Though we were missing a Reporter for the December 18th meeting, we still have some announcements and photos to share!
President Rosemarie started the meeting with a ring of the Rotary Bell, ending our musical interlude and calming the crowd of Rotarians bubbling with holiday spirit.
Rick Ingram and Joan Knoertzer led us through some marvelous singing.
Downs Herold brought us the Inspiration for the day. He taught us that the Rotary logo was originally a wheel, but was later changed to a gear. At first, the gear was missing a crucial piece, the KeyWay, the notch at the center top of the center hole. This KeyWay allows for Woodruff Key to be placed within it and turn the gear with the shaft, transforming the idle wheel into a powerful turning gear that can transmit power. Downs noted that we each have an important role in making our almost 300 people-powered Rotary Engine run as efficiently as possible in distributing our Service to others. Let’s each finish 2019 and head into 2020 with a Resolution to remind ourselves every time we see the Rotary logo to focus on the little notch and resolve that we will seek an empty keyway in an available Rotary Opportunity where we can each serve as a Woodruff key and do our part in leaving more Service footprints throughout our community and world.
Unfortunately, we had sad news to share. Jim Reece passed away, and we shared a moment of silence for him.
Fred Pearson, a visiting Detroit Rotarian and Director of the Center on Peace and Conflict at Wayne State University, surprised Ashish Sarkar and Marcia Lane with the Spirit of Detroit Award. Both Ashish and Marcia helped plan the successful Peace in the Streets Conference held at Wayne State University on October 25 and 26. The Spirit of Detroit Award certificates were signed by every member of Detroit City Council. Congratulations to Ashish and Marcia!
We had a special presentation of an Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship to Dr. Eric Montgomery by Past President Ashish Sarkar. Professor Montgomery is a Cultural Anthropologist and a faculty member in the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Wayne State University, as well as an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and advisor in Peace and Justice areas at Michigan State University. He has done outstanding work with peace and social justice issues, and he has given crucial help in organizing our Peace in the Streets conferences in 2018 and 2019. Needless to say, Professor Montgomery has made a significantly positive impact on our world, community, and on Rotary. You can read the full presentation of this award here.
Shelly MacMillan excitedly shared that our special night with Wine, Women and Song will be taking place on Thursday, January 23rd, 2020.
Brian Schrag, Chair of the STRIVE committee, announced that the committee is seeking Rotarian mentors for our STRIVE students. We have a record number of students that may qualify for this incredible program, which provides life-changing mentorship and scholarships to Washtenaw Community College for high school seniors at Pathways school in Ann Arbor. In order to provide the absolute best mentorship to these students, more mentors are needed, which only requires meeting at a “pizza lunch” with students at the school once a month, January through May. Please contact Brian to sign up.
Director Norma Sarkar (who is also the standing Membership Chair) presented the club with the most up-to-date membership information. We have 282 members as of 30 Nov 2019, which is up 2 from July of this year. She reminded us that our biggest goal for the ’19-’20 Rotary Year is to bring in 30 new members. The Fall Class of 2019 had 10 new members, 3 former Rotarians, and 4 reinstatements. She reminded us all to think about who we know who would make a good Rotarian. Membership Nominations are due on 11 Feb 2020 (nomination form here), and induction of the new class will take place on 11 Mar 2020. Norma also reminded us of our RCAA Satellite initiative. We have been meeting in the basement of The Pretzel Bell on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 6-7pm. Satellite Members are full-fledged RCAA members, and events happening in either group will be announced to all members. Consider inviting your friends to a Satellite meeting the Wednesday luncheon time doesn’t work for them, or if they’d prefer a smaller, more casual meeting format. Contact Norma Sarkar or Lauren Heinonen for more information.
Dennis Powers introduced our speaker, Dr. Sachin Kheterpal, Associate Dean for Research Information Technology at the University of Michigan Medical School, as well as Professor of Anesthesiology. He presented ideas on his research regarding Biosensors, health information and outcomes: can an Apple Watch be used to collect data to improve medical practice?
Finally, happy holidays from your Rotary family! We will not be meeting for the next two weeks, but we’ll see you again on January 8th, 2020.
