Our own Greg Adams spoke about the program which really had its inception, Greg said, when he was speaking with Mike Olsaver years ago and then with Mark and Mary Murray, Nathan Salazar and then Chip Moore about the idea of a race to heighten the awareness of mental health in this community. It was Kathryn S., he said who was his co-chair initially and with her help, the race is now a reality! Greg credited the late former Rotarian Sandy Keener for being on the board of Community Mental Health and who eventually approved the race.
The first race, Greg said attracted some 270 runners. This year there are already 600+ pre-registered!! He expects upwards of 700 which means that if every runner brings one additional person, some 1,400 people could be downtown on the 20th for the event!
The Daily Telegram, he said, ran a news story back in January that got the greatest comments and clicks on their web page. It was about the closing of ProMedica Herrick Hospital’s Mental Health Unit and the decision not to have one at the new hospital which was very upsetting to him. He shared these statistics:
One in every four people in this country are diagnosed with mental illness
A person with an issues makes, on average, 19 calls before being placed in a mental health unit
Since the closure of Herrick, well over 200 patients have been sent out of this county
Total number of beds in community hospitals in 2013 = 3,041; in 2017 that number dropped to 2,197
Greg said that ProMedica has admitted that due to the lack of psychiatrists in the area, they have decided not to provide mental health service at their new facility north of town when it is built. He questioned why a hospital the size of Hillsdale would have services but ProMedica’s new one would not which will be much larger. He said he also angry at not wanting to work with community groups to resolve this problem. Greg said he has attended a number of conferences with other mental health officials and has met with State Senator Zorn and State Rep Kahle about this issue. An open line registry, he said, while it does not solve the problem, will allow those in need to go on –line and see where beds might be available at neighboring hospitals. Toledo Hospital will be opening a few beds yet it still means having to travel to Toledo.
Fines – Kevin Keller fined these deserving members: J. Clark, Barnett (3), Easton (2), Sack, Baldwin, John B., Philp (2), Smith (5), Herrera, Douglass, Chase (3), Nelson, Pender, Slater (2), Lewis, Salazar, Maxson, Moore (3),
Happy Bucks –Bendes, Mark M., Marti, Herrera, Moore, S. Tobey, Philp, Barnett, Behnke, John B.
Paul Harris Fellow – President Nate awarded Past President Rod Pender with his first Paul Harris Fellow. Congrats, RP!
Onion Sales – Kathye announced that all money must be in by May 17th and will be delivered a couple of weeks after that. Goodwill has agreed to being the pick up point for members to get the bags for the number they sold.
DisCon 2018 – Prez Nate who attended this annual conference announced that while the club won no major district awards this year, we were recognized for having submitted applications for the Hugh Archer and Hedke Awards.
Tree Planting – Prez Nate thanked all who helped plant trees last week at AHS and Michener Elementary.
Club Social – President Nate recognized and thanked Kathye, Susan, Mark and Mary Murray for the part they played in this event.
Great Lakes Woodworking Festival – Luke and Patty thanks all who helped with this successful program. Luke said there would be no way he could have pulled it off without the help of fellow Rotarians.
New T-Shirts – Susan once again had all T-shirts on hand at today’s meeting. Should you wish to purchase one, please see Susan. They will be $10 each depending on the size. Be sure and get yours. They look great!
Bike Tour 2018 – The next meeting will be May 15th in the lower level of the Armory at 5pm.
Rotarian of the Year Award – Be thinking of a worthy person to receive the award this year. Forms are available from Prez Nate. Winner will be announced at the Changeover Dinner in June.
New Sign – Neighbors of Hope are working at their new location near the United Methodist Church since moving from the property adjacent to Bethany Assembly of God and have erected a new sign recognizing our club for the financial assistance we have given them over the past years.
Meals on Wheels - They are in critical need of volunteers between May 21 and June I. Gerry Burg said that even if you can do it one day would be great. It takes about an hour and a half and you get paid mileage. Please see routes below:
Upcoming Programs:
May 17 - Benito Rialto
May 24 - Erik Gable - Croswell Opera House
May 31 - Kathye Herrera - M.A.D.D.
June 7 - DG Rick Caron
June 14 - Nicole Coulter - Haiti
June 21 - Changeover Dinner (NO REGULAR MEETING THAT DAY)
Pathways Engagement Center Worker BeeSchedule - with Morning Club members. Volunteers are needed. A sign-up sheet was passed around and will continue to be at subsequent meetings. Here is the schedule:
May 17 – 4pm-5pm we need volunteers to place labels in the books we bought for our Fluency Friends this year. We will meet at Michener Elementary. Please see Mary Murray if you can help.
May 18 – Fluency Friends – Mary announced that this will be the last day of the program. If you are a member volunteer, this will be the last day for tutoring kids from Michener Elementary. Thanks to all Rotary volunteers!
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. Please be there by 7:45am. If you can stay around for the adult race, please let us know at next week’s meeting.
May 21 – Strokes for Students Golf Outing – Looks like we’ll have a full foursome, maybe 2, for this.
May 24 – Fluency Friends Open House – This as the date that will officially close out and celebrate this reading year. The event will be held again in the Library of Michener Elementary beginning at 9am and ending about 10am with coffee, donuts and light snacks being served. All members who have been a part of this great program this past school year should not miss this. Members who did not participate but can attend should also plan to do so. Mary also mentioned that the club donated $600 in books again this year students will be able to take home with them to read over the summer! Thanks, Mary, once again for all of the work you put into making this another successful year for students who benefit so much and whose lives are truly changed participating in this program!! March 18 will be the last day of this program.
June 21 – Joint Changeover Dinner - with the Morning Club. More info coming
September 22 – Lenawee Bike Tour - If you cannot serve on the committee but can help out during the actual one-day event on Saturday, September 22nd, please send Chip an e-mail to let him know. This year’s event will be a “timed” event for the more serious riders and begin at the Armory! Along with that, something for families and children (like a “slow” ride and scavenger hunt) is being planned.
GUESTS: Junior Rotarians Aidan French and Nick Greg; Karen Rawlings and Lonnie Huhman, guests of Greg Adams and Kathryn S.; Jane Clark’s granddaughter, Jennifer Sadd; Melissa Parsons, guest of Nate Smith.
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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Our own Greg Adams spoke about the program which really had its inception, Greg said, when he was speaking with Mike Olsaver years ago and then with Mark and Mary Murray, Nathan Salazar and then Chip Moore about the idea of a race to heighten the awareness of mental health in this community. It was Kathryn S., he said who was his co-chair initially and with her help, the race is now a reality! Greg credited the late former Rotarian Sandy Keener for being on the board of Community Mental Health and who eventually approved the race.
