Our weekly meeting started with interesting conversations among members via Zoom. Members logging in just before the ringing of the bell missed those conversations between members that covered such interesting topics as heart pacemakers, giving your smart phone instructions while driving, and experiencing the surgical procedure named after Dr. Mohs, MD. Lori Walters reminded the waiting group approaching 70 in number to remember to mute themselves (That’s Zoom term for ‘don’t talk’). Franchesca’s close friend, President Joanne rang the bell to officially open the weekly meeting. Tom Stode showed he can still play the “Star Spangled Banner” without wearing one of his bow-ties. Peg Talburtt’s fitting Inspiration for the topic of the day was a poem titled “Let America be Great Again” written in 1935 by Langton Hughes.
Our meeting song was a video of the UM Men’s Glee Club singing and staging the song, “Glory” from the film Selma. This too supported the theme of the day’s meeting as did the inspiration. Click on the following link to hear and experience this presentation of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od6DMd3sP4s&feature=youtu.be&t=915
Joanne recognized all the worker bees who were buzzing around handling all the details that are necessary to pull off our virtual meetings. (Note: for all future volunteers, today’s meeting had a new technical coordinator at the Zoom controls and he did so well that he has asked to do it again soon before he forgets how to do it all. There is still a need for others to help. Try it, you just might also like it!).
Joanne then asked our Newest Emeritus Member, Doug Freeth, to introduce himself highlighting things you probably didn’t know about Doug who has only been a member of our club since 1998. Doug, a lifelong banker, who retired as a Bank President and CEO of a local bank. He recruited John Barfield as a Board Member long before the terms diversity and inclusion were popular, and also found time to serve on Boards for The Ann Arbor Community , Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Greenhills, and Glacier Hills Foundations. It’s possible that he was so busy at work and with his volunteer foundation work that it wasn’t until retirement that he had time to become a busy Rotarian and served on our High School Scholarship, Membership and Emeritus Committees. He stepped down from the Emeritus Committee chair so that he wouldn’t be forced to sign his own Emeritus Certificate that he thanked the club for and displayed via his Zoom screen. Via Zoom others attending were also able to see and greet Doug’s wife, for 56 years, Lucia, and have his son and grand- children virtually present for Doug’s Emeritus Recognition. When we return to the Union, sit next to Doug and ask him to tell of a trip he and Lucia experienced over 50 years ago in Russia when the Iron Curtain was just starting to open. Instead of the usual standing round of applause at the Michigan Union, the Zoom Gallery of 75 faces applauded for Doug’s Emeritus Recognition.
President Joanne reminded all of the upcoming Italian Festival event August 17 and noted that reservations would be closed on Saturday the 15th. All were urged to participate in this our FUNdraiser replacing the Golf and Tennis Outing that had been cancelled due to the Pandemic.
She then reported that she had just concluded an interview on WAAM Radio’s Lucy Ann Lance Show. The interview was scheduled as part of the Club’s Public Image Committee’s activity. She also reminded all that the City Parks are seeking input on designs for a new bridge to replace the aging one at Gallup Park which of course is needed by people going to our Universal Access Play Ground.
Joanne then quickly ran through several slides of “Gems of Ideas” that had come from last week’s meeting break-out rooms open discussions. She used several like, Fill a Ford with Food as a suggested joint project with Food Gatherers and Conduct a survey of our many existing service organizations to better identify areas where needs are not being met. More of these Gems can be found in the breakout reports that were included in the last Harpoon summarizing those reports. She assured all that these ideas would be reviewed and possible other Zoom breakout rooms will be scheduled to select and focus on some of the ideas that the club can convert to action. She also displayed in the 2020 Edition of the Ann Arbor City Directory a feature story and photo of the Fisher House at the VA Hospital. Our Club was instrumental in advocating for improved health care of Veterans and their families which grew into a successful campaign to raise the funds for building the Ann Arbor and a second Fisher House in Michigan.
At the appointed time President Pierson turned the program titled “Deconstructing Racism” over to Marcia Lane, our Club’s chair of the new Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) for a description of the Committee’s creation, formulation of its vision and outlining an action plan for making the vision a reality.
Marcia described how President Joanne had asked the Peace Committee to develop something in response to the current worldwide movement toward ending racism. The committee quickly saw that there was more to do than making a brief effort. They recruited other Club members who expressed an interest in becoming involved in the movement toward meaningful and lasting societal and institutional change. An early decision was made to propose to the Club’s Board that a new stand-alone committee be formed.
Marcia told how from the committee’s first meeting there have been deep discussions about how to move from denouncing racism to actively and effectively opposing it. She noted how it’s easy to say “I’m not a racist.” But then if we say “I’m against racism”, those words dictate that we follow up with action. We are Rotarians, People of Action after all. She stated that she would have been one of the first to say I’m not a racist. But she proceeded to tell us that she has learned more in the past few months than she could have imagined, and it has affected her deeply. Quoting Pope Francis “..We are called to promote a culture of dialogue by every possible means and thus to rebuild the fabric of society…”
Marcia then turned the program over to fellow committee member, Arthur Williams. Arthur started by noting that ARC not only stands for Anti-Racism Committee, but it also references a writing of the 19th century Unitarian minister Theodore Parker, who was quoted by Martin Luther King, Jr. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” He noted that the group’s intent is to work to bend the arc. They believe that their first step is to educate ourselves and engage the membership. He stated that we can all benefit from a better understanding of the issues that people of color face. They have been struggling on multiple fronts for 400 years. Those of us who are white are able to remain insulated from the struggle, but it is now time to more actively join it. He quoted Benjamin Franklin who said: “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
With all this in mind Arthur stated that ARC has developed a Vision, Statement of Purpose, and Action Plan.
The ARC Vision is to live in a more equal, inclusive, and just community.
The ARC Purpose is to raise awareness, present informative programs, and offer opportunities for active discussion designed to help end racism and injustice. We also intend to encourage personal action by our members, and actively create an environment of support and solidarity in our community.
Eric Lipson, committee member then described the ARC Action Plan’s Five points.
- To raise awareness and stimulate reflection by several means that are regular and consistent. He noted that some of the photos, quotes, articles, and videos that have been included in the Harpoon will continue and also be included on the website and at regular meetings.
- A program subcommittee working to screen and develop the materials so that programs can be presented that inform and enlighten.
- In the next months interactive break-out sessions separate from Rotary meetings will be offered. These will be carefully facilitated, with discussion of specific resources and issues. An example will be an article, video, or book that has a special impact. Members will be able to sign up for a Zoom breakout session to discuss the chosen material.
- The committee will maintain an organizational structure so that ARC functions and implements its plan effectively, following the guidelines and protocols of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor.
- The Committee plans to join other Rotary Clubs doing similar work, and thereby strengthen all our efforts.
Eric then showed a list of the 19 present ARC members noting that there are also two members from the Chelsea Rotary. He encouraged others interested in joining the committee to contact any of the members or the Chair Marcia Lane at mlane0407@gmail.com
He then briefly introduced an entertaining and impactful video presentation of a TED talk by Baratunde Thurston. Entitled: How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a time.
https://www.ted.com/talks/baratunde_thurston_how_to_deconstruct_racism_one_headline_at_a_time
Members wishing to see this video for the first time or to revisit it again can click on this link:
Following the video, members asked questions and expressed their appreciation to the committee for their work. It is obvious that there is more work to be done and today’s program by the committee was a great start. If you are a member who was unable to attend this meeting you are encouraged to view the TED presentation and read through the Committee’s Action Plan. This is just the start and today’s program can be viewed as a set of starting blocks for each member as we start our personal journeys toward ending racism.
President Joanne rang the bell to adjourn the meeting at 1:30pm but several were reluctant to click leave meeting on their Zoom screens.
Occasional Harpoon Reporter
Downs Herold
Photos by Fred Beutler
