John Pickard

ESCANABA — John Pickard, president of the Gladstone Michigan Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority, was the speaker for the Escanaba Rotary Club’s meeting on March 12. Escanaba Rotary holds lunch meetings weekly on Tuesdays at noon at Herford and Hops, located at 624 Ludington Street.

Rotary is an international organization with 1.4 million members who tackle a variety of issues at both the local and global levels. Locally, the Escanaba Rotary Club operates Camp Harstad, an eight-week-long summer camp for children with special needs. They also support children with special needs through other programs, like grants scholarships, swim and exercise programs, and events.

In total, the club makes about $20,000 in donations to programs for children and other causes annually.