Rotary News

The Rotary News - May 5, 2008

          This was our joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Battle Creek with Rotarians from the Albion, Climax and Cereal City clubs invited.  Joining these Rotarians were District Governor Elect Renee Merchant, her husband Dick and the visiting Group Study Exchange team from the Philippines (according to Amy Remmert, the team members have enjoyed their stay in Kalamazoo and their vocational days have been rewarding) Team members are Felimon Brazas, Kitchie Victoria, Hazel Conda, Anthony Ortega, and Team Leader Reggie Ponce.

            The meeting was held in the Kellogg Hall at the Sherman Lake YMCA, and we could not have asked for a more beautiful setting - the month of May provided sunshine and greenery that here and there was interspersed with the characteristic lace of flowering dogwood.  The Sherman Lake facility is a jewel - woods, trails, a lake and wonderful facilities - all at their best for Rotary, including a warm welcome for Rotarians with Sherman Lake "Y" director Luke Austenfeld greeting us as we arrived.

            Hosting the meeting was president elect Randy Case of the Battle Creek club.  He invited Luke Austenfeld to welcome us to Sherman Lake.  Luke described Kellogg Hall and thanked the Kellogg Company for its support - since 1999 when it was built, Kellogg Hall has provided meals to 100,000 children!

            In a follow-up discussion Luke Austenfeld attributed the success of the Sherman Lake facility to a regional recognition of what is needed for youth in our age.  With cooperation and contributions from many, individuals and foundations (the Kellogg Foundation, Kalamazoo County Community Foundation and others), the Sherman Lake "Y" now is able to meet the needs of youth, providing needed leadership and training.

            The importance of the focus on youth is growing. Luke mentioned that today life expectancy among youth now is decreasing, largely attributable to learned lifestyles that are deleterious to health, associated with increasing rates of obesity.  Sherman Lake is able to provide a desirable physical environment for the training of camp experience participants.

            With his long service and experiences in various capacities with the Kellogg Company, CEO David McKay re-emphasized the commitment of Kellogg's to the southwest Michigan communities.  Kellogg's began 102 years ago with the production of Kellogg's Corn Flakes.  Since then, Kellogg's has become worldwide, is intensively engaged in being part of emerging developments in Russia and elsewhere, but is increasing its research and product development functions locally.  A stimulating and informative presentation rendered without signs of fatigue after prolonged travel and but a few hours rest!  Rotarians were treated to a sample of Kellogg's products on departure.             We thank the organizers and our Battle Creek liaison team, J. Bradley Kaufman and Daniel Busby.  The idea of the joint meetings with Battle Creek came from remarks made by an earlier Kellogg's CEO, William La Mothe; in a presentation to the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo 14 years ago he suggested that the business community in southwest Michigan should work toward being united - Pete Schma heard him, suggested semi-annual meetings to the club president, and, in Rotary fashion, was appointed to chair the new committee!  Thanks, Pete!