by Ingrid Nova | Apr 18, 2012 | Community Service Ongoing, Foundation and Fund Raising
The East Lansing Rotary Club is spearheading a project to raise money to build a monument dedicated to one of the two Medal of Honor recipients from the tri-county (Eaton, Clinton, and Ingham Counties) area. Second Lieutenant Sherrod E. Skinner, Jr. entered military service from East Lansing, Michigan and was killed in the Korean War. The other midMichigan Medal of Honor winner — Francis Flaherty, a member of the US Navy killed in WW II — has a monument dedicated to him in his home town at the courthouse in Charlotte, Michigan. The intention is to build a similar monument honoring 2nd Lieutenant Skinner‘s service to our country somewhere within the city limits of East Lansing. Current plans call for constructing the memorial using black polished granite, similar to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC.
Second Lieutenant Skinner’s citation reads as follows:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an artillery forward observer of Battery F, in action against enemy aggressor forces on the night of 26 October 1952. When his observation post in an extremely critical and vital sector of the main line of resistance was subjected to a sudden and fanatical attack by hostile forces, supported by a devastating barrage of artillery and mortar fire which completely severed communication lines connecting the outpost with friendly firing batteries, 2d Lt. Skinner, in a determined effort to hold his position, immediately organized and directed the surviving personnel in the defense of the outpost, continuing to call down fire on the enemy by means of radio alone until his equipment became damaged beyond repair. Undaunted by
the intense hostile barrage and the rapidly-closing attackers, he twice left the protection of his bunker in order to direct accurate machinegun fire and to replenish the depleted supply of ammunition and grenades. Although painfully wounded on each occasion, he steadfastly refused medical aid until the rest of the men received treatment.
As the ground attack reached its climax, he gallantly directed the final defense until the meager supply of ammunition was exhausted and the position overrun. During the 3 hours that the outpost was occupied by the enemy, several grenades were thrown into the bunker which served as protection for 2d Lt. Skinner and his remaining comrades. Realizing that there was no chance for other than passive resistance, he directed his men to feign death even though the hostile troops entered the bunker and searched their persons. Later, when an enemy grenade was thrown between him and two other survivors, he immediately threw himself on the deadly missile in an effort to protect the others, absorbing the full force of the explosion and sacrificing his life for his comrades. By his indomitable fighting spirit, superb leadership, and great personal valor in the face of tremendous odds, 2d Lt. Skinner served to inspire his fellow marines in their heroic stand against the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Please consider making a contribution to this effort, today. Donations are currently being accepted and checks should be made payable to the East Lansing Rotary Foundation, which is assisting with the fund-raising effort. The East Lansing Rotary Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, which means that contributions to support this effort are tax deductible. Donations can be mailed directly to the foundation in care of: East Lansing Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 4205, East Lansing, MI 48823.It’s expected that the memorial will cost no more than $25,000.00.
Questions about the planned memorial honoring 2nd Lt. Skinner can be addressed to Patrick Boog
(517-333-2982). Thank you for your consideration!
by Ingrid Nova | Mar 29, 2012 | Speakers for the Month
East Lansing Rotary’s programs for April 2012 are as follows:
April 2 – Rotarian Walt Sorg will be making a presentation about electric vehicles.
April 9 – Pat Lindemann will present an update on projects being undertaken by the Drain Commissioner’s Office.
April 16 – Harvey Schoof, co-author of “Answering the Central Question,” will present on the science of applied neuro-axiology and “how-to principles for integrating your heart, mind and brain to unleash your inner strengths and create a truly extraordinary life.”
April 23 – East Lansing City Manager and Rotarian George Lahanas will present on East Lansing’s budget challenges.
April 30 – Molly Day, Director of Marketing and Development at Ele’s Place, will present about service provided by Ele’s Place and their impact on our community.
by Ingrid Nova | Mar 28, 2012 | Awards
Every year our club gives an award to one or several people in order to recognize the work they’re doing in our community. Here is some information on the this year’s recipients:
Dr. Fred Tinning, Ph.D.
Dr. Tinning holds 3 degrees from Michigan State University a BA in Business/Marketing/Economics; an MA in Rehabilitation Counseling and Counseling Psychology; and a Doctorate in Philosophy for Education and Rehabilitative Counseling Psychology. His list of accomplishments cover 16 pages of awards, recognition and accomplishments. Dr. Tinning is also a Board Member of the Nyaka AIDS Orphan School in Uganda, a project spearheaded by Jackson Kaguri (past EL club president) and supported by the East Lansing Rotary.
(Kaguri & Tinney)
Jack Ebling
Ebling is a 40 year resident of the Greater Lansing area, has two degrees from Michigan State University and spent 25 years of service to the community as a beat writer and sports columnist for the Lansing State Journal. Over the years Ebling has received 21 state and national writing awards and is a three time recipient of the Michigan Sportswriter of the Year award. Ebling has authored five books and two more on the way this spring. Ebling has taken his knowledge of sports to the airwaves on a local sports talk show and he is the co-founder of the Greater Lansing Sport magazine. Ebling has also broadened his reach by making a service trip three years ago to the Nyaka AIDS Orphans school in Uganda. He describes his experiences in Uganda as life-changing.
(Kaguri, Ebling & Pat Boog)
by Ingrid Nova | Mar 9, 2012 | Playground in the Park
East Lansing, MI – The final community design meeting, open to the general public, is scheduled for Saturday morning, at the Hannah Community Center, in East Lansing. The meeting is for all interested people (especially kids) so that their preferences can be included in the design process for the new play structure slated for completion next year. The meeting is scheduled to start at 10am and will last an hour.
The replacement project is called Playground-in-the-Park, Re-Imagined, and is a joint project of the City of East Lansing and the East Lansing Rotary Club. Head Coach, Suzy Merchant, of the MSU Women’s Basketball team is the Honorary Chairperson and is an avid supporter of the park project.
The East Lansing Rotary Club took the lead in 1995 to bring the original wooden play structure to the community, and is stepping in again to assist with fund-raising and community organizing, to deliver a new state of the art play space that will last at least 30 years.
“We wanted to see a play structure that would delight the families and children that love to come to Patriarche Park,” said East Lansing Rotary Committee Chairperson, John Saltzgaber. “The East Lansing Rotary Club is ‘all-in’ on this project and has asked the City of East Lansing to specify a new play structure that would honor the original and new play structure supporters and sponsors, be eco-friendly, meet the most current safety standards, present a physically challenging environment for children of all ages and abilities, be accessible for persons with disabilities or mobility problems … and most important -be a play place where imaginative play is encouraged.”
Sinclair Recreation is the selected vendor for this project and is facilitating the community design input sessions. In addition to the general community input meetings, Sinclair will also be presenting to groups of children in after-school programs in East Lansing schools and gathering input from the persons with disabilities community.
Funding for the park playground project is expected to be in the range of $300,000 to $500,000 depending on the final design and available funds. The City of East Lansing is pursuing a major grant opportunity and the East Lansing Rotary Club is crafting sponsorship opportunities for sponsors with naming rights to individual sponsors. The East Lansing Rotary Club has already received pledges amounting to $50,000 from individual members of the club and will be pursuing other Rotary grant opportunities for the project.
by Ingrid Nova | Mar 6, 2012 | Playground in the Park
The Community Relations Coalition has written a nice piece about their choice to support us in the upcoming Taste of East Lansing event. You can read more about it here.
“The Taste of East Lansing is very excited to be working with the Rotary Club of East Lansing. As our charity partner, the Rotary will be receiving 25% of ticket sale proceeds and 50% of all raffle and silent auction proceeds from the Taste of East Lansing event. These funds will go toward the Playground in the Park Re-Imagined project, which is a fundraising drive to raise money to rebuild the playground in East Lansing’s Patriarche Park.”
