Andrea Wotan was the speaker at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Lunch Meeting on January 14, 2021. Andrea's topic was, plant-rich diets are key to saving our planet and ourselves.
Andrea is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) specializing in whole food plant-based nutrition. She received a Master of Public Health degree in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and then completed her training to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
“Saving our planet needs to be the world’s top priority right now, because nothing else matters if we and our children are living on a dead planet, and we’re already witnessing the devastation of climate change,” she said.
“Individuals must cut down on meat and dairy if we are serious about doing our part to save the planet. No matter what other steps we take, we’ll likely still lose this planet if we don’t rein in our collective demand for meat and dairy starting immediately.”
Animal agriculture is the leading source of methane emissions in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA estimated the entire agricultural sector was responsible for only 9% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2017.
The livestock industry is “catastrophic for the planet,” Wotan said, because the two primary gases produced are methane and nitrous oxide, which trap more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
“It is urgent that we immediately cut these gases, because they’re doing monumentally more harm to the planet right now than carbon dioxide,” Andrea said. The National Resources Defense Council estimated Americans reduced beef consumption 19% between 2005 and 2014, the emissions equivalent of taking 39 million cars off the road. If every American cut one hamburger a week from their diet, it would amount to taking 10 million cars off the road, according to NRDC.
On December 16, 2020 Kickoff festivities for the 11th year of our joint Rotary Foundation Global Grant Project known as “Ososa Micro-Credit Scheme” - this is a $36,000 micro-loan and mentoring project with Rotary Club of Gbagada (Nigeria) to empower 200 entrepreneurs in the Ogun community.
The Gbagada Club President Rotn(Hon) Isola Ogunsola and members of Rotary Club of Gbagada D9110 already on ground at Ososa today 16th December, 2020 for training and distribution of cheques to 200 beneficiaries of 13.5million Niaras upgraded Global Grant microcredit scheme jointly sponsored by RC Gbagada D9110 Nigeria, and RC Ann Arbor North D6380 USA. This fund is being managed on behalf of Gbagada Club by Star Microfinance Bank, Ososa, Ogun State.
Rotary is touching lives and Opening Opportunities!
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Lunch Meeting on December 17, 2020, we had a special check distribution from the Pandemic Relief for Detroit Global Grant and T.C. Collins talked about Willow Run Acres in Ypsilanti.
Manish Mehta started the meeting by describing the Pandemic Relief Global Grant. The Global Grant will provide PPE donations to Metro Detroit hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes working with the aged and underserved populations, and cash assistance to nine food banks serving the hardest-hit areas in Detroit and neighbouring communities in Ypsilanti, Pontiac, Novi and Ann Arbor.
Area Rotarians and volunteers from Palav will deliver purchased critical PPE to Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Mercy Dental Clinic, Brilliant Detroit Community Outreach Services, Say Detroit Community Outreach Services, UMRC
Porter Hill Nursing Home and Presbyterian Village Nursing Homes. In aggregate, these PPE supplies include nearly 10,000 specialty face masks and face shields, 75,000 surgical, nitrile and latex gloves, 250 gowns, dozens of sanitization stations, thermometers and safety signage.
The rest of the Organization will be getting a donation of a predetermined amount to help them through COVID-19.
The 2 organizations we celebrated at this meeting was Food Gatherers and Ypsilanti Meal on Wheels. First Helen Starman talked about Food Gatherers, "we are a food bank serving Washtenaw County". Food Gatherers serves 170 non-profit agencies and programs providing direct food assistance in the form of hot meals, nutritious snacks or emergency groceries to low-income adults, seniors and children in Washtenaw County.
Food Gatherers partners with:
Mostly free (70%) and low cost food
Capacity building grants
Training to register eligible clients for federal and state benefit programs
Customized food safety training by licensed food safety professionals on our staff
Food Gatherers provides direct service through our Community Kitchen and Job Training Program located in the Robert J. Delonis Center in downtown Ann Arbor:
1,600 volunteers prepare and serve nearly 75,000 plates of food to people in need each year at the Community Kitchen.
Students of the Job Training and Internship programs are chosen from at-risk youth (ages 16-20). They gain basic training in the culinary arts and work to develop work ethics and life skills.
Helen told the club that the $2500.00, had bought a electric pallet jack. Because of COVID-19 they can not use volunteers so the staff is doing all of the work, which have increased a lot. the new electric pallet jack has made the staffs work much easier. The staff is very appreciative and thanks us.
Then Kelly Schwartz from Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels talked about their service. Meals on Wheels distributes meals to if an individual that are
generally homebound, able to leave the home only for medical appointments and occasional outings.
unable to obtain or prepare complete, nutritious meals due to health or disability.
without a spouse or caregiver who is willing or able to provide meals.
need meals for at least three weeks. (At the discretion of the Director, meals may be delivered for a shorter period of time.)
able to feed yourself.
unable to participate in congregate meals, such as those offered at local senior centers.
Your dietary needs can be appropriately met by the Meals on Wheels program without jeopardizing your health.
You are the spouse or unpaid caregiver of a Meals on Wheels client.
Kelly told the club, that the donation of $2,500.00 will go to buying items to be given out to individuals they serve.
Items that are needed during this time of COVID-19.
masks
thermometers
magazines, with games that will keep the individuals busy, as they need to be alone.
A celebration of the Micro Credit Program in Nigeria will be held by Zoom on December 16, 2020, 7:30 AM, Ann Arbor, MI, time.
RCAAN is pleased to be a partner with RC Gbagada since 2008, in co-funding a Micro-finance Loan Project in Nigeria which was initiated by Rotn Ayotunde Onafuwa (a past member of RCAAN who retired and moved to his native Nigeria). The micro-loan project is in its 10th year and funds about $9,000 in low-interest loans (~ $50-100/recipient) to benefit small business entrepreneurs in the Gbagada community (such as bakers, seamstresses, handymen, tailors, convenience storekeepers, etc). The borrowers are mentored by Gbagada Rotarians to manage their cash flows, inventories and profits, and loan-repayment is nearly 100%.”
The Zoom invite follows:
Rotary Club of Gbagada is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Rotary Club of Gbagada, D9110 & Ann Arbor North, D6380 Ososa Global Grant Cheques Distribution To Beneficiaries.
Time: Dec 16, 2020, 07:30 AM Ann Arbor, MI, 01:30 PM West Central Africa
Community Action Network (CAN) partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw County (Michigan) neighborhoods to create better futures for themselves, and improve the communities in which they live.
Community Action Network strives to:
Prepare youth to fulfill their academic potential and become successful, self-sufficient adults.
Assist families in meeting their basic needs and create better futures for themselves.
Create and maintain clean, safe and supportive neighborhoods where families can thrive.
The above CAN goals pair nicely with our Rotary goals and objectives. Rotary Club Ann Arbor North has a long history of supporting Community Action Network especially through our involvement with the Green Baxter Court community.
While our involvement has changed somewhat during the Covid-19 crisis, our commitment to this organization and community has continued. RCAAN requested both adult and child face masks for Community Action Network from the Rotary 100K mask challenge project. In all, 310 adult masks and 300 child masks were donated to CAN at the request of Rotary Club Ann Arbor North.
We had to forgo our typical fall trip to the apple orchard this year. Instead, RCAAN covered the cost of a harvest party at the Green Baxter Court community house. The party was planned and carried out by the CAN staff and paid for by our club. One of our club members was able to participate in the outdoor event. The caramel apples with extra toppings were tasty and the carved pumpkins were interesting!
December holidays will be more difficult for the CAN families this year because of Covid-19. Loss of work hours, less access to food support, and other stressors may mean that parents have to limit holiday gift purchases for their children. Rotary Club Ann Arbor North has typically sponsored several children through the CAN holiday gift program. This year, the club increased the support for this program by sponsoring 5 children.
Rotary Club Ann Arbor North looks forward to continued involvement with Community Action Network and Green Baxter Court.
To learn more about Community Action Network or to support this worthy organization, go to www.canwashtenaw.org.
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North is leading a group of 13 Rotary Clubs from India, Uganda and SE Michigan on a Rotary International Foundation-matched Global Grant (GG #2014854) award titled “Pandemic Relief for Detroit Project.”
Donation From
Ann Arbor North- Project Host Club
Pune Metro- International Sponsor Club
Bangalore Brigades
Detroit
Pune Central
Pune South
Pune Pristine
Pune Inspire
Ann Arbor
Novi
Troy
Lakes Area (Commerce, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake, Wixom
Ann Arbor West
District Designated Fund (DDF)
6380- 46 Clubs in Michigan and 6 Clubs in Ontario, Canada
9211- 178 Clubs in Tanzania and Uganda
3190- 147 Clubs in South India
We are pleased to inform you, the Rotary Foundation Grant is received and we are ready for the implementation of this Grant.
Our project will provide PPE donations to Metro Detroit hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes working with the aged and underserved populations, and cash assistance to nine food banks serving the hardest-hit areas in Detroit and neighboring communities in Ypsilanti, Pontiac, Novi and Ann Arbor.
Area Rotarians and volunteers from Palav will deliver purchased critical PPE to Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Mercy Dental Clinic, Brilliant Detroit Community Outreach Services, Say Detroit Community Outreach Services, UMRC
Porter Hill Nursing Home and Presbyterian Village Nursing Homes. In aggregate, these PPE supplies include nearly 10,000 specialty facemasks and face shields, 75,000 surgical, nitrile and latex gloves, 250 gowns, dozens of sanitization stations, thermometers and safety signage.
The rest of the Organization will be getting a donation of a predetermined amount, to help them through COVID-19.
Kickoff event announces a major donation to Gleaners Community Food Bank (see banner for Kickoff Event on Tuesday 12/15/20 at 10:00-10:45 a.m), where Keynote remarks will be delivered by Rotary International President Nominee (2022-23) and Member of Windsor-Roseland Club in Canada - Ms Jennifer Jones.
The Grant was granted with an amount totaling $72,069.00.
Donation Location (Zoom Celebration Date & Time, To Date)
Henry Ford Hospital: PPE delivery on December 21, 2020, by Palav & Rotary.
Veterans Hospital (VA) Detroit: PPE delivery, January 22, 2021, by Palav & Rotary.
UMRC Porter Hill Nursing Home (2 Locations): December 28, 2020, by Palav & Rotary.
Presbyterian Village Nursing Home (10 Locations): PPE delivery on Dec. 21, 2020, by Palav & Rotary.
Detroit Mercy Dental Clinic: PPE delivery Dec. 22, 2020, by Palav & Rotary.
Brilliant Detroit Community Outreach Services: December 22, 2020, by Palav & Rotary
Say Detroit Community Outreach Services: PPE delivery on December 22, 2020, by Palav & Rotary.
Gleaners: Providing Food to Detroit Residents: December 15, 2020, 10:00-10:45 AM, Check, RIPN (2022-2023) Jennifer Jones, will be our special quest speaker.
Cereal Drive for School Children at Detroit Children's Hospital (Money went to Gleaners, due to the length of time to get Grant)
Meals on Wheels of Detroit: January 04, 2021, by Rotary, Check ($2500) and PPE (500 masks).
Cass Community Social Services
Homeless Veterans Centers (8 Locations in Metro Det.)
Hope Warming Homeless Center- Pontiac
Meals on Wheels- Ypsilanti: December 17, 2020, 12:00 PM
Novi Public School Summer Food Drive
Food Gatherers- Ann Arbor:December 17, 2020, 12:00 PM
The Following segment aired on December 15th on ABC News WXYZ TV, about the kick-off event with Gleaners.
The first delivery of PPE items (3000 pieces N95 face masks) was made at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit by about a dozen members of Rotary Club of Detroit, Ann Arbor North and volunteers from collaborating NGO partner Palav.
A grateful Dr Marcus Zervos offered his Thanks to our Rotary project.
The second delivery of PPE items (3000 pieces surgical masks, 500 N95 masks, 10 sanitizing stations and 200 boxes of nitrile gloves) was made at Presbyterian Village Center of Michigan for distribution across their 10 facilities which house ~10,000 aged and vulnerable patients in Metro Detroit by 3 members of Rotary Club of Detroit and Ann Arbor North and 7 volunteers from collaborating NGO partner Palav.
A grateful President/CEO Roger Myers offered his Thanks to our Rotary project. Another video of this delivery operation to bring the PPE cartons from my vehicle to the 3rd floor office for storage in their “Covid-19 War Room!”
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on November 12, 2020, Arlene Golembiewski, talked about Bumpeh Chiefdom, in Sierra Leone. Arlene Golembiewski, is founder of Sherbro Foundation Sierra Leone (SFSL), and a former Peace Corps science teacher in Rotifunk, Bumpeh Chiefdom, Sierra Leone.
Arlene talked about the programs they are doing in the Bumpeh Chiefdom
Education:
Girls Scholarships:
Girls go to secondary school onscholarshipfor a full year for $20.
Over 600 girls have received 1250 school fee scholarships, some for two and three years.
Themost vulnerable girlsare selected – orphans or with single parents and those who must leave their small village homes to pursue secondary school education in a larger town.
From learningABC’s to GED style study, classes teach reading, writing and small business skills to market women and farmers.
More advanced students prepare to move on to further vocational training, like primary school teacher and nursing aide training.
Tutoring for National Exams:
9th and 12th grad students receiveevening tutoringto prepare for national junior high and senior high completion exams.
These are the gateway exams for entering senior high and college or vocational schools. Local qualified teachers are used to fill in curriculum gaps schools can’t cover and provide systemic review before exams.
The program will reduce the high rate of senior high drop-out’s, especially among girls.
Computer Training & Printing Service:
Tutoring program students and adults receivecomputer trainingwhere they learn the basics of Windows, Word for Windows and Excel.
Computer training provides wage-paying job skills, prepares students for college classes and give adults tools to better manage their work.
CCET-SL introduced the first IT technology in the chiefdom. Any student can return to CCET-SL’s Center to use computers for their own applications. CCET-SL offers the only publicly available printing service in a district of 300,000 people. Customers avoid a costly, usually overnight trip to the capital for printing, and get cheaper, fast service. CCET-SL earns income for day-to-day operations. A win-win for all.
Economic Empowerment:
Vegetable Growing:
Started as a post-Ebola relief effort, this program helps women farmers grow peanuts and vegetables as cash crops that double their incomes vs. traditional rice farming.
Women receive peanut seed, a drying tarpaulin to improve their yields and 100 lb. of rice to feed their families before their harvest. With added income, they avoid taking out high interest loans to pay their children’s school fees. They donate seed back to help start the next group of women.
Baby Orchards:
Orchards are planted with fruit trees grown from seed of local fruit. In 4 -5 years, orchards will produce ten of thousands of dollars for children’s education.
The goal is to fund education savings accounts opened for newborns, which parents can continue grow with their own savings. By the age of twelve, a child will have money for their secondary school education.
While fruit trees mature, orchards are inter-planted with annuals crops of rice, couscous, corn and vegetables for short term operating income.
The project’stree nursery raises 20,000 fruit tree seedlings annually, started from seed collected from locally purchased fruit. One or two year old seedling are planted in the orchards. Some are given to parents of newborns to grow. Sale of other seedlings to private farmers helps fund nursery operations.
Newborn Program:
The chiefdom records births of newborns and prepares affidavits to exchange for government birth certificates. Government birth registration doesn’t reach this inaccessible rural area. CCET-SL facilitates securing legal birth certificates for these babies.
Newborn parents receive three fruit trees to grow for income for their child’s welfare and education. They’re encouraged to save money in CCET-SL coordinated education savings accounts.
Arlene, thanked Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North and all of the supporters of Bumpeh Chiefdom, she was happy to be able to talk to the club.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North could not attend this years Green Baxter Courts Fall Outing, but the club donated funds for the children to have a fun outing.
On November 3rd the children had a beautiful sunny fall day and played basketball, carved pumpkins and had donates, cider and candy.
The the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on October 15, 2020, Peg Windsor introduced the club to members of the MI Works Summer Youth Program.
Peg introduced the club to:
Dallas: Youth Advisor
Zoe Erb: Program Coordinator (Summer Works)
Amy Cell: Job Search Coordinator
Jack Lyons: Student
Dora James: Student
SummerWorks is the Washtenaw County Summer Youth Employment Program, a 10-week summer employment and mentorship program that pairs local employers with young adults. It connects youth to resources for building professional networks, exploring career opportunities, and developing essential job and leadership skills.
Peg introduced the individuals from the Summer Works Program and she asked the participants to talk about themselves and tell how the Summer Program is different this year because of COVID-19.
Dora a student said, everything is online now, instead of in person events last year. Jack explained to the club, he liked the in-person events more then this year everything being on-line, but it was still good. He is just a in-person kind of person.
Everyone in the Summer Works Program had a great experience this year and will continue next year.
Judge Karen Valvo was the speaker at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Zoom Lunch Meeting on Sept 7th. Joyce talked about how COVID-19 is affecting the court system.
Karen Valvo is a judge on the Fifteenth Judicial District Court in Michigan. She was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder (R) on January 5, 2016, to succeed Judge Christopher S. Easthope, who resigned in December 2015. Valvo ran for election to the seat in November 2016 in order to serve for the remainder of Easthope's term. She will have to run for re-election in 2020. Joyce presides over criminal and traffic cases and the specialized Mental Health and Veterans Treatment Court dockets.
Joyce started by telling the club, like most things, Ann Arbor Courts closed down when COVID-19 closed everything down. After a few weeks the courts went to Zoom. All the Judges in the Ann Arbor Court was already licensed in Zoom. The courts work spaces were reconfigured for social distancing and everyone was wearing masks.
Since the courts were always open to the public, which became unsafe during a virus, they started putting the dockets on youtube.
When Jury Trials stated back up in District Courts they practiced the 6 ft. rule and used face coverings. Only 10 people could be in the courtroom at any given time so many waited in the hallway staying 6 ft. apart.
They Judges tried not to give jail time to individual where ever it was possible.
In cases that Joyce presided on pertaining evictions the landlords seemed more lenient on payment then before COVID-19.
Joyce said. "that some of the practiced during COVID-19 will be continued after COVID-19."
Rotarian Jim Kozteva, talked about Anti-Gerrymanderin at the August 13th, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Virtual Meeting.
Jim said, "On November 6, 2018, 61% of Michigan voters from across the state passed Proposal 2, which ended gerrymandering by creating an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The amendment created a fair, impartial, and transparent process where voters - not politicians - will draw Michigan's state Senate, state House, and Congressional election district maps."
Redistricting is, every 10 years, the US Census is conducted to measure how population shifts throughout the country. When this data is collected, states are required to redraw their voting district maps - a process called redistricting - to ensure equal population.
The term "gerrymandering" is used to describe the practice of drawing election district boundaries to favor one political party, incumbent, or candidate. Instead of drawing lines to represent the voters' interests, politicians meet behind closed doors with highly paid consultants and big data to carve and skew communities based on past voting patterns.
Michigan voters exercised their right of direct democracy and put a constitutional amendment on the 2018 general election ballot, known as Proposal 2. Proposal 2 put the power to draw election district maps in the hands of voters and created a fair, impartial, and transparent process.
The redistricting reform amendment created an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission that would be tasked to draw Michigan’s state Senate, state House, and Congressional election district maps every 10 years using Census data.
The amendment requires that the Commission be made up of 4 Democrat voters, 4 Republican voters, and 5 voters who affiliate with neither of those parties. Commissioners in each of these buckets must agree to adopt the final maps.
What the Redistricting Reform Amendment means for Michigan?
Now, Michigan citizens have the power to draw the lines! As a Michigan citizen, you have a chance to become a part of history and creating fair, impartial and transparent election district lines that represent the voters of Michigan.
Did you know that YOUR Rotary District 6380 has formed a COVID-19 Disaster District Mask Initiative to help our health care workers since back in April 2020?
We started this by applying and receiving a a $25,000.00 Rotary International Disaster Grant, as well as the District has put up an additional $20,000.00. With this seed money we have been purchasing FDA approved masks to be distributed to front line workers through out our district.
We have set up a special COVID-19 Disaster Fund donation link (http://rotary100k.org/) where individual clubs and members can assist in providing much needed personal protection equipment to our front line workers by clicking on the donate button.
Our goal is to get 100,000 masks donated throughout Rotary District 6380. Every donation, gets us closer to our goal!
Also we have recently expanded this initiative to also be a District Wide Fundraiser partnering with GLOW a women's empowerment organization in India to have masks made for sale and distribution with the Rotary logo.
At the first Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting for the year the speaker was John Huber the Principle of the Emerson School in Ann Arbor. John talked about the issues with reopening the schools in the fall with COVID-19 pandemic.
John said, "Emerson School, 300 students for academically talented and gifted, young 5’s to 8th grade."
Emerson is an independent school, which allows for more flexibility than public schools. One of the first things they recognized is the need for technology expertise to help staff and parents. Parents aren’t always comfortable with experimentation.
John, presented the 5 Realities of Teaching and School:
Children learn best in small groups with face-to-face instruction.
Instruction needs to be broken into units and segments, not in long stretches.
Children are also learning socialization skills, difficult to do virtually.
Experienced teachers have a large “toolbox” on ways to work with children and respond to challenges; 5) school serves as child care so parents can work.
Emerson’s plan was to create daily lessons that require 2-way communication and interaction.
Mondays are Community Day for socialization, enrichments, physical/social/emotional/mental health. This is good for students and faculty. It also allows for planning and scheduling time for teachers.
Tuesday-Friday are Instructional Days. To feel normal, the routine for distance learning mirrored what they would be doing in school.
During the 3 month of COVID-19, John and the teachers learned a lot, the following are what they learned:
Technology needs to be simplified for student independence.
Content time is king.
Focus in the morning best, can’t be on Zoom all day.
Advisories and homeroom check-ins very important.
There’s never enough communication.
There are many unknowns on reopening schools. John and the leaders of Emerson are working on different scenarios to open in the fall. He feels all kid's will be able to come back and still be safe because Emerson School is so large and can social distance.
John, recognized Emerson has advantages that give them more resources to respond to students’ needs and is unsure how public schools will be adapting.
At the end of the meeting John took question on Emerson's School opening in the fall with COVID-19.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on June 25, 2020, the speaker was Shamar Herron, from Michigan Works!
Shamar talked about the program called Summer Works! Formerly known as Summer17, Summer18, and Summer19, SummerWorks is the Washtenaw County Summer Youth Employment Program, a 10-week summer employment and mentorship program that pairs local employers with young adults. It connects youth to resources for building professional networks, exploring career opportunities, and developing essential job and leadership skills.
Shamar said, because of COVID-19, "is reinventing themselves." This years program is going to be mostly virtual. The approved youth will work 10 weeks, 20 hours a week from June 15th through August 21st. Shamar said, "they have 10 individuals that are working virtually."
In the program the youth will also attend 10 professional development sessions to improve your "Soft Skills" such as resume writing, interviewing, and more.
Lastly, the program will develop a mentoring and supportive relationships with Summer Works staff and employers.
In this job program the youth gets a paid summer internship (10/hr for high school; 12/hr for college). They will get skills in key areas such as money management and workplace etiquette. The youth will receive networking with local professionals, and will be able to explore potential career paths.
Shamar told the club, "I am always happy and honored to talk to Ann Arbor North, whenever asked to speak, I will always be there."
Mary Garton, from the Citizens' Climate Lobby, was the speaker at RCAAN Lunch Meeting on June 18, 2020.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.
Mary talked about the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which the lobby supports.
Mary said, "A viable climate change solution needs to be big and lasting — which means bipartisan legislation. We fully support the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This policy will drive down America’s carbon pollution while unleashing American technology innovation and ingenuity." The Citizens' Climate Lobby support it because it’s:
Effective
This policy will reduce America’s emissions by at least 40% in the first 12 years.
Good for People
This policy will improve health and save lives. Additionally, the carbon dividend puts money directly into people’s pockets every month to spend as they see fit, helping low and middle income Americans.
Bipartisan:
Republicans and Democrats are both on board, cosponsoring this bill together. The majority of Americans support Congress taking action on climate change, including more than half of Republicans. Solving climate change is too urgent to get caught up in partisan politics.
Revenue Neutral:
The fees collected on carbon emissions will be allocated to all Americans to spend any way they choose. The government will not keep any of the fees collected.
This is how it works:
Carbon Fee
This policy puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It starts low, and grows over time. It will drive down carbon pollution because energy companies, industries, and consumers will move toward cleaner, cheaper options.
Carbon Dividend
The money collected from the carbon fee is allocated in equal shares every month to the American people to spend as they see fit. Program costs are paid from the fees collected. The government does not keep any of the money from the carbon fee.
Border Carbon Adjustment
To protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs, imported goods will be assessed a border carbon adjustment, and goods exported from the United States will receive a refund under this policy.
Regulatory Adjustment
This policy preserves effective current regulations, like auto mileage standards, but pauses the EPA authority to regulate the CO2 and equivalent emissions covered by the fee, for the first 10 years after the policy is enacted. If emission targets are not being met after 10 years, Congress gives clear direction to the EPA to regulate those emissions to meet those targets. The pause does not impact EPA regulations related to water quality, air quality, health or other issues. This policy’s price on pollution will lower carbon emissions far more than existing and pending EPA regulations.
Mary said, "the key to getting this bill past is education so she will be excited to come to any club like RCAAN and give her talk."
Former Member of Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North John Hammond passed away at Glacier Hills on June 11, 2019. John was a long time visitor and became member after coming to Ann Arbor from St Joseph.
John passed away on June 11 at Glacier Hills. He and fellow Rotarian Betsy Hammond were members of the Lakeshore Rotary Club in St. Joseph MI when they moved to Ann Arbor fifteen years ago. Betsy joined Rotary Club of Ann Arbor in 2006 while John maintained his membership in the Lakeshore club before joining Ann Arbor North in 2015 and then transferring to Rotary Club Ann Arbor in 2016. Until recently, John was a regular attendee at luncheon meetings and was always generous to The Rotary Foundation. Eventually, he and Betsy achieved Major Donor status. John was 87. A service in St. Joseph will be held at a future date. Those of us in the club knew John as a kind and gentle man. He most certainly used those traits along with the Four Way Test in his career as a judge.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on June 11, 2020, our speaker was Debbie Vance. Debbie is the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Ucluelet. Debbie recently retired from the Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), 2 years ago, after 21 years of service and is now following her passion for Social Media and Graphic Design.
Debbie, is a Paul Harris Fellow + 7 and a Foundation Benefactor currently working on her RLI Graduate Levels. Her graphic designing skills enable herself to promote Rotary via Social Media avenues.
Debbie, is on the New Club Development Team. She said, "She creates the Rotary Graphics to promote our amazing organization and encourage membership."
Debbie is a proud Rotarian for 8 years. She told the club, "she does the graphics because she would have wished she had joined Rotary earlier, and maybe her graphics will be seen by young individuals and they will join Rotary." "A picture is worth a thousand words"
Debbie would like Rotarians to share her graphics on their social media accounts and other places to spread Rotary and she would also create a graphic for you.
Come together during general sessions to witness the power of Rotary connections. Learn new skills, explore thought-provoking topics, and discover inventive ways to engage and adapt at our breakout sessions.
Visit the convention’s event page on Facebook to connect with other members. And use the hashtag #Rotary20 in your social media posts to share what you’re looking forward to at this year’s convention. Don’t forget to invite a friend from your club or share the convention with your Rotary family.
At The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on June 4, 2020 the club's speaker was Rosalys Peel, the Author of "Mike and Me".
June 2011 her beloved husband of 45 years, Michael, died of Alzheimer’s. Three years later, Peel returned once again to face Alzheimer’s this time with journal notes and pen in hand. Over the next three years, she wrote the story of their life as husband wife who hoped beyond hope that they could continue to live together at home throughout the course of Mike’s illness.
Rosalys Peel said, "Every two minutes someone in America is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Most will face this discouraging illness with their wife, husband or partner at their side. And yet the typical “Alzheimer’s couple” has no idea how to make the most of what lies ahead.
This is the predicament Rosalys loving husband Michael and her found themselves in when they discovered that Mike had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Over 35-plus years of marriage they had always dealt with problems together. But now they were advised to start preparing themselves for the day when Mike would surely be moved from our home to an outside care facility. They simply weren’t ready to accept that.
“I don’t want to leave you and our home,” Mike told Rosalys—so Mike & Roslys made a deal. Despite all the scary stories they were hearing about this disease they decided to stand up to Alzheimer’s and defy the statistics as long as possible. Together they would go right on pursuing the hopes and dreams as husband and wife, confronting the disease together in their own home, and living the fullest life possible…for as long as possible.
Rosalys started writing a journal during Mike's illness. The journal was a safe place where she could give words to her worries, concerns and fears. It’s where she logged the frustrations and setbacks that Mike and Rosalys encountered, but also where she recorded and celebrated their many victories, large and small. Day by day, her journal chronicled the astonishing power of mutual love, patience, compassion and stay-at-home care. Over time Rosalys became convinced that other couples and caregivers might be able to benefit from some of the new approaches Mike and she were learning.
With the journal she created which at first was to document Mike's health for his doctor's she created a book called "Mike & Me: An Inspiring Guide For Couples Who Choose To Face Alzheimer's Together At Home".
There were many unknowns for Mike and Rosalys during their 9 ½ year journey with Alzheimer’s. "Mike & Me" is designed to be bridge that gap for couples who are now in that chapter of their life. Peel tenderly guides the reader with stories, journal notes, and insights as she shares what happened when and how they dealt with each unknown along the way.
Using her knowledge as a wife of a husband who died of Alzheimer’s and renowned educator who understands child development and couple relationships Peel steps forward to now be a new voice in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Want to learn more about "Mike & Me", take a look at the following links.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting, the speaker was Bo Bunnell, talking about The Great Lakes.His topic was called "Changes in Lake Michigan Fish and Fisheries.
Bo talked about Lake Michigan's timeline. Their are 4 time periods in the Great Lakes, pre-1930, 1930-1966 the "Lamprey/alewife" era, 1966-1994 "Salmon" era and 1994-present "Mussel era.
He decribed the major drives during each era and what the Fish communities were.
Era
Major Drives
Fish Community
Pre-1930
Beginning late 1800's:
Habitat destruction;
Over-fishing
Lake Trout (LT)
8 native whitefish & 2 sculpins
1930-1966
"Lamprey/Alewife" Era
Sea Lamprey, Alewife,
Over-fishing
No top predator
(Extinction of 5 whitefish), alewife, rainbow smelt, 3 whitefish, sculpins
On April 14, 2020, Edward Roseman, a Research Fishery Biologist at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center, talked at The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting. Ed talked about the river channels of the Great Lakes.
There are five river channels that connect the Great Lakes they are:
Come together duringgeneral sessions to witness the power of Rotary connections. Learn new skills, explore thought-provoking topics, and discover inventive ways to engage and adapt at ourbreakout sessions.
Visit the convention’sevent page on Facebook to connect with other members. And use the hashtag #Rotary20 in your social media posts to share what you’re looking forward to at this year’s convention. Don’t forget to invite a friend from your club or share the convention with your Rotary family.
At The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting the speaker was René Pothetes, Rotarian and Past President of Troy Rotary.
René Pothetes said, "a strong healthy body, and resilient mindset, canbe forged with sustainable, and sane habits. My purpose is to help you implement strategies so you can achieve things you never thought possible that impact every area of your life."
Her business is Eat, Evolve, Inspire! which helps individuals to stay healthy by eating healthy food.
René Pothetes, explained that there is 4 pillars of healthy living. She talked about two during her talk:
1. Sleep:
Every human body process is involved in sleep (they shot down so when you wake up, they are ready to work).
Sleeping is one way that your body recovers from damage and protects itself against illness.
Adequate amounts of sleep are necessary for healthy bone marrow.
To properly execute a difficult project at work, for example, your brain needs seven to eight hours of sleep. Your brain also needs that much rest to most efficiently carry out “automatic” tasks like hormone secretion.
Sleep deprivation can send the body’s sympathetic nervous system into overdrive, causing the release of greater amounts of the hormone adrenaline. This tells the body’s tissues to be prepared to take immediate action. It makes the heart work harder. People who are sleep-deprived are at greater risk for developing hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. So do your heart a favor and get to bed early tonight.
2. Nutrition:
Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy.
Helpful hint: the food that is in the outer rimes of the store is healthier, then in the isles. Food in the isles are processed foods and are not healthy.
Buy nutricius food. A lot of food is crap, and your body does not know what to do with crap.
Eat Grass fed meats
To keep your food cost lower their are ways you can learn to eat cheaper. An example is Avocados, since you peal off the top layer you do not need to buy organic.
During this time of the coronavirus eating healthy is needed to stay healthy.
Also on April 22, 2020, Swaroop, gave a shot out to Ann Arbor North on Food Gatherers Facebook Page, "a big thank you, goes to Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, the Kumon, the AMMA Center, and the many individuals whose financial support helps fund these much needed and delicious meals on behalf of our Community Kitchen meal guests!"
"You are all heroes in the fight against hunger and all of us at Food Gatherers are so grateful for all you are doing!"
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Lunch Meeting on April 30, 2020, the club had the first speaker on Zoom during the COVID-19 crisis.
Our lunch speaker was Christina Eisenberg, an Ambassador of the Guatemala Literacy Project. The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is one of the largest grassroots, multi-club, multi-district projects in Rotary. More than 600 clubs and 80 districts have been working together since 1997 to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala. In that time, nearly 225,500 students have been served through four sustainable programs that are tested and proven to work. In 2017, RI President Ian Riseley called the GLP “the gold standard of Rotary projects” for its sustainability and impact.
Christina said, "the GLP partners with impoverished communities to implement four complementary programs.":
Reading:Trains teachers in effective reading instruction and provides them with quality children’s literature.
Textbooks: Provides textbooks to middle schools and trains teachers to use them effectively in the classroom.
Computers:Teaches students to use technology to solve real-world problems so they can secure better jobs.
Youth Development:Transforms young lives through youth development, social support, and scholarships.
Lastly Christina told us how we can get involved in the Project.
On April 23, 2020 the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North meeting was once again on Zoom. Their was 15 individuals at the meeting including Diana Edwards, Rotary International membership Chair, and Mike and Immediate Past District Governor Jane McManus.
Immediate Past President Joyce Williams sent President Eric an update to the PPE Project, which follows:
The Mask Challenge is going well. We gave 1000 masks to Ascension Hospital in Rochester and we have several smaller hospitals including Chelsea Hospital where we will be delivering masks as soon as they come in.
We are also raising quite a bit of money from clubs in the district.
Rotary got a shout out in Gretchen Whitmer’s April 20th address, where she thanked the Rotary in Washtenaw, Macomb and Oakland Counties for our mask donation.
Mike McManus invited the club to Webinars from Zone 30 and 31, of Rotary International Leaders that are doing talks about Rotary. The next webinar is Tuesday, April 28th, of Past Rotary International President Barry Rassin. For Past Webinars and future talks, click here.
Diana Edwards talked about some events going on, even during the stay home stay safe order. Both Diana, Mike and Jane asked us to join them, for a COVID-19 #RotaryResponds one-hour global Telethon to raise critical funds for disaster response grants. The goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars. This Facebook Live event will be simulcast on Rotary International's Facebook page and will be simulcast in 8 languages. REGISTER at facebook.com/rotary today. Click here for Facebook events page.
Diana also memtioned that since the Rotary International Convention was canceled, in late June there will be a Webinar Convention where their will be individuals talking about Rotary, projects and much more. Stay tuned for more information later.
Due to the Coronavirus The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Meeting was received by Zoom, once again, on April 16, 2020.
In Immediate Past President Joyce Williams, absents President Eric read a statement from her that follows:
Lisa is sending $1000 to district as our donation for mask project.
Rotarians are asked to sign up on the website rotary100k.org to donate personally or volunteer to deliver masks.
Vineet Katial from AA West and Joyce are coordinating the deliveries. The deliveries are considered an essential service and you will just be dropping them off, getting a signature from the recipient and taking/have someone take a quick photo of yourself with the donation. The state has asked for the photos. Please wear Rotary clothes when delivering.
Then we had Swaroop, of the Hut-K Fusion to talked about his feeding the homeless at the Delonis Center. Swaroop requested our help in funding meals for first responders, like St Joseph, U of M Hospitals and others.
Lastly during the meeting, Pres. Eric, showed a video of John Hewko, which he gave at The Rotary International Conference in 2019. John is General Secretary, of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation (RC of Kyiv, Ukraine). His talk is as timely today as it was last year in June.
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North had the second virtual meeting on April 09, 2020. There was 16 attendees including Mike and PDG Jane McManus.
Joyce Williams, who is leading Ann Arbor North's participation, talked about the PPE project, Vineet Katial from Ann Arbor West ordered 3,000 -3 Ply general purpose disposable masks at $1 each; and 1,000 FDA approved N95 masks at $3 each from a supplier. This order has been received and has been distributed to U of M Medicine and St. Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North has approved a $1000.00 donation for future masks going toward the following District 6380 Program:
A District COVID-19 Disaster Committee has been formed and they have been actively working on a plan, where we can help our health care workers. We have applied for and received a $25,000.00 Rotary International Disaster Grant, the District has put up an additional $20,000.00. With this seed money we will be purchasing N95 masks to be distributed to hospitals through out our district. Joyce Williams Ann Arbor North has been selected the point person who will prioritize delivery based on recommendations from the Michigan Community Service Commission. The following is a list of hospitals that we are focusing on to start.
Henry Ford
Beaumont
St Joseph Hospital
U of M Medicine
Chatham Kent Health Alliance
The last part of the meeting we went around to each member and they described what they have been doing during this lock down. Everyone seemed fine.
Make sure your attend next weeks Zoom virtual meeting on Thursday, April 16th at 12:00 PM.
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, first all Zoom Virtual Meeting was April 2, 2020. It was great being able to see Ann Arbor North members and guests again.
We had a total of 12 people attend the meeting, with four guests. John from Rotary Club of Ann Arbor joined the meeting, and added some usefully information. Katherine, Christina and Karen visited, to take a look at our club. Thank you for the visit to the three of you.
The individuals' attending the Zoom Meeting talked about what they were doing during this COVID-19 crisis.
Please, attend the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Meeting next Thursday, April 9, 2020. Check your email, Pres. Eric will be sending out meeting information early next week.
If you are asking, how Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North members can help?
Here is how:
Copy the PDF Flyer of "Here to Support My Community:I Can Help." Put on an individuals door that may not be able to get out for food or anything they really need for themselves.
Support local restaurants that are doing pick up service.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North meeting is coming to where you are. On April 02, 2020, Pres Eric will host the first all virtual meeting from his desk.
Make sure you sign up free for Zoom, athttps://zoom.us/ to join us. Remember your username and password so you can continue using your Zoom account for our next meeting.
Washtenaw Optimal Wellness (WOW), is a community organization of individuals committed to the health and longevity of the citizens of Washtenaw County. WOW are business people, medical professionals, city and county government leaders, as well as school and university educators that are passionate about making our community healthy.
The table will be at health fairs to give out information on healthy living.
Dear Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Members and Friends:
For the health of our members and friends, in this National Emergency, due to the Corona virus, I have decided to cancel all the remaining of the March lunch meetings, and we will not have the Habitat for Humanity Service Project on April 4th.
The Board and I, will revisit the situation, in a couple of weeks, to make a decision on April lunch meetings.
Thank you for your patients during this difficult time, and have the best of health.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's speaker on March 12, 2020 was Doug Campbell from Hope Clinic.
Doug said, "Hopes mission is, we partner with people in need, to make lives better through holistic care; providing free Medical, Dental, Food, and Care + Prayer In Jesus’ Name."
At Hope’s Medical Clinics, you can get free primary care, even if you are uninsured or under-insured. Hope workers, will work with you to get access to public insurance, if you are eligible. If you need a specialist, Hope will do the best to refer you to one through our network of specialty care providers. Hope can always refer you to an area hospital for lab and radiology services at no cost.
Doug explained, "since 1982, Hope has given attention to the forgotten corners of our community, bringing light to the beauty that exists there, and investing in hope for the future." "We've empowered people who felt overwhelmed by the immensity of the problem, and guided them to find small things they could do with great love, and over time that has made a big difference." "Last year, for example, we met over 40,000 requests for help. All those small things have made a big difference in thousands of lives here in southeast Michigan."
On Thursday, February 27, 2020. members of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, cooked dinner for the residents at the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor. Following is an e-mail we received from the House to thank us.
We can't thank you enough...
Meals at RMHC Ann Arbor are so important; meals mean so much more than just nutrition. Families have told us a hot meal is time to connect with other families, to have something predictable in their day, and to take a break from the stress of the hospital. We appreciate your group making a dinner at our House. Providing more than a meal is possible because of people like you.
On February 5, 2020 at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon, our speaker was Sr Seth Hubbard from Journey Chiropractic. He talked about the benefits of seeing a Chiropractor.
Seth said, "Chiropractic care is a holistic form of healthcare that focuses on your total health and allows your body heal naturally." "It is centered around finding and correcting the root cause of a problem rather than just the management of symptoms." "Chiropractors do this by working with your nervous system, which runs through your spine, connecting and controlling your body and its systems. A properly functioning nervous system allows our bodies to function at their highest ability and adapt better to the world around us!"
Seth, told the club, "most people do to a dentist, why don't they go to a Chiropractor?" Seeing a Chiropractor on a regular bases, helps prevent future injuries, improves your posture, and improves your overall well being."
CANCELED For April 19, 2020: DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
It may be rescheduled later in the Summer.
As February turns into March, it is time to start thinking about preparing the Butterfly Garden in Gallup Park for Spring and Summer.
Today Scott Nelson, our Garden Expert, received a notification for Melissa from Adopt-a-Park and Give/360 about the upcoming event Earth Day Festival on Sunday April 19th from 12:00 PM-4:00 PM.
The following is what Melissa wrote: Typically the festival is hosted at the Leslie Science and Nature Center but after unfavorable soil testing last June, all of their programming has been operating off-site since. It was decided by the Earth Day Festival committee that the festival will take place at Gallup park in 2020. The festival is an awesome community event that celebrates Earth Day and our community. Every year it attracts 2,000-3,000 visitors and features 50 nature-based exhibitors. The event festivities will be more or less placed surrounding the butterfly garden and no doubt the garden will also be an attraction at the event. There will be nature walks available for visitors and looking at the map, it seems like they will begin at the butterfly garden. CLICK HERE for map to see where the festival activities will be placed during the event.
Also, I think having a workday prior to the festival would be great to get it cleaned up a bit. We can pull weeds that have sprouted, add whatever mulch is needed, assess the poison ivy situation, and cut back any overgrowth obstructing the paths. We have a few groups on our calendar for April which will need to be assigned locations. I don’t have details on which groups and the date/time that might work for this project so I will keep you up to date on those options.
Scott will be planning workdays, working with Melissa to get the Butterfly Garden into tip top shape for the Earth Day Festival, in which he will get a table for us for volunteers. Please help out as much as you can to this RCAAN Service Project that has been around since 1991.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on February 20, 2020 Elizabeth Spring Nichols, Program Administrator for Youth and Family Services, for Washtenaw County, atPIER Training Institute, talked about maintaining mental health.
Elizabeth said,"Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Mental Health, Like Physical Health Roots in Interactions Between an Individuals:
Biological factors, such as genes, brain chemistry, neurodevelopment
Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse, loss grief
Family history of mental health /physical health problems
Environmental factors,
social support (protective factor)
stress, adversity, genetics (risk factors)
For prevention of bad mental health, become aware of symptoms of stress before they become severe, and establish clear yet realistic stress management goals. The challenge is to find the optimal level of stress each of us requires to thrive.
There are 4 primary sources of stress:
The Environment - examples include noise, pollution, traffic and crowding, and the weather.
Physiological - examples include illness, injuries, hormonal fluctuations, chronic pain and inadequate sleep or nutrition.
Your Thoughts - the way you think affects how you respond. Negative self-talk, catastrophizing, and perfectionism all contribute to increased stress.
Social Stressors - examples include financial problems, work demands, social events, losing a loved one, feeling unsafe physically and emotionally.
The warning signs and symptoms of bad mental health are:
Eating or sleeping too much or too little
Pulling away from people and usual activities
Having low or no energy
Feeling numb or like nothing matters
Having unexplained aches and pains
Feeling helpless or hopeless
Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
To have good mental health practice good Emotional Hygiene.
Make time for friends and family
Make time for yourself
Nourish your body with healthy food
Get enough sleep
Move your body, exercise, yoga
Help others
Manage your stress, deep breathing
Manage other medical or physical problems
Ask for help
Laughter helps strike out stress! Helps breathing, massages the heart. stimulates circulation. improves digestion, aids blood pressure problems, prolongs life, turns off tension
Sorry to announce that from Rotary International President Mark Maloney and District Governor Don "Sparky" Leonard, both the 2020 Rotary International Convention in Honolulu Hawaii and the 2020 Rotary District 6380 Conference in Chatham Ontario, has been canceled due to the Covonavirus (COVID- 19).
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North came together on February 15, 2020, for the Second Chance, St. Valentine's Party and Social at the newly remodeled DoubleTree by Hilton.
We had drinks and some good appetizers to mingle and talk.
Peg Windsor, asked 8 trivia questions that club was able to answer most of them.
Then we went around the tables and the members introduced themselves to our guests. It was a great time.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Meeting on February 13, 2020, we had Rotary 6380 District Governor Don "Sparky" Leonard as the speaker.
"Sparky" told the club, "at the start of his Governor's term Rotary International encouraged him to change the traditional role of the district governor.
He said, "normally he would have a formal governor’s meeting with all of the clubs in the district to get out the messages from Rotary International, but the 13 assistant governors will have that responsibility instead."
he will instead visit the clubs when those members feel he can best “spread the word of Rotary throughout the community."
“What I want to try and focus on is to get to community events where I can talk about Rotary and be loud and proud about the things we do in our communities so that others will take interest and join our organization as well.”
"Sparky" also talked about why he joined Rotary. Sparky said, "he was asked by a friend to join his Rotary Club and during a visit the club was planning a mission trip to Cozumel Mexico. Being young and not traveling at all, he asked how can he go on trip?" The Rotarian said, "when the presenter asks for raise of hands that wants to go, raise your hand." Sparky did and he went.
On the trip, he meet a family, that family, has become his friends for life. So that friendship is the reason he joined Rotary.
Sparky said, "in trying to get new Rotary Member's, describe your reason in joining Rotary." it is effective.
Lastly Sparky, during his year he wants to recognize past District Governors for they're contribution to today's Rotary. He presented an award to PDG Gail Scott.
On February 6, 2020, Ginger Ford a local polio survivor talked about her life living with Polio at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon.
Ginger Visel contracted polio in the winter of 1950, when she was not yet five years old. Her life would never be the same. By the time the virus was through with her, she had a withered leg, weak muscles, and hip trouble that required multiple surgeries.
The University of Michigan Hospital became a second home, the March of Dimes a reliable support system, and leg braces an everyday part of her wardrobe. In the era before ramps and automatic doors, Ginger had to learn to adapt to a world not built for her.
Surrounded by ten siblings and guided by an unstoppable mother, she met every challenge with determination and an unshakable faith in God. With equal parts cheerful humor and honest vulnerability, Ginger recalls desperately trying to fit in at school, the terror of learning to drive a hand-controlled car, the near-impossibility of finding an accessible college, and the worry that she’d never get married and have a family of her own.
Ginger brought her book called Ginger Stands Her Ground: A Memoir of Faith, Family, and Polio for the club to look at and purchase.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on January 30, 2020, the speaker was Jeff Tritten from Washtenaw Blue Zones Project.
Jeff said, "A blue zone is characterized as an area of the world with a high concentration of centenarians, overall longevity, and little chronic diseases (lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes, and cardio vascular disease)."
National Geographic and the National Institute of Health set out to locate these areas with verifiable birth data. The official Blue Zones are:
Sardinia, Italy
Okanawa, Japan
Loma Linda, California, United States
Ikaria, Greece
Nicoya, Coast Rica
Jeff Described the Power of 9, After completion of finding the ‘blue zones’, National Geographic Fellow – Mr. Dan Buettner, set out to create Blue Zones® Projects in other U.S. communities by implementing the Power 9 ® concepts which are as follows:
Move naturally: De-convenience your home, take the stairs, park farther away from the entrance and grow gardens. Have an errand not far away…walk! Walking is one of the best activities for longevity.
Know your purpose: Know why you wake up each day! This alone can add seven years to your life. Be able to articulate your values, passions, gifts and talents.
Down shift: Stress leads to chronic inflammation which is associated with every major age-related disease. Find your de-stressor: meditate, nap, pray, or enjoy happy hour with friends.
The 80% rule: Cut 20% of your calories with evidence based practices: eat a big breakfast, eat with your family, use 10 inch plates, and stop when you feel 80% full.
Plant slant: Eat a primarily plant-based diet that’s heavy on the beans, nuts and green plants.
Wine at 5: Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 2 or maybe 3 drinks per day and not a drop more. This is also a wind down time with friends.
Family first: Living in a loving and thriving family can add six years to your ticker! Invest time in your kids, nurture a monogamous relationship and keep aging parents near by.
Belong: It doesn’t matter if you’re Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish or some other religion that meets as a community. Research shows that attending faith-based services four times per month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy.
Right tribe: Take stock in who your friends are and extend your social circle to include healthy-minded, supportive people.
Washtenaw Optimal Wellness (WOW) is working diligently to implement a Blue Zone Project. Blue Zone® Projects help citizens make the healthy choice, the easy choice™.
As a citizen of Washtenaw County, WOW encourage you to take small steps to better health and to get involved in our efforts. WOW will soon have purpose workshops, walking groups, nutrition education, and easy healthy eating options for you and your family.
On Monday February 3rd at 6:30 pm, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, is going to Buffalo Wild Wings in Ypsilanti to have dinner to support Homeless Student's.
Homelessness significantly impacts the learning ability of public school children. Surprisingly, we had 361 such students in Washtenaw County during the 2019-2020 school year, 129 of which were identified in Ann Arbor Public Schools.
This Dine and Donate is in participation for the Homeless Student Count Week. Come eat with us on Monday Feb 3, and 20% of your bill will be donated to the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s Education Project for Homeless Youth (EPHY)!
Bring your flyer or tell the waitress about the fundraiser. Please come join us, everyone is welcome.
At the Luncheon of The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North on January 16, 2020, the speaker was Larry Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Clerk and Register of Deeds. Larry has been in this position since 2005.
As Clerk / Register, Larry is the county’s chief election official, and is custodian of a vast array of public records, from birth certificates to mortgages. He also serves as co-chair of the Legislative Committee for the Michigan Association of County Clerks, and has testified before House and Senate committees on a variety of issues.
In his presentation he discussed the security of the 2016 and the upcoming 2020 elections. Larry talked about the recount of Michigan election paper ballots in the 2016 election, which was not finish because it was cancelled, although what they did count can close to the original totals.
Larry said, "that the corrupt politicians are the big problem for fraudulent results in elections. The politician is looking out for themselves to win an election."
Larry explained, "that every voter in Michigan uses a paper ballet, all ballets can be recounted later". This is a big advantage in getting correct results in an election. There is always a paper copy of individuals votes.
To start the new year for the RCAAN Luncheons we had Alex Teska the Director of Philanthropy at Eversight. The Headquerters is located at 3985 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Alex Teska said, "Eversight restores sight and prevent blindness through the healing power of donation, transplantation and research".
The Eversight network is responsible for:
Recovering, evaluating and providing human eye tissue for transplantation;
Supporting research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions;
Promoting donation awareness through public and professional education; and
Providing humanitarian aid to people around the world in need of corneal transplantation.
Eversight's values are service, drive and trust. The values guide them every day, in every way. Together, Eversight work to build and sustain a positive organizational culture dedicated to restoring sight and preventing blindness.
John Hewko is coming to Ann Arbor, for Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. He will be at the Michigan Union Ballroom for a special dinner, on Wednesday February 5, 2020 at 6:00 PM.
John Hewko is the general secretary and chief executive officer of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. The executive staff manages operations at RI World Headquarters, including member services and programs, finances, technology, development, strategy, legal services, with international offices in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Zurich, New Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo, and Parramatta (Sydney). From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign assistance to the world’s poorest countries.
Donna Murphy was the speaker at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on December 19, 2019. Donna, is a licensed master of social work at the Rogel Cancer Center (University of Michigan Hospital). She works with the patients through the Family Support Services Program at the Hospital.
Donna said, "The patient family support services is a group of providers, therapists, people trained in the psychosocial part of dealing with health and healing. In this case with cancer."
She continues, "The resources are really designed to help a patient connect the mind, the spiritual part of healing with the physical part." "So, for example, we have
"We have a specialist who manages the needs of the parents who are ill, who have concerns about their children. We also have a chaplain. We have individuals specifically that'll deal with anxiety, and depression, and if necessary find medications that will help with that. We have a patient education program. We also manage the volunteers in the cancer center. And so, that makes up other range of people that provide resources, sometimes written, sometimes in talk, sometimes in the actual doing of activities to help heal."
Support is available throughout the course of your treatment.
I have a unique and wonderful Rotary experience opportunity available for your club members:
I dearly appreciated your club’s financial help last year with the Rotary eye mission I led to the Casa Colibrí medical clinic in Nuevo Edén, a small village in remote Guatemala. I hope you are very proud of your club’s support as many people now see better because of that support. I am now deep into the detailing of our 2nd eye clinic mission back into remote Guatemala.
At this point I am not asking for financial support, at least not yet :). What I am seeking is additional volunteers to go on the mission trip.
Would you please share this with your club members, giving them each the opportunity to participate? If there is any interest, please have them contact me (contact info below). I will be glad to provide them more detailed information.
Volunteers need not know anything about optometry or need to know Spanish. We already have eye professionals and language translators on the team. However, to make this a successful mission trip, we DO HAVE NEED for lay people on the team. There are many valuable tasks a lay person can perform to make this a successful mission.
Dates:
Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 16 (some of us are doing additional fun activities in Guatemala and staying as late as Monday, May 18).
Authentic experience:
Even though this is in a remote area, this will be an amazing, authentic and rewarding experience. Our Casa Colibrí clinic in Guatemala was first developed by Dr. Jay and Linda Eastman of the Rochester Rotary Club. In November 2014, I had the privilege of helping install our telemedicine system at the clinic. Within a matter of hours there, I fell in love with the area and the wonderful indigenous peoples that live there. I have been back 7 times now and am always willing to go again. Our Casa Colibrí health clinic is based out of Nuevo Edén, a small village outside of Barillas in the Guatemala state Huehuetenango. You can locate the Casa Colibrí medical clinic by typing "N 15 59.552 W 91 16.795" into Google Maps and switch to satellite view to see the clini
On Thursday December 05, 2019, Amy Lesemann, visited Ann Arbor North's Lunch, as Bob Specht's guest. She announced her nonprofit that makes a coat that turns into a nap-sake for the homeless.
Read about her fundraiser she mentioned below:
Come to our fundraiser, Warm the People! We are raising money to buy homeless people winter gear! Saturday, January 11, from 3-6 pm at the Riverside Arts Center. 76 N Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
How will this work? For your donation at the door, you get four tokens to pick four different mini cups of coffee and tea – try something you’ve never tried before, and vote (with your tokens) on your favorite brew! At the end of the day, the tokens will be counted: are we a coffee city? an urban hot spot of intelligentsia and even…revolution! Or a tea town? a land of quiet good taste and sophistication! Your donation goes toward buying long underwear, hats, gloves, wool blend socks, and …best of all… EMPOWER coats that turn into sleeping bags! Some of you may have heard of these inventions. These are coats made by formerly homeless people working with a Detroit nonprofit. 60% of their time at EMPOWER is spent making the coat, and the other 40% of their time goes toward furthering their education and job skills, as well as any other social services they may need. See their website for more information:https://www.empowermentplan.org/
What else?There will be delicious snacks for sale! (want to donate some more? emaililf@umich.edu or amy.lesemann@gmail.com) There will also be a silent auction! The most amazing things have already been donated.
How can you help? Besides attending our event, you can help out in other ways! We need help soliciting additional businesses for donations for our silent auction. This entails contacting us ahead of time with a business you think might want to donate something (so that we don't call the same place twice), calling the business in question, and arranging a pick-up from the business. We can always use more baked goods (especially vegan and gluten-free options). Finally, we'll need help during the event itself! If you are available anytime from 1-8 pm that day to help set up, take down, register attendees, and/or staff the event, please let us know.
A special report prepared for Rotary International by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies estimated the value of Rotary member volunteer hours at $850 million a year. <read more>
That Rotary members log a lot of volunteer hours should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the organization. But a new report just released by Johns Hopkins University provides a powerful look at the impact of all those volunteer hours.
The special report prepared for Rotary International by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies found that Rotary members had volunteered a total of 5.8 million hours within a four-week survey period. Extrapolating those results over an entire year, the report gave a conservative estimate of nearly 47 million hours of volunteer effort generated by Rotary members in a typical year.
The report then analyzed the economic impact of all those hours and estimated the value conservatively at $850 million a year, if communities had to pay for the services that Rotary volunteers provide.
Rotary, with the help of Johns Hopkins University, is the first global service organization to conduct an empirical analysis of its volunteer’s impact using an internationally sanctioned definition of volunteer work. The authors of the report noted in their conclusion that at each stop, the analysis had chosen the most conservative estimates.
“The lesson from this report is clear: volunteer service is not only a feel-good calling – it may provide one of the more powerful, and one of the more fulfilling, avenues through which to reach the ambitious United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Lester M. Salamon, director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Studies.
Rotary CEO and General Secretary John Hewko said “this is just the beginning of using the most innovative tools of measurement to capture and enhance our impact. As we better understand the vast contributions of volunteer work, we can mobilize this remarkable, but often undervalued, resource to better the world and thrive in the years to come.”
Lindsay said, "A visit to the hospital can be a stressful experience for children and families. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to reduce anxiety and help you and your child feel more comfortable during your healthcare journey."
The Child and Family Life team at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is made up of trained professionals with expertise in helping reduce the stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization and illness.
The Child and Family Life team members work together with doctors, nurses, social workers and others throughout the hospital to meet the emotional, developmental and cultural needs of children and their families. Some of the special services we offer for patients and families include:
Procedure preparation, medical play and support: Child Life specialists provide developmentally appropriate education customized to each individual child to help them prepare for a hospital experience through:
Preparation books/pictures and medical equipment
Collaboration with patient, family, and providers to establish coping techniques
Rehearsal of procedure utilizing coping strategy/tools
Distraction/coping support before, during, and after procedure
Activity centers:
Each activity center is staffed by Child and Family Life professionals trained in child development. They offer numerous arts and crafts, make believe items, medical play tools, board games, toys, and video games for all ages.
Hospital school program:
Child and Family Life at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital provides a Hospital School Program for children and adolescents. The program offers certified teachers who are on staff to assist children in keeping up with their class work and remain engaged in their schools. With family’s permission, the hospital teacher partners with the child’s school and coordinates educational efforts with school staff.
Art therapy:
At C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, the board-certified art therapists provide art therapy to patients and families. Art Therapy can be performed bedside or in small groups. Each art activity is designed to focus on our patients’ strengths and interests. Activities are personally tailored to provide meaningful and memorable experiences for each patient.
Music therapy
The Board-Certified Music Therapists provide music therapy services upon referral to patients and families during their hospitalization. Music therapy services are tailored to each child and family’s needs. The music therapist collaborates directly with the patient’s care team to provide quality and appropriate music therapy services throughout the patient’s hospitalization.
Animal Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy is known to have many positive effects on patients of all ages. Research shows that animal therapy can lower stress and anxiety levels, improve blood pressure, increase patient mobility, and provide an alternative focus from pain.
During the Luncheon we also presented Peg Windsor with her Paul Harris +3, Congratulations Peg.
Lastly at the Luncheon, President Eric Tindall announced a challenge. Pres Eric said, "since we have not had very many guests, that could become RCAAN Rotarians at the luncheons since the beginning of July, I am going to put up a challenge, for our members."
The RCAAN member that brings the most guests, that has potential to become a new member will receive a prize (prize to be announced soon). The challenge will last till the end of June.
The reason for the most guests attending the lunches or events is because, to get a new member they must be guests first, see what our club does, and then if happy, they will become members.
So "GET YOUR ASK ON", like PDG Jane McManus would say and lets find our newest members to help us spread Rotary causes.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch on November 21, 2019, Sarah Teare (Community Development Director), talked aboutHabitat for Humanity or Huron Valley.
Sarah said, "that the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley works to enrich Washtenaw County through a legacy of affordable home ownership for families of low-income."
In Sarah's talk she described their Community Development Program. Sarah said, "Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley is committed to serving more families by responding to community aspirations with an expanded array of products, services and partnerships with the mission of empowering residents to revive their neighbourhoods and enhance their quality of life."
Habitat for Humanity neighborhood revitalization efforts are focused in the Gault Village, West Willow and Sugarbrook neighbourhoods of Ypsilanti Township. Using the Quality of Life Framework as a guide, they work alongside residents, neighborhood groups and associations to guide a long-term participatory neighborhood planning process. Residents are engaged through door-to-door surveying, community-wide meetings and events.
Activities are direct results of input from neighborhood residents and include neighborhood picnics, neighborhood clean-ups, plant sales, park improvements, safety initiatives, Little Free Libraries, community center upgrades, fence replacement and senior-focused programming.
Home Building: Tasks may include various stages of renovation or building, ranging from demolition to installing cabinets and doors.
ReStore: The Habitat ReStore is located in West Ann Arbor off of Jackson Ave..
Neighborhood Beatification and External Projects: 10+ volunteers/project to help with neighborhood beautification projects or exterior home improvement projects for existing homeowners in the neighbourhoods.
As we enter Foundation Month, we would like to thank each and every one of you who did so much to make World Polio Day such an enormous success.
For the first time, we broadcast our Global Update on 24 October in multiple time zones around the world, reaching more people, and raising more awareness than ever before. More than 5,600 World Polio Day events have been registered on EndPolio.org in more than 125 countries, from New Zealand to Egypt, and from Sweden to Japan.
Inspired by this show of support across the globe, our work to eradicate polio continues. On 21 August, Nigeria marked three years without a case of wild poliovirus, and the World Health Organization African region could potentially be certified wild poliovirus-free next year. Rotary has contributed US$268 million to fight polio in Nigeria, and Rotarians throughout Nigeria and Africa are committed to ensuring that every child is protected from polio. When the African region is finally certified as wild poliovirus-free, it will be a tremendous achievement, as the continent once suffered three quarters of all polio cases in the world.
It is these amazing turnarounds which we must keep in mind when confronting the challenges in eradicating polio. And we must tell stories about our successes in places like India and Nigeria to let the world know what Rotarians, empowered by our Foundation, are doing around the world. As the entrepreneur and educator Michael Margolis once said: “The stories we tell literally make the world.” So if we want to make the world in the image of Rotary’s highest ideals, then we must share our stories as People of Action.
Of course, it is easier to find compelling stories when we have taken part in transformative projects. So remember to use your District Designated Funds for a cause you are passionate about, whether that is PolioPlus, the Disaster Response Fund, the Rotary Peace Centers, or something in your community that could benefit from the support of a district or global grant. If you are struggling for inspiration, just read about the impact of a DDF contribution on the youth of Yonkers, New York, in the Rotarian magazine’s cover story ‘A slam-dunk project in Yonkers.’
The cover stories of tomorrow are already being written, as the Foundation continues to support projects to improve communities across the world. This year, our Foundation has already approved 261 district grants, with US$22.4 million in total funding, and 460 global grants, with US$33.9 million in total funding.
You can end Foundation Month on a charitable note by participating in Giving Tuesday on 3 December. Rotary will be joining thousands of other organizations worldwide for a global day of giving, and it is a prime opportunity to advance our mission. It is now easier than ever to give to the Foundation online, and you can easily notify someone of a gift made in their honor via email or by printing and delivering a customized notification yourself.
So as we enter the second half of the Rotary year, please keep up your efforts to eradicate polio, tell our story, and channel District Designated Funds into more sustainable and scalable projects with significant positive impact. With your words and your actions, Rotary Connects the World.
Yours in Rotary,
Mark Daniel Maloney
President, Rotary International 2019-20
Gary C.K. Huang
Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation 2019-20
Recipient list: District governors, assistant governors, club presidents, regional leaders (RPICs, RRFCs, E/MGAs, and RCs), and the board of directors
Holiday Inn Near the University of Michigan 3600 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Drinks & Fellowship- 6:00 PM Dinner- 7:00 PM
Festivities- 8:00 PM
Menu
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
London Broil
Vegetarian Wellington
Cost
$35.00
Please RSVP by December 6th to pegwindsor55@aol, with your menu items and how many will attend.
This year we are inviting alumni to celebrate the holidays, please join us. Wear your favorite fun Holiday Sweater. Bring a gift for the White Elephant Exchange!
Also bring you can bring an undergarment for the Empowered Man Ministries.
Women's bras - all sizes from the smallest to the very largest,
Kate Melcher, Executive Director of Fisher House Michigan was Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Luncheon speaker on October 31, 2019.
Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military & veterans families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital. Kate said, "84 of Fisher Houses are located at military and VA medical centers around the world, however, there are currently NONE in Michigan. Supporting the national Fisher House Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fisher House Michigan (FHM) aims to change that. Eighteen months after a Fisher House was approved for the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, a second house for Michigan was approved for the Detroit VAMC.
Fisher Houses are first-class facilities, beautifully designed and well built. Kate described a story that in California, their was an earthquake and all that happened was that things fell off the shelves.
Kate told us a story about her Grandfather, toward the end of his life. She went to a VA Hospital and he wanted to tell about her, to his friends. He took her into a room, she was still wearing her Army wear, and he told them that this is my Grandson, and I am so proud of her.
Kate invited all to a Stories of Service Concert. She said, "our veterans serve our country selflessly, often in the face of great sacrifice and suffering. We seek to honour that service at this concert. Please join us at 7:00 PM, November 6th for an engaging evening of story-telling and music at Michigan Theater.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on October 31, 2019, Past District Governor Jane McManus with Assistant Governor Collyer Smith, presented the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North the Rotary (formally Presidential) Citation for 2018-2019.
In Past Presidents' Joyce Williams absents President Eric Tindall, accepted the citation for her and the club.
On October 26, 2019, a total of ten Children, four Parent's, four Ann Arbor North Member's and Harrison Metzler, Director of Green Baxter Court Center went to Three Cedars Farm for some fall fun. The Children enjoyed, a hay ride, walking the corn maze, petting animals in the petting farm, and had delicious apple cider and donuts.
The excitement was bubbling as Rotarians, Visiting Rotarians and dozens of guests crowded Weber’s Ballroom to hear Ann Lee Hussey tell her personal story of a life with polio. President Rosemarie gaveled the celebration to order, we sang The Star Spangled Banner and O Canada. Karen Driggs told the story of Jonas Salk and French painter Francoise Gilot who had a very happy 25 year unconventional second marriage. Karen reminded us that happiness can be found late in life if we remain open to change and compromise.
President Rosemarie dispensed with much of the business part of our meeting. She greeted Rotarians and guests, then talked about all the things Rotary does busseyoth locally and around the world, emphasizing our theme of Helping Kids Succeed.
Notes from the Program:
Joanne Pierson introduced our speaker, Ann Lee Hussey. Ann Lee is a member of the Portland Sunrise Club in Berwick, Maine. She and her husband, both Rotarians, recently sold their veterinary clinic. In addition to her many polio activities and working as a veterinary tech, Ann Lee has been very active in Rotary, serving a District Governor in 2010 and 2011.
There was total silence as Ann Lee told her story of life with polio. She contracted the disease just three short months after the Salk vaccine was declared safe and effective. She was one of 28,585 people who contracted the disease in 1955, and she was seventeen months old. After she returned from the hospital her mother massaged and exercised her legs, every three hours, around the clock, while also caring for her four older siblings. Her childhood was marked by her difference – the teasing, the being left out of activities, the struggle to get around. Her name and story were reported in her local paper. A stranger, Mrs. Woodbury, living in another town, sent her mother a note of encouragement, and thus began a lifelong friendship. When she was old enough, she began writing Mrs. Woodbury, who never failed to send notes and cards to commemorate so many life events, always enclosing two dollars. The friendship endured until Mrs. Woodbury died at age 80. She taught Ann Lee the meaning of giving, and the art of receiving. Every day she remembers that small kindnesses mean very much to other people.
After more surgeries and therapy sessions than one can count, Ann Lee walks with a limp. But that has not stopped her from traveling the world to help eradicate this crippling disease. She went on her first National Immunization Day trip in 2001 in India. She has now done more than thirty trips in ten countries in Asia and Africa. Her praise goes to the thousands of health care workers who educate and prepare villagers for the immunization days. These people, 80% of whom are women, go to each household to explain the disease, how it spreads, and how the immunizations protect people from polio. This is often a dangerous job, not only to get to remote villages and towns but also to overcome suspicion and hostility to outsiders. Ann Lee was able to bring to life for us the experience of people surging forward to greet the immunization team, eager and grateful to have the opportunity to protect their children.
Ann Lee urged us all to tell the Rotary story, even though our audiences will be much smaller than hers. The effort to eradicate polio has enlisted 200 nations and has five major participants: Rotary International, the World Health Organization, CDC, UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Though most of us will not experience the personal rewards that come when we see healthy, happy, excited faces of children receiving this life changing vaccine, we can all do something, even if just contributing money, to eradicate polio.
There had not been a sound since Ann Lee began speaking, but the silence split by thunderous applause, and more than a few sniffles.
District Governor Sparky Leonard bounded up to the podium, thanking Ann Lee for her so moving and personal story. He greeted Rotarians and guests with his usual enthusiasm. He then got to the purpose of his visit – auctioning off Paulie the Polio Bear. Competition was hot and fierce, but Collyer Smith was the winner with his very generous $2000.00 bid.
President Rosemarie closed the meeting with more thanks to Ann Lee and urged all of us to heed Ann Lee’s wish – that we all do something to eradicate polio.
On Saturday, October 19, 2019, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North had our Annual Dinner Fundraiser.
The fundraiser was a 50's theme. The menu was hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, waffle fries, and milk shakes all created in the 50's.
People danced to a DJ, and with the live band called Jeff and the Deck Chairs. The songs were all from the 50's.
Outside the Holiday Inn there was a Chevrolet from the 50's.
Paulie the Purple Polio Bear was in attendance. He took photos all around the party, with famous entertainers, with the Chevrolet, with the shelter box, and learned how to dance from instructors from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio.
At October 17, 2019 Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Luncheon we had Sarah Paspal-Jasinski, the Director of Development of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County.
The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County provides temporary shelter and connections to services in a safe and caring environment and works with the community to allocate the necessary resources to meet the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness.
The Shelter Association serves nearly 1500 adults experiencing homelessness each year. They are housed at the Robert J. Delonis Center on the edge of downtown Ann Arbor and operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The program and services of Shelter Association:
Residential: Our Residential Program offers those experiencing homelessness temporary shelter, intensive case management, and help to find income and save for affordable housing. Case managers conduct a comprehensive assessment with each Residential client to identify their obstacles to finding housing; then help them create a plan to address their obstacles. During a stay in the Residential Program, we work with our clients to help them increase income, and obtain affordable housing, while also addressing physical, mental and substance health related issues. Each Residential client has access to all services offered by the Shelter.
Non-Residential/Shelter Diversion: For individuals experiencing homelessness who are not in our Residential Program, the Shelter Association provides an array of services for both immediate assistance and to encourage long-term change.
Winter Programs: From mid-November through March the Shelter offers Winter Programs that include a Warming Center at the Delonis Center, the Rotating Shelter hosted by faith-based congregations, and assists with the coordination the Daytime Warming Program provided by the community-based advocacy organization MISSION.
Critical Time Intervention: An addition to our Non-Residential Program is Critical Time Intervention (CTI). CTI provides short term case management to clients who have recently ended their homeless experience. This program is designed to help the most vulnerable individuals increase their quality of life and reduce recidivism. By strengthening ties to ongoing support services, friends and family the program provides emotional and practical support; and advocacy during the critical transition from homelessness to stable housing.
Shelter Health Clinic:The Shelter Clinic is operated by Packard Health. This clinic serves the community’s most vulnerable population. The clinic is available to anyone in need in the community as a primary care site as well! The Packard Health Medical Director oversees the clinic, and the Shelter Association's medical case manager assists clients and interfaces with Packard Health.
Community Kitchen: The Community Kitchen, operated by Food Gatherers offers meals to anyone in Washtenaw County in need 364 days a year. Anyone in need is welcome to come for a meal; Lunch is served Monday-Friday 12-1pm and dinner is 5:30-6:30pm. On the weekends and holidays, from 3:00-4:00pm there is one community meal. They have served over 1.5 million meals to date!
Basic Needs: The Shelter offers a wide array of services to meet the basic needs of those experiencing homelessness. At their core, these services focus on granting those we serve the basic human dignity that they deserve. These services include showers, a mailbox, laundry, phone access, and storage for their belongings. Anyone in the community experiencing homelessness is able to access these services.
Recuperative Care: The Shelter now offers a Recuperative Care program. We are one of three centers in Michigan, alone with no place to heal, infection, injury and worsening health lead to expensive re-hospitalization. Hope of securing income and housing are delayed or abandoned. Recuperative Care breaks this cycle. By being discharged to our Medical Recuperative Care Program, a client receives shelter, time to recover, medical supervision, case management and a bridge to permanent housing. Housed and healed, clients live longer, happier lives.
Pathways: The Pathways program provides temporary shelter, safety and security to clients prior to and/or exiting from a residential or outpatient substance abuse detoxification program.
Sarah gave the club a few service opportunities that we may pursue.
We will meet the children from Green Baxter Court at Three Cedars Farm at 11:50 AM, on October 26th, and we will go on hay rides, walk a corn maze and have cider and donuts.
Anyone wanting to join in please fill free to come out.
Julaine LeDuc, the Director of Development at The Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor was the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North speaker on October 10, 2019.
Julaine said, "The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor has two Houses that provide a supportive home away from home for families of children 21 years of age and younger receiving treatment at a local area health facility. Located within walking distance of the University of Michigan Medical Centers, the Main House opened its doors in 1985 and serves over 1,200 families a year. The Mott House opened in December 2011 and provides a short-term respite for families of the most medically fragile patients."
Julaine then provided the club with some volunteer opportunities which follow:
Wish List Group Collection: Groups can look on RMH website for the Wish List Items currently in need at the House. Groups often work together in the collection of the items and drop them off at the House.
Cook a dinner at the House: Bring the club at 6-7 pm and cook or bring dinner for residents at the house to eat.
Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor are always looking for people to get involved and will be happy to see you.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North partnered on a Global Grant in Pune, India. This worthwhile Rotary Foundation Co-sponsored Global Grant project in 2017 with RCAA (lead club), Novi and Detroit Rotary Clubs and two Rotary Clubs in Pune (India). RCAAN contributed $2000 for this highly leveraged $90k project, which is now making a huge difference to saving infant lives at a rural hospital in Central India.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North was thanked for being a community partner by Community Action Network (CAN), in their newsletter. Ann Arbor North donated school supplies for the students of Green Baxter Court.
At the Lunch Meeting on October 03, 2019, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North inducted Dr. Daniel Anbe. Daniel is a retired Doctor, which he practiced Cardiology.
He was a Rotarian from the Genesee Valley Rotary up until 2018. He move to Ann Arbor last year where he decided to join Ann Arbor North as a member.
Also at our meeting Collyer Smith talked about Mental Health. Collyer's Son named Cam Smith passed away in his sleep on January 12, 2018 in Ann Arbor at the age of 23. He was suffering from depression/anxiety which led to a drug addiction for many years. Cam went through several rehab programs, and was now at a half-way house getting ready to go back to school. Collyer and his wife, Annie, wanted Cam to spend Christmas with them as a family, and for a short visit. Since holidays are filled with stress and anxiety, and relapses occur frequently, Cam's therapists recommended that it would be much better having Cam home for a short visit in mid January.
Cam visited several trusted friends while he was home. On Jan. 12th Collyer Smith, came into his son's room in the morning to ensure Cam was ready for some basketball at a sports facility. At first, Collyer thought Cam was sleeping, but soon learned he Cam had passed away. After discussing with the lead Detective, and confirmed through the autopsy, the cause of deathe was inhalation of heroin laced with fentanyl.
Collyer. filled with grief and despair, kept Cam's death cause quiet until his cousin said, "you are doing all this Rotary causes and talking about J.E.T. (Join Leaders,Exchange Ideas, Take Action), what are you going to about it (regarding his son's death)."
Collyer started talking about it, in the effort to educate other parents.
Sponsor Steve (Doc) Lessens, Newest Member Daniel Anbe & President Eric Tindall.
I would like to personally invite you, your family and friends to join us in a wonderful celebration of Rotary. This year we will be recognizing all new members that have joined our great organization since July 1st, as well as current Rotarians who have been recognized as Paul Harris Fellows, all new level Major Donors, Bequests Society and Arch Klumph members.
Jennifer Jones, Trustee of our Rotary Foundation and Past Vice President of Rotary International, will share with us the reasons and the value of The Rotary Foundation. She will personally thank and recognize all Rotarians for our outstanding work with the foundation. Jennifer will greet and re-induct all the new members to Rotary in a very special way.
Be a part of the celebrations at Fox Hills Golf Course November 2nd @ 6pm.
This is is the one event you do not want to miss !
On October 25th and 26th Diana Edwards, Rotary International Membership Director visited the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, to help improve the club and to obtaining new members.
On October 25th Diana, Bala & Roma Murthy from Troy Rotary and representingRotary District 6380, RCAAN Board and Membership Committee went to Applebees to discuss the Membership Satisfaction Survey, which each member of the club filled out a few weeks ago.
Then on October 26th Diana, Brenda Tipton (District 6380 Membership Chair), Collyer Smith, Anne Nauts, and Lauren Heinonen (President ofRotary Ann Arbor Satellite Club) visited the club. At this meeting we introduced Diana Edwards and she talked about the Club Membership Support Program in which Ann Arbor North is participating in.
President Eric Tindall then took over and went over the results from the Membership Satisfaction Surveys and had a discussion on the results.
Diana lastly, talked about what the next step will be for her to help the club.
Tim Petik, from Stefforia, Petik & Associates talked about the Field of Accounting at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch on September 19, 2019.
Tim said, "like Rotary, Certified Public Accountants helps people." They want to give a high standard of service to their client's to ensure all of their accounting needs are being addressed.
Tim finished his talk with questions and answers about finance from some members of our club.
The Wayne State University Center for Peace & Conflict Studies and the Rotary Clubs of Detroit, Ann Arbor, & Windsor 1918 invite you to Peace in the Streets on Oct. 25-26, 2019.
This Cross Border Rotary Peace Symposium will take place in Detroit on Friday Oct 25th and in Windsor on Saturday Oct 26, with both days filled withengaging speakers on conflict and peace.
We are also looking for financial support for this conference. Pleaseclick here if you would like to learn more about donating to our peace-building efforts.
On September 12, 2019, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North went to MCity for a look at the Automated Vehicle Test Track located on the University of Michigan Campus at 2905 Baxter Rd Ann Arbor.
Mcity is the world’s first purpose-build facility for testing connected and automated vehicles and technologies under controlled, realistic conditions before trying them out in real traffic.
Dr. Huei Peng, director of the Mobility Transformation Center (MTC) at the University of Michigan, gave the club a tour of the test track in the MCity Driverless Shuttle. The Mcity Driverless Shuttle is a 11-seat, all-electric shuttle manufactured by French firm NAVYA.
During the tour of the test track we went past building facades up to two stories high line the streets of Mcity’s urban downtown area. The tour took us past urban and suburban streets, plus road signs, pedestrian crossings and other features to simulate real-world urban and suburban driving conditions. Lastly we went under a highway overpass that blocks vehicles from wireless and satellite signals.
This was an email from Frankie Moore and Community Action Network.
Hello Eric & Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North,
Thank you so much for your donations of school supplies to CAN! This year we distributed over 400+ backpacks (more to come as well!) which is over 100 more than we typically do. Over 400 CAN students get to start the school year feeling confident that they have the physical supplies they need to be successful. We could not have been able to handle this growth without your support this year!
Attached is a flyer with some pictures of the kids with their new backpacks and a short explanation of how CAN programs help students accomplish their academic goals.
Please let me know if you have any questions! Again, thank you so much.
To give everyone a long time to plan, because of the remodeling of the Holiday Inn we will not be able to meet there on October 10th.
Instead we have been able to get a room at Residence Inn by Marriot at 3535 Green Ct, Ann Arbor, MI. We are in the process of determining a lunch for those days.
More information will be given later at meetings, newsletters, andRCAAN website.
Lexy Craig, from The Holley Institute talked on September 5th, at the RCAAN Luncheon. Lexy is deaf and is the Senior Program Director at The Holley Institute.
Lexy said, "The Holley Institute owns and operates The Carls Family Village at De Sales Center which has offered educational and recreational programs for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard of hearing since 1996."
The Carls Family Village was Co-founded by Ardis Gardela (President) and William Rice (Medical Director). The Institute has two paid employees, who are Lexy the Senior Program Director, and Debbie Mitri-Smith the Development Officer.
During the summer months and other times throughout the year, The Holley Institute offers quality programs for Deaf, Deaf-Blind and hard of hearing people and their families.
The services that the Holley Institute provides are:
Newborn Screening
Education and Screening
Mentoring
Patient Advocacy
Workshops
Summer Programs
American Sign Language Classes
Community Health Literacy
Community Outreach Activities
Lexy, described, "The Institutes new program called the Community Health Literacy Program. The Mission of the program is Families in Michigan with at least one family member who is Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, including those who use listening assistance-technology devices, will communicate and participate in literacy activities together through American Sign Language and English at home with the guidance of trained mentors."
The Community Health Literacy is a home-based program that runs during the academic year, where trained mentors go to their assigned families’ home once a week for two hours. The research- and evidence-based curriculum will be used in this program. This program provides educational access to:
Reading and writing literacy
Language acquisition
Incidental learning environments
American Sign Language
Deaf Culture
Need-based resources
Community events
Lexy invited individuals of the club to The Holley Institutes Bowling Event at Woodland Lanes from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. For more information CLICK HERE.
Member's of Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North are going to the 2019 Amy Fedel Memorial Benefit concert, that will be taking place on Saturday, September 21st at 7:30 pm. The location of the concert is Green Wood Church at 1001 Green Road Ann Arbor, MI. Everyone are welcome to attend.
Music will be provided by several Ann Arbor based bands and performers, including The Bonfire Poets ( acoustic and electric favorites), Five Miles More (jazz and standards), Patti Jarosz, and Rotarian Jeff Crause and his band called Jeff and the Deck Chairs.
As always there will be audience participation with the Singalong Jukebox.
Tim Makinen, from the Gift of Life Michigan was the speaker at RCAAN Luncheon on August 29th.
Joyce Williams who works at the Kidney Foundation that works heavily with Tim introduced him at the Luncheon.
Gift of Life Michigan, headquartered in Ann Arbor, is the state's only federally designated organ and tissue recovery program, providing all services necessary for organ donation to occur in Michigan.
Gift of Life was incorporated in 1971 by Michigan transplant surgeons to provide a network for sharing kidneys. Today, Gift of Life recovers more than 900 organs every year for transplantation from 300 or more donors, saving hundreds of lives. Bone, skin and other tissue also is recovered, helping to significantly improve the lives of thousands of seriously injured and sick recipients.
In addition, Tim said, "Gift of Life maintains and grows the Michigan Organ Donor Registry in partnership with the Michigan Secretary of State. The registry is a confidential database of people who have expressed their desire to someday help others by becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor."
Some questions Tim addressed during his talk was
Will doctors work as hard to save my life if they know I’m a donor? Yes, absolutely. When a patient arrives at the hospital, the number one priority is to save his or her life. Doctors and other medical personnel have both a moral and legal obligation to give their patients the best care possible. Organ donation is not considered or even discussed until every effort to save the patient’s life has been tried and, unfortunately, failed.
I have health problems. Can I still be a donor? Yes, anyone is a potential organ donor despite medical conditions, so please don't rule yourself out! Medical criteria for organ donation changes as medical advances occur, and a physician evaluates all potential donors at the time of death to determine what can be used to help others. We therefore encourage anyone, regardless of their medical history.
Am I too old to sign up? No, there are no age limits to register. There have been many successful transplants from donors over the age of 50. According toorgandonor.gov, one of the oldest organ donors in the U.S. was 92, and his donated liver saved the life of a 69-year-old woman! Don’t rule yourself out because of age.
Will I still be able to have an open casket at the funeral? Yes, donors are afforded the utmost respect and care, and neither organ nor tissue donation interfere with open casket viewings.
Why is it important to register as a donor? Your gift will be used to help others through transplantation, therapy, research and education.
One person can donate up to eight life-saving organs, as well as tissues and corneas. Donated tissue can help up to 75 people, and be used to repair wounds, burns, and joints. Donated corneas can restore vision, or relieve painful swelling.Organs and tissue that cannot be transplanted are valuable to research and education, allowing surgical teams to practice their transplant skills or contribute to research projects. For example, islet cells recovered from a donated pancreas could help researchers trying to find a cure for diabetes. Registering as a donor is therefore an important step for anyone who wishes to help others through the gift of organ and tissue donation. If you register to become a donor, you relieve your grieving family of having to make a decision when you die. Having your wishes documented also ensures that your decision to donate will be carried out, if medically possible.
Why should I donate? More than 3,000 people are on the waiting list for a life-saving organ transplant in Michigan, with more than 113,000 on the national waiting list. People die waiting every single day because the number in need of transplants greatly outpaces the number of organs available. There is an especially critical need for hearts, livers and kidneys.
After the Luncheon our special guest today District Governor Don (Sparky) Leonard took the club out side to show off "Spark Plug".
On September 12, 2019, instead of having our regular lunch meeting at the Holiday Inn we will be meeting atMCity, located at2905 Baxter Road Ann Arbor MI, 28109. Members and guests will assemble at MCIty by noon. There is adequate parking in a lot just behind the UM Highway Safety Building. ClickMCity Map From Parking Lot showing a map how to get to the parking lot.
There will be no lunch or formal meeting at the Holiday Inn that day.
The actual tour will take about 35 minutes and with questions we should be away by 1:00.
wearing sun screen and perhaps a hat.
we will be standing all the time and he will be speaking as we move about.
Moderate amount of walking
Mcity is a 32-acre (13 ha) mock city and proving ground built for the testing of wirelessly connected and driver-less cars located on the University of Michigan North Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The project, which officially opened on July 20, 2015, is built on land purchased by the university from a former Pfizer facility. It cost US$10 million and will be collaboratively managed by Mcity (formerly the Mobility Transformation Center - MTC).
Mcity is the world's first controlled environment specifically designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies that are expected to lead the way to mass-market driver-less cars. Students and faculty in the University of Michigan College of Engineering utilize Mcity to work on projects and to collaborate with automakers and suppliers who will test vehicle technology at the course.
The site includes 4.25 lane miles of roadway that include several familiar features of urban driving, including signalized intersections, a railroad crossing, a roundabout, a traffic circle, brick and gravel roads, and parking spaces. Building facades can be moved and fake pedestrians can be altered for different kinds of tests. There are two simulated highway entrance ramps with ramp metering. Two features - a metal bridge and a tunnel - are a special challenge for wireless signals and radar sensors to get through.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North is feeding the hungry at the Food Gatherers Service Project in collaboration with the Ann Arbor Jaycees, on Saturday August 10, 2019.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North and Ann Arbor Jaycees members sorted out good and bad produce, putting good produce in boxes to go out to the needy and throwing away bad produce.
This year's One Rotary Summit event features guest speaker and Past District Governor, Michael Caruso, who will help us develop powerful signature stories.
Stories, as you know, are a fantastic way to grow your club, raise more money and get attention for Rotary. Stories can make any presentation better, so if you or your spouse/partner do talks for work, you don't want to miss this valuable session.
One Rotary Summit is Saturday, September 14 at Concordia University in Ann Arbor from 8:30 am until 2:30 pm and includes a picnic-style BBQ lunch.
The ability to tell a story is perhaps one life’s most useful skills. Stories are certainly a great way to retain members and gain new Rotarians.
Smart leaders use stories to motivate team members and inspire high performance. Savvy salespeople tell stories to encourage prospects to become customers. Parents use stories to inspire good behavior from their children.
Yet, most people don’t really know how to tell a story.
The creation of a powerful narrative cannot be ad-libbed, but it can be shaped and sculpted, especially if you are familiar with the narrative essentials.
International author and speaker (and our D6380 Governor in 2016-17), Michael Angelo Caruso, will show us how to use the power of narrative in Rotary, at work and at home. Watch a short video of Michael's storytelling style at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zHpgCtx5m0
At this unique One Rotary Summit event, you'll have tons of fun as you sharpen your story-telling skills and learn how to:
Stage and frame the story
Learn to pick up signals that people are ready for your story
Grow your Rotary club
Develop a flair for storytelling
Establish (and deliver) positive expectations
Master the two-minute "signature story"
Customize your story for each of the four main personality styles
Raise more money
Read your audience better
Stay on message
Get people to act on your story such as attend an event or join your club
Increase fundraising
Get a promotion at work
Get the power of story on Saturday morning, September 14 in Ann Arbor.
$20 gets you breakfast beverages and a barbecue meal after the program!
In order to grow our club, make it more enjoyable, and to grow the impact we are giving to the community, the new Rotary International initiative, called the Club Membership Support Program wants every Ann Arbor North member to fill out a Membership Satisfaction Survey.
The survey will be due August 29, 2019, and Pres. Eric Tindall, will have printed copies of the survey to be filled out at the August 15th meeting.
After we receive all the survey's and look at the results of them, Diane Edwards from RI membership, will be attending a lunch meeting to discuss procedures to improve the way we obtain new member's and to retain the one's we already have.
Please, we need you to register to keep the cost low and to give the most to Ending Polio, email Norma from Ann Arbor Rotary with the email below. Thank you.
Ann Lee Hussey is from South Berwick, Maine, will speak on “Polio Eradication: the Last Mile.”
Anne has made the eradication of polio and the alleviation of suffering by polio survivors her life’s work. The story she tells is personal; she puts a human face on the subject of polio eradication.
Over the past several years, she has actively participated in 29 volunteer National Immunization Days teams. 26 of those teams she organized and lead herself! She took her teams to where the need is greatest — such as Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Niger, Nigeria, Madagascar, as well as less “touristy” destinations in Egypt and India — places that do not often see Westerners. The publicity and goodwill that these trips consequently generated, in and of themselves, help communicate the need for eradication. That is almost as critical as new immunizations when we focus on highlighting how close the world is to realizing that objective.
Anne’s work has earned her the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World and the Rotary Service Above Self Award. She has been honored as a White House Champion of Change for her humanitarianism and contributions to public service. In March of 2017, Rotary and The World Bank jointly recognized her as a Woman of Action as the International Day of Women was celebrated. In her home state of Maine, Maine Magazine recognized Anne as one of the “50 Mainers of 2017” who have changed our world, improved our lives, and broadened our horizons.
Anne has deep Rotary roots. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Portland (Maine) Sunrise and has served District 7780 there in many capacities, including as Governor in 2010-2011. She currently serves as Adviser to Rotary’s International PolioPlus Committee and as Rotary’s representative on the Global Polio Eradication Transition Management Group. She is CEO of the Polio Survivors Rotarian Action Group and Chair of the its Chair Council for 2016-2018.
Doors open at 11:30am and program begins at 12:30pm.
Admittance is $20/person and includes lunch. RSVP to Norma Sarkar at njsarkar@comcast.net.
On August 1, 2019, at the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting, Emily Canosa and Deb Lentztalk about the Hoop House. RCAAN helped with the Hoop House by getting a District Grant and helping with volunteers.The Agrarian Adventure is the steward of the hoop house erected in 2008 at Tappan Middle School.
The Agrarian Adventure partners with K-12 schools to enrich students’ connection between the foods they eat, their personal health, and the health of their communities and the environment. They believe that fostering a deeper connection to the way our food is produced can help empower students to make healthier choices for life.
This Hoop House is utilized as a winter garden for students, a hub for seedling production and distribution, and as a growing site for students at Tappan (with particular leadership from those in the after school Food & Garden Club).
Over the ten years since it was built, produce from the Hoop House has found its way to classroom and outdoor tastings, school cafeterias, student-prepared meals, the homes of Tappan families and garden volunteers, fundraiser events, local businesses, the Backdoor Food Pantry, and Food Gatherers.
Emily talked about how our help provided the plastic for the Hoop House. Click hereto see the photos, she presented to the club of the April 13th's workday.
Deb Lentz, Vice President of Agrarian Adventure, RCAAN President Eric Tindall andEmily Canosa, Secretary of Agrarian Adventure
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on July 25, 2019, the speaker was our Assistant District Governor Collyer Smith talking about "Rotary Connects The World".
Before Collyer's talk, we had the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor's President Rosemarie Rowney, accept a $200.00 donation from Ann Arbor North for the Polio Luncheon on October 23rd. At this Polio Luncheon, where all Ann Arbor North Members are encouraged to attend because we are not having our normal lunch on Oct. 24th, District Governor Don Sparky Leonard and Polio Survivor Ann Lee Hussey will be speaking. Proceeds from the lunch will go toward the Rotary Polio Plus program.
After lunch Collyer started his talk, about the theme for District Governor Sparky Leonard's year which is "Rotary Connects the World". Sparky, having great insight, realized by the time he got around to the other 52 Clubs in his District, to share the new year to them, he would be well into the next DG's year. So,,, he had all of the Assistant Governors share their stories for: "Rotary Connects the World." (There are 13 Assistant Governors that work with 4 clubs--(one AG has 5).
Assistant Governor Collyer Smith, shared how "Rotary Connects the World", first starts within our individual clubs. He surprised many with his "happenstance" entry into The Rotary World when he played tennis with the City Administrator. After beating the City Administrator resoundingly- Collyer thought his defeated tennis partner would rave on the fantastic tennis skills displayed. Instead, the City Administrator stared right into Collyer's eyes, pointed right at him, and stated: "You have way too much time on your hands- you are joining Rotary"!
Collyer then proceeded with delight in telling his Rotary journey, tutoring a challenging boy in math. In the process of trying to get the student to grade level math, this young boy did something even more powerful-he ended up changing Collyer's life. And Collyer's life would not have changed, nor would the young boy achieve 5th grade level math, if a series of connects did not occur:
The City Administrator inviting (ok, demanding) Collyer to join Rotary.
The City Administrator making time to connect and coordinate, with the Chair of Rotary Tutors committee, at the very next lunch meeting.
The Chair of Rotary Tutors following up, and connecting, with the 5th grade counselor and teacher that very afternoon.
As Collyer stated: "If the above 3 connects did not occur, or broke down at any given point- Collyer would not have had the life changing experience that so moved, and compelled him.
President Eric then opened up the floor for members to share their most impactful and proud experiences--and more inspirational stories flourished. And that, is why we are in Rotary!
By openly sharing our stories- potential members can't help but join, so that they too, can catch the fever!
Rotary Ann Arbor North President Eric Tindall, presents Rotary Ann Arbor President Rosemarie Rowney a donation for the Polio Luncheon on October 23, 2019, at Weber's.
Assistant District Governor Collyer Smith, Talked About Rotary Connect The World, On July 25th.
Eric Tindall
2019-07-25 04:00:00Z
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"Rotary Connects The World",Assistant Governor Collyer Smith,Polio Plus,President Eric Tindall,President Rosemairie Rowney,Rotary Club of Ann Arbor,Rotary International President Mark Maloney,Rotary International Theme 2019-2020
On August 19, 2019, Rotary District 6380 hosted a night at Comerica Park. Game started at 7:10 PM with the home team Detroit Tiger's versus Toronto Blue Jay's.
Starting at 6:45 PM we had dinner with fellow Rotarian's, which included hot dogs, hamburgers, lay's potato chips, cole slaw, and beans.
Shortly before the game started, Dave Rozama, a 1984 World Series Championship Pitcher, joined in with the fellowship, autographed his photo, and took photos with Rotary Member's.
Detroit Tiger's lost 12-1, but all Rotarian's had fun, and of course the Canadian Rotarian's enjoyed the game more.
You will be able to bring your Green Baxter Court school supplies donation at this event. Last day for the donation is August 15th.
On Saturday, August 10, 2019 we are having a special service project at Food Gatherers Warehouse.
The Food Gatherers collect food donations from local grocery stores and other sources. Donated food much be sorted and expired items discarded, before donation can be passed along to local food pantries and community kitchens. To accomplish this Food Gatherers rely extensively on volunteers.
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North members will be able to sign-up for this service project at the next few lunch meetings, orclick here to go to Ann Arbor Jaycees spreed sheet to sign-up or contact President Eric Tindall.
All volunteers must fill out a consent form. Please fill out and hand in at upcoming lunch meetings or bring it on August 10th.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting on August 18, 2019, Tiffany Fitzpatrick talked about Human Trafficking in Michigan.
Tiffany is a fellow Rotarian and Past President of the Rotary Club in Saline. Last year she joined Love Runs, which is a non-profit organization based out of Northridge Church that focuses on fighting human trafficking in southeast Michigan.
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Force, fraud, or coercion need not be present if the individual engaging in commercial sex is under 18 years of age.
Sex trafficking is the recruitment, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age.
Sex Trafficking has been found in a wide variety of venues within the sex industry, including residential brothels, escort services, fake massage businesses, strip clubs, and street prostitution.
Labor trafficking is the recruitment of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
Labor trafficking has been found in diverse labor settings including, domestic work, small businesses, large farms, and factories.
Michigan ranks among the worst in the nation for sex slavery and human trafficking.
If you can come to these gatherings for the new Rotary Club of Ann Arbor Satellite Club, please give them your support.
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor now offers an alternative meeting time through the new RCAA Satellite. Join us for a more informal meeting every other Tuesday evening, 6-7:30 pm, at an Ann Arbor restaurant or pub! Feel free to come and have a drink, an appetizer, or dinner. This group is new, and we will tailor the RCAA Satellite experience based on what you want.
Satellite meetings are open to current RCAA members and anyone who may be looking to be part of Rotary. These meetings are perfect for young professionals, recent graduates, and others in the community who want to be part of a large service-based organization, but cannot regularly attend the regular RCAA Wednesday luncheon meetings or who may prefer a more informal, service project-based community.
JULY 2019 SATELLITE MEETING INFORMATION
WHEN: Tuesday, July 16 and July 30
WHERE: Arbor Brewing Company, 114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
WHAT: This month, learn about what Rotary is, what the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor is up to, and how you can have an impact on our community through RCAA Satellite
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Lunch Meeting we had the honor of having the District 6380 Membership Lead, Brenda K Tipton & Anne Nauts a District Membership Committee Member, both from the GROW ROTARY 2020 Team attend the first lunch meeting on July 11, 2019.
At the lunch meeting President Eric Tindall presented Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North goals and the Rotary Club Citation requirements.
DEADLINE IS AT THIS WEEKS RCAAN LUNCH MEETING, AUGUST 15TH.
It is that time again to get school supplies
for the children at Green Baxter Court.
Frankie Moore said, "we have about 20-25 students expected to register for GBC programs this fall (elementary & teens). We could use help with any school supplies! but really any backpacks/supplies are welcome."
RCAAN members can start bringing the supplies for the children for July 18th lunch meeting. Please bring supplies to the lunch meetings by August 15th.
If you do not feel like shopping or just would like to help with the project, with a donation, money will be welcomed. Community Action Network will use it when they go shopping. Money can be given to Diane by August 15th.
Items we have enough of, so do not need to buy:
Composition Notebooks
Thank you in advance for you supplies for the children.
For those Rotarian.s that said they were able to help, please come to Diane Sheffrey's on August 3rd at 10:00 AM to sort out supplies and documents.
We are in a need of a few Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Members, for a couple of hours to organize our documents and supplies.
Over the years we have accumulated many documents, supplies and Rotary gifts that now that the Holiday Inn is remodeling, we need to organize and eliminate much of it.
If you are willing to spend a few hours in helping us go through the boxes we have, please contactPresident Eric and we will set up a time to organize it.
In the morning of the 4th of July, many Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North members walked in the annual Ann Arbor Jaycees Fourth of July Parade.
The walk started at the corner of State and Liberty, head north to Washington, head west on Washington to Main, head south on Main to Liberty, head east back to State.
We celebrated America's independence with District Governor Don "Sparky" Leonard and Spark Plug. Walking in the parade for Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North was President Eric Tindall and Bob Specht.
Click HERE for more photo's of the Fourth of July Parade.
A new Rotary year is upon us, and let us say one final thank you to former President Barry Rassin for his outstanding leadership. Barry, we will miss you, but we know and appreciate that you will continue to lead Rotary in important ways for years to come.
I have spoken for several months about how Rotary Connects the World, and the time has now arrived to put our words into action. We have an exciting year ahead of us, a year when we begin to implement the new Strategic Plan, what I call the Rotary Action Plan and when we will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.
That anniversary will underscore the ties we have and goals we share with the United Nations. We will host five special events—UN Day in New York, three presidential conferences in Paris, Santiago, and Rome, and a final celebration just before the Convention in Honolulu. This will help us achieve the first Action Plan goal of increasing our impact by demonstrating that Rotary’s influence in the world has only just begun.
The second Action Plan goal is expanding our reach. To achieve that, we need to grow Rotary – reaching out to new members, engaging current members, and creating more alternatives for membership for the next generation of Rotarians.
The third goal is enhanced participant engagement, making sure that Rotarians have experiences that are personally and professionally relevant and fulfilling. This is why I believe so strongly in building a more family-friendly Rotary -- one that welcomes children to our activities and that is considerate of families in our scheduling. Let us recommit to putting the needs, expectations, and growth of our participants at the center of all we do.
The final priority of our new Action Plan is increasing our ability to adapt. New approaches to our organizing principles do not threaten our sense of who we are. That is why I believe that Rotary must respect professional commitments and not require Rotary leadership to be a full-time job. We need to respect the time and responsibilities of young people who are building careers.
Together, we will harness the power of connection just as our organization has been doing for more than 114 years. We have a long, proud heritage. And we will continue to thrive because we are not afraid of change.
I look forward to leading you in this important journey, as Rotary Connects the World!
Yours in Rotary, Mark Daniel Maloney President, Rotary International 2019-2020
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Presidents Night was June 17, 2019, at The Quarter Bistro in Ann Arbor.
Tammy Broderick was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Award From the Club for all her hard work.
We had a talk by our outgoing District Governor, Jane McManus and a short story from Kevin Kelly, Major Gifts Officer at Rotary International. AG Collyer Smith was also here to enjoy the night
At Tappan Middle School, The Agrarian Adventure put up a thank you for participating in the Hoop House.
This finalized the District Grant we received from Rotary District 6380. If you are driving by Tappan, stop and take a look at the Hoop House in back of Tappan Middle School.
All of the funding for the Rotary International Global Grant ($142,030) is now in the account of the Freetown Rotary Club.
A site visit has been conducted by Rotarian Theodora Wilkinson of the Freetown Rotary Club and transfers are being made to the implementing organization, the Center for Community Empowerment.
The dream of Chief Charles Caulker to develop his chiefdom using its own agricultural traditions is now being realized. He wanted to grow fruit trees in his verdant tropical chiefdom that would produce income for community development in the years to come.
Click HERE to see newsletter with more information.
Rotarian's Photo: Board Member FHM Kathy Hays, Don Deatrick, RCAA Pres. Elect Rosemarie Rowney, Ashish Sarkar, Norma Sarkar, Paul Schissler, Anne Nauts, RCAAN Pres. Elect Eric Tindall, RCAA Pres.Greg Stejskal, Pat Pooley FHM Board Member Karen Diane Kerry, and Pres. FHM Brad Chick at VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
On June 14th at 10:00 AM, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North President Elect Eric Tindall and many Ann Arbor Area Rotarian's Celebrated the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the firstFisher House to be built in Michigan.
The Fisher House Ann Arbor was a project inspired by Rotary Clubs of Ann Arbor North, Ann Arbor Downtown, Chelsea and Dexter that we have been working on for the past three years.
Once built, the Fisher House will provide free, temporary lodging to military and Veteran families and caregivers while their loved one is hospitalized at our medical center.
The program started with Master of Ceremonies with Paula Tutman, Broadcast Journalist from WDIV Local 4, we had the Presentation of Colors from U of M ROTC, the Pledge of Allegiance from Randy Ritter a Board Member of FHM, and them Invocation by Chaplain Marcus Bell, VA Ann Arbor Health System Lead Chaplain.
Dr. Ginny L. Creasman, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System Director/CEO, presented opening remarks. Followed by remarks from the following Distinguished Guests:
Shella Stovall, Acting VISN 10 Network Director
CPT (R) Kate Melcher, Executive Director Fisher House Michigan
Danial Patrick, Fisher House Guest and Advocate
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Congressman Tim Walberg
Congresswomen Debbie Dingell
For Closing Remarks David Coker, President of Fisher House Michigan gave some words.
Them Paula Tutman sent everyone outside the tent for the ground breaking of the house.
Ribbon- cutting is anticipated by next Memorial Day on the sixteen family suite home in the VA Ann Arbor campus. We are all very excited to see our first military family feel the warmth, love and comfort as they walk through the door!
For more Photo's of the Ground Breaking Click Here
Click HERE for WDIV segment on the day of the Fisher House Ground Breaking.
For Ann Arbor North's weekly luncheon on Thursday June 13, 2019, we replaced the normal lunch and meeting at Holiday Inn and we took a field trip to NSA International at 789 N. Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor, MI.
NSF was founded in 1944, with a mission to protect and improve global human health. Manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to them to facilitate the development of public health standards and certifications that help protect food, water, consumer products and the environment. As an independent, accredited organization, they test, audit and certify products and systems as well as provide education and risk management.
In the field trip we saw some labs that test products, as tour guide describes how the product is tested. We saw the water testing lab that is very prevalent to Rotary with our Area of Focus of Water and Sanitation.
Due to time we were not able to see the lower level of the facility, so looking forward for August to continue the tour.
Join other Rotarians from Rotary District 6380 for Rotary Family Day at Comerica Park on July 19h and enjoy a spectacular night at the ballpark.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Detroit Tigers Registration fee includes:
All you can eat ballpark food for 2 hours.
Private viewing dining area in right field. Cash bar and prizes!
Register today and be entered into a draw on a Alan Tammell autographed jersey. Stay after the game and enjoy the breathtaking fireworks this event is shaping up to be the event of the summer.
Click here to see Sparky's video for Rotary Family Day at Comerica Park
Manish Mehta welcomed special guests, Rotarian Vikraman Panicker from Mumbai-Andheri Club (Mumbai India) and our friends from Nigerian Gbagada (Lagos Nigeria), Rotarians Ayotunde Onafuwa and Bisi who are here for their annual summer vacation.
Ayotunde from Rotary Club of Gbagada presented RCAAN with gifts. They where a thank you for being in a partnership with them in a Microfinance Project, which rotates $10,000 while mentoring over 50 entrepreneurs in this sub-urban community outside Lagos.
Rotarian Vikraman Panicker from Mumbai-Andheri Rotary Club
The Agrarian Adventure needs volunteers for a community hoop house restoration at Tappan Middle School (2251 E. Stadium Blvd.)! Please join us on Saturday, April 13th between 12:00 pm-3:30 pm for a day of action to revitalize the structure.
We will be stretching new plastic on the hoop.
Please join Agrarian Adventure team, Tappan Students and us to place the plastic over the metal posts. If it is windy many people will be needed to hold the plastic down or it will fly away.
Photos from Hoop House Workday on April 13th. Click Here to see more.
Shamar explained, 4 years ago, the program was started when in Detroit and in West Willow in Ypsilanti there was 2 murders. A Sheriff asked him to get the kid's jobs. Since everyone knows he is the jobs person. This was the start of the Youth Summer Employment Program.
Shamar said, "the Youth Employment Program Builds Life-Long Networks & Careers." The ten-week summer employment and mentorship program, pairs local businesses with Washtenaw County youth (ages 16-24) to provide on-the-job training that sets the stage for life-long careers, opens doors to new industries, and provides mentorship critical to building professional networks.
Last year, almost 100 youth completed the program. This equated to more than 20,000 work experience hours and more than $220,000 invested in our youths’ future success.
"This year will be our fourth year running the program, and we’re looking to place 150 youth in jobs throughout the county,” said Shamar Herron, “Every year we’ve been able to grow the program, and we’re proud to see the ongoing development of our young people each year.”
Shamar, thanked the Club for our donation to the program this year. He said,"their are kid's that come in with no socks, not alone having some professional clothing for a job. The money went to giving them the tools to get a job. From buying them clothe and showing them how to shake a managers hand and looking them in the eyes at a job interview.
At Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Luncheon on May 23, 2019 our speaker was Washtenaw County Commissioner Andy LaBarre.
A county commission (also known as a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States.
The commission acts as the executive of the local government, levies local taxes, administers county governmental services such as prisons, courts, public health oversight, property registration, building code enforcement, and public works such as road maintenance.
Andy was elected to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners on January 1, 2013. He was elected to his third term on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners in 2016. Andy represents District 7, located in the eastern half of the City of Ann Arbor. For 2017 he served as Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners.
At the RCAAN Luncheon Andy talked about some topics that are being worked on right now in Washtenaw County:
Gelman Sciences (now Pall Corp., a division of Danaher Corp.) polluted groundwater in parts of Washtenaw County, including parts of the City as well as Ann Arbor and Scio Townships, when it improperly disposed of industrial solvents containing 1,4-dioxane between 1966 and 1986. That pollution has since spread through the aquifer. The City is engaged with neighbouring communities and the state to, among other things, push Gelman to delineate, contain and clean up its pollution. To that end, the City has, for example, intervened in litigation in Washtenaw County Circuit Court brought by the State against Gelman.
Washtenaw County provides mental health services to adults with a severe and persistent mental illness, children with a severe emotional disturbance, and individuals with a developmental disability, residing in the county.
There's a $150 million gap between the cost of health care and what's provided to Michigan's public mental health system, according to a recent analysis released by the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHAM). Only 4 percent of the funding provided to the CMH system is available to serve Michiganders without Medicaid who need mental health services, according to the CMHAM press release.
Among the recommendations include restoring General Fund dollars to the system, setting Medicaid rates to match demands and costs, and removing the local match draw-down obligation from budget boilerplate. CMHAM sees these changes and others as ways to modernize the funding system.
"There are new demands, new crises and new conditions in every community throughout Michigan, which the original financing structure did not account for," said CMHAM CEO Robert SHEEHAN, in a statement. "These include the opioid crisis, incarceration of those with mental health needs, the recognition of the prevalence of autism, increased homelessness and more -- yet the system is still operating from a decades-old funding structure."
Andy then took some questions from Rotarian's.
Some of the question topics was:
Washtenaw County Roads
Washtenaw County Jail
Before Andy started his talk, Pres. Joyce handed out red noses forRed Nose Day which was today May 23rd.
Red Nose Day is a campaign with the mission to end child poverty by funding programs that keep children safe, healthy, and educated. Through the power of entertainment, Red Nose Day bring people together to laugh and have fun, all while raising life-changing cash for the children that need it the most. Since our debut in 2015, we have raised over $150 million and have positively impacted over 16 million children in America, and around the world.
On Saturday May 18, 2019 Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North had the 5th Annual Golf Invitational. 18 foursomes (72 players) teed off to support many of Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North’s humanitarian and service projects in Ann Arbor and around the world such as:
Boy's and Girl's Scouts
Heritage Girl's
Fisher House Ann Arbor
Community Action Network Washtenaw County
Food Gatherers
Environmental cleanup and sanitation for girls schools in Nepal
Sanitation and vocational training for rural women in India
Medical supplies for disadvantaged communities in Brazil
Micro-finance for small entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
AShelter Boxdisplay was featured at the RCAAN Golf Outing. RCAAN members helped Rotn Derek Locke of Rotary Club of Hines Park Dearborn (D6400) and received hands-on training on erecting and deploying a tent intended for use in disaster areas around the world.
At May 16, 2019 Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon because of the cancellations of our speaker we has an assembly.
In place of the speaker, we had Karen Karry in attendance to accept a donation check forFisher House Michigan. Ann Arbor North donated $2000.00 and because of the Memorial Day Match by the Masco Company it's total was $4000.00.
Karen announced, "on June 14, 2019 (Flag Day) the Fisher House Ann Arbor, will be having the ground breaking for the first Fisher House in Michigan." It will start at 10:00 AM at the Veterans' Hospital in Ann Arbor which is located at2215 Fuller Road.
Karen also announced, "that Art Holst a big supporter of Fisher House and Ann Arbor Rotarian passed away last December, on Saturday May 25th. there will be a memorial service to honor him at First United Methodist Church Ann Arbor, starting at 2:00 PM."
Karen invited, everyone to attend both the ground breaking and the memorial service.
Karen Karry receiving a check from RCAAN for Fisher House Michigan presented by President
Elect Eric Tindall.
Bob Greenhough (WWII Verteran), Karen Karry and President Elect Eric Tindall presenting
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on April 2, 2019, Gerry Jackson talked about his mission trips to Guatemala.
Gerry and a team of Rotarian's, last November went to Guatermala for a eye mission, to support clinic Casa Colibrí, a not-for-profit humanitarian organization committed to helping the Mayan people of northwest Guatemala improve their lives through programs in health, education, and infrastructure.
The team of five Rotary District 6380 members, brought 1200 pair of used glasses that were already sorted to ease the ability to find an appropriate pair of glasses for the patients. They also brought in and provided 1000 pairs of new sunglasses to help prevent cataracts, and 400 pairs of new readers.
In addition to the 10-hour difficult drive from Guatemala City to clinic Casa Colibrí through rough terrain and mountains, they unpacked and organized the clinic before 4 solid days planned to see patients ranging in age from school age children, through 80’s.
The team brought with them 1200 pair of used glasses that were already sorted to ease the ability to find an appropriate pair of glasses for the patients. They also brought in and provided 1000 pairs of new sunglasses to help prevent cataracts, and 400 pairs of new readers.
A total of 341 patients were seen and most were given prescription glasses. All were given sunglasses. Sunglasses were also given to anyone that came with the patient as well as to all the local children that came by for a visit.
Gerry Jackson said, "fitting a person with glasses, so that they can see clearly for the first time, is quite an awesome experience and really does a heart good! They have the biggest smiles on their faces"
At Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on April 25, 2019 our keynote speaker was Rotarian Scott Nelson. Scott talked about how to create a rain garden.
Mother earth creates the rain - but we create the runoff. When rain hits the roofs, streets, and driveways of our neighborhoods, it washes pollution into the river. A rain garden captures the rain water runoff and filters it clean.
One inch of rainfall means 600 gallons of water will be captured by a typical rain garden. Captured water won't go to municipal pipes, won't add pollution to the river, and won't contribute to flooding. This water will recharge the groundwater. Before it does, it keeps the garden looking green and lush.
A rain garden is an attractive landscaping feature planted with perennial native plants. It is a bowl-shaped or saucer-shaped garden, designed to absorb storm water run-off from impervious surfaces such as roofs and parking lots. Rain gardens can be small home-owner style gardens, large complex gardens, or anywhere in between.
Last year Scott took a"Master RAIN Gardener Class" at theWashtenaw County Water Resource Commission. Scott, earned a rain garden certificate by taking the class and building a rain garden. The class trained him to design and install rain gardens - and to serve his neighborhood as an expert.
Scott learned, about rain gardens because in front of his Church called Ann Arbor Seventh Day Adventist Church flooded with water after it rained. Scott felt if they created a rain garden the flooding would be eliminated. So in 2018 he finished the rain garden.
Scott encouraged us to come to his church and take a look at their rain garden.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on April 18, 2019, Brenda Tipton talked about membership.
Brenda was Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club's President for 2017-2018, where she grew the club by 22 new members. Brenda said, "people join Rotary if the person fells like they are getting value out of it."
She discussed some of the ways she gained those new members, they are called Tipton's Tips.
Have fun at meetings and events (Rotarian's have fun)
Her club gave discounts to family members and corporate memberships.
Use a mentoring program
Ask your friends for new members.
Brenda is the incoming District Membership Chair under Don "Sparky" Leonard for 2019-2020.
Brenda is very excited about growing Rotary District 6380 and Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's membership and is willing to help in anyway.
With Brenda "WOO WOO" Tipton, 2019-2020 Rotary District 6380 Membership Chair watching in the audience, President Joyce inducted Sara Armstrong as RCAAN newest member.
Sara said, "she is very happy to be in a service organization and loves doing service work."
Welcome to the Club, Sara.
With Gail Scott, Sara Armstrong and Pres. Joyce Williams
Dr. Irene Butter is speaking at Weber's with the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor on April 24, 2019. Irene is the winner of the 2019 Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Award, which she will receive on the 24th.
Dr Irene Butter is the author of Shores Beyond Shores: From Holocaust to Hope My True Story.
Carena Townsend, President of theAnn Arbor Jayceestalked about the Jaycees at the April 11, 3019 Luncheon.
Carena described, "that AA Jaycees membership a year ago declined and they needed to take steps to grow membership. "They took the steps and has gained 20 members in the past year.
One way to gain membership was through "Speed Friending", it is a event like "Speed Dating". The Jaycees go to a restaurant, with guests and they have a short allowed time to talk to a Jaycee. Then after that time they move on to another Jaycee Member, that talks about a different topic of the Ann Arbor Jaycees.
Carena, also talked about other events they are doing:
4th of July Parade:The parade is an annual event that happens on the 4th of July. The parade route encircles the streets of State, Liberty, Main and William (because of the road construction on Williams this year the city approved the route to be extended a block further.)
Monthly Meeting:Starting a year ago they have a monthly meeting at their normal location and then the next month they have it at a restaurant or bowling alley so it is treated as a social event.
Summer Carnival:The Summer Carnival is the Ann Arbor Jaycees largest fundraiser. It is located at Pioneer High School at the end of June.
Please support the Ann Arbor Jaycees by going to the Parade and Summer Carnival.
A2 Jaycees President Carena Townsend and RCAAN President Elect Eric Tindall
Rajani Shrestha, 2018-19 President of Rotary Club of Chandragiri, Club 80893 delivered RCAAN an update to the Nepal Sanitation and Pond Rejuvenation Global Grant Project 1635112 that his club leads with RC Bungamati (near Kathmandu in Nepal) and RC Singapore.
The Bungamati Rotary Club has almost completed planned repairs and rebuilding of girls toilets in 3 schools damaged by the 2015 earthquake. A fourth school identified on our Grant project was beyond repair and was demolished, so the host Club has found another school in the area for upgrading sanitation amenities for girls. These are much needed for enhancing the literacy of females in a country like Nepal where trafficking of girls and women is rampant and often tragic.
Click HERE for more information on Rotary Showcase.
Frankie said, "Community Action Network partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw County neighborhoods to create better futures fro themselves and improve the communities in which they live."
Community Action Network goals are:
Educating Children and Youth: Prepare youth to fulfill their academic potential and become successful, self-sufficient adults
Stabilizing Families: Assist families in meeting their basic needs and create better futures for themselves.
Building Strong Communities: Create and maintain clean, safe, and supportive neighborhoods where families can thrive.
Frankie then described the Green Baxter Court Summer Camp, "the summer camp is designed to combat summer loss or learning. With academic rotation and exploration into various educational themes, CAN's students develop academic skills while also having fun in a safe space with compassionate, caring adults."
Themes at Summer Camps are:
Math Rotation
Reading Rotation
Geography Rotation
Social-Emotional Development
STEM
Art
Meals
Summer Loss of Learning
ClickHEREfor more information for CAN's Educational Summer Camps.
Attending the Luncheon with Frankie, was Paige Ampey and Cassidy Uchman, they are from AmeriCorp VISTA.
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges and advance local solutions.
Click HERE for Frankie's Power Point Presentation.
Frankie Moore and President Elect Eric Tindall filling in for Pres Joyce absents.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on March 28, 2019, Rotarian Bob Specht talked about Federal Emissions Testing of Gas Vehicle.
Engine efficiency has been steadily improved with improved engine design, more precise ignition timing and electronic ignition, more precise fuel metering, and computerized engine management.
Advances in engine and vehicle technology continually reduce the toxicity of exhaust leaving the engine, but these alone have generally been proved insufficient to meet emissions goals. Therefore, technologies to detoxify the exhaust are an essential part of emissions control.
Air injection: One of the first-developed exhaust emission control systems is secondary air injection. Originally, this system was used to inject air into the engine's exhaust ports to provide oxygen so unburned and partially burned hydrocarbons in the exhaust would finish burning.
Air injection is now used to support the catalytic converter's oxidation reaction, and to reduce emissions when an engine is started from cold. After a cold start, an engine needs an air-fuel mixture richer than what it needs at operating temperature, and the catalytic converter does not function efficiently until it has reached its own operating temperature.
The air injected upstream of the converter supports combustion in the exhaust head-pipe, which speeds catalyst warm-up and reduces the amount of unburned hydrocarbon emitted from the tailpipe.
Exhaust gas recirculation: In the United States and Canada, many engines in 1973 and newer vehicles (1972 and newer in California) have a system that routes a metered amount of exhaust into the intake tract under particular operating conditions. Exhaust neither burns nor supports combustion, so it dilutes the air/fuel charge to reduce peak combustion chamber temperatures. This, in turn, reduces the formation of NOx.
Catalytic converter: The catalytic converter is a device placed in the exhaust pipe, which converts hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and NOx into less harmful gases by using a combination of platinum, palladium and rhodium as catalysts.
There are two types of catalytic converter, a two-way and a three-way converter. Two-way converters were common until the 1980's, when three-way converters replaced them on most automobile engines.
Evaporative emissions are the result of gasoline vapors escaping from the vehicle's fuel system. Since 1971, all U.S. vehicles have had fully sealed fuel systems that do not vent directly to the atmosphere; mandates for systems of this type has appeared in other jurisdictions.
In a typical system, vapors from the fuel tank and carburetor bowl vent (on carbureted vehicles) are ducted to canisters containing activated carbon.
The vapors are adsorbed within the canister, and during certain engine operational modes fresh air is drawn through the canister, pulling the vapor into the engine, where it burns.
Information help for Bob's talk to write this story was found at
Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North is helping Agrarian Adventure, to restore the hoop house at Tappan Middle School! All members are invited to come out and help with and learn about this barn-raising style process on Saturday, April 13th. Shifts are 4 hours each and pizza and refreshments will be available for volunteers.
Click Here to tell Agrarian Adventure you are coming.
For the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Member's that are going to the District Assembly the following is from Gerry Jackson. We would like to encourage all Board of Directors' to attend it able. Please read and register by April 3rd.
Registration is open for the District Assembly (Club Officer Training) which will be held on Saturday morning, 8:30-11:30 a.m. April 13 at Walsh College, Troy Michigan. Please register your club's attendees no later than April 3 (Walsh College deadline). Register online at:
Note the registration cost is $10 and includes a continental breakfast at the college. There will be short opening and closing general sessions and two (2) back-to-back breakout sessions with 8 different breakouts to choose from (see attached flyer - note details are not yet finalized).
New breakout session added this year: New Member Orientation (this is for all new Rotarians that have joined our ranks during the 2018-2019 Rotary year).
New breakout session added this year: How to Start a New Club (it's not that hard).
Russ Collins, Manager of Ann Arbor's Michigan Theater talked about the history of Ann Arbor's Opera Houses and Theaters at Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Luncheon on March 21, 2019.
The beginning of Ann Arbor Theaters started back from the start of Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor was founded in 1824 by land speculators John Allen and Elisha Walker Rumsey. On May 25, 1824, the town plat was registered with Wayne County as "Annarbour", the earliest known use of the town's name. Allen and Rumsey decided to name it for their wives, both named Ann, and for the stands of bur oak. Ann Arbor became the seat of Washtenaw County in 1827 and was incorporated as a village in 1833
Russ talked about many of the early Opera Houses and Theaters in Ann Arbor History.
Michigan Theater opened in 1928, the theater was hailed as “a Shrine to the Arts… not built for today only, but constructed in the hopes that it might be a monument for years to come and a credit to the community…” Detroit architect Maurice Finkel designed an outstanding silent film exhibition theater appropriate for a town with a world-class university at its core.
In 1956, Butterfield made renovations to the theater’s interior and façade to update it to the tastes of “modern” audiences. The Butterfield Theater Corporation vacated the building at the conclusion of their 50 year lease in 1979.
The not-for-profit Michigan Theater Foundation (MTF) was formed in May of 1979. The theater doors opened and the programming occurred solely because of a team of dedicated community volunteers, led by film scholar and theater organist Henry Aldridge and John Briggs, who was the president of the local stagehand union.
In June 2014, the Michigan Theater Foundation bought the State Theater.
State Theater originally opened in 1942, designed by renowned architect C. Howard Crane, opened with the romantic comedy “The Fleet’s In.” In 1977 the theater was divided into a four-screen multiplex by Butterfield Theaters.
In 1987, the Stat Theater was sold to Tom Borders, who redesigned the theater’s main floor for retail and closed the second floor balcony. In 1992 the balcony reopened as a two-screen second-run film theater.
In 1997, the theater was sold to a local investor group. In 1999 Michigan Theater contracted to provide film programming and marketing services and in 2014 Michigan Theater purchased the theater.
In 2016, the State Theater closed for renovations and in 2017, the new State Theater reopened in December, featuring 4 screens, comfortable reserved seating, improved accessibility.
Russ, said "that he would like us to attend this yearsCinetopia Film Festival." The Cinetopia Film Festival is an annual, curated festival in Ann Arbor and metro and downtown Detroit, featuring more than 50 of the best feature-length dramas, comedies, and documentaries from the world’s best film festivals (Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Berlin, SXSW, Tribeca, and more).
It takes place over the span of 10 days every spring at venues throughout the region. This year the Cinetopia Film Festival is from May 10-May 19.
At Thursday's March 12th Dr. Joseph Myers, Optometrist at UM Kellogg Eye Center, presented UM’s initiative known as Common Health Plus which has developed a platform for delivery of world class healthcare using what we call an A.R.C. (Architecturally Repurposed Container) with the co-development and design inputs from many of UM’s leading colleges, such as MIchigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, Architecture & Design, Engineering, etc.
CommonHealth+ at Sandy Bay Jamaica is the first in a series of prototypical modified container health clinics that aim to deliver telemedicine-based services supporting healthcare and chronic care health monitoring in remote and underserved populations globally.
It is a response to the inequality of healthcare around the globe. In believing that high quality healthcare is not a privilege but a fundamental human right. The presentation illustrated the development of low cost, high tech technologies deployed in a sustainable healthcare delivery mechanism, and expect to leverage a Rotary Foundation Global Grant for $85k to equip the rebuilt shipping containers with specialized Eye Care and dental care apparatus with telemedicine capability so that rural and disadvantaged populations in Jamaica can avail of basic healthcare.
The GG project consortium is led by Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and RCAAN has committed $1000-2000 along with three other clubs: 2 from India and one from Negril (Jamaica).
Past President Scott Nelson filling in as President gives Dr. Joseph Myers a gift for speaking.
Last year we sponsored Global Grant Scholar Madi Vorva to go to Cambridge, which is an university city and the county town of Cambridgeshire, England, on the River Cam approximately 50 miles north of London.
Madi, is studying to receive her MPhil in Environmental Policy at Cambridge University and has been active among various Rotary clubs in the area.
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on March 7, 2019, W. Patrick Smith talked about North Star Reach a camp located in Pinckney Michigan.
Patrick said, "Unfortunately, each year there are many more children who are unable to attend regular summer camp due to serious medical conditions." At North Star Reach Camp A health center staffed by nurses, physicians and other medical professionals allows children with complex medical needs to come to camp, often for the first time.
The benefits of the camp to the children are:
Experience all of the fun, joy and independence that all children receive at camp and appreciate a rare sense of normalcy.
Campers leave with improved self-esteem, restored childhood.
A sense of accomplishment at attempting challenges in an environment that provides physical, emotional and medical support and supervision.
Campers, staff and volunteers are all impacted in a positive way by the camp experience.
Additionally, parents have a much-needed opportunity for respite and many report that their children return from camp with a new sense of autonomy and independence.
As a Full Member Camp of SeriousFun Children’s Network founded by Paul Newman, North Star Reach serves children with chronic and life-threatening health challenges across the Great Lakes Region, free of charge.
North Star Reach operates year round and includes a health center, dining hall, cabins to house campers and staff, arts and crafts center, two swimming pools, nature trails, athletic court, sports field, an accessible tree house, archery range, amphitheatre and waterfront docks, all designed to fit in a rustic camp environment. Camp can accommodate approximately 1,500 children and family members annually.
Also at the Luncheon we received a check from Vern Hutton from our investment from Watershed III LLC. Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North owns a small portion of the Plymouth Road Mall. This money will go toward our grants we give out to worthy organization.
W. Patrick Smithfrom North Star Reach Camp.
Vern Hutton presents a check to the club for the ownership of a small portion of the Plymouth Road Mall.
On February 28, 2019, Scott Nelson and Eric Tindall went to Tappan Middle School for the meeting about the reconstruction of their hoop house after it was vandalized two years ago.
Emily Canosa, from The Agrarian Adventurelead the meeting, starting in the cafeteria with 6 Tappan Students, and 4 gardening experts from Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Emily started meeting with some of the ideas that the students came up with at the after school session last semester which included:
Painting a mural on the shed
Info graphics about how a hoop house works/passive solar
Parts of a plant incorporated into the mural or other signs
Working with math classes on calculations of wood measurements and needs
Having choir sing at an opening/celebration event
Signs about community, spreading kindness, respect and preventing bullying
Then we went outside and took a look at the hoop house.
With the Rotary District Grant the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North received, Emily is purchasing plastic to cover the hoop house and on April 13th the RCAAN and children from Tappan will be putting the plastic on the frame.
The hoop house when finished will be utilized as a winter garden for students, a hub for seedling production and distribution, and as a growing site for students at Tappan (with particular leadership from those in the after school Food & Garden Club).
Over the ten years since it was built, produce from the hoop house has found its way to classroom and outdoor tasting, school cafeterias, student-prepared meals, the homes of Tappan families and garden volunteers, fundraiser events, local businesses, the Backdoor Food Pantry, and Food Gatherers.
Mary's talked about her mission trip and the global grant by Ann Arbor Rotary and partners, that made a difference in Sierra Leone.
With Ann Arbor Rotary Club serving as the project lead on the first Global Grant; Freetown Rotary Club serving as the international host, and participation from Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor North, Cincinnati, Dexter, Wilmington, NC and Pune Central Clubs; and with Sherbro Foundation as a cooperating partner, Mary saw the great strides that have been made with the Grant.
Two “Education Orchards" have been planted to fund education long term
Women have been given bags of peanut seed to plant as a way to support their families
Children’s births have been recorded giving them access to government services
Forest reserves were created to protect village water sources and preserve trees.
Now, with a second Global Grant, Mary hopes to continue the great progress in Sierra Leone.
Plant a third "Education Orchard" and maintain the existing orchards
Hire an experienced Agriculture Manager to manage the program and market crops
Dig two wells with pumps and storage tanks; and build a storehouse and a concrete drying floor
Expand the peanut-growing project to more eager women and help them increase their income.
Plant and manage a fourth "Orchard for Medical Care" to pay for services provided to villagers at Rotifunk Hospital (a collaboration with Wilmington NC Rotary Club)
Mary said, "thank you for Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's support in Sierra Leone." Lastly, Ashish Shikar, visiting Rotarian for the Ann Arbor Rotary Club stood up, to emphasize the importance of using Rotary Global Grants to improving the World, and to continue using them in creating partnerships.
The Rotary District 6380 Annual District Conference is your chance to come together with other district club members, friends and family to celebrate a successful year of good works that our 53 club district has achieved under the amazing Governorship of Jane McManus!!!!
This year our Governor and her committee has decided to break out of the norm and present a wonderful 2 day event with incredible speakers and an out of this world Boat Ride down the Detroit River!! Be sure to bring your boat shoes or flip flops and have fun with your fellow Rotarians across the US and Canada District!
Governor Jane is sooooo excited about this event that she is asking all clubs to have representation!!!!
She wants us all together to celebrate the conference theme of "SACRIFICIAL LEADERSHIP" and give us all info on how to further grow our clubs and ask ourselves "are you ready to succeed?"
Friday and Saturday May 3 and 4, 2019
Crown Plaza Detroit Downtown Riverfront
Detroit Princess Riverboat
2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226
Spread the word, sign up now and let's celebrate being Rotarians and all that we do
Just in we have new attendee Packages - woo woo!!!!
Friday Conference/Sessions and Boat Cruise $135.00 (limited number 25)
Saturday Only Conference Sessions $265.00
Friday Night Boat Cruise and Saturday Conference Sessions $339.00
Full Conference Schedule will be posted soon below is a shortened overview!!
Friday May 3 Registration opens at 12:00 Conference will begin 1:30 p.m.and go to 10:00 p.m. (boat returns to the dock) Saturday All day 8:00 a.m. to dinner/awards starting at 6:00 p.m....
At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on February 21st, the speakers were Annaliese and Hannah Schindel. They talked about the experience they had while volunteering at orphanages in South India withBethania Foundation.
Their trip stated with a 15 hour flight around the world on June 10, 2018 and arrived at an airport in Mumbai. After a short flight and car ride they arrived in Kodaikanal .
They arrived at Shalom Home where they were warmly welcomed with a live band and a full program including singing, dancing, and reciting of scripture.
Annaliese and Hannah taught music lessons. Hannah took pictures and taught kids how to take photo's.
On the second day of the trip, the women of Bethania’s Women Empowerment Program (WEP) had a retreat and Annaliese and Hannah were asked to talk about themselves, with them. The women are learning about Jesus as well as seamstress skills to help support their families.
Before They left Kodai they visited Bryant Park, and walked through the gardens.
At the end of the week Annaliese and Hannah, took a train from Kodai to Nagercoil. They arrived safely and settled at Grace home.
They both said that this trip to visit and volunteer at South India's orphanages was an experience of a lifetime.
On February 16th, Pres. Joyce Williams and Diane Sheffrey finished Part 3 and Graduated from theRotary Leadership Institution. Congratulations Pres. Joyce and Diane.
At Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on February 7. 2019 Nikki Beetsch, from NSF International was the Keynote Speaker. Nikki, serves as a consultant to the World Health Organization’s Water, Sanitation Hygiene and Health group.
Founded in 1944, out of the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, NFS protects and improve global human health. Manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to NSF to facilitate the development of public health standards and certifications that help protect food, water, consumer products and the environment. As an independent, accredited organization, NSF test, audit and certify products and systems as well as provide education and risk management.
Nikki talked about the NSF Mark, she said, "The NSF certification mark on a product means that the product complies with all standard requirements. NSF conducts periodic unannounced inspections and product testing to verify that the product continues to comply with the standard."
One service NSF International provides isWater and Wastewater Sanitation. They provide an extensive range of services for the water industry to help ensure the quality and safety of products in the marketplace. NSF’s water programs test and certify products for drinking water, pools/spas, plumbing, plastics and wastewater.
Nikki talked about sustainability, she said, "There is more to sustainability than just "being green." Sustainability is about setting your business up for success by putting in place initiatives that focus on your employees and clients, the planet we live on and the bottom line."
NSF practice what they teach. Nikki said, "NSF is committed in sustainability." NSF International demonstrate this by many sustainable practices throughout their organization including:
Undergoing regular water quality assessments to verify that no harmful pollutants are discharged into waterways.
Their drinking water treatment lab, which tests residential and commercial water treatment and filtration products, recycles more than 2 million gallons of water annually.
They encourage employees to participate in the company’s sustainability initiatives. NSF's Sustainability Committee focuses on recycling and employee education, and NSF's organic garden has produced more than 2,000 pounds of fr
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