September 1, 2026 (Sep. 01, 2026)

ATTENDANCE

If you couldn't join us on September 1, or you were at the Rochester Community House looking for us, you were missed! We had 48 attendees, including potential new memberJohn Pollock.

FIFTEENTH HANDSHAKE

This week’s greeter, David Walker, declared Jeff Duperon the lucky member to go fine-free!

ROTARIAN OF THE WEEK

Tom Neveau passed the trophy on to Juliane Morian because she is always so helpful and has a contagious smile.

HAPPY BUCKS 💰

Paul Haig had quite the adventure at the OPC! After attending an event, he discovered that his wallet had gone missing somewhere in the parking lot. He searched high and low with no luck. The next morning, Paul got into his car to head to the gym—and there it was, sitting right on the car seat! Talk about a happy ending! Paul was so relieved and happy to have his wallet back that he donated $50 in Happy Bucks. Apparently, finding your own wallet is worth $50!
Vito Pampalona was happy to have met his second U.S. Vice President! Vito met Vice President J.D. Vance this past weekend. He had previously met Vice President Mike Pence several years ago. At this rate, Vito may want to start collecting vice presidential signatures!
President Tami Salisbury was happy that Harrison’s worked out so beautifully, especially considering how little notice there was to make the arrangements. A big sigh of relief—and definitely worth some Happy Bucks!

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

The birthday spotlight is shining on Blake McLellan and Stuart Siegner, our birthday boys this week! We hope they’re both prepared for plenty of birthday cheer, and maybe a little good-natured Rotary ribbing! And let’s raise a glass (of iced tea, of course!) to Kyle Johnson, who is celebrating an impressive 10 years of Rotary service!🎈

CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS📣

Membership Challenge Update! President Tami shared the latest membership recruitment leaderboard, and the competition is heating up! The Golden Connections have 5 points, while the Blue Diamonds are holding onto the lead with an impressive 17 points. There’s still plenty of time to recruit, so let’s see if anyone can catch those Blue Diamonds!

⛳ Rochester Rotary Charities Annual Golf Outing
There’s still time to join us for the Rochester Rotary Charities Annual Golf Outing! Registration is completely online, so sign up to golf, sponsor, or come for dinner. Whether you’re swinging a club or raising a glass of iced tea at dinner, we’d love to see you there!

🅿️ Free Parking at the Roxy
Just a reminder: our weekly meeting at the Harrison comes with free parking at the Roxy! Enter the parking lot from either Pine Street or Fourth Street. That little bit of savings means you’ll have an extra buck to toss into the Happy Bucks pile—and we all know where that money belongs!

SONG LEADER

Bob Lytle goes to any length to tie our songs into our speakers' topic. This week he found a brief reference to bee stings in My Favorite Thing. He followed up with Hello Dolly in recognition of the late Dolly Parton.

🚨 Sheriff Bryan Barnett’s Report: Fines, Football & Other Crimes Against Common Sense.

Well, believe it or not, it’s September! Fall is officially here, or at least the calendar says it is. Mother Nature, however, has clearly not received the memo, because it’s supposed to be well into the 90's this week. The record high in Rochester Hills is 98 degrees, set way back in 1953, while our average September temperature is a much more civilized 74 degrees. So, if you’re one of those people complaining about the heat today, Sheriff Bryan says that’ll be $5. Apparently, whining about the weather is now a taxable offense.

Back to school, back to football, back to fines! 🏈 It’s back-to-school season AND football season, which means there are plenty of opportunities to lighten your wallet. If you’re excited about the Lions, Spartans, or Wolverines- and let’s be honest, that pretty much covers everybody- pay $5!

And speaking of football, the average tailgate fan reportedly consumes somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 calories before the game even starts. The Sheriff’s response? Sounds about right. If you’ve attended—or plan to attend—a tailgate during the regular season, please pay your $5 Dieter’s Fee. Consider it a charitable contribution to your waistline.

And with an estimated 17 million fans expected to attend NFL games this year, if you’re one of those lucky 17 million, there’s a $5 Attendance Fee waiting for you. The Sheriff has apparently decided that football is a revenue-generating sport for Rotary.

Sheriff Bryan then commented on our new meeting location at the Harrison. He enjoyed the food, although he noted that the pasta had a little spice and quite a kick. Apparently, the pasta wasn’t the only thing with a kick. The Sheriff turned to Stuart Siegner for a little support, only to discover that Stuart was in an exceptionally sassy mood and called the Sheriff a “dummy.” Sheriff Bryan was not amused. Stu was fined $25. Lesson learned: You can question the Sheriff’s judgment. You can question his fashion choices. But apparently, “dummy” is where he draws the line.

Juliane Morian was recognized for her contagious smile, and indeed, there it was, shining brightly for all to see. 😁 That smile remained firmly in place… right up until Juliane learned she had been named Rotarian of the Week. Then—poof!— the smile disappeared. Apparently, being recognized for your good work is just too embarrassing for some Rotarians.

💎Sheriff Bryan has been eyeing the Blue Diamonds and apparently decided that if you can’t beat them, ask them to take you. He officially pleaded his case: “Blue Diamonds, please take me as a draft choice!” Honestly, Sheriff, with the way the leaderboard is going, they may want to think twice before using their draft pick.

Paul Haig told the wonderful story about losing his wallet and finding it the next morning on his car seat. A heartwarming tale, to be sure. But we all know the real reason Paul told the story. It was simply a very long and elaborate way of telling everyone: “I went to the gym.” Paul, next time just say, “I worked out.” We’ll still be impressed.

Jay Eastman gets some coaching. Jay was teased about his usual long-winded Rotary announcements, like for the recent pig roast. Sheriff Bryan had a suggestion: perhaps Jay should follow in the footsteps of Peter Stuhlreyer. Peter, after all, is our Rotary announcement hero. Why? Because the man knows how to give an announcement: Short. Sweet. Done. Jay, take notes.

For the past several weeks, Sheriff Bryan has mentioned that he now lives in Kay Ellen Wilkins’ neighborhood. Five neighbors have already stopped by to welcome him to the subdivision. Five. And still… no Kay Ellen. Kay Ellen explained that she did make 🍪 chocolate chip cookies for the Sheriff—but it took so long to get them over to his house that she ate them herself before they arrived. Sheriff Bryan was remarkably understanding. He fined her $5 per missing chocolate chip cookie. At that rate, Kay Ellen may want to start baking immediately.

TSA reportedly caught someone trying to board a flight over the weekend with a Civil War cannonball. Apparently, it was not allowed on the plane. Good job, TSA. We’re glad somebody is paying attention. But then came the disturbing part: Phil Lowmen’s initials were reportedly found on the cannonball. Coincidence? We think not. Phil, you may want to lawyer up.

Rename Canada! President Trump had a busy week, including talk of renaming Lake Ontario. And the Sheriff thought, If we’re renaming Canadian things, why stop there?

So, effective immediately:

Canadian ginger ale shall now be known as American Fizzy Water.
The Canadian goose shall henceforth be known as The Freedom Hawk. Frankly, I think we can all agree these names are much more patriotic.

It’s also back-to-school season, which means Americans are once again spending an absolutely ridiculous amount of money on school supplies. The Sheriff put Jeff Duperon on the spot and asked him how much Americans spend collectively on back-to-school shopping. Jeff threw out a number. A few members threw out another. And then came the correct answer: $31 billion. Thirty-one billion. Jeff, you may be the smart guy in the room—but apparently, Sheriff Bryan finally got you.

Speaking of school supplies, let’s talk about the classic Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil.✏️ Apparently, one of these legendary yellow pencils contains enough graphite to write a continuous line 35 miles long. Thirty-five miles! The Sheriff’s question was simple: “What kid keeps a pencil that long?” Exactly.

Just yesterday, Dale “Graybeard” Sanders, at the ripe young age of 91, became the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail. Ninety-one! That should give all of us Rotarians some inspiration. Or at least make us feel guilty the next time we take the elevator.

Also yesterday, thieves stole $70,000 worth of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer🍺in two separate heists from a Southern California warehouse. Two heists. $70,000 worth of PBR. The Sheriff’s conclusion? That’s not a robbery. That’s a drinking problem.

Sheriff Bryan asked Bob Lytle if he knew that Mackinac Island officially came under U.S. control in 1796. Bob did not know that. That lack of knowledge became a $10 fine! Nothing like turning obscure Michigan history into a profitable Rotary moment.

Subway...the sandwich or the transportation system. On this day in 1897, the first subway system in North America opened in Boston. So if you’ve ever eaten at Subway, Sheriff Bryan says…That’ll be $5. Apparently, the Sheriff has decided that all transportation systems—and sandwiches—fall under his jurisdiction.

In 1952, Ernest Hemingway published his iconic masterpiece The Old Man and the Sea. Rotary has our own updated version: The Old Man and the Lunch. And somehow, our version involves more coffee, fewer fish, and considerably more Happy Bucks.

In 1985, the wreckage of the 🚢 Titanic was discovered about 400 miles east of Newfoundland. If you’ve ever been on a boat or a cruise, that’ll be $5. At this point, Sheriff Bryan has basically decided that simply leaving your house is a taxable activity.

And finally, in 1998, federal legislation made airbags mandatory in vehicles. Which is probably a good thing. Because if you’ve ever sat next to someone at lunch who talks too much, you already know exactly why airbags are necessary. That’ll be $5.

Five dollars here and five dollars there, and Sheriff Barnett pulled in a whopping $300 today for our Rotary Charities and scholarships!

SPEAKER

From Hive to Harvest: The Year-Round Business of Beekeeping

Jay Jermo, Founder of Hey Honey

When most people hear “commercial beekeeper,” they may picture someone spending a few warm months tending a few backyard hives. But commercial beekeeping is anything but seasonal. For one entrepreneur, it is a year-round business involving thousands of hives, interstate travel, agriculture, marketing, and a deep understanding of the delicate ecosystem that keeps bees—and our food supply—healthy.

His operation now includes approximately 7,000 hives and produced roughly 480,000 pounds of honey last year. That success is built on a carefully timed annual cycle.

A Year in the Life of a Hive

The work begins in January, when the pace is slower but preparation is essential. Hives and frames are built and repaired, and dead bees are removed from colonies that survived the winter. In Michigan, hives may be insulated with materials such as sawdust and leaves to protect them from the cold.

By late winter and early spring, beekeepers face an important challenge: food availability. Bees often need supplemental sugar-water syrup in February and March to bridge the gap between their stored winter honey and the arrival of spring nectar. Once spring arrives, the colonies become increasingly active.

By June, the bees are in full production mode. A worker bee develops from egg to adult in roughly 21 days and then begins its work inside and outside the hive. As colonies grow, beekeepers add additional boxes—essentially giving the bees a larger “apartment complex.” A particularly strong hive might reach 10 boxes high.

August and September are harvest months. Honey-filled frames are removed, uncapped, and placed into a large extractor. The extractor acts like a centrifuge, spinning the frames and pulling the honey from the comb. The honey is collected in reservoirs and then transferred into storage drums.

By October, bees are preparing for winter. They continue gathering pollen and building their food reserves. In November, hives are insulated and wrapped, but ventilation is equally important. Moisture trapped inside a hive can freeze and become a major threat to the colony.

Bees Need Our Help

The health of bees is closely connected to the health of their environment. Pesticides and other lawn and garden chemicals can interfere with bees’ ability to navigate and communicate. Bees famously communicate the location of food sources through their “waggle dance,” which conveys information about direction and distance. Disrupting that system can leave bees unable to find their way home.

Home gardeners can make a difference by reducing chemical sprays and planting a variety of bee-friendly flowers. Black-eyed Susans, dandelions, marigolds, basil, and wildflowers can all provide valuable food sources. The key is variety. Bees need a “buffet,” not a single flower that blooms for only a short time.

Pollination is also an important part of commercial beekeeping. During winter, many Michigan hives travel to states such as Texas and California, where farmers pay beekeepers to provide pollination services. The bees return to Michigan in time for the local honey season.

From Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship

Beekeeper Jay Jermo’s journey began after approximately 20 years in banking and advertising. What attracted him to entrepreneurship was the direct connection between his work and the community. Rather than selling honey through traditional stores, his business sells directly to consumers at farmers' markets.

He describes his business as something resembling a “micro-corporation,” relying on independent contractors for everything from labels and distribution to creative work. Ideas can move from concept to customer in days rather than months.

For him, beekeeping has become more than a business. It has created a direct connection with customers, agriculture, and the community—and demonstrated how entrepreneurship can combine independence, purpose, and environmental stewardship.

The message is simple: If you appreciate bees, plant for them, protect their environment—and keep buying honey.