Service club reflects on a successful 2014

Ron Christians provides safety instructions to club members before their spring cleanup of a stretch of US-31.

Story and photos contributed by Ron Beeber.

PENTWATER — “As Frank Sinatra used to sing, ‘It was a very good year,’” said Pentwater Service Club President Bill Maxwell

Mike Flynn and Don Sproul serve customers from the Club’s iconic “Bill Duncan Food Wagon” on Pentwater’s Village Green. Proceeds are donated to worthy local causes.

while reflecting on the club’s many efforts during 2014.

“We attracted about a dozen new members; were aided by good weather that helped boost our food sales on the Village Green; supported some worthy causes from those proceeds; and several times mobilized volunteers who helped in various projects.”

“Our club meets about 33 times a year, and members turn out at other times for fundraising and volunteer outreach,” Maxwell said. “Our members are never required to attend or help out. They show up because they want to — it’s that simple.”

“It was great to have the public’s continued strong support of our sales of brats, hot dogs, popcorn, bottled water and other items,” said Brian Fillion, who along with a few other club members, devoted dozens of hours freshening the appearance of and adding functionality to the club’s iconic Bill Duncan Food Wagon. “She’s once again a real beauty,” added Fillion, who towed it in this year’s Homecoming Parade with his pickup truck.

Other Club members walked the Homecoming Parade route and helped collect $2,900 from generous spectators to pay for

Pentwater High School student Rita Panozzo speaks to the club Dec. 11 about the Community Foundation for Oceana County’s strong, positive impact on the community.

Pentwater’s fireworks during the Fourth of July and Homecoming celebrations. Members also turned out three times to pick up trash along US-31; assist the Pentwater Historical Society in moving a 100-year-old boat being donated to the new museum; assemble and set up holiday decorations in the village; and team with others to install a wheelchair ramp at the home of an area senior in need of help.

“And we heard some very interesting speakers at our meetings through the year,” said Rand Gee, who chairs the program committee. “Everything from 3-D printing to the cherry business; to black bears roaming Michigan’s lower peninsula; to the Oceana foundation’s Youth Advisory Council; to the U.S. Coast Guard’s efforts to keep area waters safe.”

The club also again organized Pentwater’s 41st Sand Sculpture Contest during Homecoming. “Once again, a good time was had by all,” said committee chair Ron Beeber. “Entrants continue to sculpt some really creative designs every year.”

Doug Bacon, at left, is among club members who helped a team of local volunteers collect fireworks donations during Pentwater’s 2014 Homecoming Parade.

And importantly, people can now support the club’s philanthropy efforts by making tax deductible contributions to the Pentwater Service Club Fund at the Community Foundation for Oceana County. Hopefully, the fund will attract support from the community so the club can make an even bigger, positive impact.

“We can’t wait for 2015!” said Maxwell. For more information, visit Service Club.org or the club’s Facebook page.