Sister Carol Coston from the Dominican Sisters was our speaker today. This is National Catholic Sister’s Week. The Adrian Dominican Sisters been engaged, individually and communally, for quite some time now, she said, in efforts to protect the integrity of creation and bring about a more just, peaceful and compassionate world through a program they call “Permaculture”. The Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation coordinates these efforts by bringing to light injustices and recommending ways to take action.
The Adrian Dominican Sisters have implemented the “Permaculture” program on the Motherhouse campus. A contraction of “permanent” and “agriculture,” permaculture is an ethical design system for human habitations and land use that emphasizes sustainability, integration, and cooperation with, as opposed to domination of, natural systems, Sister Carol said.
The Permaculture Gardens cover an area of over seven acres of mowed turf grass in restoration. She said that “our goal is to return to an abundant, diverse, and healthy ecological system guided by the permaculture ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share.”
One example of their commitment to permaculture design is the construction of earthworks to slow, spread, and retain water on their site. This serves to re-hydrate the soil of their edible food forest, and naturally and passively filter storm water runoff.
Also on their campus are: Charlotte’s Web Community Garden – A 4,800 square foot, 20-plot, free community garden open to all on their campus; Gaia Garden – An accessible raised bed garden with six wheelchair/walker/amigo accessible raised beds, and a permeable recycled asphalt surface; a Vegetable Cooperative – Eight raised beds made from repurposed wood. Vegetables here are grown by our Sisters using crop rotation and companion planting to ensure soil quality.
Lenawee Bike Tour 2018 – Chip announced a meeting of the committee this evening at his office beginning at 5pm. In attendance were Chip, Ted Keating, Sue Lewis, Prez Nate, Don Taylor, Mark Murray and Yours Truly. If you cannot serve on the committee but can help out during the actual event on Saturday, September 22nd, please send Chip an e-mail to let him know. This year’s event will begin at the Armory!
Blight Removal Project – It will be a joint project with the Morning Club. Luke is working on this as well and will have more info in the near future.
Induction of new member – Yours Truly had the honor of inducting former member Catherine Sala into our club today. Her sponsor is Rhonda Gage. She is a life-long member of Lenawee County, a resident at Devil’s Lake in Addison, Michigan. A 2001 graduate of Lenawee Christian High School; a 2004 grad of Western Michigan University with a double-major graduate in English literature and Philosophy with a focus in ethics and a Minor in Psychology. In 2008 Catherine graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and has had a private practice in Adrian for the past 10 years focusing on families, including litigation of divorce, custody, abuse and neglect cases, estate conflicts, estate planning, and regular domestic mediation. She is an active member of: Zonta, Devil’s Lake Yacht Club, Land & Lakes Ladies Club, Young Professionals of Lenawee, Devil’s Lake Golf League, and the Catherine Cobb Center. Welcome back to the club Catherine!
SHU Speed Interviewing Workshop - Another such event will take place the weekend of April 7th from 10am-1pm at St. Joseph Hall.
RI Tree Planting Project – More info will be coming about what we will be doing to help with the RI-wide tree planting effort – a tree for every member. Nate said that 1.2 million number could easily double! Our club is looking to plant 60 around the community.
Local Club Scholarships – Our club committee will begin screening candidates for the 2 scholarships we give out annually: The Robert Brady and 4-Way Test. Deadline for applicants was February 28. The awards ceremony is planned for May 6th at Dawson Auditorium beginning at 2pm.
PETS Conference – Our President-Elect, Kathye Herrera, will be attending the 3-day President-Elect Training conference in Kalamazoo on March 15-17.
Launch Lenawee – Patterned a bit after the very successful Launch Detroit, this program is in the planning stages and spearheaded by Mark Murray. He reported that he and Mary visited with PDG Larry Wright recently in Detroit and visited the Eastern Market and saw incubator a number of space firsthand, Plans are to have things up and running about July or August, he said. Will need members’ assistance with mentoring potential businesses that will be launched as a result of this important entrepreneurial program. Our club will be supportive financially as well.
District Conference 2018 – Remember that all first time attendees will get a stipend of $150 toward their expenses to this important event and matched 2 to 1 by the District. The conference will be held on Mackinac Island. If you are thinking about attending, please contact President Nate.
Meals on Wheels – Additional help is still needed. If you can spare 2 hours each month, please contact Rhonda. A very rewarding program for people who are in need.
Upcoming Programs:
March 15 - Pat Deere on Relationship Marketing March 22 - Bill Kenyon March 29 – Mark Murray – Launch Lenawee
April 5 - TBA
April 12 – Member Moments – Pattie Ellerholz & Chuck Davis
DATES TO REMEMBER
April 14 – District Assembly – The individual fee for anyone attending will be paid for by the club. Program runs from 8am-12 noon that day. A great learning and collaboration experience for all. Program runs from 8am-12 noon that day at Schoolcraft College. A great learning and collaboration experience for all. President Nate passed around the complete agenda for that program.
May 5 - E-Purity’s Graduation – Purity will graduate from Siena Heights University and that should anyone wish to attend Purity could secure the necessary tickets. Just let Patty know if you can attend. She has also been awarded a full scholarship to BGSU. Congrats, Purity!
May 6 – Great Lakes Woodworking Festival - Luke will be looking for the club to assist again this year from 12 noon – 6pm. The GLWF is bringing together the best woodworkers from the Great Lakes region, ranging from several different woodworking disciplines and will showcase over 35 woodworking artists who will be selling their homemade goods. The event will also feature free classes, demonstrations, and prizes. It is 100% free to the public. Luke distributed full-color posters and asked members to post them at their businesses.
May 20 - E-RaceStigma5k Run– The event that will take place again this year. Our club will help with the Kid’s Fun Run event first thing the morning (8:30am-9:30am) of the race. We’ll need 10 volunteers and a sign-up sheet will be passed around at future meetings. More info coming. Visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Adrian/ERaceStigma5K
GUESTS: Kathy Koehn – guest of Luke Barnett; Sherri Hardcastle and Amy Garno Anderson – guests of Barry Reinink; past president Dennis Swartzlander.
Mike Olsaver fined the following Rotarians: Sala, Williams, Dick (2), Swartzlander, Smith, Davis (2), Ellerholz, Chase, John B., Herrera, Clark, Hokenson, Olsaver, Mark M.
Happy Bucks – Williams, Ellerholz, Mark M., Bendes, Philp.
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.”
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Sister Carol Coston from the Dominican Sisters was our speaker today. This is National Catholic Sister’s Week. The Adrian Dominican Sisters been engaged, individually and communally, for quite some time now, she said, in efforts to protect the integrity of creation and bring about a more just, peaceful and compassionate world through a program they call “Permaculture”. The Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation coordinates these efforts by bringing to light injustices and recommending ways to take action.
Induction of new member – Yours Truly had the honor of inducting former member Catherine Sala into our club today. Her sponsor is Rhonda Gage. She is a life-long member of Lenawee County, a resident at Devil’s Lake in Addison, Michigan. A 2001 graduate of Lenawee Christian High School; a 2004 grad of Western Michigan University with a double-major graduate in English literature and Philosophy with a focus in ethics and a Minor in Psychology. In 2008 Catherine graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and has had a private practice in Adrian for the past 10 years focusing on families, including litigation of divorce, custody, abuse and neglect cases, estate conflicts, estate planning, and regular domestic mediation. She is an active member of: Zonta, Devil’s Lake Yacht Club, Land & Lakes Ladies Club, Young Professionals of Lenawee, Devil’s Lake Golf League, and the Catherine Cobb Center. Welcome back to the club Catherine!
April 14 – District Assembly – The individual fee for anyone attending will be paid for by the club. Program runs from 8am-12 noon that day. A great learning and collaboration experience for all. .JPG)
