Lauren Heinonen welcomed us to another Zoom meeting. The topic of this meeting was a Focus on Youth, featuring our Interactors and Rotaractors. Lauren gave a brief tutorial about how and when to mute and unmute Zoom, putting an end to the several conversations that had been enjoyed since 12:00 noon. She then “rang” our opening bell from her cell phone for the nearly 80 attendees on the call.
Our patriotic song was sung by the University of Michigan G Men, part of the acapella choir. Our members had faithfully, and blessedly, muted.
Madi Vorva, our 2018 Global Grant Scholarship recipient, joined us from London to give the Inspiration. She told us the story of the little boy and the old man walking the beach where thousands of starfish had washed ashore. The little boy was picking up the starfish one by one and returning them to the ocean. The old man commented that there were thousands and he could never finish – so what difference would it make? The little boy replied, “I made a difference for this one.” Even one small gesture or accomplishment will make a difference to someone,
Lauren thanked her setup team, now days composed of Lori Walters and John White. She thanked attendance takers Lori and Barbara Eichmuller, then greeted guests and announced birthdays.
Food donations should be taken to Dock 90 at the North Campus Research Complex (the old Pfizer building), 2800 Plymouth Road. Monetary donations are very welcome at Food Gatherers, foodgatherers.org.
President Rosemarie Rowney took over the screen to give us some updates on what our Club is doing to respond to the coronavirus, and to urge us all to be compassionate and kind to each other as we all struggle to get through this so difficult time. The full text of her remarks are at the end of this report. Please read them – great changes are ahead.
Ed Wier then joined us to celebrate the accomplishments of our Pioneer and Huron Interactors, and to thank the many Members who have participated with Interact this year, as well as lament the untimely end of the school year. Amelia Catanzaro from Pioneer told of us the several fund raising activities they undertook this year in support of local non-profits. She especially noted KIVA, which is the world’s first online lending platform connecting online lenders to entrepreneurs with loans for as little as $25.00. Aakarsh Verma from Huron Interact told us about their activities, telling us that the origami cranes we were able to buy before meetings in early winter had raised $250.00, which was sent to assist in the Australian wildfire.
Bev Seiford introduced three Rotaractors who led the club this year: Sam Talsma, Treasurer; Kristi Carson, Social Chair; and Luis Orozco, President. Sam will be President nest year. This year he focused on domestic and international service projects, professional development and community service. Kristi was in charge of social events, those afternoons and evenings that strengthen the fellowship that is built doing Service Above Self. Luis thanked all the parts of Rotary for support – Interact, Rotaract and Rotary. He talked about Rent A Rotaractor, which made money doing chores for people like raking and cleaning garages…and even serving parties. Guest speakers were invited to the monthly Rotaract meetings this year, which were very popular. Luis also told us about the Spring Break trip to Honduras. They were glad to work again with the long term volunteers they met last year building a roof over the school they have built over the last three years.
The program next will be week presented by Collyer Smith. The topic is A Parent’s Journey Trough Mental Health.
Lauren closed the meeting by doubling back to the starfish story, urging us all to do what we can, however little or futile it may seem, to make a difference.
President Rosemarie’s Remarks
Greetings, fellow Rotarians! I want to give a special Shout Out to Lauren Heinonen for her willingness to lead today meeting focusing on Youth. A special thank you to the youth who are participating today.
Comments: I have three messages to share with you today:
- Don’t Hunker Down – we can shelter in place and stay at home but we can’t hunker down. Rotary’s leadership must stand and be visible to one another and to the community.
Several Committees have done just that.
– International Humanitarian Project Committee was approved by the Board to reconfigure into a Disaster Response Committee and they continue to look for ways to help locally. They redirected $5000 from their budget to donate to a District wide grant to buy PPE , surgical masks and N95 masks, to to donate to hospitals in our area. The Club matched their $5000 by another $5000 for a total $10,000 contribution to the effort to protect healthcare workers.
– Community Allocations Committee meet tomorrow and understand that they cannot do business as usual to award the $61,000 to community agencies. Although they are in the middle of their grant process, they are re-evaluting how best to use their resources.
- Demonstrate Candor – when things look bad, we have to be honest with one another. I appreciate feedback from members and Committees
– End Polio Now – It took a great deal of candor for Rotary International, the Gates Foundation and WHO to push the pause button on the polio eradication campaign. The pause in the End Polio Now campaign will result in an increase of cases, just when we were so close to the end. The good news is that the health infrastructure used by the global eradication campaign can be used in the fight against the coronavirus.
– Funds – Planning on how to use our resources will require some difficult decisions. We have this year’s budget to help us in the Short Term, but we are in this for the Long Term. Many have said that this is not a sprint, but a marathon. The Board of Directors established a new designated line item in the Foundation’s budget to accept donations and other funding.
- We need all of you as leaders. . . to take initiative. I encourage each of you to be compassionate and gentle with one another and with your leadership as we walk through this together.
– Believe in yourself and your fellow Rotarians
– I am confident that Rotary, Rotarators and Interactors will adapt and come through the coronavirus crises even stronger.
Thank you.
Rosemarie Rowney, President 2019-20
Meeting notes by Agnes Reading, photography by Fred Beutler
