The Country Club of Lansing put their gastronomic foot forward treating us to green beans, garlic mashed potatoes and Beef Bourgogne all done to perfection all while the piano in the corner set the stage for another great meeting. It was “grand”. The piano and John D. Smith.
President Darwin Brewster called us to order and after Paula Cunningham, our invocator, thanked God for our unity, blessings and Rotary in eloquence and we then sang “America the Beautiful” in 6 and ½ part harmony. Missy Lilje carried the microphone with her usual dancer’s grace to no guests or visiting Rotarians. Carmen Turner again reported the amazingly perfect health of our club. Keep it up Carmen.
Announcements included the Rotary International Committee now accepting proposals for project grants with a deadline for submission of October 27th. Ken Beachler introduced our special music guest a tiny lady with a big voice. Leah Gerstel is staring in the Broadway revival musical “Falsettos” nominated for 5 Tony Awards. It’s right here in Ingham County November 2 - 12th. How appropriate for LGBT history month and how can you go wrong with a voice like hers and John Dale’s genius to boot. She and John did “Accentuate the Positive” and “Cry me a River” proud.
Our chair of the day Lisa Smith’s guest speaker Rotarian and Professor Kenneth McKaye whose topic “Rotary Education and Conservation Initiatives in Africa and Nicaragua” didn’t begin the cover the length and breadth of this man’s accomplishments. It all started with a love for Scuba diving and Ichthyology. As if a PhD in Tropical Ecosystems in Malwi, Africa, weren’t enough he discovered the AIDs epidemic and rather than wringing his hands decided to personally take it on. So he wrote and published a children’s primer “The Hiding Hyena” teaching children the epidemiology of the virus. But he was only just getting started. Having rediscovered the ubiquitous corruption in third world countries he initiated and helped fund at least two NGOs and varied educational self-help projects. The man is a grant magnate and as such is indispensable to organizations like Rotary and UNESCO (when not trashing Israel) who try to work with the vulgar masses. Here, in person, is an example for us all of the worth of a talented motivated altruist.
Next week at the Lansing Center we will hear from Dr. Jeffrey Crippen, Jr. Where have I heard that name before? Anyway “The Fundamental Truths of Green Zone Wellness” sounds pretty interesting. See you there.
Jim McGillicuddy's email is: sjmcgillicuddy@Comcast.net