Dawn Johnson delivered the Zoom etiquette message at 12:30, President Susan rang the opening bell and Tom Strode got things started with The Star spangled Banner. Fanfan Zheng got us ready to welcome in the Year of the Tiger on February 1 Chinese New Year. His inspirational message is an ancient Chinese proverb: Don’t be a tiger’s head with a snake’s tail. The meaning of this proverb is don’t start off strong but finish poorly. In other words, finish what you started.

Downs Herold called out some of us who are using the mute button to hide ourselves mouthing the songs but not singing. He encouraged us to pitch in on The Happy Wanderer as John Ackenhusen’s virtual video chorus of International Fellowship of Rotary Musicians led the way.

President Susan thanked the people who make the meeting run smoothly, encouraged us to forward the information about our Administrator position to anyone who may be interested in applying, and announced birthdays.

Eunice Choi, president of Rotaract, updated us on the plans for their year.

President Susan reviewed four club policies regarding the use of our club membership rosters and strict rules the safety and security when we are dealing with children.  These are posted on our website.

Past President Joanne reviewed progress on her responsibilities as immediate past president. She is responsible for the Internal Financial Oversight Committee,  the Annual Report, and the Distinguished Service selection and presentation committee. Help is needed for oversight of Interact.  This is a small and simple, but important, job so contact Joanne if you are willing.

Notes from the Program

John White introduced Larry Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Chief Election Official and County Clerk and

Register of Deeds, whose talk was entitled “How Redistricting at All Levels within the State will affect the Voting Process”.  Mr. Kestebaum talked a bit about the census, how it is inexact but still used for apportioning representation at the various levels of government. He explained gerrymandering and noted how easy it is to do. He explained that City Council is responsible for delineating the five wards in the city and that the county districts are drawn by an apportionment committee that is described in the state constitution.

Drawing boundaries for representation in the state legislature was delegated to an independent  committee whose work is now being discussed. The boundaries for the House of Representatives are not county based and if the work is accepted, the races will become much more contested and in our area, not so Ann Arbor centric.  Mr. Kestenbaum is admiring of the work the commission has done.

President Susan closed the meeting at 1:30 but questions lasted another 30 minutes.  The quote for the day is from Pablo Picasso, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”