When Rotary began, meetings revolved among members’ work places. This week, 75 Rotarians, 26 guests and seven zoomers, moved from the Michigan Union’s Anderson Room to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library on the North Campus of the University of Michigan for a riveting meeting.Our meeting began with a catered box lunch in the grand central room of the Library. The room was lined with historic photos as well as tangible items from Ford’s presidency. Thank you Kathy Waugh and Katherine’s Catering for making this a special “first course” to today’s meeting.
President Roy More welcomed Rotarians and guests to the Library’s formal Meeting Room where, a capella, we sang America the Beautiful. More led us in the 4-Way Test and Rich Sheridan inspired us with Gerald Ford’s August 9, 1974 message as he took the Oath of Office:
“I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it. … I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our Government, but civilization itself. That bond, through strained is unbroken at home and abroad. In all my public and private acts as your President, I expect to follow my instincts of openness and candor with full confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end. My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a Government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule”
On this particular day, and in this particular place, it was more than appropriate to be reminded of President Ford’s words.
President More thanked today’s meeting team: Larry Gray, Fernando Leon, Joanne Pierson, John Sepp, Mary Steffek Blaske, and Greg Stejskal. More welcomed our 26 guests to stand and be recognized. The GRF Library staff was also recognized and thanked.
Who’s that Club Member?
Past President Mark Foster teased us with lots of clues including: ? was a participant in the MN outdoor school, is a Meals on Wheels volunteer, an elder at 1st Presbyterian Church, and DTE technical developer – Bill McPherson!
Announcements:
On Monday, Nov. 2, was the Charter Dinner for the UM Rotaract Club. Knight’s Restaurant on Liberty opened just for the occasion to honor the dozen new UM Rotaractors as well as to celebrate the returning Rotaractors. One of the founding Rotaract Club members from 2004, Jamie Scott, was there to talk about how Rotary launched her career and humanitarian work. Thanks to Jeanie Powers for the special decorations including amaryllis bulbs for each of the Rotaractors.
GEO Events still available! You can still sign up for three fun events: a Dec. 2 Christmas party, a February dinner at Deb Bolino’s, and a dinner in April hosted by Mark Ouimet and Donna Hozencik. Each event helps to support our Club’s efforts to help kids succeed. Check the Club website for details.
Send Hunger Packing: Volunteers are welcome to help measure ingredients to make nutritious meals on Nov. 11 at Pioneer High School. Help lend a hand to make 50,000 lifesaving meals in a matter of hours. Check the Club website for details.
Book swap: Bring a novel or other book (no text books, nor encyclopedias please) to pass along and take one from a fellow Club member’s collection on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Boy Scouts of America’s Distinguished Citizen Award on Dec. 2 will honor Club’s past president Mark Ouimet. All are invited to this special dinner at Barton Hills Country Club.
John White’s handy dandy weekly meeting schedule is updated monthly. Please note that we will not have meetings on Nov. 23, Dec. 23 or 30.
Beware of phishing! There is evidence that our Club members have experienced phishing expeditions by internet hackers. Check and verify before you open anything that doesn’t look legit.
The Legacy of Gerald R. FordPresident More introduced Elaine Didier. Didier was one of the first women to join our Club and is our first woman president. Didier is the former national director of the Gerald Ford Library and Museum. She introduced speaker Gleaves Whitney, Executive Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation based in Grand Rapids.
Whitney called both the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Presidential Museum “sacred secular spaces.” He went on to share the seriousness of the privilege to be engaged politically and how it was a hallmark of being an American. His philosophy is that when we go to the Museum or Library, they help us see history “vertically” by excavating and showing what went into a great moment in time.
Whitney polled the audience to determine how many people had visited either the Ford Library or Ford Museum. A healthy showing of hands led to Whitney to ask what was the first thing they noticed in coming to the museum. He shared the story that in designing the museum, President Ford wanted the emphasis to be on “the people, and not for the museum to be a mausoleum to me.” Ford worked with the architect so that the first thing you see is you in the reflective glass. “Let the people see themselves first because the Constitution begins by ‘We the people.’”
Whitney shared stories about Ford’s humble beginnings from Omaha to Grand Rapids, and his lifelong gratitude to the City of Grand Rapids for nurturing and supporting him.
The next theme of Whitney’s presentation focused on five virtues Ford expressed throughout his life: courage, truthfulness, character, civic duty, and spirituality.
After Whitney’s presentation, there was a lively Q & A about the Nixon pardon, civic education, and the story of Ford standing up for fellow football teammate Willis Ward.
After Whitney’s presentation, Rotarians were then able to visit President Ford’s office (where he worked while in Ann Arbor, containing the furniture that was in his Congressional office, a tall case clock, books and artwork), a room set with a delightful time line of historical documents (letters from kids from Ann Arbor’s Angell school to Ford; telegrams from Clinton, Bush, Nixon; tv scripts; the telegram that signaled US leaving Saigon), or a tour of the archives.
