Rotary Club of Battle Creek

Shannon Barnell, Battle Creek Central  Joellen Maurer, Harper Creek

Tamia Duncan, Lakeview  Rebecca Penrod, Calhoun Christian High School

Caitlin Joy Jackson, Pennfield  Heather Bernard, St. Phillip

Morgan Bailey, Calhoun Community High School

Larry Anderson is described as a “Committed Leader” in the Battle Creek Rotary Club.  His business career spanned 43 years as a healthcare executive with hospitals in Ann Arbor and Battle Creek.  He was co-founder, board chair and later CEO of LifeCare Ambulance Service, a regional accredited service.

Retired since 2006, Larry remains active in the community as a volunteer and most recently, with his wife Sue, as a driver for Meals on Wheels.

A 27 year Rotary veteran, Larry continues a role as GSE coordinator, chair of the membership committee and member of the board.  He and his wife derive satisfaction in hosting GSE team member such as the India District 3020 team.  With 10 years experience in leading the membership committee, Larry has not only been able to stabilize the Battle Creek Club’s membership, but has been able to replace them with new members.  His committee is on the path to grow the Battle Creek Club’s membership for the coming year.

Congratulations Larry  on a job well done.  Larry is truly a Battle Creek Rotary Hero.

Pictured: Rachel Lombardi (Rose Bud Award Winner), Lizabeth Hendershot, Nichole Lawarence, Ngun (Esther) Mawi (Runners up Winners)

The Battle Creek Rose Bud Awards recognize young people who are already serving the community.  School Counselors nominate students who they feel are living out Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”.  This year’s, Battle Creek Rotary’s Rose Bud Award Winner is Rachael Lombardi.  Rachel is a member of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, the Youth Alliance Committee and serves as an advisory member for the Project 20/20.  Over the past 8 years, Rachel has trained 6 different dogs for the Paws with a Cause program.  She is also a member of her school’s National Honor Society, the Link Crew as well as Students for Environmental Action.  Even with all this community and school involvement, Rachael still maintains a 4.0 grade point average.  Rachael received a $500 Scholarship for here future education.

Four other Students, Ngun (Esther) Mawi, Nichole Lawrence, Lizabeth Hendershot and Nolan Reichkitzer, were chosen as runner’s up award winners who were honored with $100 scholarships

Congratulations to all of the Students who were part of our 2012 Battle Creek Rotary Rose Bud Awards.

Pictured:  President Brent Fast, Tim Kook, Linda Wendt

The Battle Creek Rotary Club Honored Tim Kool as its 2012 Red Rose Recipient at its May 21st meeting.   To introduce our 2012 recipient,  President Brent Fast called upon Linda Wendt who said: “This year’s Red Rose recipient has served this community in so many ways.  He has served on United Way of Greater Battle Creek, including the merger committee, Battle Creek Christian Schools, made gifts to the community through Heritage Chevrolet, such as IFOL sponsorship and gifts to nonprofits from the monthly oil change program.  He played a big role in saving Burnham Brook and served as its Board Chair for 5 years.  He has served on the Battle Creek Unlimited Board of Directors and the Sherman Lake Y Center.  Uniquely, this year’s recipient is a second generation community Leader.  Please join me in recognizing Tim Kool, Rotary’s 2012 Red Rose Award recipient.”

After Tim’s introduction, Linda asked Jim Ritsema to come to the podium.  Jim spoke of Tim’s commitment to his Faith, his Family and Friends and his community.  He also noted Tim’s participation in the Wheels to Work program.  Linda then invited our own Brenda Hunt from the Battle Creek Foundation to the podium.  Brenda also spoke of what she called Tim’s “values” and said that Tim is committed to doing the “Right Thing, at the Right Time, for the Right Reason.”  A standing ovation welcomed Tim Kool as the 2012 Red Rose recipient.  Tim took the podium and introduced his wife, of almost 31 years, Lynn, as well as his parents and other friends.  Tim spoke about how his faith is the foundation for everything he does.  Congratulations Tim Kool, 2012 Red Rose Award recipient.  Thank you for your investment in our Battle Creek Community.