to his permanent residence every two weeks.
President-Elect Rod stepped in for President Mary and read a letter from the Adult Daybreak organization thanking us for our donation to their cause.
Rod Hokenson mentioned that his grandson, Peter Hokenson, and his teammate Kian Evans were named co-MVP's of their high school soccer team in the Monroe, Michigan – down river region. They have been teammates since they were five years old!
Youth Exchange Student – Laura Jensen is this year’s exchange student sponsored by our club as well as the AM Club. Should any member wish to involve Laura in their own family gatherings or trips, they should contact Robin Hinman from the AM Club directly. Laura’s host family currently, Robin said, is not a Rotarian and that she will be in need of another host family in the future. If you would like to host her you also asked to contact Robin.
Rotary Christmas Party – The Murray’s have graciously agreed to host this year’s party on Sunday, December 7th from 3-6pm.
Annual Bell Ringing to Benefit the Salvation Army – Kevin said that there will be two locations this year and they will be indoors! The sheet is full – thanks to all volunteers to serve on Friday, December 5th at the entrance to the Adrian Mall! Here’s the list and times:
10am-11am – Joe Satterelli
11am-12pm – Chip Moore
12pm-1pm – Steve Benz
1pm-2pm – Brent Mercer
2pm-3pm – Ray Maxe
3pm-4pm – Greg Dumars
4pm-5pm – Jim Philp
5pm-6pm – Masahiro Kojima
6pm-7pm – Theresa Soto
7pm-8pm – Rod Hokenson
IMPORTANT: The First shift person (Joe) is asked to pick up the bells and buckets from the Salvation Army office. The last shift person (Rod H.) will need to return the bucket, sign and bells to the Salvation Army office after 8pm.
Christmas Wreath Sale - We ordered 425 which includes 50 for the Tecumseh Rotary Club's sale. Congratulations! Wreaths will arrive before Thanksgiving.
Christmas Tree Project - The annual Christmas Tree Project in conjunction with the Youth Community Outreach group at Siena Heights University will begin about the same time and Greg Adams and Steve Benz agreed to co-chair this important project. This group will work half the time and club members will work the other have over the duration of the project – 2 weeks and 2 weekends. The proceeds collected will be split between the two groups as it has been in the past.
Joint Kiwanis/Rotary Joint Luncheon – Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 26 at 12 noon hosted this year by the Kiwanians at LCS. Get ready to buy some cheese!! THERE WILL NO MEETING ON THANKSGIVING DAY. If you are planning to attend, we need to know since we need to know soon.
District Conference – REMEMBER: Next year’s District Conference will be at the Grand Traverse Resort from April 30 – May 3, 2015.
Dates to Remember
November 13-15 – R.Y.L.A. Annual Conference at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. More info to come.
December 5 – Comstock Christmas Riverwalk - Show your holiday spirit by decorating a Christmas Tree to display in Comstock Park for the holidays! President Mary announced that the Interclub Council will be purchasing and decorating one of the 15 trees available. Clubs that are members of the council are: Civitan, Rotary Noon and AM, Lions Noon and AM and the YMCA. If your organization would like to purchase one as well simply contact Mary or Mark Murray. President Mary would like your feedback as to whether or not the club should purchase and decorate a tree ourselves. Please let her know what you think.
·Cost Per Tree: $50 (includes lights; tree proceeds benefit Civitan & Rotary)
·How It Works: Trees will be delivered and set up (including lights), to Comstock Park by December 2. All you have to do is show Adrian your holiday spirit by decorating your tree
with your family, friends and coworkers by Friday, December 5 at 5pm.
·Tree Lighting Ceremony: Join us during December’s Adrian First Friday at 7:30pm when all of the trees will turn on! Trees will be displayed beginning December 5.
December 31 –New Year’s Eve Gala Celebration – We need every Rotarian's involvement!!!! Everyone also needs to do their share selling tickets and getting sponsorships. Mark suggested that each of us take the very professionally developed and colorful promo cards and put them on the dashboards of our cars. He stressed that the only people that will attend this year’s event (2nd annual) will be the people WE ASK personally to attend. Green flyers were distributed listing potential sponsors this year. Rod Pender will lead the group soliciting sponsors while Kevin Keller will be in charge of ticket sales. Everyone also needs to do their share selling tickets and getting sponsorships. Remember to take the very colorful promo cards and put them on the dashboards of our cars.
Brett Mercer announced that his firm, Donna Baker & Associates will be contributing $25. Jim Philp, who said he would not be able to attend, contributed $100. Chuck Chase heard back from Clift Pontiac who will be contributing $500.
GUESTS:Bill Gross and Chad Gurica guests of Yours Truly; Barry Rienink, guest of Mark Murray; Chris Howard, guest of Jim Philp; Junior Rotarian, Zack.
Announcements
Christmas Wreath Sale - We ordered 425 which includes 50 for the Tecumseh Rotary Club's sale. Congratulations! Wreaths will arrive before Thanksgiving..JPG)
November 13-15 – R.Y.L.A. Annual Conference at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. More info to come.
December 5 – Comstock Christmas Riverwalk - Show your holiday spirit by decorating a Christmas Tree to display in Comstock Park for the holidays! 
December 31 –.JPG)
