Everyone was glad the meeting was on Zoom this chilly October 19. President Mark Ouimet invited Tom Strode to play our patriotic song, and he obliged with The Star Spangled Banner.  Rosemarie Rowney’s Inspiration echoed RI President Jennifer Jones’ campaign to encourage comfort and care towards not only our fellow Rotarians, but also everyone we encounter. Marlena Studer played a haunting and gentle video along the same theme, entitled A Safe Place to Land.

President Mark welcomed members and guests, and thanked the people who make the meetings run smoothly. He announced two birthdays. Upcoming programs include John U. Bacon on November 2 and Mike Tirico on November 16. We expect big crowds for both these speakers so it will be important to RSVP to the meeting with the number of your guests and and whether they will be eating lunch – and that YOU will be there.

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners’ meeting tonight will feature declaration of October 24 as World Polio Day. Paulie and Jonas the Polio Bears will be there to receive the award, attended by a flock of Rotarians. Lois Stenger gave a talk about her memories of the days before the polio vaccine was available and how people responded to the outbreak. She and Len attended a Rotary polio vaccination campaign in India, never dreaming that we would see polio in the United States 20 years later. She looks forward to 2026, which is the target date for polio to be eradicated. We will have a chance to be part of the campaign next week. Meanwhile we can contribute by joining the Polio Plus Society – check it out on our website on the Events tab, End Polio Now.

Appropriately chapeaued Joanne Pierson flew in to invite us to the Twisted Witches Brew Ha Ha on Sunday, October 30. Costumes are encouraged but by no means required to join in the fun and have a little libation, and perhaps some ghoulash. Cohosted by Joanne, Lori Walters and Barbara Eichmuller, this is the last great event of our GTO. Party runs from 4:00 – 6:00pm and the fee is $50.00. Register on the GTO tab on our website or by clicking here.

President Mark reported on the GTO results. We raised just short of $59,000 for our projects to Help Kids Succeed.

Goodbye orange sheets! Dawn Johnson announced that our name tags will henceforth sport barcodes, so when you come to the Union you will show your badge to be counted. She also urged people to RSVP to meetings as the setups and food are planned in response to those signaling attendance and intention to eat lunch. President Mark thanked Dawn for all she has accomplished streamlining the many functions operating our meetings. Many hands are needed for short time projects to make the meetings run so let Dawn know if you are coming and will serve Rotary as a set up person or mic runner or Greeter.

Notes from the Program

Dennis Powers introduced our speaker, Douglas Campbell, CEO of the Hope Clinic.  Hope is the first in the nation to provide integrated health care to all people without health insurance, for free. Medical and dental care, behavioral health care and food support are provided by this faith based organization. Hope recognizes that poverty is a multidimensional challenge of hopelessness, poverty and loneliness.   Hope shows clients respect and dignity as they treat them, feed them, and help them navigate the complex world of social services. Co-located services means that Hope Clinic is a one-stop shop for the Whole Person Care that their clients need. Hope has served 60,000+ clients in 2022 so far. They have a small staff, supportive donors, and robust network of volunteers. St Joes, Michigan Medicine and IHA provide care and support along with hundreds of other health professionals and laypersons.

Located in Ypsilanti, Hope has a satellite clinic in Wayne. They have been asked to open clinics in Detroit and are trying to develop strategies and structures to replicate their success and help other organizations provide these services to other impoverished communities.

Douglas noted our Send Hunger Packing activity on November 5 that will pack up 30,000 14 ounce packets of dried ingredients for one-pot meals. The packets will be distributed to food banks in our area and to overseas organizations. This is a collaborative effort with other area service clubs.  To sign up, go to the Events tab on our website or click here. We need to raise $10,500 and collect 150 volunteers for this event to be a success, and we have along way to go to achieve both goals!

Next week: October 26th
Speaker: Abraham Wagner, PHD. Assistant Professor of U of M
Topic: “Vaccine Hesitancy and Polio Eradication”

Quote for the Day: National New Friends Day
“We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us
and those who would be our enemy.”
– Arthur Ashe

Reporter: Agnes Reading

Photographer: Fred Beutler