Wednesday, October 11, 2023
In the spring of 1903, Dr. Horatio Jackson set off from San Francisco in a 20-horsepower Winton touring car hoping to become the first person to cross the United States in the new- fangled "horseless carriage." All based on a $50 bet. There were no gas stations, no good roads and virtually no road maps. Most people doubted that the automobile had much of a future. Jackson's trip would prove them wrong.
Traveling with his co-driver Sewall K. Crocker and a bulldog named Bud (who wore goggles, just like his master, to keep the dust from his eyes), Jackson and crew had the adventure of his life. They encountered pioneers in wagon trains, cowboys who used their lariats to tow them out of sand drifts, and ranch wives who traded home-cooked meals for a brief ride on this self-powered contraption that we regard as a must-have today.
Fred Colgren from the Gilmore Car Museum will take us back 120 years to share this tale of adventure tomorrow (Thursday October 12th) at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center for an inspiring and entertaining trip back in time.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
By Edward A. Schaadt
Chad Geoit received the 2022 Michigan Farm Bureau Young Farmer Agriculture Employee Award last year. His dog, Finn, would be the first to agree that his constant companion is worthy of that award. Finn is his energetic rescued goldendoodle-turned farm dog, who is always by his side.
Geoit is a sales agronomist at Wilbur-Ellis in Three Rivers, where he works with seed corn, watermelon, soybeans, green beans, hay, wheat, and potato growers to raise a crop profitably and sustainably.
Geoit lives in Kalamazoo County and is the President of the Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau.
Join is tomorrow, June 1, 2023 at the Richland Area Community Center or via Zoom to learn more about modern-day agriculture in Kalamazoo County and throughout the State.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Rachel Kramer graduated from Gull Lake High School in 2019 and was the recipient of a Gull Lake Rotary Club scholarship. A Math and Science Center student, she was awarded the coveted Heyl Scholarship at Kalamazoo College. She will graduate this spring, and then begin her studies at the WMU Stryker Medical School in downtown Kalamazoo.
Less than 30% of all scientific researchers are women and of those, only 30% choose fields in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) to pursue in their higher education. During the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, 2023, Kalamazoo College celebrated the accomplishments of scientists such as Rachel Kramer, who will graduate this year. Her four years of college encompassed much more than attending classes and taking exams. She majored in biochemistry and her minor was Spanish. Her hands-on experiences during college may guide her as she prepares for a career as a doctor.
Just last year, Rachel completed the Public Health Program at the Univeridad Latina de Costa Rica. She shadowed emergency medicine physicians and radiologists at Hospital Clinica Biblica over the course of ten weeks. She is interested in community and global health. Last summer, she was engaged in investigating health inequities in Ghana, Africa, while collecting data and researching Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s) for her Senior Integrated Project (SIP).
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club is honored to have a Gull Lake Grad and Rotary Scholarship recipient as our speaker tomorrow. You won’t want to miss this inspiring program.
Monday, April 3, 2023
By Edward A. Schaadt
Will Haenni joined the News Channel 3 team in September 2018 as the weekend evening meteorologist. Will discovered his passion for weather while in high school. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2016.
Will grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri (near St. Louis) and vacationed in Grand Haven with his family every summer. He loves the many challenges of weather forecasting in West Michigan and strives to make science understandable and important to viewers.
While not at work, you might find him playing disc golf, enjoying virtually all kinds of music, and playing the French horn. He is also known for his juggling. He’s been doing that since the age of 9, adding extreme pogo sticking to his repertoire a few years later. During many summers throughout his college years, Will was a street performer at various locations and events across St. Louis and Kansas City.
Will and his wife Sher were married in 2019. They live in Kalamazoo with their one-year-old daughter and dog, Atty.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our program this Thursday will be one of our favorite speakers, Fred Colgren. Fred has been the Director of Education for the Gilmore Car Museum for nearly ten years. His program this week will be “Driving During the Jim Crow Era. For African Americans, driving a car during that time in our history had its advantages, but it was also fraught with many potential dangers. They faced discrimination in securing lodging for the night, finding restaurants that would accept them, and stations that would sell them gasoline during their travels. Fred is an expert storyteller who will share with us what it was like for African Americans traveling the highways and byways by car at that time.
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Sunday, October 9, 2022
By Edward A. Schaadt
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club’s 2022 Trees of Remembrance ceremony was held on September 29th in the Richland Township Park. Since 1985, members have gathered to honor and remember club members who have died. 42 members are listed on the plaques attached to the rocks by the flagpole.
This year, we paid tribute to longtime member Howard Vindedahl, who passed away last November. Joining us were Howard’s daughters and their husbands, Ann and John Kneas and Mary and Tim Dolbee. Following the ceremony, members and guests gathered in the Rotary Pavilion to enjoy a potluck dinner.
Monday, September 26, 2022
By Edward A. Schaadt
Patrick Touhey is president of Elite Performance Too – E, LLC, and a successful high school basketball coach.
Patrick mentors both coaches and players to tap into their hearts and passions, pursue the spirit of team sports, and become the best version of themselves. By teaching the value of service, leadership, and team connection, Coach Touhey cultivates a culture of collaboration, teamwork, and the importance of building relationships, that dramatically improves the players’ performance and emotional health.
Patrick and his wife, Deborah, live in Niles, Michigan, where he enjoys reading books, working outdoors, and remodeling their home.
Touhey wrote the award-winning book, Create Forever Teammates, that was published earlier this year.
Patrick Touhey will speak to the members and friends of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club this Thursday, September 29th at 7:30 a.m. the Richland Area Community Center. Please join us.
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Friday, December 10, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Career Exploration Opportunity!
ATTENTION ALL SOPHOMORES & JUNIORS
Would you like the opportunity to meet with a business professional that is living your dream career?
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club is introducing a new program to Gull Lake Community schools this year called the "Rotary Dream Career".
Have you thought about your dream career? What is it? Would you like to meet with someone who is doing that job now? This is a great opportunity to figure out if the career you think you want is right for you.
If you are selected for the program, the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club will find a business professional in your field that will meet with you one on one to answer any questions you might have about their career.
For more information, please talk to your guidance counselor.
Friday, December 3, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club and the Hastings Rotary Club joined together for the first time to decorate one of approximately forty trees that brighten the Gilmore Car Museum for the Christmas season. Our tree is decorated with ornaments picturing a variety of Rotary projects in our communities.
Canned goods brought to the museum and placed under the trees will benefit families throughout Barry County. The trees will be on display until January 9th, so head to “Gilmore” as one of your holiday experiences.
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Tuesday, September 14, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Donna Tellam was on the Ross Township Parks Committee when Rotary received a request from the township to assist with funding a new playground project. She assisted us in preparing the grant request and we were rewarded with a $2,500 matching grant from the District Designated Funds. She was also actively involved in making the project an overwhelming success and a beautiful playground for young visitors to the park.
She joined Rotary earlier this summer and has been actively involved ever since. She has joined the Membership Committee and has accepted the job of Registrar for the District 6360 RYLA Camp.
Donna worked for many years in the banking industry in the St. Louis, Missouri area. After returning to Kalamazoo, she worked in the family business of managing three bowling alleys.
We are fortunate to have such a talented individual as a member of our club.
Pictured from L-R is Bill Tellam, her husband, Donna, and Membership Chairperson Larry Winling.
Sunday, September 12, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Nicole Ledbetter began attending weekly meetings of the Gull Lake Area Rotary via Zoom in 2020. She worked in human resources, and for five years was the services coordinator for EG workforce solutions. She now works for New York Life and is working on additional certification.
She has been the cheerleading coach at Portage Northern High School and initiated the Portage Rocket Cheer Program.
Nicole has already been very active in our club, working at Ross Township Park, handing our fans at the Richland 4th of July parade, and attending our handover dinner. She has also attended a district training session.
Nicole has demonstrated great engagement in our club. We welcome her enthusiasm and look forward to her active involvement in serving our community.
Pictured from Left to Right is Nicole Ledbetter, her sponsor Amy VanHuysen, and her mentor Judi Brown.
Spaghetti Dinner
Monday, August 30, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Monday, August 30, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker this week will be Freddy Gomez, who owns the Pure Mex Restaurant in Richland. The restaurant is just two years old and is located at 8880 North 32nd Street. Freddy and his family are from Atlanta, Georgia. He will share what brought them to Michigan and him to Richland as well as his experience opening and operating a new business in our community. It is nice to welcome a new busines in our community especially at a time just before the pandemic. Join us via Zoom this Thursday, April 29th to meet this personable young man and hear his story. Send text with your email address to 269-760-5598 before Thursday morning to receive an invitation to the meeting.
Thursday, April 29, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club recognizes and applauds the volunteers who participated in the spring cleanup along a portion of M-43 north of Richland. The Adopt-a-Highway program is a service offered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Volunteers do three pickups a year-spring, summer and fall. This year's spring pickup yielded 21 bags of trash along a two mile stretch of State highway extending north of the Bell Tower (former Blackhawk restaurant).
Those who scoured the ditches on Thursday, April 22nd include Don Deibler, Mike Gallagher, Faye Koestner, Kim Lewis, Steve Lewis, Ed McCarty, Larry Winling and Al Pollard.
Pictured on the left is Al Pollard, who organized the project and on the right is club President Don Deibler.
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Our program for Thursday, April 8th deals with the process for funeral planning, a subject that is difficult for some people. However, we have just the right person to discuss this topic with us.
Charlie Johnson has been a licensed funeral director since 1977, serving families in the communities of St. Joseph, Dowagiac, Lansing, Battle Creek, Richland and Augusta, MI. He joined our staff on February 8, 2005. He attended the University of Kentucky and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. Then, Charlie graduated in 1976 with an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science of Indianapolis, IN, and received his 40-year Funeral Director’s license from the State of Michigan in 2017.
He is a Past President of the Dowagiac Rotary Club and currently a member of our club. An avid golfer and sometime fisherman, Charlie is also a Die-Hard Chicago Cubs Fan (AND all Chicago Teams!); THE University of Michigan Fan and THE U – University of Miami, Florida Fan. He and his wife, Cindy live at Sherman Lake in Augusta. Charlie retired in December of 2020 but is still very much a part of the Farley family.
Join us via Zoom by sending a text message to 269-760-5598 with your name and email address. You will receive an invite to our meeting, which begins at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
If you plan on a career in the sports or music business, you had better be tough and resilient. The road to fame can be rocky and challenging to all but a lucky few. Just ask Kyle Jennings.
Kyle grew up in Comstock. After high school he played Junior Hockey in Toledo, and then went on to play for the Springfield, Illinois team in the North American Hockey League. For three seasons, he played in both U.S. and Canadian leagues. That was until he had a string of concussions that led to an early exit from hockey and a return to Michigan.
Kyle was passionate about hockey, but equally so about music. He quickly taught himself to play the guitar, and coupled with his passion to entertain, Kyle was soon writing songs and entertaining crowds throughout southwest Michigan. In 2002, he took the big leap and relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music.
His first album “Shine” was released on his own Dark Horse Records label in 2004. It was a period of traveling and performing, and Kyle loved the business. The first sign of trouble came in the spring of 2006 when he organized and headlined his first Dark Horse Music Festival in Kalamazoo, attended by over 2,000 fans. Unfortunately, it was a financial failure, and he was stuck with some big debts. Knocked down and disappointed, he picked himself up and returned to Nashville and the big stage, opening shows for several big-name acts. He soon found his grove, and was writing and producing his second album, “Long Black Cadillac. He even found time to return to hockey, this time as a coach.
The economic downturn over a decade ago also affected the music industry, and after a number of disappointments, Kyle headed back home again. This time with the intent to get a job and settle down. However, his dad encouraged him to stay the course and keep his focus and reinvent himself yet again. This time, he rebuilt his craft, combining his love of musical dynamics with his talent for storytelling. Although he is primarily a country artist, he has developed a unique mixture of blues, folk, and rock to his performances and currently tours the country entertaining in a variety of venues, from small town honky-tonks to big festivals and fairs.
Kyle Jennings will join us “live” via Zoom on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. to share his experiences and answer your questions. Don’t miss it!
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Brad Howard is a charter member of the Rotary Club of Oakland Uptown and past district governor of the district serving California's Silicon Valley. He was a Rotary International director from 2015-2017 and served 10 years as the coordinator for End Polio Now.Literally "born into Rotary," Brad entered the world as his father, Joseph Howard was attending a Rotary meeting.
Brad owns and operates an international tour business and a commercial real estate business, both located in Oakland. As a tour operator, Brad has led groups throughout the world for more than 25 years. He has led groups of Rotarians to 15 of the last 16 international conventions. He has also taken delegations of Rotarians to Ghana, Africa to immunize children against polio.
Trained as a performer, Brad studied Performing Arts in college, which led to employment by the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and Bill Graham Presents. With three other high school friends they started Piedmont Community Theatre, which in another form, is still operating today.
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Dr. Fredric Janzen became the Director of the Kellogg Biological Station on June 1, 2020. He is internationally recognized for his work in the fields of ecology and evolution. Using reptiles, particularly turtles, as a study organism, Janzen’s research examines the environmental and genetic factors that determine the expression of physiological, behavioral and life-history traits.
Janzen succeeds Jeff Connor, who has been serving as interim director since Katherine Gross stepped down from the post in 2018 after 14 years.
Janzen earned a doctoral degree in ecology and evolution from the University of Chicago, a master’s degree in zoology from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from North Central College. His research focuses on the effects of genetic and environmental factors in mediating the expression of physiological, behavioral and life-history traits, primarily in reptiles.
Janzen comes to MSU from Iowa State University (ISU), where he most recently served as a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology. Previously, he chaired ISU’s Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program.
Monday, February 22, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Emily Lindsay is a professional counselor who will address the mental health challenges that athletes and students face during the COVID pandemic.
Emily completed her Masters’ degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and hold a B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology/Sociology from Kalamazoo College.
She currently works for a private practice mental health organization in Kalamazoo called Child and Family Psychological Services, PC, where she holds her own case load, administers various testing batteries, document case notes after each session, write assessment reports, and aids in completing administrative duties.
As a professional counselor, she deals with diverse types of problems, such as depression, grief and loss, crisis intervention, anxiety, family issues, divorce, sexual orientation and identity, anger management, conflict resolution, self-esteem, and sports psychology, and many other issues.
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club meets Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 7:30 a.m. via Zoom
Sunday, February 14, 2021
If you are looking for the Gull Lake Distilling Company, don't expect to find it around the Gull Lake or Richland area. Actually, it is located at 92 East Michigan Avenue in downtown Galesburg. The new combination brewery, distillery and winery opened in June of 2020. The name was chosen because Gull Creek, the outlet for Gull Lake, flows nearby before emptying into the Kalamazoo River.
The business, owned by Ted and Lindsey Koch, is located in the former Gale movie theater and bowling alley. They distill five spirits-whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, and apple brandy, have four beers on tap, and a few wines made from Michigan grown products.
Open Tuesday-Sunday, they offer live music on Tuesday, trivia night on Thursday, brunch on Sunday, and a small offering of food items.
Our speaker on Thursday will be Dennis (Ben) Bennett, the company's production manager. Photo courtesy of Alyssa Keown from the Battle Creek Enquirer.
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
Heather Hilgart owns and operates a new store on the bay of Gull Lake called The Vintage Modern Shop at 12392 East D Avenue, Richland. The store specializes in quality vintage and antique collectibles, housewares, furniture, and works of art.
Heather has been a Principal Partner and Coach at Avenue Leadership Consulting in Kalamazoo for the past two years. She has worked in various positions in human resources and organizational development including Toyota Financial Services, Wireless Enterprises, Perrigo, and Borgess Health (now Ascension).
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
By Edward A. Schaadt
On Saturday, December 12, 2020, our Gull Lake CyberDevils (8th-9th grade team) competed in the second round of the CyberPatriot season, where students around the nation test their technical and teamwork skills in a simulated cyber security challenge. The cyber security club team, led by Rotarian Vince Carahaly, put up points in all categories: Windows workstation, Windows server, Linux Ubuntu as well as Cisco networking. The team members also received a CyberPatriot challenge coin, a pin, and T-shirt. Their preliminary score was 121, a strong showing for 8th-9th graders when competing in an open high school tier.
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club is supporting this youth development program through the Community Education framework at Gull Lake Community Schools by donating financial resources and volunteer time. Your support of local Rotary fundraisers helps us support local youth programs such as this one (and others) at our schools.
Monday, December 14, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker for Thursday, December 17th will be Tim Harding. Since 1995, Tim has been President of Harding’s Friendly Markets, a chain of supermarkets and gas stations throughout southwest Michigan. Tim grew up on Gull Lake and graduated from Gull Lake High School in 1985. He spent the next four years at the University of Illinois at Urbana, graduating in 1989 with a B.A. in Accounting. As a CPA, Tim went on to graduate from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College in 1995, before beginning his career with Harding’s Markets.
Tim and his wife Sarah live in Kalamazoo and have four children-Robert, Catherine, Rachel and Molly. Tim has been involved with a number of community organizations, including the Community Advocates, the Community Living Options Foundation, the Suicide Prevention Action Plan, and the Can-Do Kitchen’s Capital Campaign earlier this year.
Tim will share with us the story of the Harding's Markets. Our club is part of the store's Community Rewards Program, so we encourage all members and friends of Rotary to become part of this rebate program that will earn dollars for our club.
Please join us via Zoom on Thursday, December 17th at 7:30 a.m.
Monday, December 14, 2020
Hoping to make this Christmas season a bit brighter, Gull Lake Rotarians and spouses recently shopped for gifts for 27 Gull Lake Area students. The Gull Lake Rotary has been an active participant in this project for many years. The counselors at each building within the school system provided our members with a list of Christmas's wishes from the students, and our members did the shopping. The counselors then picked up the gifts and delivered them to the students. Judi Brown is the chairperson for the project, assisted by Faye Koestner. Thanks to the counselors and all the Rotarians and spouses who participated in the shopping and wrapping of gifts. We wish all in our community a very merry Christmas, especially in light of the times.
Monday, November 16, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
A team of Gull Lake Middle School students were among 753 middle school teams across the nation that participated on Saturday, November 14, 2020 in an online competition that challenged their skills in cybersecurity.
CyberPatriot is a National Youth Cyber Education Program to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future.
This was Gull Lake’s first competitive event. Five students were on the team coached by Vince Carahaly. According to a recent NBC report, there are 300,000 jobs currently available that are waiting to be filled.
The is the second STEM-related program involving Gull Lake students. The other program is Robotics, which Gull Lake teams have been involved in for quite a few years now.
Recently, the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club supported the team by covering the cost of the team’s registration fee for the competition.
For more information about this program, check out uscyberpatriot.org
Friday, November 13, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
Lots of people love to eat pie! This is a new fundraiser for our club designed to replace some of the charitable revenue lost due to the cancellation of our annual Spaghetti Dinner. Buyers had three choices- Apple Crumble, Pumpkin, and Pecan. Club members and friends sold 324 pies. A "Big Thank You" to Mike Gallagher, who chaired the project and Judi Brown, who was our top salesperson. She is pictured at the Grand Traverse Pie Company location in Kalamazoo. Thanks to everyone who purchased a pie. Delivery is set for the week of Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
An anonymous group known as the Prairie Stewards purchased the 160 acre property on the north edge of Richland Village with the intention of creating a recreational conservancy. The property extends west from the former Goodwill dropoff and old garage/gas station bordering 32nd Street all the way to 30th Street. The land is complete with rolling hills, ponds, and woodlands that will provide the community a place to enjoy for many years to come. Work has begun on the project by creating walking trails, planning for a stand of prairie grass (this was of course part of the original Gull Prairie), and planting trees.
On Sunday, October 11, 2020, a group of volunteers particpated in a tree planting. Pictured are Gull Lake Area Rotarians Don Deibler, Larry Winling, Marie Stech, Pete Graham, and Tom Berg. Joining them are Rob Brinkerhoff, who is in charge of the project, along with volunteers Katie Miller and Craig Mumy.
Friday, October 16, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club and Ross Township invite you to attend the dedication of the new playground at the Ross Township Park on Saturday, October 17th at 1:00 p.m. The park is located on East Gull Lake Drive just north of the Kellogg Biological Station. The project was a partnership between the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club, Ross Township, and Nolan Greenwood (Troop 294), as part of the service requirements to earn his Eagle Scout badge. Funding was provided by the Gull Lake Area Rotary through a matching grant from Rotary District 6360, a grant from the Gilmore Foundation, and Ross Township. Labor was provided by a lot of volunteers.
Pictured from left to right are Don Deibler, President of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club, Donna Tellam, Chair of the Ross Township Park Committee, Rob Baker, Ross Township Supervisor, and Judi Brown, Rotary Club Chair of the Playground Project.
Refreshments will be served. Please bring your children and grandchildren and let them try out the new playground equipment- a swingset, a spinami, and two spring toddler toys, a whale and a frog.
Park passes may be purchased for 2021 at the current year prices of $40.
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker this week will be Gary Yonkers, a well-known local photographer, whose career began in 1979. He has a degree in printing management and worked in the printing industry until 1996, when he moved to Augusta to start his own business. He is one of the area's premier wedding photographers and digital artists. Gary and his wife Amie have two grown sons, one in the military and the other attending KCC. Send your name and email address to gulllakerotary.org and we will add you to the Zoom invitation list.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Lee Sanchez spoke to Gull Lake Rotarians this past Thursday about the new Little Hands Montessori School she is beginning in Richland this fall.
Lee has been thoroughly schooled in the Montessori method of pre-school instruction and bilingual literacy. A graduate of the Maria Montessori Institute in London, England in 2010, Lee taught in bilingual Montessori schools at the primary and elementary levels in the Dominican Republic and in Guatemala.
Lee grew up in Hastings and graduated from Hope College and then earned a Masters’ Degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in World Language Instruction.
She volunteered at The Montessori School here in Richland in 2017 and began working there as a Lead Guide (Spanish-speaking) soon after. When the school announced earlier this year that they were closing the Richland campus, Lee decided to form a new school offering Montessori and bilingual education.
Little Hands Montessori plans to opening in the fall in the Living Hope Church on CD Avenue in Richland with no more than 20 students.
Friday, May 1, 2020
By Edward A. Schaadt
On Thursday, April 30th, our Rotary Club welcomed for Denny Stults as the program speaker from Visiting Angels, a home health care business. The local franchise of Visiting Angels of Southwest Michigan is owned by Stults and Kara Hoorn.
Denny Stults is a Battle Creek-Pennfield native who raised his family in Richland. He is a retired Kellogg executive who enjoyed 37 years serving in manufacturing and engineering roles in the U.S. and Latin America. Kara Hoorn is a Richland native and graduate of Gull Lake High School. Kara is an attorney at Miller Canfield, specializing in trust and estate law.
Denny serves as Chief Executive Angel/Owner and Kara is the Chief Managing Angel. Denny’s daughter Ellen Kluck is Chief Operating Angel.
The company has about 100 employees, but currently there are only 80 due to the COVID-19 crisis. The company fills the need for high quality care to be provided in the safety and comfort of one’s own home.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club launched its first full online meeting on Thursday using Zoom technology. We enjoyed a program provided by Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan, and inducted a new member.
Our speaker was Laura Lutterbeck, who serves as the District Director for Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan and the Chief Marketing Officer for Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes.
JA’s goals are to work with students K-12 to improve workplace readiness, encourage entrepreneurship, and develop personal financial management skills. This year JA had 23 programs in Gull Lake elementary schools. Recently, our club contributed $500 to support JA’s programs at Richland and Kellogg elementary schools.
Now, with the COVID-19 situation, JA is providing at-home materials and activities for teachers, parents and students free of charge through June 30, 2020. To access the tools, go to Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan.
Joining our club was Raphael Rittenhouse, the superintendent of the Gull Lake Community Schools.
Friday, April 24, 2020
In many Michigan communities, Rotary clubs and other groups provide a valuable service by adopting a two-mile section of a State highway and pick up trash scattered along the road three times each year. Members of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club have accepted this responsibility from the State’s Adopt-a-Highway program for the 9th year in a row. For some members, it is their favorite service project.
The spring cleanup began for our club yesterday morning. With trash bags in hand, six Rotarians scoured the ditches along M-43 north of Richland, picking up cans, bottles, cardboard, and other items that cluttered the roadsides during the winter. The group included Kim Lewis, Steve Lewis, Ed McCarty, Don Deibler, Bruce Dewey and Mike Gallagher. Thanks to all of them for a job well done!
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Nick Schirripa, spokesperson for the Kalamazoo office of the Michigan Department of Transportation, will explain MDOT's proposed roundabout at M-43 (Gull Road) and G Avenue. The planned 2021 reconstruction includes building a roundabout at the M-43/G Avenue intersection to improve safety and reduce congestion. Improvements also will be made at the M-43 intersections with 27th Street and 28th Street. MDOT is proposing to acquire property from Eastern Hills Golf Course for needed right of way, and the project also will have minor impacts on the existing nonmotorized trail along M-43. Project maps are available at the Township Office for viewing. All members of our community are welcome to attend this presentation on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at the Richland Area Community Center. The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The Superintendent of the K’RESA, Dave Campbell, will be our featured speaker this Thursday, November 14th. Raphael Rittenhouse, the new Superintendent of the Gull Lake Community Schools will be joining him.
Supt. Campbell has been with the Kalamazoo RESA (Regional Education Service Agency) since 2013. He grew up in Wisconsin and earned a B.A. in History and Social Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Campbell served as a teacher and coach, and received a M.A. in Educational Leadership in 1992 from Illinois State University.
He came to Michigan, where he was the Principal of Olivet High School for eight years and eleven years as Superintendent of the Olivet Schools. During that time, he collaborated with Olivet College, the Calhoun RESA, and the Battle Creek Schools to expand learning opportunities for all students.
His wife, Kathy, is a librarian. They have two daughters. One is an actuary in Chicago, and the other is a research technician at Charles River Laboratories (formerly MPI).
Monday, November 4, 2019
Most of you receive the monthly issue of the “Gull Lake Living” magazine. This Thursday, November 7th, Shelley McLaughlin will share the story of “Gull Lake Living” and other local community magazines published by Best Version Media. Shelly is the owner and publisher of McLaughlin Marketing, which also publishes “Heart of Texas Corners”, “Portage Neighbors”, and “Portage Sports.”
Shelley has lived in the west Michigan area for ten years. She attended Michigan State University and graduated from Wayne State with a B.S. in Marketing and Advertising in 1995.
Shelley has been a volunteer for Junior Achievement, a facilitator for the Women’s Business Bureau, and a board member of the Gull Lake Community Fine Arts Foundation. You are invited to join members and guests of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club this Thursday at 7:30 am at the Richland Area Community Center.
Monday, October 28, 2019
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker for Thursday, October 31st will be Kristina Scobie, the Creative Director for Noteworthy Invitations. This new business in Richland opened in March of this year and is located in the Gull Lake Commons plaza at 8801 North 32nd Street. With unmatched creativity, attention to detail, and customer service, the staff listens to your ideas and works with you to create elegant custom invitations, announcements, business materials, and stationery that leave a lasting impression. They also offer a variety of workshops.
Kristina began her career as a freelance graphic designer in the greater Detroit area. She has worked for a variety of large retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and Costco. She graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Graphic Design from WMU in 2001. In the photo, Kristina is on the left.. Layla, her co-worker is on the right.
The store is owned by Jason and Laurie Klein, who purchased Invitations by Design, a well-known and highly regarded shop located in downtown Kalamazoo. They changed the name to Noteworthy, expanded the business model, and moved the business to Richland.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
By Edward A. Schaadt
Urban Nest is the brainchild of Carri Kistner. She and her husband Bryan have always had a passion for household ‘projects’, whether it was refurbishing family heirlooms, building furniture for different areas of their home while collaboratively creating ‘one of a kind’ signature looks. Located at 9975 East M-89 next door to the Kitchen House, the store offers a variety of services-interior design, custom orders, DIY (Do-It Yourself) Workshops, private parties, and Kids Camp.
She started out crafting and creating as a young girl with her beloved great aunt, who first taught her how to sew, latch hook, and various other projects. Both of Carri's grandmothers loved crocheting so the “makers” tradition in her family still continues today. Carri currently produces machine embroidered goods such as: baby bibs, burp cloths, and hand towels.
Join us on Thursday, October 24th at the Richland Area Community Center to hear more details about this relatively new business here in Richland. The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker this Thursday, October 3rd will be Patrick Bauschke. Patrick was born and raised in Kalamazoo, graduated with honors from Loy Norrix High School, and went on to Kalamazoo Valley Community College. His real education, he says, came from the United States Marine Corps. He was sent to Haiti on a humanitarian mission, to Iraq to provide route and convoy security, and to the Pentagon, where he served as an event speaker for the “Why We Serve” program for the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense.
The “Why We Serve” program was created in 2006 and was designed to give returning veterans the opportunity to share their personal military experiences with the American public, while answering the call for more first-hand accounting from the front lines. That lead to an opportunity to be the Logistics Coordinator for a Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, where he escorted 80 civilians and public opinion leaders on a tour of U.S. bases overseas, including stops in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Djibouti.
Since returning from military duty, Bauschke has worked in the credit union industry and is currently employed by Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes.
"I try to live my life by simple rules," he says. "Do what's right, which is not necessarily what's popular. And treat others with respect." His granddad's mission in life was to make people smile. Patrick tries to live by that philosophy too.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
By Edward A. Schaadt
The 2019 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) was held the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center in Dowling on July 12-14th. The weekend camp attracted 58 students from over half of District 6360’s 54 clubs throughout southwest Michigan. Delton Rotarian Connie High did an outstanding job in organizing this amazing experience.
The focus of the RYLA program is leadership, citizenship, and personal development, designed to build on the existing leadership skills if each student, put these skills into practice, and remind the students of their responsibility to their communities and to the world.
Three Gull Lake students, Sophia Carahaly, Amanda Meinert, and Dimitri Flietstra, participated in this event. Gull Lake Rotary Club’s Youth Services chairperson, Don Deibler, served as Assistant to Connie High, and members of our club, Judy Brown, Stephen Wood, and Kim and Steve Lewis, also helped out during the weekend.
You are invited to hear Mr. Deibler and the three students share their experiences with members and guests of our club. We would love to have you join us. We meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center on CD Avenue just east of the post office.
Taking You Through the Threshold
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Jane Givens and Debbie Eisenbise are trained "End of Life Doulas." They work as a team to accompany the dying person and their loved ones through the final months, weeks and days of life. The doula provides support, resources, education and friendship for those who accept and embrace dying as a period of life, not just an abrupt ending.
Jane is an RN with forty years’ experience in the mental health field. She served for many years as a parish nurse and is certified in Advanced Care planning. Debbie is a certified spiritual director, ordained minister, writer and storyteller. She is married to Dennis Kreps, a member of our club.
Jane and Debbie help families plan and make decisions around adult life transitions; offer practical, holistic and non-medical comfort and support; and facilitate communication among family, friends, and caregivers.
While this may be one of the most difficult times that many families go through, providing the comfort and care that these ladies offer can also be the best gift to give to a loved one at the end of their life. Please join us at the Richland Area Community Center on Thursday, August 8th at 7:30 am.
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Jane Givens
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Debbie Eisenbise
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Jane Givens and Debbie Eisenbise are trained "End of Life Doulas." They work as a team to accompany the dying person and their loved ones through the final months, weeks and days of life. The doula provides support, resources, education and friendship for those who accept and embrace dying as a period of life, not just an abrupt ending.
Jane is an RN with forty years’ experience in the mental health field. She served for many years as a parish nurse and is certified in Advanced Care planning. Debbie is a certified spiritual director, ordained minister, writer and storyteller. She is married to Dennis Kreps, a member of our club.
Jane and Debbie help families plan and make decisions around adult life transitions; offer practical, holistic and non-medical comfort and support; and facilitate communication among family, friends, and caregivers.
While this may be one of the most difficult times that many families go through, providing the comfort and care that these ladies offer can also be the best gift to give to a loved one at the end of their life. Please join us at the Richland Area Community Center on Thursday, August 8th at 7:30 am.
Jane Givens
Debbie Eisenbise
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
This Thursday, August 1st, our guest speaker will be David Stoll. Dave is the Assistant Governor (AG) for Area Six, which includes Gull Lake, Middleville, Hastings and his home club of Delton. He joined the Delton Area Rotary Club in 2014 and became its President in 2016-2017.
Dave grew up in Lawrence, Michigan. His passion for small town living is evident in his dedication to our community through his involvement in many area events and groups. He was a founding member and current board member of the Delton Kellogg Education Foundation. David proudest achievement was initiating and helping to bring the Imagination Library to Barry County starting in 2016.
Dave is an electrical engineer and has worked with a variety of telecommunications companies. Since 2007, he has been the General Manager of the Barry County Telephone Company.
David and Kathi, his wife of eleven years, reside in Plainwell with their two sons, Lucas and Matthew, ages 7 and 10. He is a Cub Scout leader, scuba diver, and enjoys camping and other outdoor activities.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Our speaker this week will be Keith Mumma, a longtime member of the Kalamazoo Rotary Club. A native of Kalamazoo, he began experimenting with photography at age 8. It has become his lifelong passion. He attended WMU and Layton School of Art and Design, and graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He went to work for The Upjohn Company in 1985, but left in 1993 to travel the world, and shoot marketing, promotional and annual report photos.
While his work for corporate clients occupied much of his time, he devoted a lot of energy to the non-profit world, with a special interest in the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). He eventually became a U.S. National Director of International Child Care from 2005-2017.
Mumma’s photography has been compiled in two books, the first highlighting the children of Haiti and the second about life in the twin cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan. His third book, published this year, is entitled “Lessons”, and descibes in words and pictures the lessons he has learned from the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
In addition to his work as a Rotarian, he has served in various roles with the Boy Scouts and church groups. He and his wife Sally have two grown children, Christopher and Susan.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Our guest speaker this Thursday,July 18th will be Stephanie Hoffman, the Executive Director of Open Doors Kalamazoo. Stephanie has been with this organization since 2006.
Open Doors provide temporary housing for men at Open Door, and for women at Next Door. Each can house six people at one time. They also provide over 100 units of affordable housing at their Residence Community for Working People.
The Gull Lake Rotary Club invites you to join us this Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center for coffee, and hear about the work of Open Doors, which has been helping low-income people with housing needs since 1970.
Monday, July 8, 2019
Brian Pittelko is a Regional Economic Analyst with the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. He works with public data such as the American Community Survey and also on various projects for the early childhood education community in Kalamazoo.
Mr. Pittelko has been with the Upjohn Institute since 2008, and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a major in British history and with minors in political science and Japanese. He received his Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University in 2008, shortly after beginning as an intern at the Upjohn Institute. He previously worked at Growth and Justice, an organization that looks at economic issues in Minneapolis and St. Paul through the lens of balancing economic growth and social justice.
Join us this Thursday at 7:30 a.m. for a very educational and informative perspective on the state of our regional economy.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
This Thursday, May 23rd, our speaker will discuss the current labor markets in our area. Lee Adams is Director of the Southcentral Michigan Planning Council and Community Development Leader at the W.E. Upjohn Institute. Adams’ research and work in these roles is primarily concentrated in the fields of economic development, regional planning, workforce development, housing, real estate development, and local government policy.
Adams received a Master of Arts degree in Urban and Regional Planning with concentrations in economic development and land use planning as well as a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from the University of Michigan in 2010; he also received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and in the Social Sciences with concentrations in economics and history from Olivet Nazarene University in 2007.
Join us for coffee and fellowship at 7:30 am at the Richland Area Community Center.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
By Edward A. Schaadt
The Willis Foundation is committed to supporting the men and women of our armed services by providing “Great Rewards for Great Warriors.” The primary mission of the Willis Foundation is to fund college scholarships for children whose United States Armed Services parent was killed or permanently disabled in a combat zone.These children have also made the ultimate sacrifice.
Corporal Christopher K. Willis grew up in Paw Paw, Michigan, joined the Marines in 1999 and completed his boot camp training at Camp Pendleton, California, in December of 1999. Christopher graduated from USMC Engineering School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in April of 2000.
Christopher came home a hero to Paw Paw, Michigan, in June of 2003. Six weeks later, on July 18, 2003, while still on active duty, Lance Corporal Willis, at the age of 24, died in a tragic automobile accident on I-94 near Battle Creek, Michigan.
Join us this Thursday, April 25th, to hear the story of this outstanding marine, as told by his brothers, Michael and Shaun Willis. Our meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center.
Friday, March 29, 2019
Our fellow club member, Don Paulson, will present our program on Thursday, April 4th. He has been a Certified Financial Planner for the past 27 years. Don graduated from WMU in 1977 with a degree in Business Administration and earned a degree in Psychology from Nazareth College in 1992. Don will address the current financial markets and provide us with some perspective in understanding today’s market.
Don has been a member of our club since 1991 and is currently the chair of the Rotary Foundation committee. He is also a member of the Gull Lake Quality Organization. He and his wife Sue have two children and one granddaughter. Don and Sue enjoy traveling around the country in their motor home, and also love spending time boating on Gull Lake.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Lee Sanchez is the newest member of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club and a recent transfer from the Hastings Rotary Club. Lee is a native of Hastings, Michigan and is thrilled to be sharing the joy of music and Spanish with young children and their families. She graduated from Hope College where she studied Children’s Ministries and Music. She received her teaching degree in Early Childhood Montessori Education in London, England and taught at bilingual Montessori schools in the Dominican Republic for four years.
Shortly after returning to Hastings, she founded Hands and Feet Family Music. She has her Masters of Education in World Language Instruction at Concordia College, Moorhead Minnesota which she uses to aid her work in simultaneous biliteracy development as a Montessori teacher. In addition to teaching classes at Hands and Feet Family Music, Lee is a Spanish Speaking Guide at The Montessori School in Richland Michigan.
Hands and Feet Family Music began offering classes in Barry County August of 2016. In 2017 additional locations were opened including the Hastings Community Music School and the Montessori School in Richland. She will be sharing her story with our members and guests this Thursday, March 21, 2019. Join us at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Our speaker this Thursday will be one of our own members, Ron Kendall III. Since January of this year, Ron has been the Chief of Staff for the Michigan State Senate. He also serves on the Kalamazoo County Commission representing District 6 (Cooper, Richland, and Ross townships), an office he has held since January of 2017. Ron wil talk about the issues facing Kalamazoo County.
Ron graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Public Policy Analysis. He began his career in the Michigan legislature in 2012 as a Constituent Relations Coordinator and became Legislative Director for the Michigan House of Representatives. During that time, he worked for three different legislators.
Ron grew up in Paw Paw, enjoys golf, and is a huge Chicago sports fan. Ron and his wife, Laura, live in Richland and have a two year son Ronald Kendall IV.
Monday, February 25, 2019
On Thursday, March 7th, our speaker will be Joe Calvaruso. He is the Executive Director of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation. He took over leadership of the Foundation in 2009, following a 29-year career in the banking industry. Joe lives in Galesburg and is a former member of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum was completed and dedicated in 1981. The museum is located on the west bank of the Grand River. The Ford Presidential Library and the burial site for President Ford and his wife, Betty, are also located on these grounds.
In 2016, the museum underwent its first extensive renovation since its opening. New high-tech exhibits and the multi-million dollar DeVos Learning Center for students and teachers were added. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is part of the National Archives and Records Administration.
We meet at 7:30 am at the Richland Area Community Center. Join us coffee, fellowship, and a great program.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Hilary Kerr is an Advanced Care Planning Specialist with Bronson Healthcare. She has over twenty years experience working in the field of senior health services. She brings added perspective from her previous experience as a public guardian, nursing home social worker and holds a master’s of science degree in human services with specialization in gerontology.
Hilary will outline how individuals can create an Advanced Care Directive that identifies who you would want to help you make medical decisions and what your life-prolonging care limitations would be. She will highlight ways to initiate the critical conversation with family and ideas of where to distribute the document.
Join us this Thursday morning, February 28, 2019 at the Richland Area Community Center. The Gull Lake Area Rotary meets at 7:30 a.m.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Our speaker this week features Jason Stockman, who is celebrating his 20th year in the hospitality industry. He has been the general manager of the 600 Kitchen and Bar since it opened in December of 2017. The restaurant is part of the Millenium Restaurant Group in Kalamazoo and is located on East Michigan Avenue in the River's Edge neighborhood. The building dates from 1907, when the Kalamazoo Foundry and Machine Co. moved to 600 East Michigan Avenue until it was sold in 1999.
Originally from the suburbs of Detroit, Stockman has worked his way from dishwasher to chef in the kitchen and has held every position outside of the kitchen from server, to bartender to general manager. Through his 20 years, he has found himself in restaurants, hotels, fine dining establishments and the simple home town bars. While working for Millennium Restaurant Group in Kalamazoo, he has managed three properties and completed a degree in Community and Regional Planning. His passion is people and bringing the community together.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Our speaker for Thursday, February 14thwill be Ben Moe. Ben is the Director for the Ark Services and an Adjunct Instructor at WMU. He is also the Vice-Chair for Kalamazoo Coalition for Human Trafficking. January was National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Moe emphasizes that human trafficking won’t stop without the help of West Michigan communities.
The goal is to change the narrative by emphasizing labor trafficking as well as sex trafficking. In addition to working with the YWCA, the group wants to partner with southwestern Michigan farmers, who employ temporary workers, in addition to first responders, the police, the courts and other social services providers. The Coalition is currently using billboards to spread the word. Join us this Thursday to learn more about this problem and what can be done to stop it.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Joining us this Thursday, December 6th will be Gerard (Geff) Clarke. Geff was a Rotarian for eleven years in his native South Africa, served as President of his club, and was involved in district activities when another member of his club became District Governor.
He and his wife, Cheryl, lived along the southern coast of South Africa. His career began with a brief stint as a schoolteacher, before moving on to various positions in the fields of finance and banking. They also ran a game preserve and guided big game hunting safaris.
In 1998, the couple moved to the United States and purchased the Mendon Country Inn B & B in the small village of Mendon in St. Joseph, County. Their daughter lived in Chicago and their son-in-law was from Holland. As a classical trained chef, Geff treated their guests to many of his gourmet delights, and would prepare lavish dinners in the homes of his Amish neighbors.
The Clarkes eventually moved to the Richland Area and is now using his chef's skills to make his Grampas Pastys, which are sold at the Richland Farmers Market and also at many other farmers markets in the area.
Geff will share his Rotary experiences with members and guests of our club and his memories of life in South Africa at the time Nelson Mandela became President of the country.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Star Trek was a popular TV series from 1966-1969. Our speaker on Thursday, November 29th was not only a fan, but his passion is to see the Star Trek adventures live on. Since 2011, Rick Chambers has written several scripts for the online Star Trek: New Voyages series.
Rick Chambers grew up in Kalamazoo. After graduating from WMU in 1984 with a degree in public relations, Rick began his career as a newspaper reporter and journalist in Three Rivers. In 1987, Rick joined the Upjohn/Pharmacia/Pfizer companies as director of corporate communications and public relations and served for a short time as Senior Communications Director with the Kellogg Company. He left the corporate world behind in 2012 and formed Rick Chambers and Associates, working out of his home. He now has time to pursue what he enjoys most, that is, writing sci-fi stories and scripts.
Monday, November 19, 2018
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club recently welcomed Dr. Courtney Bumgarner as the newest member of club. Courtney is a chiropractor with the Soldano Family Chiropractic Center in Richland. She is interested in treating young children through teens and looks forward to serving our community through Rotary. She is sponsored by Kim Lewis. (L-Courtney Bumgarner R-Kim Lewis)
Monday, November 5, 2018
Our speaker this Thursday, November 8th, will be Brian Handler, the General Manager of DH BC Holdings P LLC, a real estate investment and management company, headquartered at Brook Lodge in Augusta. The company was incorporated in February of 2018. The 82.6-acre facility on 42nd Street north of Augusta was sold earlier this year by Michigan State University to an unnamed buyer from California for $950,000, according to the Grand Rapids Business Journal.
MSU closed the hotel and conference center in 2009 to the public, but continued to use the facility for internal events until closing it permanently in 2012. Brook Lodge consisted of 16 buildings, including 8 cottages with 48 guest rooms.
No specific plans for been announced for use of Brook Lodge, although a Facebook page and other internet sources indicate that the Brook Lodge Cannabis Company is also headquartered at this site.
Join us on Thursday, November 8th at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center to hear Brian tell us more about what his company plans to do with the property.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Thomas Edison first coined this expression in 1902 and it still holds true today. A good example of this popular saying being put into practice can be found right here in Richland.
This coming Thursday, November 1st, join the members and guests at the Richland Area Community Center for a program featuring a local entrepreneur. The meeting begins at 7:30 a.m.
Third Coast Design Works was originally founded on ideas to help the Home Brewer and Wine maker have an overall pleasant experience throughout the entire process. Since their inception in 2011, they have expanded our products for Sports Enthusiasts with their Sports Bottle Brush, Arts and Craft Enthusiasts who clean antique bottles and to clients who own Hummingbird Feeders.
The Richland-based, family business is co-owned by Casey Kluge and his father, Bob Kluge and is headquartered out of Bob’s home in Richland They sell a variety of brushes and tools for cleaning various types of bottles under the trademark of the “Clean Bottle Express”.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our program speaker for this Thursday, October 25th will be Tesi Dawson Klipsch. Tesi is a Healthy Lifestyles coach at the Y, an active podcaster and blogger, and marketing director for Dawson Chiropractic. She and her husband Zack, came to the Gull Lake community in January of 2017 when Zack was selected as CEO of the Sherman Lake YMCA.
Tesi’s life is centered around her family. After their son and daughter were born, Tesi and Zack decided to add to their family through adoption. The chose to adopt three young boys from Ethiopia. The family includes son Trysten,(10th grade), Tomas, (9th grade), Tariku, (8th grade), Dailah, (7th grade), and Binyam, (6th grade).
Tesi will share the story of her family and their journeys to Ethiopia, where she is also involved with a clean water project. Join us for coffee, conversation, and a heart-warming program at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Chris Sargent has been the involved in non-profit leadership for over twenty years. He is currently President and CEO of United Way of Battle Creek and the Kalamazoo Region. Chris joined United Way of Battle Creek in 2004 where he served in various development and strategic roles as well as President and CEO. After the merger of the United Way organizations in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo in 2012, Chris continued in the role of Vice-President until last year, when he was selected to lead the combined organizations.
In recent years, the organization's focus has shifted with strategies primarily related to "education, financial stability, health and basic needs."
Sargent is a graduate of Gull Lake High School, and Alma College. His experience includes resource development with Heart of West Michigan United Way in Grand Rapids, Michigan United Conservation Clubs in Lansing, and capital campaign leadership for Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center in Augusta.
Sargent resides in Battle Creek with his wife, Kim. They have three children and several grandchildren.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
They are archeologists of a different sort. They call themselves the “Outhouse Diggers”, a group of fun-loving treasure hunters, many looking for antique glass bottles. They find much more. Where do they search? Well, that is what make them unique in the archeology business.
The crew uses plat maps and historical knowledge of the area to search for the outhouses in historical homesteads. That is where, they say, they find the best artifacts and evidence of what our ancestors used in their daily lives.
The crew or “cast” as they refer to themselves are three guys and two gals who take on new personas on a dig. There’s Hollywood, Digger Chick, The Permission Queen, Digger Bill, and PI.
They have the “scoop on the poop” and evidence to prove it. They will make you “privy” to their finds, which include old revolvers, coins, vases, and human bones.
You don’t want to miss this program! It takes archeology to a whole new level.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our program on Thursday, July 26th will feature Sgt. Joe Coleman from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Coleman grew up in the Galesburg area and graduated from WMU in 2000. In 2002, he joined the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department and worked in the jail for the next six years. For the past ten years, he has been assigned to Road Patrol.
In 2014 Coleman was selected to be the 3rd K-9 handler in the department's history and was partnered with his dog, Ajax.
The K-9 team provides missing persons tracking, building searches, narcotics searches, and suspect apprehension options for incidents within the county of Kalamazoo.
Both deputies and dogs must first go through a K9 academy. In the academy, the deputies become accustomed to their new partners and learn to read their body language. The dogs have already received their initial training by this time, but they must learn to work with their new handlers and receive deeper training in each discipline. Sgt. Coleman will be accompanied by Deputy Harris and his K-9, Roseco.
Last year, Coleman was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is currently the afteroon shift supervisor for the Road Patrol and also supervises the K-9 team.
Monday, May 14, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker this Thursday will be Sarah Carroll, who is the Development & Community Relations Coordinator for the Kellogg Biological Station. With 14 years of service, Carroll has been described as being extremely well-organized, always prepared, detail-oriented and “in control” of the situation as she oversees the growing administrative operation.
Her work includes coordinating and training more than 60 volunteers at the bird sanctuary who provide tours, programs and other vital services. Since 2008, Carroll has assisted in growing the membership at the bird sanctuary by 30 percent annually, which helps to support equipment and supplies necessary for school tours and programs for adults and families.
Her development activities including the planning and development of marketing materials and organizing events to help inform current and prospective donors about what is done at KBS and its importance. Donor funds are critical to providing student scholarships, facility improvements and research at KBS.
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker this Thursday has been the President and Chief Executive Officer for Habitat for Humanity of Michigan for the past ten years. This well-known organization is a statewide support and shared service organization which provides technical assistance, consulting, advocacy, and resources to a network of 76 affiliates and 46 ReStores.
She has provided leadership in implementing the strategic priorities of the Board of Directors, including energy efficient building, a shift into home repair and home rehabilitation, neighborhood revitalization, as well as the launch of three unique initiatives: the Michigan Regional Distribution Center, the Habitat for Humanity Michigan Fund – a licensed loan origination and servicing company, and the formation and implementation of the ReBuild Michigan Capital Campaign.
Sandra is a 1992 graduate of Michigan State University, majoring in Business Administration, Business and Economics. Sandra and her husband Rob have been married for 24 years and have three daughters, who are 3rd generation MSU Spartans.
Sunday, May 6, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Since 1979, PAWS with a Cause has enhanced the quality of life for people with disabilities. The organization originally began as a way to help the deaf, but through the years, PAWS has expanded their programs to train Service Dogs for people with physical disabilities, Seizure Response Dogs for people who have epilepsy, Service Dogs for Children with Autism.
Headquartered in Wayland, Michigan, PAWS with a Cause has a large number of field staff that offers its services in dozens of states. To date, they have placed more than 2,700 service dogs with clients nationwide. They receive over 2,000 Assistance Dog requests annually.
Joining us this Thursday, May 10th will be Dawn Bohan, who is the National Breeding Program Coordinator for PAWS. She will talk about the breeding and training of service dogs and share stories of the positive impact the organization has had on the lives of people with many different types of disabilities.
We welcome anyone who would like to hear about the work of this important service organization. We meet at the Richland Area Community Center at 7:30 a.m. Join us for coffee, good fellowship, and an interesting program.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Our program on Thursday, October 4th will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will be held on the site of the E. Leet Woodworking Company, a custom woodworking business located in Southwest Michigan. The business is located at 10175 3 Mile Road in Barry County. The company was founded in 1986 by Patrick Leet who still owns and manages the business. While the company name is pronounced “elite,” the name is actually derived by combining the first letter “E” of Patrick’s mother’s name, Elizabeth, and “Leet” from Patrick’s surname.
The company has the technology and expertise to create high-quality, custom-crafted wood products tailored to meet its clientele’s needs and expectations.
E. Leet Woodworking provides the finest custom-crafted furniture, cabinetry, and all other wood creations fabricated for their clientele. They also have the resources to assist clients with drawing specifications necessary to reach their desired goals.
Monday, June 25, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Our speaker this Thursday,July 5th will be Nicholas Harris, who is the Clinical Research Project Manager for the Children’s Clinical Trial Support Unit at the U. of M. and C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Nick has worked at multiple academic institutions as a research specialist and coordinator. His entire career has been in Pediatric care, with a previous three-year appointment in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine art Mott and a seven hear appointment with Endocrinology and Diabetes at Indiana University Riley Hospital for Children.
Every day, University of Michigan doctors and scientists are developing the next generation of therapies and prevention strategies for children. Mott patients are among the first to benefit from these discoveries.
The Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit is one of very few organizations in the country that conducts pediatric health services studies that shape local, state and national health care policy. CHEAR brings together faculty from schools throughout the University of Michigan to address the most pressing child health issues today.
Harris is the son of Ron and Cathi Harris of Richland and Marty Hettinga’s nephew.
The Gull Lake Area Rotary Club meets every Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center.
Saturday, September 1, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Mike Schneiderhan is the coordinator of the Barry County Economic Development Alliance. He works with schools and employers to prepare students for the workplace.
Schneiderhan has worked in the construction field and has served in public education as the assistant principal of Hastings High School and principal at Central Elementary. This combination seems to be tailor-made for his position, which he had for the past two years. Schneiderhan works with students, teachers and counselors, as well as employers to help ready them for the workplace.
More than half of the high school graduates don’t go to college. Program need to be developed to help these kids find their passions to become economically independent.
Some of the programs already in place are in culinary arts and auto mechanics and restoration. Schneiderhan said he will focus on health fields, including hospital needs, emergency medical technicians, fire science and ongoing work with the Hastings Police Cadet program. Another area of emphasis will be preparing students to be welders, plumbers, electricians, builders, heavy equipment operators, landscapers, auto mechanics and more.
You are invited to join us this Thursday, September 6th at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center for coffee and an interesting program.
Monday, May 28, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Do you want to live a longer, healthier life? If so, we can learn some lessons from those areas of the world where people are living longer and healthier lives. What do the people who live in these areas have in common?
They are called the Blue Zones and were identified by a team for National Geographic as Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rico), Icaria (Greece), and Loma Linda, California. While these five areas couldn’t be more different, they have nine common behaviors or practices believed to be the keys to a long, healthier life.
Our speaker on Thursday, May 31st will be Allison Troyer Wiswell. Since 2004, she has worked for Holtyn and Associates, a company that focuses on promoting health and wellness.
Allison is a Hastings Rotarian and a graduate of Leadership Barry County. She is currently Fund Development Board member at Pierce Creek Institute, a member of the B.Healthy Coalition and a steering committee member for the Rotary Student Program.
Join us at the Richland Area Community Center at 7:30 a.m. and find out what the Power 9 Factors are.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
The new Executive Director of Lending Hands, Lucinda Stinson, has been on the job for nearly a year now, following the retirement of longtime director, John Hilliard.
Ms. Stinson has extensive experience in the public sector with many years working in health care systems. According to Julie VanderNoot, the Board Chair of Lending Hands says that Lucinda was a good fit to lead the twelve-year old non-profit that lends out basic home medical equipment for free for 7 months. Lending Hands serves six counties in Southwest Michigan.
The new Executive Director will supervise a cadre of over 50 volunteers, along with day-to-day operations, fund development, marketing and public relations. Lending Hands has served over 19,000 clients and saved those clients over $9 million in out of pocket expenses.
Lucinda has also worked at other non-profits in the Kalamazoo area, including Habitat for Humanity and Partners in Housing Transition at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Board at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
Ms. Stinson will speak to members and guests of the Gull Lake Area Rotary Club this Thursday morning, May 24th at 7:30 a.m. The club meets weekly at the Richland Area Community Center. We welcome all guests.
Monday, October 15, 2018
Our speaker on Thursday, October 18th will be Carolyn Gardiner, the lead docent for the W.K. Kellogg Manor House. She has been a volunteer at the W.K. Kellogg Manor House for the past seven years. Certified as an Interpretive Guide and a member of the National Association for Interpretation, she has conducted tours of the home and grounds for large tour groups and community organizations. The Manor House is part of the Kellogg Biological Station and their mission is to share the history of the Kellogg family and the impact of W.K.’s legacy – past, present and future.
Monday, July 16, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
You may have noticed that Kalamazoo and the surrounding area is literally a "beehive" of activity these days. Ron Kitchens and Southwest Michigan First could not be more pleased!
Ron is the senior partner and chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, an economic consulting firm, which has grown 20% annually under his leadership. But what keeps him up at night is the fact that if we sit on our hands and do nothing, in ten years, we will have 35,000 fewer people in our local workforce (defined as a 7-county area) and not enough talented and educated people to replace them (the retiring middle-aged workers).
His solution and the focus of Southwest Michigan First is to keep our talented high school and college graduates here to help our local companies expand and prosper. Kitchens says that eighty percent of all new jobs in our area are the result of expansions by companies already here. Twenty percent is from new development.
Join us this Thursday (July19th) at 7:30 a.m at the Richland Area Community Center for a dynamic presentation by one of the leading experts on economic growth. Ron's program will be inspiring as well as challenging. See you Thursday.
Monday, August 27, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Courtney grew up in Plainwell and was active in sports-track, gymnastics and competitive cheer. As a young athlete, she experienced pain in her muscles and spine, and first visited a chiropractor when she was ten. Her successful treatments would eventually to choose the chiropractic profession as a career.
After high school, she attended Wayne State and KVCC to study pre-pharmacy, but this was just not the right fit for her. She decided to move west to the State of Washington where an older sister and her family were living. She loved the mountains and took a job as a lift attendant at a ski resort.
One of the regular skiers was a local retired chiropractor. In their conversations on the lift line, he discovered her interest in his field and urged her to attend the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Courtney graduated from there in February of 2017 and returned to Washington to begin a practice.
While she loved her life in Washington, she made the bittersweet decision to return to Kalamazoo where she had a large family support system to help her with your infant son. She could return to her beloved mountains for vacations.
She joined the Soldano Family Chiropractic Center and went to work at their Richland facility located in the historic brick school on D Avenue. Join us this Thursday, August 30th at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center to hear Courtney’s story and why she is passionate about her chosen career in helping others with the same problems she once experienced.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Buy Local Greater Kalamazoo began as a non-profit in 2008. Its mission is to support our local economy by increasing the purchase of locally produced products, supplies and services by local businesses and residents. For every $100 spent at local businesses, $68 of that remains in the local community. This Thursday, Executive Director Kristin Simons-Valenzuela will talk about the work of this non-profit and how it works to benefit all of us.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Nearly 60 high school students from over 20 schools throughout southwest Michigan spent the weekend of July 13-15 at the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy held at the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center (Clear Lake Camp).
The camp was sponsored by Rotary clubs throughout the District and emphasized leadership, citizenship and personal growth.
The students were tasked with a series of activities designed to develop skills in problem-solving, team building, and overcoming obstacles and adversities.
The campers shared their experiences at a meeting this past Thurday at the Richland Area Community Center. Pictured from left to right are Camp Director Connie High from the Delton Rotary Club, Aelita Klansmeier (Gull Lake), Emily Hanner (Comstock), Rachel Kramer (Gull Lake) and Don Deibler, Youth Services chair for the Gull Lake Rotary Club.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
By Edward A. Schaadt
Old friends from around the globe renewed their friendships while other made new connections with fellow Rotarians this summer in Toronto, the site of this year’s Rotary International Convention held from June 23-27th.
Over 25,000 people from 175 countries were in attendance at the conference that featured speakers who addressed all of the causes that Rotary has embraced like promoting peace, fighting disease, eliminating polio, providing clean water and growing local economies.
In addition to the sixteen former Rotary presidents who were there, speakers included Princess Anne (Great Britain), former first lady Laura Bush, former Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand, and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.
Three members from our club, including Steve and Kim Lewis and Bill Brandenberger and wife Jeannie, who is President of the Kalamazoo Rotary attended this year's conference in Toronrto. Join us this Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the Richland Area Community Center to hear Steve, Kim, and Bill share their experiences and convention stories.