Mary Steffek Blaske

President Joyce Hunter rang the bell to begin our meeting, and dynamo pianist Jody Tull de Salis played My Country Tis of Thee for us all to sing along. Next year’s President, Dawn Johnson, gave a spot-on inspirational welcome thanking DTE for providing our area with energy, and noted that we are our best selves […]

President Mark rang the bell to start our meeting and pianist Jody Tull de Salis accompanied us on the piano as we sang America the Beautiful. In his inspirational welcome, Brandon Black shared that the message of the emancipation proclamation took 2-1/2 years to get through, yet the news of Willie Mays’ death was heard […]

Three distinct-sounding sighs were heard while coming to today’s meeting. The first – the sigh of students stuffing their dorm belongings into the family car – already wistful for their time so quickly passed as a student. The second – a parent’s sigh who, while happily anticipating their child being home for the summer, is […]

There was a happy buzz of conversation throughout the Michigan Union’s Anderson Room with dozens of conversations before today’s meeting. President Mark Foster rang the bell to begin, and our Club’s bow-tied pianist extraordinaire, Tom Strode, played our National Anthem. Barbara Eichmuller recalled some of the all-time best observations by Andy Rooney, everybody’s favorite on […]

With balmy spring sunshine streaming through the stained glass windows of the Anderson Room of the Michigan Union, President Mark Foster rang the bell to start today’s meeting. Pianist extraordinaire Tom Strode played America the Beautiful while we sang along.  John Barrie gave a heartfelt inspirational welcome reflecting on friendship, gratitude, the pride of service […]

President Mark rang the bell and the Club stood singing our National Anthem. Kathy Waugh then came to the podium to read “My Creed,” by the people’s poet and Michigan’s poet laureate Edgar Guest, in honor of Dave Shipman’s birthday. We learned that Dave’s dad knew Guest. Joe Diederich donned his BLJ and instantly became […]

A full house at the Michigan Union’s Anderson Room, and 25 Zoom participants were part of today’s meeting.  After zoom etiquette from Ashok Natwa, President Mark Foster rang the bell and the meeting began.  Our pianist extraordinaire, Tom Strode, was unable to be at today’s meeting, so songleader Richard Ingram gave us the opening chord […]

The Union’s Anderson Room was abuzz with lively conversation and laughter, warming up a particularly freezy breezy day.  President Mark called the meeting to order and pianist extraordinaire, Tom Strode, accompanied the club as we sang our National Anthem.  Sarah Strader then gave us a most-inspiring welcome.  With infant Jamie (sporting a natty Lion King […]

Ann Arbor Rotarians filled the Anderson Room – and with the wintery chill in the air – the hallway coatracks were filled as well. President Mark Foster rang the bell and Tom Strode, bedecked in a signature snazzy burgundy bow tie with teeny dots, played the National Anthem as we sang along.   Foster then informed […]

President Mark Foster greeted the Rotarians who filled the Anderson room, and the 20 Rotarians on zoom.  He introduced red bow-tied pianist Tom Strode who played God Bless America as we sang along.  Norma Sarkar inspired us through a historical illustration (solving large-scale printing press issues with a unique cooling system that became modern-day air […]