During the social hour before the meeting Bob Mull told us about the work of VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. This is an IRS sponsored program that offers free help in computing and filing tax returns for low income and disabled people. Bob has headed thee program in Washtenaw County for several years. He has assembled a team of experienced tax preparers who this year helped 800 people file returns so far. The program has saved thousands of dollars and will run until the final filing date. This covid year forced people to send documents electronically and cut down on the number of tax preparers and the number of clients. Bob will give is a full report after the season closes.

Executive Lori Walters brought the social hour to a close with the regular announcements. President Joanne rang the opening bell and called on Tom Strode, who played God Bless America. Rick Ingram shared a wonderful video performed by the Ann Arbor Youth Chorale. The piece was Al Shlosha d’Varian which translates to mean “the world is sustained by three things: by truth, by justice and by peace”.

We noted the passing of Ed Rosemergy, a long time Rotarian and member of our club, who spearheaded the creating of our Foundation.

President Joanne sprinted through the announcements so we could spend our time on Rotaract and the program:

• The Rotary Fights Summer Hunger drive fell short of its ambitious $150,000 goal. The drive is still open and members are encouraged to contribute and tell friends and family about this important project. Donations can be made here. 
• April 17 is the District Training Assembly. This year’s theme is Back to Basics. It is a two hour program that will sharpen your understanding of many things Rotary. Sign up here.
• Tom Millard clarified the timing of the trash pickup scheduled for April 17. The event starts at 9:00am and concludes at 11:30 after a box lunch is served by host Kensington Hotel. Contact Tom to sign up and get details.
• There has been a change in the dates of billing and deadline for paying club Dues. Invoices will be mailed in April and Dues are due June 11. This will align our club’s collection calendar with the date our district and international dues are due.

President Joanne then turned the program over to outgoing Rotaract President Sam Talsma. Rotaract had a very busy year in spite of the pandemic and like many other organizations, some of the things instituted will become features of the program, like remote tutoring. Rotaract managed to log 250 volunteer hours, send 16 students on the international trip, foster 22 mentorships and host 8 social events – socially distanced, of course! Sam promised to become a Rotarian whenever he settles into a career.  After Sam concluded, Bev Seiford took over to thank Sam and tell us of the wonderful job Sam has done during his four years as a Rotaractor, and especially this presidential year. Sam has documented the programs, policies and procedures developed so has left a road map for his successors. Bev presented Sam with a Paul Harris Fellowship to commemorate his efforts.

Notes from the Program

Marsha Chamberlin introduced our speaker, Allan Newman.  Allan is well known in Ann Arbor, having founded several successful businesses and important community organizations. His current projects are A brighter Way and Pitch Ypsilanati.  He spoke about A Brighter Way, a program to help released inmates reenter society.  He noted that Michigan spends $40,000 a year to house each prisoner but spends on $1100 per prisoner in support of reentry. The project enlists people with learned experience as mentors. Because most are released with no housing, no job, no transportation and no identification, many relapse and wind up in prison again. The recidivism rate in Washtenaw County is 42%, higher than average.  Allan told us of the problems this program has encountered, mostly from lack of funds. The criminal justice system does almost nothing to help newly released prisoners and often they come into society with heavy loads of debt, including the obligation to pay for their public defender.  Housing is a huge challenge because landlords are reluctant to rent to convicted felons, jobs are hard to find and public transportation is so poor. And the legislature does not fund at anywhere close to the needed levels.

There is some movement towards addressing this.  The new County Prosecutor, Eli Savit, and the Public Defender, Delphia Simpson, are gathering a stakeholders committee to talk about what needs to be done to help these people and their families.and map out a strategy. Money is definitely needed.

President Joanne closed the meeting announcing that Ann Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox will be next week’s Speaker. And added words of wisdom from James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”