President Joyce Hunter rang the bell to start today’s meeting and pianist Jody Tull de Salis accompanied the club in singing My Country ’Tis of Thee. Walker Barnes inspired us through his advice to his six-year-old daughter Harlow, who told him, “I don’t know why I feel this way. I don’t have the words.” Barnes counseled that simply by a listener’s presence, and the very act of staying is key. Even eight minutes spent with someone saying “I see you” is beneficial to all concerned.

Matt Boylan, playing his acoustic guitar, led us in an Ann Arbor bespoke version of Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 classic, America.

President Joyce returned to the podium to welcome guests and announce birthdays. Happy Birthday to Erik Serr, Betsy Hammond, Dallas Dort, Dave Keosian, Don Deatrick and Tom Millard. She then thanked today’s set up team: Dennis Burke, Don Deatrick, Barbara Eichmuller, Norman Herbert, Steve Kesler, Fernando Leon, and Mary Steffek Blaske.

Michael Field was honored with the District’s prestigious Distinguished Service Award at the recent District Conference. Today, President Joyce presented that coveted award to Michael in person before the entire Ann Arbor Club. Thank you for all your work and congratulations Michael!

Dennis Burke asked Rotary members to join him as a volunteer in the July 15 Dash for Art. He needs three volunteers from 5 – 9 p.m. that day on North University.

Bob Buckler came to the microphone to remember Tim Johnson who died May 27. Our late Club member was a visionary physician, educator and global health leader whose career advanced maternal health, medical education and health equity around the world.

Susan Shipman announced that the Club’s major annual fundraiser, the Golf and Pickleball Outing to be held Monday, Sept. 15 at Barton Hills Country Club, will have an extra-special feature: an exclusive performance by the UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance’s Musical Theatre students.

Marlena Studer introduced Tamaki Miori, the Rotary exchange high schooler from Japan. Ms. Miori gave the highlights of her year in Ann Arbor including projects in Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Canada, as well as trips to Washington, DC, and New York. A shout-out to the Maddock family who were her host family.

Gift of Life Michigan recovers more than 1,000 organs yearly

John White introduced speaker Dorrie Dils, President and CEO of Gift of Life Michigan (GoLM). GoLM serves 9.9 million people, 130 hospitals and 8 transplant programs in Michigan. Gift of Life recovers more than 1,000 organs every year for transplantation from nearly 400 or more donors. Bone, skin and other tissues are also recovered, helping to heal the lives of thousands of seriously injured and sick recipients. Gift of Life also works with Eversight to manage cornea and eye donation.

In addition, Gift of Life maintains and grows the Michigan Organ Donor Registry in partnership with the Michigan Secretary of State. The Donor Registry is a confidential database of people who have documented their decision to help others by becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor upon their death.

GoLM was incorporated in 1971 and at the Ann Arbor facility, there are four intensive care and surgery units as well as laboratories to test tissues. There are 400 people throughout the state who work for GoLM and 150 at the Ann Arbor facility.

Ms. Dils reported that there are currently 2,500 Michiganders waiting for organ transplants (110,000 nationally), and even more if one counts those individuals undergoing dialysis.

One of Dils’ focuses is on increasing the Donor Registry. She emphasized how important it is for an individual to document their wishes to donate an organ because only 1/3 families will think of, or say yes to, an organ donation if the loved one didn’t let them know. Currently there are 4.6 million Michigan donors on the donor registry.

Dils let us know that eight people can benefit from one donor through heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and intestines. One tissue donor can change the lives of 75 to 125 others.

Dils also noted that our Michigan tax forms now include the question, “do you wish to be an organ donor?” 14,000 people joined during the 2024 tax season through that simple question.

Finally, Dils gave us the facts about donating:

• You CAN’T be too old or too young to donate.
• All major religions support donations.
• You CAN be a donor if you have health problems, HIV or Covid.

GoLM always appreciates volunteers, seeks workplace partners, financial gifts, and those who can help advocate good public policy surrounding organ donations.

President Joyce thanked Ms. Dils for her presentation then asked the Club members to rise and recite the 4-way test:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?