August is Membership and Extension Month. Potential club members are everywhere, and Rotary’s very survival depends on membership growth. Every year we lose a few members because of work demands, relocations, and sadly at times by apathy.

We can’t sit by idly and hope people will find us and join. Think of the business leaders and professionals you meet every day. Don’t try to “sell” them on joining Rotary – just tell them what being a Rotarian is all about. Tell them about students of the month, scholarships, Dictionary project, Fishing Derby and exchange students. Be excited when you mention Shelter Box, Polio Plus and shoe boxes. Mention Spring Fling, Frankenmuth, Oktoberfest and the socials. Tell them how being a Rotarian has affected you. Then invite them to a free lunch.

I’m excited that this year we’re hosting an exchange student. Last Saturday morning a small group met a very tired Ting-An Lu (Annie) as she arrived from Taipei, and Monday we gave her a welcome BBQ at the home of Bob and Kathy Knopf where she will be staying. This next year will be a great opportunity for her, but it will also be a great opportunity for us. For those who have never been to Taipei we’ve brought a little bit of Taipei to you! Annie will be a long way from home for almost a year and we all – not just Bob and Kathy – need to offer our support.

Let’s enjoy the last days of summer. We know what’s just around the corner!

Yours in Rotary,

Carl Commons

On the Outside

Saturday Rotary run in Chesterfield benefits literacy, ShelterBox effort

New Baltimore MI -- Running is a popular sport for many, but the chance to participate in races in the Anchor Bay area is pretty rare. At least that's what organizers of the second annual Anchor Bay Rotary Fun Run felt when they decided to start a summer event.

"Chesterfield is a huge area and really there's no run hosted there while New Baltimore has the Jingle Bell Run, so we decided we'd start one for Chesterfield," said Rotary Club Treasurer Rich Miiller.

The Fun Run will be this Saturday, August 21 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chesterfield Township offices. The event will welcome running enthusiasts of all ages to participate in a 5K race where medals are awarded to the top two finishers in each age group. The cost is $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event and a T-shirt is included with each registration. To read the rest of the article, click here.


Rotary aims to ‘Fill the Bus’ again

Crookston, Minn. — The Crookston Rotary Club is hoping to repeat – or even surpass – the success of last year's inaugural “Fill the Bus” campaign for the upcoming school year.

“We collected a lot of school supplies as well as monetary donations to purchase them last year,” said Mary Cavalier, chair of the Rotary's education committee. “The Crookston community has been very generous in giving to this project that helps our children in the elementary schools.” To read the rest of the article, click here.

Three Quick Questions With. . . .

Shawn Mueller

1. What's the No. 1 driving force that brought you to Rotary?
Kerry S. Mueller. His passion for helping others is contagious! I couldn't help but join this great organization and follow in my big brother's footsteps.

2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Teaching my son Aidan how to drive, and backing the boys off my wife Rebecca and daughter Isabel!

3. What's the last good book you read?
The Reagan Diaries. I am not one to read a lot of books, but I will take time to read about my hero, Ronald Wilson Reagan. This book includes most of his diary entries while he was president. The President writes openly about his relationship with his wife and children, along with daily updates on the goings-on in the White House. Even once writing that he refused to talk to his son Ron and also about his relationship, love, devotion, and adoration for his wife Nancy. When she was away on her frequent "Just Say No" anti-drug crusades, Reagan wrote in his diary about going "upstairs to a lonely old house," and noted their anniversary as "29 years of more happiness than any man could rightly deserve."

Kevin Corcoran

1. What movie star would portray you in a film about your life?
Tom Cruise (before he turned crazy). His movie characters have mirrored my life:  bartender (Cocktail), lawyer (A Few Good Men), secret agent (Mission Impossible), pimp (Risky Business), conservative (Red Dawn), etc.
 
2. Tell us something about yourself that few people know.
Besides some of the revelations disclosed in Question 1, potato chips are my kryptonite.
 
3. If someone asked you why they should join Rotary, what would you tell them?
Rotary makes you feel good.  It allows you to do good things for people locally and internationally.  Plus the people in the club are great people that make you want to be better.

Club Happenings

The Queen Lives

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Business Highlight

Looking for free business advice? Rotarian and business coach Adam Sonnhalter's company, Maximum Value Partners, offers a free blog geared toward helping business owners run their companies as efficiently and competitively as possible. Adam, who spent eight years in New York City helping people buy and sell companies and raise money for their companies before joining MVP in 2003, and his partner Jack Mencini, offer thoughtful advice via their Ask the Biz Coach blog.

A recent Q&A tackled the sometimes touchy subject of business partners: How Do I Know If I Have A Good Partner?

Be sure to peruse the site for more useful Q&A – or to submit your own question for the business coaches.

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Quoteable Paul Harris

"It would not be fair to the critics of Rotary, who include some of the most brilliant of the British and American writers, to charge them with prejudice."

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Roto News is published on or around the third Friday of the month. To contribute news, photos or articles, please send submissions to me, Traci Purdum >> tracipurdum@yahoo.com. All submissions must be in by the 2nd Friday of the month.