President Peter Norton opened the meeting and introduced Fran Conner, who provided inspirational words, led the Pledge and Four-Way Test. And a big welcome to all of today's guests!
Important announcements from January 21:
- Doug Risser announced an upcoming Rotary event, inviting all to attend, celebrating the 100 Year Celebrations of both the Goshen Rotary Club and the Warsaw Rotary Club. The theme is "Bahamian Bash" and features Barry Rassin, Rotary International President. Party is scheduled for Friday, February 8 at the Spohn Ballroom 109 E. Clinton Street in Goshen. 6-7 pm is Social Hour and Silent Auction, 7-9 pm Banquet and Program. Casual-Island attire recommended! $35 per person, RSVP to srisserrn@gmail.com (Goshen Club) or christopher.harrison@amwater.com (Warsaw Club). For more info CLICK HERE. Come enjoy!
- Peter Norton invited those interested in Rotary Club Leadership to contact him regarding a February 16 training opportunity.
- There will be a Grant Committee meeting on Tuesday at 4 pm, contact Ann McCuistion for more info.
Today's speaker was Marcus Winchester, Director of the Department of Language and Culture for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. Marcus provided a brief history of the Pokagon Band and his role in the department focused on preserving, protecting and promoting Potawatomi language, culture, spirituality, history and traditional ecological knowledge. And excellent presentation!
Each Indigenous nation has its own creation story. Some stories tell that the Potawatomi have always been here. Other stories tell of migration from the Eastern seaboard with the Ojibwe and Odawa Nations. The three tribes loosely organized as the Three Fires Confederacy, with each serving an important role. The Ojibwe were said to be the Keepers of Tradition. The Odawa were known as the Keepers of the Trade. The Potawatomi were known as the Keepers of the Fire. Later, the Potawatomi migrated from north of Lakes Huron and Superior to the shores of the Mitchigami or Great Lake. This location—in what is now Wisconsin, southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northern Illinois—is where European explorers in the early 17th century first came upon the Potawatomi; they called themselves Neshnabek, meaning the original or true people....
For more information and a more detailed history, visit: http://www.pokagon.com/our-culture/history
About Rotary:
- January 28: Tom Gjelten, NPR National Correspondent, who covers issues of religion, faith, and belief for NPR News