Houghton Lake Rotary and Rotary Interact Club members have taken action this October to raise awareness, funds, and support to end polio, a vaccine-preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.
Rotary Clubs around the world have held events on or near World Polio Day, October 24, and marked historical progress toward a polio-free world.
Rotary members and guests, who attended the October 20 Rotary meeting at Buccillis Pizza in Houghton Lake, partook in a Polio Awareness Program presented by Rotarian Rhonda Lamberg and Rotary Interact Member, Jenna Houserman.
The presentation included educational facts about Poliomyelitis shared by Houserman, along with historical progress of Rotary’s efforts to eradicate it. A video showed the impact of Nigeria’s recent excitement in becoming polio-free and the quest to end polio forever. Lamberg shared the challenges and the hopes for Rotary to put in extra efforts this year to raise awareness and donate funding to save children from the effects of polio, which can lead to paralysis, bone deformities, disability, and death.
Students at Houghton Lake’s Junior and Senior High School had the opportunity to learn about polio and to help the cause to end it, through a Polio Awareness Candy Sale held by the Rotary Interact Club, during lunchtimes on October 26 and 27. Rotary Interact is a service club for students designed to foster leadership, responsible citizenship, and to promote peace and understanding, while having fun creating projects that make a difference, locally and internationally.
The Polio Awareness event created by Rotary Interact Members and chaired by Interactor Haleigh Foster, was attended by many students and staff. An assortment of wrapped candies were purchased and bagged to sell at the event site while Rotary Interact students volunteered their time to share polio education verbally and through the use of a virtual poster board that included facts, photos, and progress to eradicate polio in the world. The event stressed the preventable nature of the virus through early vaccination of children. It raised awareness and $161 in funding that will be sent to the Rotary Foundation PolioPlus Fund to be used toward the END POLIO NOW initiative to purchase vaccines and to help bring the cases of wild polio to zero.
The HL Rotary Club was honored to receive the "Organization of the Year" award from the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce Annual Award Dinner. Fellow Rotarians Cole Morison and Rhonda Lamberg also received a "Citizen of the Year" nomination. Rotary President Susan Tyer accepted the award and addressed the award dinner attendees; "Thank you very much for this great honor. To even be nominated with so many other worthy organizations is humbling. I stand today to receive this award, as merely one person representing an organization made up of a multitude of generous, compassionate, and service minded individuals. We can not express how much this award means to us. On behalf of the Rotary Club of Houghton Lake thank you so much." Pictured are Greg Robinson, Rita VanScyoc, Jay Jacobs, Rotary President Susan Tyer, Cole Morison, Rhonda Lamberg, Bob Pacella and Ben Williams.
Please welcome our newest Rotarians Rita VanScyoc and Diane Neilsen! (Pictured) President Susan Tyer, Denise Stefanko (Rita's Sponsor), Rita VanScyoc, Diane Neilsen and Jim Raschke (Diane's Sponsor).
Becky Yuncker, Director of the Northern Michigan Children's Assessment Center (NMCAC) spoke to the Rotary Club of Houghton Lake recently about the outreach efforts that consist of providing body safety information to children in our community as well as increased education. Keeping children safe and preventing sexual abuse is a community effort. The Rotary Club of Houghton Lake presented Becky with a $1000 grant to assist with outreach efforts. Pictured is Rotary President Susan Tyer, NMCAC Director Becky Yuncker, and Rotary Treasurer Ben Elliott.
At the July 20th regular meeting, 2020-2021 Rotary President Rhonda Lamberg recognized Houghton Lake Rotarians Heather Marra and Cole Morison as Rotarians of the Year. Both Heather and Cole help keep the club active and viable through a difficult pandemic year with creative fundraising events including two online auctions and a corn hole tournament and frequent member and public relations though Facebook and virtual meetings. Pictured is Rotarian Cole Morison, Rotary Past President Rhonda Lamberg, and Rotarian Heather Marra.
2020-2021 Rotary President Rhonda Lamberg was recognized for her service to Rotary at the July 13th club meeting by 2021-2022 Rotary President Susan Tyer, Assistant District Governor Jackie Bertsch, and 2020-2021 District 6290 Governor Jon Catlin. Each recognized Rhonda for her leadership of the Rotary Club of Houghton Lake through one of the most difficult years for a community service organization that would normally rely on many public gatherings and regular in-person member meetings. Rhonda exemplified the motto "Service Above Self" and the "Four Way Test"and during her term as club president the club saw 7 new members and multiple fundraisers which helped the club provide $12,000 in Rotary Grants to many local organizations. Susan also recognized Rhonda as a Paul Harris Fellow. Pictured are current 2021-22 Rotary president Sysan Tyer, Rotarian and Rhonda's spouse Bob Pacella, 2020-21 Rotary President Rhonda Lamberg, Rotarian and Rhonda & Bob's son Robert Pacella, Assistant District Governor Jackie Bertsch, and 2020-21 Rotary District 6290 Governor Jon Catlin.
It is Great to be a Rotarian! What a WONDERFUL Year that YOU Created to BENEFIT OTHERS! How Proud and Grateful I am for What You Have Helped to Accomplish During this Very Successful and Fun Year! A HUGE THANK YOU for Another Outstanding Rotary Year of Service to Others!
Thank you so very much for your support and friendship through my Rotary Presidency! My HOPE is that you will continue to feel the excitement that ‘service to others’ brings, experience the laughter that good friendships inspire, and share the gift of membership with others who have big hearts for active service to others!
Congratulations to Rotarians of the Year, Heather and Cole! Your service, loyalty and devotion to the ideals of Rotary are deeply appreciated!
July 1 starts the new Rotary Year! Best wishes to Susan and the New Rotary Board Members for a Year of Great Collaboration, Leadership, Service, and Friendships!
Here is Our 2020-2021 Rotary Club of Houghton Lake “Year in Review” (Please remember we did all this in a Pandemic!):
Club Programs & Celebrations:
Many Weekly Educational Speaker Presentations
District Governor Jon Catlin Visit & Club Officer and Director Induction Ceremony
7 New Member Inductions
3 Paul Harris Fellows
Club Modifications:
Improved Social Media Recognition
Safety Protocol Implementation
Buccilli’s Menus for Meals
Virtual Meeting Option Utilized for All Meetings
Club Assembly & Member Education:
Weekly Rotary Moments
Facebook Education
Rotary Foundation Education
Vaccination Education
Car Show Sponsorship-Member Assist
Election of Officers & Directors
Club Fundraisers:
August Facebook Auction
Car Cruise
Corn Hole Tournament
Christmas Live Sale on Facebook
Online Service Auction
Social Events:
’Fun Nite Golf Outing’ at the Fox
’Friends Meet’ at the Back Door
‘Christmas Social Hour’ on Zoom
‘Club Social’ at the Frog Tiki
Service Events:
Literacy Speaker Book Donation Program-Books donated to Public Library in Honor of Speakers
Highway Trash Clean-ups (Multiple)
‘Restore the Store’ at the Historical Village
‘Stuff the Bus School Supply Collection’ at Walmart
‘Packing Food Baskets’ at Roscommon Food Pantry
Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner ‘Meal Delivery’
Shop with a Hero ‘Assist’ at Walmart
Special Youth Support Offerings:
•Rotary Interact Club-individual member support of returnable cans/bottles for local and international projects
•Scholarship Program-provided scholarships to 5 local scholars from Club Funds & Club’s RCCF Memorial Endowment Fund
•Life Leadership Conference-funded 9 students to attend virtual conference
Club International Funding Project:
Polio Plus
Club Local Specialty Fund Project:
Winter Safe Highway Passages on M-55
Club Local Grant Program: $12,000 donated
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight 2020 (in Sept. due to Covid Cancellation in June)
Shop with a Hero
Superhero September
Act Now Kids Helping Kids
Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center
Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner
Sheriff Present Patrol
UPS Charities Coats for Kids
Artesia Youth Park Auto/Small Engine Program
Illuminated Healing
Collins Backpack Food Program
Roscommon County Veterans Affairs-Family Enrichment Programs
Rusty Nuts Car Club-Special Olympics
Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve- Educational Building Roof
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakes
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight 2021
2020 Emergency District Relief Grant
Funds for Roscommon County Food Pantry
District 2019-2020 District Matching Grant Project Dedication:
Celebration of Sullivan Beach Improvement Project of ADA Equipment and Accessibility Enhancements
District 2020-2021 District Matching Grant Project:
$7000 donated through Collaborative Dolly Parton Imagination Library Grant Project with Rotary Club of Roscommon
Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF)-Club Endowment Funding:
Thomas McNamara Memorial to Club’s Park & Recreation Fund
Giving Tuesday $1000 Match Collection Fund to benefit several funds at RCCF
Interest Earned to Support 2021 Scholarship Program and Future Club Projects
Special Recognition Celebrations:
Renaming of Park & Recreation Fund to Honor Past Rotarian Thomas McNamara
Honor Recognition of Event Key Members and Club Committees
Club Member Unsung Hero Recognition
2020-2021 Board Service Recognition
2020-2021 Rotarian of the Year Recognition
2021-2022 President and Board Induction
Celebrate the Rotary Interact Club’s Accomplishments for 2020-2021:
•Election and Induction of 2020-2021 Officers and Directors
•Assist on Stuff the Bus School Collection Project with Rotary Clubs at Walmart
•Can\Bottle Drive at Walmart
•Leaf Rake Service Event
•Polio Plus $100 Donation
•Leaf Rake Fundraising Event
•Kids Helping Kids Christmas $300 Donated
•Kids Helping Kids Christmas Shop & Wrap Volunteer Event
•Shop with a Hero Assist
•Christmas Care Cards Handmade for Kings Nursing Residents
•Coats for Kids Event- $270 in New Winter Outerwear Purchased & Donated
•Valentine Cards Handmade & Presented to Veterans
•Community Can/Bottle Collection Fundraiser
•2021-2022 Membership Drive for Freshmen
•Election of 2021-2022 Officers and Directors
•Artwork Competition for 2022 Challenge Coin
YOUR SERVICE INSPIRES OTHERS TO SERVE- please keep being the role model of “service to others” for the betterment of humankind in our community and those throughout Our World!
In Gratitude and Friendship,
Rhonda
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Service Above Self
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
United States of America