58 Ann Arbor Rotarians met via zoom for our August 23 meeting. The Comcast Blues was sung by many on our pre-zoom chat as well as how the Coach-on-the-Sidelines will play out for the Wolverines this fall.
Steve Kesler advised us of our zoom etiquette and President Mark rang the coffee thermos “bell” to begin our meeting. Pianist extraordinaire Tom Strode played our National Anthem then Rosemarie Rowney gave a unique one-minute chatGPT-written inspiration based on our Club’s mission. Though not in her voice, it was spot-on in its message of Service Above Self.
Richard Ingram provided us with an exuberant version of Pretty Little Girl with a Blue Dress On performed by the famous American fiddler/singer Rhiannon Giddens. Ingram announced that Giddens will be performing at the Michigan Theater on September 18 at 7:30 p.m.
President Mark came back to center screen to thank today’s meeting support team including aforementioned Steve Kesler, Rosemarie Rowney and Richard Ingram; Mary Steffek Blaske and Fred Beutler. A happy shout-out was given for those celebrating birthdays this week.
Agnes Reading announced that there were many fun and experiential auction items that can be yours at this year’s GPO on Sept. 11. Be the lucky bidder on a trip to Hawaii, Russian River Valley’s Ketcham Estates Winery, or a tour of Michigan Central’s train station. Savor an elegant dinner at Past President Pierson’s home. Reading suggested you come to the auction scene by 2 p.m. on the 11th to place your bid or get your proxy bidder in place.
Longtime Ann Arbor club member Marcia Lane, now a member of the Chelsea Club, invited us to the Sept. 15 workshop “Beyond Their Stories,” about human trafficking and what can be done to stop it. Human trafficking is the second largest criminal activity in the world as well as taking place in every Michigan zip code. The half-day workshop’s registration is $35 and includes meals. Contact Marcia for more information or check the club’s website calendar for more information.
John Sepp took center stage to share photos of the recent flag exchange with Minoa Goyal, club president of the Palmville, Bangalore, India Rotary Club.
President Mark informed the Club Members that one of his Presidential Themes is “Getting Back to Basics.” This includes remembering our Club’s history. Foster, Downs Herold and Tom Millard are at the center of this project beginning with resolving what to do with all our shared flags. Want to join this committee? Contact Foster, Herold or Millard.
John White introduced today’s speaker, Ann Ziolkowski, the Communications Manager for the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission (WCPRC).
A native of Clark Lake near Jackson, Ziolkowski’s love for the Border to Border (B2B) Bike Trail, makes her the perfect spokesperson for the WCPRC and today’s topic, “Parks and Recreation Treasures in Washtenaw County.”
The WCPRC is celebrating 50 years of service and enriching our exceptional parks system this year. The WCPRC runs 14 parks, 1 golf course, 1 rec center, 2 water and spray parks, 37 nature preserves, 3 historical parks, 1 dog park, 2 skate parks, 1 folk school, 6 playgrounds, and 2 disc golf courses. They work with the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Rec, the DNR, the Huron-Clinton Metro Parks, and the Pinckney and Waterloo Recreation Areas.
The WCPRC has a full-time staff of 57 (headed by Coy Vaughn, Director; Meghan Bonfiglio, Deputy Director; and Ziolkowski, Communications Manager), and employ 325 – 400 summer staff members.
Funding sources for the WCPRC include parks’ operational millage, parks’ development millage, use fees, grants, NAPP millage and a 4-year road and non-motorized path millage earmarked for the B2B trails. .25 mills generated $4M in 2022 and helped put 6,700 acres in conservation easements.
The recreational variety WCPRC provides is impressive: from Rolling Hills and Water Park (439 acres in Ypsi Township) to Independence Lake (126 acres in Webster Township), County Farm, Parker Mill, Sharon Mills, Watkins Lake, Pierce Lake Golf Course, Swift Run Dog Park, Ypsi Skate Park, Meri Lou Murray Center and the Michigan Folk School. The Michigan Folk School at Staebler Farm honors the old way of doing things that you might have once learned while sitting on your grandparents’ porch, or in the barn or kitchen. Knife sharpening, cooking by campfire, black smithing, and leather working are just some of the courses offered. WCPRC also hosts many guided nature programs and special events including an annual Doggy Dip, a craft show, women’s nature camp and movies in the park.
The B2B trail is currently a 42-mile (soon to be 50 miles and hopes to connect to north-south trails and to the statewide Iron Belle Trail) non-motorized trail that leads from Wayne County through Washtenaw to Jackson County. It has become a highly used and appreciated trail for people who commute by bike to work as well as by recreational users. Along the B2B trail will be the Title IX Plaza along the Huron River near Dexter to highlight the accomplishments of local athletes and the history of the landmark federal gender equity legislation that paved the way for greater participation in sports for women.
Ziolkowski described the WCPRC’s conservation values including protecting prime and unique agriculture space, open spaces, stream corridors, wetland protection, water quality, woodlands and specific habitats.
A point of pride for the WCRPC is that there was a major increase in use in our parks during the pandemic and use continues to be high.
President Mark concluded the meeting with all members reciting with him the 4-way test:
1. It is the TRUTH?
2. It is FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Respectfully submitted (without chat GPT) and looking forward to getting on the B2B trail,
Mary Steffek Blaske
Ed. Note: Due to a technical issue there are no photos available for this summary.
