The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor accomplishes its goals through the work of its committees that are the heart and soul of the Club. Therefore, this strategic plan is predominantly the aggregation of individual committee plans. Because of the considerable number of committees and the thoroughness with which they prepared their individual plans, the committee sections included in this document were reduced to statements of either their fundamental goals and objectives or new initiatives and strategic issues to be implemented and/or evaluated over the next five years. Detailed plans remain with the committees for use in carrying out their work. Our cheat-sheet for club leaders and their email addresses can be found here: 2022-2023 RCAA Club Leadership and Operations updated 07.12.2022

Please use the links below to view the different committees.

• Club Development
• Club Outreach
• Club Service
• Community Service
• Public Image
• Youth Development

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

Director: John Sepp (clubdevelopment@a2rotary.org)

Member Survey
Chairs:  Peg Talburtt & Mary Jean Raab (survey@a2rotary.org)
The Membership Survey Committee creates, distributes, collects, tabulates, and reports on the annual club survey of all members. Historically, the survey planning begins in January with the development and approval of the schedule. Typically, distribution to the membership occurs via an online survey tool occurring mid-March for presentation to the Board of Directors prior to the May Board Retreat. Presentation of the results to the full membership is scheduled in coordination with the President. Time commitment varies with survey complexity.

Doers of Good Service (DOGS)
Chairs: Dan Romanchik (dogs@a2rotary.org)
The Doers of Good Service Committee identifies potential volunteer activities in the community and then recruits volunteers from the membership. Typically, they are one-time project opportunities and the number of volunteers needed varies with the event. The Committee is currently reviewing the best way to identify projects and recruit volunteers. Meetings are held as needed.

Adopt-a-Highway
Co-Chairs: Leo Shedden & Ed Johnson (adoptahighway@a2rotary.org)
This committee gathers two or three times per year to clean up the 2.1 miles of I-94 between the State St. and Platt Road overpasses.

Membership & Social Committee
Chair: Barbara Eichmuller (membershipcommittee@a2rotary.org)
To increase the membership base of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor through active recruitment efforts focused on community members whose interests are aligned with the Club’s mission and initiatives and who are representative of the community’s diversity. Facilitate a mentor program to ensure active engagement of new members and a support system that facilitates participation in the Club’s committees and service initiatives. Monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 10:45am.

Membership Development Subcommittee
Chair: [Position Open] (membershipdevelopment@a2rotary.org)
Develop a list of new member candidates and submit for Committee approval. Present nominations to the Board for approval. Organize a new member orientation meeting and induction ceremony for a Spring class and a Fall Class (typically March and October). Total annual new members should approximate 25 to 30 people to offset attrition and contribute to Club growth. Mail acceptance letters, create and distribute new member Welcome Packets plus collect new member data sheets and dues. Meetings convened by the chair as needed.

CLUB SERVICE

Director: Rob Shiff – Interim (clubservice@a2rotary.org)

Program
Chair: Dallas Dort (program@a2rotary.org)
The Program Committee provides quality programs and speakers for the weekly luncheon meetings. Emphasis is on presenting a wide variety of programs to both entertain and inform our members. Speakers include academic leaders, business leaders, nonprofit sector leaders, government leaders (local, state, and national) and Rotary leaders. Committee members assist in evaluating and reaching out to potential speakers and all club members are encouraged to nominate potential speakers/programs. Meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month an hour before the Club meeting (10:30 – 11:30 am via zoom). Click here to learn more about our Speaker Program.

Set-Up
Chair: Position Open (setup@a2rotary.org)
The Set-Up Committee oversees preparing the meeting room for weekly meetings, putting things away after the meeting, and storing small items and materials used during the luncheon. Responsibilities are currently defined within the SignUpGenius platform and will be assigned through a rotation. This includes attendance (in-person and via Zoom; greeter; set up; and microphone assistants). Click here to sign up to volunteer for one of these roles via SignUpGenius.

Music
Chair: Ingrid Sheldon (music@a2rotary.org)
The Music Committee provides songs for the weekly Club meeting as well as providing talent for special programs sponsored by the Club. Each week, a Song Leader and Accompanist select two or three songs for the meeting. Committee members are responsible for providing song sheets for the table (around 150 copies). Most accompanists can transpose music to a key the membership can accommodate vocally. Musicians welcomed. Members are called quarterly to volunteer for available dates. Requests for the piano must be made in advance. There are no formal meetings.

Meeting Staff / Inspirational Welcome
Chair: Mary Steffek Blaske (meetings@a2rotary.org, inspirationalwelcome@a2rotary.org)
The Meeting Staff Committee schedules members to assist with the weekly duties of the inspirational welcome. Weekly schedules are compiled twice a year and members are assigned a duty once a month or so. Member’s preference of how they want to participate is taken into consideration. There are no regular meetings.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Director: Rob Shiff (communityservice@a2rotary.org)

Community Allocations

Chairs: Marsha Chamberlin (communityallocations@a2rotary.org)
The Community Allocations Committee solicits, reviews and awards around $50,000 in grants to about a dozen local not for profit organizations that support the Club’s goal of “Helping Kids Succeed.” Members of the committee are responsible for reading and ranking applications in preparation for an annual grant selection meeting in April and approval by the Board of Directors later that month. There is a second cycle to select an applicant for the “District Grant” application in July. Meetings are once a month from November to April.

Golf and Pickleball Outing
Co-Chairs: Roy More (gto@a2rotary.org)
The Golf and Pickleball Outing Committee plans, organizes, and implements the Club’s annual fundraiser. Historically the Club’s fundraising focus has been helping kids succeed through scholarships and support of early childhood development programs. In 2016, the Club celebrated its centennial by providing the community its first Universal Access Playground in a public park partly through funds raised from this outing. Planning occurs throughout the year with opportunities to serve on the following subcommittees: Fundraising, Auction, Golf Event, Tennis Event, Financial, Dinner, Entertainment and Day of Outing staffing. Meetings are held as needed.

Send Hunger Packing
(sendhungerpacking@a2rotary.org)
In cooperation with the two other Rotary Clubs in town and Kids Coalition Against Hunger, this committee organized and conducted a food packing event on November 5, 2022. About 200 volunteers, supported by almost $11,000 in donations, assembled dry ingredients for 32,000 “one-pot” meals in 100 minutes. The packets for over 6,000 meals were distributed locally to eight food pantries. The remainder were destined for helping address food insecurity nationally and internationally.

Rotary Fights Summer Hunger
Chair: Todd Kephart (fooddrive@a2rotary.org)
The Rotary Fights Summer Hunger Committee is responsible for an annual food drive to help our local food bank, Food Gatherers. The drive is held in March and early April because the need for food rises in the summer when subsidized school programs are not available. Committee members work to coordinate with businesses who participate in the drive, other Washtenaw Rotary Clubs, as well as Interact and Rotaract Clubs. The Kickoff Meeting is in early December and the bulk of the work is done in March. No activity between April and December.

Environmental Action Group (EAG)
Chairs: Dennis Burke (eag@a2rotary.org)
There are few issues as important to humankind as climate change and the general degradation of our planet. Rotarians are stepping up. For decades Rotary International has committed to protecting the environment. Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Groups (ESRAG) exist around the world. On September 21, 2022, our Board of Directors strengthened the RCAA commitment to environmental action when they approved creation of an Environmental Action Group(EAG) as a new committee within our club. Read more about the scope and aspirations here.

Veteran’s Initiative
Chair: Don Deatrick (veterans@a2rotary.org)
Members of this event serve as volunteers for the annual Hire MI Vet veterans hiring event in November. The committee greeters/guides volunteers act as guides for veterans and their families. After veterans register volunteers assist the veterans review their job skills, review the jobs available, help evaluate which employers best match their skill set and guide the veteran to several employers. Other volunteers will function as Greeters-at-large in the employer areas to help veterans to approach and talk to potential employers regarding jobs available that match their skill set. Meetings are held between September and December.

Veteran’s Job Initiative
Chair: Don Deatrick (veterans@a2rotary.org)
Veterans Initiative committee members are volunteers for the veterans annual Hiring Veterans Event. This event includes Ambassadors of Good Will, greeters at the front door, a large Resource Room full of agencies providing benefit information for veterans, live jazz music (starting 2019), and Panel of Experts to discuss important topics to veterans.
The committee greeters/guides volunteers act as guides for veterans and their families.  After veterans register volunteers assist the veterans review their job skills, review the jobs available, help evaluate which employers best match their skill set and guide the veteran to several employers. Other volunteers will function as Greeters-at-large in the employer areas to help veterans to approach and talk to potential employers regarding jobs available that match their skill set.  Each monthly meeting is on Wednesday before regular meetings and is one half an hour of each month between July and November. The Hiring Event is the first Thursday of November each year. Meet between July and November planning the Greeter/guide function of the Annual Hiring Event at Washtenaw Community College. During the Hiring Event, Committee members select one or two shifts each two hours in length, between 9:30 A M to 1:00 PM.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Director: Arthur Williams (youthdevelopment@a2rotary.org)

Rotaract (University of Michigan)
Chair: Dennis Powers (rotaract@a2rotary.org)
The Rotaract Committee supports and mentors the Rotaract Club at the University of Michigan. Rotaract provides young adults the opportunity to serve local and international communities, while providing professional development and leadership skills. The committee is busy from September through April, but then takes the summer off along with the students. The Rotaract committee is the one for you if you are interested in mentoring the next generation of Rotarians and you like to have fun!

Interact (Huron and Pioneer High Schools)
Co-Chairs: Ed Wier (Huron) and Linda Carter (Pioneer) (huroninteract@a2rotary.org and pioneerinteract@a2rotary.org)
Provide support and guidance to the Pioneer and Huron High School Interact Clubs, educating students on the purpose and objectives of Rotary and introducing students to the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and its members. Assist students as they seek opportunities to engage in meaningful service projects (local and international) and develop leadership and organizational skills.

Rotary Readers and Tutors
Chair: Jim Egerdal (tutors@a2rotary.org)
Rotary Readers and Tutors volunteer in community schools. Rotary Tutors work at Angell Elementary and Burns Park Elementary in Ann Arbor and Beatty Early Learning Center in Ypsilanti. Placements are also available in other local schools, particularly if the tutor has a relationship with a teacher or student. In addition to Rotary members, there are several friends- of-Rotarians and spouses that volunteer as part of our program. Tutors generally work one session a week during the school year, although a number work multiple sessions. The tutoring and reading schedules are established in September and continue throughout the school year, with some substitution for snowbirds. Committee members receive meeting credits for their work. One hour weekly except with multiple sessions, September through May.

Service Above Self Scholarships
Co-Chairs:  Don Deatrick (scholarships@a2rotary.org)
The Scholarship Committee works with the Financial Aid Office at Washtenaw Community College to award scholarships to students who are current or past graduates of any local high school. The Club may award up to eight scholarships a year. These need-based applicants are required to write an essay about service. Committee members review the applications and make recommendations for the awards. Meetings are held in the spring during application season.

STRIVE
Chair: David Keren (interim) (strive@a2rotary.org)
STRIVE stands for “Students Taking a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education.” In partnership with Pathways to Success High School, the Ann Arbor Rotary STRIVE Program helps turn young lives around. PTSHS provides a new opportunity for these students to focus, be successful in school, and get their high school diplomas. PTSHS and STRIVE work together to provide a unique structure, incentives, and motivation to help the seniors accomplish these life- changing objectives. During the year, the STRIVE committee gives the students mentorship and guidance to graduate from high school, awards scholarship money, and assists in the student’s enrollment at Washtenaw Community College. In addition, the Strive at Work program takes them to area companies to observe first-hand what the world could look like with a college degree. Meetings vary and are held during the school year.