Regular Meeting, September 24, 2008

Attendance was 17 members and 2 guests, Linda and Dave Grahek.

Kevin began the meeting by discussing the two projects he had spoken about a few weeks ago.

Project 1: The educational $1,000 scholarships recommended for both Lake Linden and Calumet High Schools. After much discussion, it was decided by unanimous vote to form a committee to decided upon the criteria for the scholarships.  The committee recommendation will then be presented to the Board of Directors and eventually to the members by January, 2009.

Project 2: A significant community project (such as a pavilion in the park ala the Houghton Rotary Waterfront Pavilion) that will be funded over a 3-year period to the tune of about $3,500 per year.  After much discussion, Kevin asked members to submit suggestions for this project by the end of September after which a decision can be made as to whether or not the club wishes to undergo the project.

Kevin said that both projects will require a significant financial and time commitment from the membership so your comments to the board swill be greatly appreciated.

All in all, it was a productive meeting challenging members to think and talk about the projects

in the  coming weeks and months.

See you next week.    

(Kevin listening wistfully to Phil's advice which is always well received and welcomed.)  

  

(After the meeting, some members were locked in conversation in the parking lot of the Irish Times.)  

Regular Meeting, September 10, 2008

Another nice turnout, 19 members and 6 guests. The guests were Bill Fink (Houghton), Dennis Racine (Calumet Players), Ernie and Edith Nederer, and Linda and Dave Grahek.

Ernie and Edith were thanked by the club for their contribution to the clock repair at the Township Hall.

After lunch, acting president Jim Lowell introduced Dennis, our speaker. Dennis said that the Calumet Players was organized in 1978. In addition to their annual Spring and Fall shows, they perform many other plays such as the dinner theatre presentation of Wilder's "Our Town" at the Irish Times recently, and performances at the Gem Theatre in Lake Linden.

The Fall play this year is "Annie Get Your Gun," and opening on Friday, the 12th, the start of a run of 5 shows. Our own Heather Store is in the cast and it is her debut on the big stage.. The cost is $15 for everybody, adults and children, senior citizens, etc.

Dennis said that "Annie" was an expensive show which cost in the neighborhood of $20,000 to stage. Some of the costs are hidden to the theatre-going public: Costs such as Royalties, script rental, theatre rent, some costume rentals, tuxedo rentals, Set pieces rentals, Props, some rented some borrowed, and other sound and lighting expenses. Yes, to stage a major musical is very expensive.

Income is derived from ticket sales, donations, some grants, a raffle (currently underway). Profits, if there are some, usually go back into renivating their building on Sixth and Oak and to funding another show or two.

A great show with many familiar songs. Bring the family for a wonferful night out!

See you next week.

BusinessMeeting, September 5, 2008

With 22 Members and 4 guests, attending, President Kevin thanked everyone for the nice turnout. The first order of business was singing "Happy Birthday" to the August birthdays for Dan, George, Chuck, and guest Dave Grahek. Our guests were Linda Lowell, Bob Sharkey (Houghton), and Dave and Linda Grahek. In addition, a good round of Happy Dollars were offered. (Below: one view of the meeting.)

After lunch, Kevin took the members through the financial statement which was very clear and easily understood. Kevin, in his followup e-mail to you all the net day spelled out the contents of the meeting very thoroughly so I will not try to summarize them for you. Suffice to say, that in two weeks, we will again revisit the statement and specifically the "Non-0perational Expenses, which were spelled out at the bottom. Please come prepared to discuss these items in two weeks.

(Another view...)


See you next week when Heather is scheduled to chair the program.