President Mark Foster started the meeting with the customary Ringing of the Bell. Our Patriotic Song today is ‘My Country Tis of Thee’, accompanied by Rick Ingram.
Don Deatrick provided our inspirational message today and in line with today’s speaker (A2 Thrift Shop) spoke of the value of compassion and generosity when a community comes together to provide short term support to individuals and families in need. When we choose to participate in programs that uplift those in need, we are living up to our Rotary value of Service Above Self!
Today’s Musical selection from the Rotary Songbook , offered by Rick Ingram, ‘The More We Get Together’! (the happier we’ll be!)
Mark Foster provided thanks to the following for helping with today’s meeting: Linda Kentes, Ken Fischer, Barbara Eichmuller, Bob Mull, Ugur Cetin, Rob Shiff, Carolyn Hiatt, Pattie Katcher.
Several guests were welcomed today – friends, colleagues, family members and potential new members. Four birthdays were announced for the coming week – Happy Birthday!
Mark Foster provided a few fun jokes followed by Steve Schram’s Rotary News that included very interesting facts/figures about the University’s Research Corridor and how it has a huge impact on our region and state.
Collyer Smith then took the podium to thank Rob Shiff and others for their help with organization and coordination of this past weekend’s Rotary District Conference. Collyer proceeded to announce the Keith Coke Community Service Award, an award given with our Rotary District. Our own Don Deatrick is receiving this well-deserved award for his continued support and work with HireMyVets, supporting veterans across the state of Michigan. Congratulations Don!
Barb Eichmuller reminded us of the upcoming Service Club Happy Hour with our local Kiwanis Club on June 11th from 4-7pm, at Kiwanis Center. It will be an open house format with great food and company and no charge!
President Mark reminded us of our Rotary dues deadline of June 1, 2024! Also any committees that have invoices for the Board, please submit those asap.
Ingrid Sheldon introduced our speaker today, Bonnie Brickett, President of the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop. We heard from Bonnie who described the organization and had one amazing fun fact – that since it’s inception in 1932, they operate with an all volunteer staff! This alone makes it quite different from other thrift shops in the area. The mission of the A2 Thrift Shop is to receive, collect and sell donated goods to meet emergency social needs of our community. The revenue collected is then turned into community scholarships/grants and also ‘shopping cards’ that local non-profits can distribute to individuals allowing them to shop at the store for clothing and other supplies. In the past 5 years, the A2 Thrift Shop has granted 1.9 million dollars in emergency aid and assistance to the community. They distribute this aid via a competitive grant model. This year, by August 2024, they will have distributed $475,000 in aid to 18 local agencies.
How does a small shop like theirs manage this? They operate with 100% volunteer staff who are all women. Members work 60 hours per year in a variety of positions and committees. The shop size includes 1900 sq ft for storage and selling floor -tight! Any clothing items that they can’t use are donated to other agencies and groups who can use the items (extra towels go to the Human Society, for example). Their donors are a steadfast group and many participate because they know that funds are distributed locally. Shoppers include those who can afford to pay current prices and those who don’t have plentiful resources. Those who have no funds would work with local agencies to obtain a shopping card. Their volunteer base includes those who manage their website, develop QR codes and advertise on social media.
You might be surprised to learn that only 18 shoppers are allowed in the shop at any one time. This started with the pandemic restrictions, but has continued because of the small space and also the safety of some shoppers who may have mobility issues. They have received some ‘interesting’ donations over the years and some have to be ‘re-donated’ to a more appropriate place. One donation that they are always happy to receive: hardback books!
If you are doing any closet clean-out projects soon, keep the A2 Thrift Shop in mind for your generous donation!
President Mark closed out our meeting with membership reciting the 4-way test:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned
Respectfully submitted by Pattie Katcher
