President’s message:

It is the beginning of our Annual Fundraising campaign. There are many worthwhile projects within our Community and abroad. Most all of these projects require funding. The reason we are Rotarians is because we want to do good. 

We decided last year that the most effective form of fundraising was just an outright ask, with an explanation of our mission. Most of us will write a check in addition to asking others for a contribution. Asking for money is very uncomfortable for most of us but having an opportunity to explain what we do with this money is uplifting. Be proud of our organization. 

A little work by many will help us accomplish our fundraising goal. We ask that all of our members try to achieve a minimum of $1,000 worth of donations. Hopefully many will exceed this amount.

Morning Meeting updates:

August 26, 2025 meeting:

This meeting was a full agenda. Included in our regular morning meeting was a member meeting. Three items were acted upon and all had unanimous support. 1) Approved a budget for 2025/2026. 2) Approved a moderate dues increase to cover the increases of our District and International dues increase. 3) approved an automatic billing of $25/quarter to meet the minimum "Per Capita" requirement to The Rotary Foundation (TRF).

Don Watkins recognized fellow Rotarian Dick Grout. You may remember that Dick was a Rotarian in the Suttons Bay club and also a WW2 D-day veteran — not to mention a founding member of NMC’s International Affairs Forum.  When Dick was a mere 97 years old he did a skydive with us at the Charlevoix Jump for Polio.  Four years later at age 101 he jumped with us again at the Grand Haven Jump for Polio.

Then a presentation from Marna Robertson the executive director at Meadow Brook care facility. Currently Meadow Brook has some beds unoccupied due to staffing shortages. After much effort by staff the number of beds set aside has been reduced to half the original number. Meadow Brook continues to be one of the best Medical Care Facilities in our state.

September 9, 2025 meeting:

Our morning meeting on the 9th had a wonderful presentation by Kip Nickels from TC Sunrise club regarding the Malawi projects. We have previously supported the Buffalo Bikes Project and we are hoping to support additional bikes this year. The bikes project has had a significant positive impact on the lives of many in Malawi. It is a long term benefit for those in Malawi, supporting their education and thus improving their future. A classic “teach them to fish” scenario.

Knowing these tremendously beneficial projects require funding, we begin our annual fundraising campaign. Doug VanCura and Blaine Campbell have been hard at work, developing tools to assist each of us to achieve our goal of raising $1,000/each. Please be sure to obtain your brochure and forms.

The new items to remember are:

1) We now have a tax deductible 501(c)(3),

2) The patron (donor) can ask to be billed,

3) Anybody who doesn’t think they know someone who might donate, can contact Blaine and he will suggest some names who have given in the past. Please don’t be shy, feel free to contact any of us with your questions.