Following robust break-out room conversations, Rotarians came together virtually once again, staying socially connected while being physically distant. The meeting was called to order by President Julie Pingston and an invocation was provided by Bob Hoffman, followed by a Patriotic song. President Pingston recognized visitors present (including Irv Nichols’ son, Will) and our AG, Brian Tort. Diane Sanborn shared the health of the club is well.
ANNOUNCEMENTS included the following:
• Rotarians Doing Great Things in Our Community: update from Scott Duimstra on the great work CADL is doing around re-opening and adapting the services they provide to our community, such as contact-less item pick-up and access to reliable internet/public computers. They have 200 Wi-Fi hot spots that can be checked out to have at home! Virtual story time has enabled wonderful reach to 2,000+, and a Google grant is helping fund a virtual series on e-commerce for small business.
• Recent speaker, MSU President Stanley has accepted the invitation to become an honorary Rotarian in our club.
• July 28 - Urban Beat Event featuring Second Tuesday band with proceeds going to Lansing Rotary Foundation– band features Rotarians Pat Hanes, Linda Lynch, John M. Collins, and Ed Castellani – dining available in Old Town.
• Rotary Spotlight On Irv Nichols, given by Scott Duimstra, with props including a vintage Rotary Roster and Rotogram from 1959 (part of the CADL heritage collection) that had a “who’s who in club 232” featuring Irv. He served in the Navy, has degrees from Duke and UM, was Rotary President 1972-1973, and more. Visit https://www.facebook.com/LansingRotary/posts/10155807482972670 for a photo from when he was honored as our Rotary Hero!
SPECIAL MUSIC featured the song “No One is Alone” from Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim, featuring Kelley Lofton, Kameron Going, Robert Mueller, Taren Going and John Dale Smith.
Donna Gardner recognized Chris Swope for being our newest Paul Harris award-winner. Bob Hoffman, Chair of the Day, introduced the speaker, Chris Swope, City Clerk of Lansing, to share his thoughts on “Elections - My How Things Have Changed. Voting Under a Pandemic and Proposal 3 of 2018.” Chris was elected Lansing City Clerk in November 2005 and took office on January 1, 2006. He was re-elected in November 2009, November 2013, and November 2017. Chris certainly knows his stuff, he’s even a Certified Master Municipal Clerk.
In case you aren’t at Chris Swope’s level of expertise, here’s a brief recap:
• Proposal 3: eliminated 30-day voter registration deadline (can register to vote up until 9pm on election day!), made ‘no reason required’ to vote absentee (from home), provides the option to vote straight-party in partisan general elections, created automatic voter registration at Sect of State (must opt-out if you want to, versus needing to opt-in), and added language to the constitution to provide for the use of election results auditing (using statistical methods to perform comprehensive checks on the accuracy of results and detect anomalies).
• To vote = US Citizen, 18-yrs old, Resident of city or township for 30 days. Register and access several other resources at www.Michigan.gov/vote
• No vote = when (if?) serving a sentence in jail or prison (can vote before and after in Michigan).
• Absentee voters = 9,175 in May 2019. Now 22,325 as of July 2020. People like this option! Be sure to mail that in a week before since the postal system can be a bit slow at times. Absent voter ballot tracking is helping communicate with voter on when they were sent, delivered, and received.
• Voting during pandemic: Ballot application mailed to EVERY registered voter; almost 22,000 voters have taken advantage of this in Lansing (more than have ever voted in an August election). All 45 voting precincts will be open. Election workers will wear PPE. Everyone will practice social distancing. Mask will be encouraged but not required (can’t prevent someone from voting if no mask). Workers won’t touch your ID. Hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, spray, etc. will support general safety. Lines will be outside if weather permits.
• Dates to remember: Aug 4 2020- State Primary Election – can only vote one party. Voting on Proposals happens now, too. Nov. 3, 2020, State General Election, vote for anyone, any party! Ballots avail beginning Sept. 24th and they will be open the weekend of Halloween for those who procrastinate.
• You can help! Election workers are paid, not volunteers, starting at $12/hr. Must be registered to vote unless 16 or 17 (great experience for these future voters); visit www.lansingmi.gov/clerk to sign up or contact your local clerk.
Great Q & A ensued. President Pingston gave kudos to John Shaski, Chair of the Month (and his dog, Violet) and thanked Chris Swope, noting that in lieu of a speaker’s gift, we make donations in honor of our speakers to local organizations through our Lansing Rotary Foundation which has, over the history of our club, given more than $2 Million to local organizations and projects.
NEXT WEEK: We will meet via Zoom at noon on July 31st. The speaker will be Jim Dover, President & CEO of Sparrow Health System.
Michelle Reynaert's email is: michellereynaert@yahoo.com
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