The September 30 meeting opened on Zoom with half an hour of social time to meet and chat. 49 members took part in the lively discussions before the business meeting began.

Lori Walters provided “Zoom Etiquette” at 12:27. She also urged Rotary members to invite friends to attend our meetings. At 12:30, President Joanne Pierson rang the bell to start the meeting. She introduced Tom Strode who led us in “America the Beautiful”. Eric Lipson’s inspirational message included the last words of President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address (1865) which are applicable to current times:

“With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan ~ to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

Marlena Studer treated attendees to a musical rendition of the song “What the World Needs Now is Love”. (Click here to view.)

President Joanne welcomed the members in attendance (75) and thanked the set up team, the photographer, reporter, and attendance taker. She announced the many birthdays this coming week. President Joanne thanked the Waste Warriors, led by Tom Millard, who were out last Saturday, September 26, on the sides of the road between State and Packard streets collecting trash. They picked up 65 bags of all kinds of trash. They will be out doing it again next April. We were also reminded that the “Golf and Outing” team is still in need of auction items – we can all share in putting together baskets of fun and useful items. The auction takes place October 19 – 23. (Click here for more info.)

Arthur Williams presented an Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) moment. Arthur talked about why he joined Rotary:

• His outstanding sponsor – Scott Westerman
• Rotary’s belief in “Service Above Self” and the 4-Way Test

He said that the Committee is meeting weekly under the leadership of Marcia Lane and Marsha Chamberlin. A committee workshop was help on September 15, facilitated by Bev Seiford, starting a difficult and uncomfortable journey. They are focusing on Change through community and conversations. Click here for a full transcript of Arthur’s talk.

District 6380 Governor, Karen Gabrys was with us to celebrate Ann Arbor Rotary Club’s 104th anniversary (October 1). She listed our Club’s strengths as: innovation, service, and leading by example. She thanked the Club for all that we do. She ended by asking that everyone continue to innovate and lead.

And then we moved on to the program: A rousing game of Jeopardy featuring the current Directors of our Club. And, of course, the ever popular game host was our very own Steve Schram. The challenge for the Directors was that the winner would be invited to continue on the Board for the rest of the year. Categories in the game were:

• It’s not all about the money
• Don’t stand so close to me
• We’re older than we look
• The greatest club on earth

Surprisingly, there was a 6-way tie at the end of the game. All Directors are so happy to remain on the Board for the rest of this year.

President Joanne ended the meeting with a Maya Angelo quote. The meeting was adjourned at 1:17.

Next week’s speaker will be Arlene Goliembiewski, Director, Sherbro Foundation/AA Rotary Partner for Global Grant in Sierra Leone.

Carol Senneff

Reporter