12:30 Zoom Etiquette – Emily Olson
Past President Joanne welcomed everyone to the meeting.
12:31 “Ring the Bell” Patriotic Song – Tom Strode
12:32 Inspiration – Norma Sarkar
Norma Sarkar shared “today’s inspiration” which highlighted Jennifer Jones, who becomes the first woman Rotary President this year (2022-2023). Rotary salutes all of the women in Rotary.
12:34 Music – Dave Keosaian
Dave shared a YouTube video of the original, powerful music video to Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman”.
12:39 Welcome Members and Guests and Announcements – Joanne Pierson
Joanne Pierson officially welcomed all members and guests to the meeting.
12:41 GTO Fundraiser – Charlie Koopmann
Charlie shared that the annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser is scheduled for September 14, 2022 and that it is time to start determining areas for volunteering at this important event. Among other roles, the function of leading the auction is of significance, and Charlie urged the meeting attendees to reach out to help volunteer in this role.
12:44 Bylaws vote on Emeritus Membership Article X, Section 4 — Kathy Waugh
Kathy shared that it was time for the official vote to amend our Bylaw on Emeritus Membership (Article X, Section 4). Kathy explained the changes, and requested the motion to accept. All attendees voted in favor and the proposed changes were accepted.
12:46 Highway Cleanup Act – Tom Millard
Tom shared that the Michigan Adopt a Highway event is scheduled to take place on April 23rd and the event will need additional volunteers. Tom urged the meeting attendees to consider donating their time to this event and to reach out to him if interested.
12:48 Reflections from Past President— Elaine Didier
Elaine Didier was the first female President of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. Elaine shared that up until 1987, all the other members of RCAA were male and she was very excited to have been invited to join the following year.
After joining RCAA in 1988, Elaine joined the Board of Directors in 1990. Rotary thanks Elaine Didier for her years of service as both a board member and first Female President of RCAA!
12:56 Eleni Kalakos — “Helping Women Claim The Stage”
Marlena Studer introduced Eleni Kalakos, the official speaker of the April 20th meeting, on her topic: “Helping Women Claim The Stage”.
13:00 Eleni Kalakos, a professional actress, singer, song writer and life coach shared her presentation, where she provided insight
into the common differences between men and women’s methods of communication based on the concept of “Nature versus Nurture.” Eleni went on to share that her company, “The Eleni Group” has successfully helped women throughout various industries adapt new methods to improve their self-esteem in the workplace, thereby affecting and refining their communication skills. The concepts and strategies that her team works with is partly based on her book: “Claim The Stage”, which was shared during the presentation.
She went on share a few of the strategies to help women truly “claim their space in the room”, in other words, on their “stage” in life, which included “5 Ways Women Claim The Stage” with specific examples, and ways that men in their workplace can help support them.
A well received and important topic for a presentation at RAAC and Rotary thanks Eleni Kalakos for her work at the Eleni Group and how her team is helping to improve women’s success in the workplace!
(Click here to view the slides from Eleni’s presentation.)
13:25 Quote for the Day: I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident. They came by work.
Thomas Edison, Inventor
13:30 Meeting concluded. Ring the bell, May you all have a good week!
In Rotary,
Sofia Nordenstam
Reporter
Photographer: Fred Beutler
