Meeting Notes

After Tom Strode’s marvelous prelude and accompaniment to the national anthem, which everyone sang with that 1970s equivalent of enthusiastic approbation — gusto — Barbara Niess-May came forward to share the day’s inspiration. “I’ve been thinking lately of a vision of hope,” she began. “I’d like to read a poem by Anne Lamott; author of […]

Dues are Due!  PayPal has been compromised to don’t use the website to pay until further notice. Ryan Petersen opened our Memorial Day meeting with a moving tribute to the U.S Army Old Guard, which attends the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Slides showed these dedicated young men performing the Memorial […]

Memorial Day was on Jim Irwin’s mind as he reminded us of the beautiful physical features of America and the service of our military personnel.  He and Tom Strode then led us in singing America the Beautiful and God Bless America.  Our Speaker’s topic was anticipated with an inspirational quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson about […]

Joan Knoertzer began the proceedings with a wonderful prelude. From her keyboard came beautiful renditions of “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “You’re the Top,” and “I Get a Kick Out of You,” among others; all designed to extend a musical red carpet to our STRIVE students, their parents, and our speakers. Dave Keren, STRIVE Committee chair, gave […]

The annual Spring Fling was held on Mothers Day 2019 at the  Hudson Car Museum in Ypsilanti, and a good time was had by the many Rotarians in attendance, as the photos below testify.

President Greg struck the Rotary bell, and everyone rose to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” to Tom Strode’s delightful accompaniment. Along with the prelude, this would be just the opening salvo to a remarkable meeting filled with music. Inspiration: Jim Irwin, tanned, rested, but clearly still overheated by Florida’s sun, bounded to the podium. “Here are […]

Editors note: Due to size of articles- there is a limited amount of images that can be placed. For additional pictures of our very special event: The Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Award- Holocaust Survivor Dr. Irene Butter— please click on:    https://photos.app.goo.gl/kYL7wzqdeZGZhWms8 Joan Knoertzer’s dulcet chords provided the perfect prelude to our meeting in Weber’s large […]

On Wednesday, April 24, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor awarded the second annual 2019 Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Award to Dr. Irene Butter. Dr. Butter is a Holocaust survivor, champion of peace and justice and University of Michigan Emerita Professor of Public Health. She is the co-founder of the Raoul Wallenberg Medal and Lecture at U […]

Joan Knoertzer’s piano prelude drifted gracefully through the ballroom, providing, like Dante’s Virgil, a soothing guide to the ceremonious rattle of the Rotary bell. All stood to sing “God Bless America,” and a fine rendition it was. President Greg, who would deliver the day’s Inspiration, quoted historian Jon Meachum on the Civil War: “as ‘a […]

An impressively large group of us met at the Wyndham Gardens Conference Center for the April 10 meeting. They had no piano so President Greg offered to sing solo, an offer that was met with a few groans. A better option was aadopted – Past President Ingrid Sheldon led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. […]