Mary Steffek Blaske

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 […]

Anticipating the today’s speaker, the full room of Rotarians was in happy and active voice visiting before the meeting.  A new (for us) hybrid meeting platform – streaming – was being tested, but sadly, there was no connectivity. We will need to wait another week for streaming to be ready for a test run. President […]

58 Ann Arbor Rotarians met via zoom for our August 23 meeting. The Comcast Blues was sung by many on our pre-zoom chat as well as how the Coach-on-the-Sidelines will play out for the Wolverines this fall. Steve Kesler advised us of our zoom etiquette and President Mark rang the coffee thermos “bell” to begin […]

President Mark Foster welcomed everyone to today’s meeting and introduced our pianist extraordinaire Tom Strode who led us all in singing My Country ’Tis of Thee. Rotary history doubles as inspirational welcome Downs Herold came to the podium to teach us six important words to recall: rotary wheel… woodruff key… new coin. He noted that […]