Kathy Chesser, a 22 year veteran of the library along with new director Jennifer Kozlowski, were on hand today to talk about many of the exciting programs offered by the Adrian District Library in addition to mentioning that the organization is soon to celebrate their 150th anniversary!
Kathy began by thanking the club for supporting their Summer Reading Program which has attracted over 200 kids each year encouraging them to read over their summer time off from school. March, Kathy said, is National Reading Month.
Jennifer Wrzesinski, who started last September replacing Shirley Ehnis who had worked there for over 40 years, then spoke and said that she'd most recently worked at a library in the Lansing area and in Marshall before that. This is her first "director" position and she is the 7th director in Adrian's 150 year history, she said.
The Adrian Library Association started in 1868. The original library was located in the current Lenawee Historical Museum on Church Street and was named after Andrew Carnegie. To commemorate the library's milestone anniversary, events will be planned monthly up until Sunday, August 26, she said, replete with an open house, band, cake & ice-cream, giveaways and a variety of different activities. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Kathy then went into a bit more detail about upcoming programs including their Cops & Kiddo program, Wild Swan Theater event, Summer Slide, Circus Workshop, Teen Read and other pre-school and elementary age programs that involve stories and crafts. Guest readers are invited to participate as well, she said, including Classroom Critters by Adrian resident Paul McCormick.
Kathy closed by telling us that one of the things our support has allowed her to do is purchase books she can give the children participating in the Summer Reading program. They are used to incentivize the kids to read. Over 500 books were given away last year, she said. "Each child gets a book when they sign up for the program and they get one when they completed their "reading log".
What the library offers, she concluded, is all about offering programs where kids can just go and have fun, Kathy said!
Art of Mingling – Prez Nate thanked everyone who participated as well as Kathye who made sure cookies were available to students and for bringing the leftovers with her to today’s meeting for our dessert!
Thank You Letters – Kathye read a letter Japanese Exchange Program for our support and from the Neighbors of Hope for our recent financial support in memory of Bob Murray. Greg and Marje Simay also acknowledged that they received the card we sent signed by all members. They are both members now of the Sunrise Rotary Club. Their address, should you wish to write them in California is: 327 N. Lina Street, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.
SHU Speed Interviewing Workshop - Barry Reinink personally thanked the club today for our support of SHU’s Speed Interviewing program that was held last week. Students, he said, spoke highly of their experience. 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.
Chamber Awards Nominations – Remember that nominations are being accepted for the Addison J. Comstock and Commitment to Excellence awards. Please visit the Chamber’s website at: https://www.adrianareachamber.com/ and click on “Award Nominations” at the left of the page. The official awards presentation will take place on May 15th at the Adrian Armory.
Pathways Engagement Center – Prez Nate mentioned that more work needs to be done and will be getting back with us on it. Get ready to help!
Local Club Scholarships – Mary M. announced the two $1,000 scholarships we give out annually: The Robert Brady and 4-Way Test. The committee will be getting together to choose deserving recipients. Deadline for applicants was February 28. The awards ceremony is planned for May 6th at Dawson Auditorium beginning at 2pm.
PETS Conference – Prez Nate said that 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.
RI Foundation Giving – Chair Mike Olsaver reported that we are on track to achieve this year’s goal (July to June) of $100 per club member which is required if we will want to qualify for district grant money to support local projects. Mike said he could let any member know what their YTD contributions are or what they will need to qualify for the next Paul Harris Fellow level. Members can make outright contributions through a check or by way of automatic deduction through Rotary.org.
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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
March 8 - Board Meeting – Following the regular weekly meeting.
April 14 – District Assembly – Prez Nate encouraged all committee chairs as well as board members and officers to attend this special event. 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.
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
Upcoming Club Program Presentations
March 8 - A Dominican nun from Siena March 15 - Pat Deere on Relationship Marketing March 22 - Bill Kenyon March 29 - TBA
GUESTS: Junior Rotarians Simon and Abbey; Ted Keating, guest of Chip Moore; Rochelle Flores, guest of Anne Sherman.
Kevin Keller took money away from these deserving members: Elchert, Chase, Reinink, Salazar, P. Clark, Pizana, Bendes, Moore, Olsaver (2), Maxson, Smith (2), and Potthast.
Happy Bucks – S. Tobey. Mark M., Ellerholz, Moore, and Hokenson
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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Kathy Chesser, a 22 year veteran of the library along with new director Jennifer Kozlowski, were on hand today to talk about many of the exciting programs offered by the Adrian District Library in addition to mentioning that the organization is soon to celebrate their 150th anniversary!
April 14 – District Assembly – Prez Nate encouraged all committee chairs as well as board members and officers to attend this special event. 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)
ming Club Program Presentations
