Maher Mualla from the Adrian Morning Club was on hand at our meeting today and bought with him Deangelo from the local Habitat for Humanity (Community Outreach Director) along with Isaiah and Bushra representing AmeriCorps who had been assisting Habitat with home restorations in the area. Bushra, who is from the Detroit area, and Isaiah who lives in Baltimore, shared their experiences with us while they have been working in Adrian. Most recently, they said, they had been working on property in Adrian on Church Street in conjunction with the local Habitat for Humanity.
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. AmeriCorps members serve as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges and advance local solutions.
Since 1965, over 220,000 VISTA members have served with the mission to strengthen organizations that alleviate poverty. VISTA serves in each of the 50 U.S. States and in all U.S. Territories. VISTA members go where they are needed and make a difference through volunteering and the mobilization of resources.
They said that volunteers can spend one year serving full-time and make a difference at home. AmeriCorps, they said, is a unique opportunity to improve their own lives and the lives of fellow Americans. From Alaska to Puerto Rico, AmeriCorps VISTA members are building capacity, strengthening communities, and developing their careers. Isaiah also mentioned that volunteers also qualify for a scholarship by volunteering.
As they complete their assignment here in Adrian, they suspected they would be traveling to Florida soon to assist in projects there.
Sinner of the Year Award – Kevin Keller did the honors again this year and announced that this year’s recipients (2 tied) were Kevin Marti and Kathy Herrera who were each fined $28 this past year. Comgrats to you both. Well deserved.
Lenawee Bike Tour – Chip updated the members on this event reporting that so far he has raised $11,250 in sponsorships! There will be 3 routes this year – a 15 mile route (along the Kiwanis Trail), a 45 and a 60 mile route. Riders who want to participate will be charged $40 and kids will be free. We hope to double participation from last year (63) to over 120 this year. Chip thanked Luke for his help with the event’s Facebook page and website.
Fence Project in Tecumseh – Nate thanked everyone who turned out over three separate occasions to help erect the fence at the Neighbor of Hope’s Women’s & Children’s Ministry in Tecumseh (formerly the Herrick Manor attached to Herrick Hospital). Nate went on to say that every Rotary Club in Lenawee County participated in this event and contributed a combined $6,500!
Launch Lenawee – Mark announced that training for mentors for the entrepreneurial program would be taking place this evening led by Dave Maxwell. Still time to sign up to help as a mentor.
Student Welcome – President Nelson announced that on August 24th fro 5-8pm anyone who wants to help welcome the new incoming students can do so since we will need a number of volunteers like we did last year in front of the Governor Croswell Tea Room. Please let Nelson know if you can help. More info coming.
Visit by the Simay’s – Kathye mentioned that she had the pleasure of having dinner with Greg and Marje Simay this past week as they returned to Adrian from their new home in Burbank CA where they are both members of that club. She said that they presented her with a club flag. Kathye said they would be returning again in the near future when their new grand baby is born.
DG Chambers’s Official Visit – Prez Nelson wanted to be sure and make everyone aware that John will visit our club on Thursday, August 15. The board will meet with him at 11am and he will address the club at our regular meeting. Please be sure and attend. Let’s have a huge turnout for DG John!
New Member Brochures – They are now available reflecting our new president, District Governor and RI President along with the address of our new location. It is a tri-fold brochure with an official membership form in the middle. Be sure and pick some up and recruit, recruit, recruit!
Upcoming Programs:
Aug 1 - TBD Aug. 8 - Bike Tour open discussion and last minute plans Aug 15 - DG Chambers Aug 22 - Joy Smith from Zonta Aug 29- TBD
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 15 – Official DG Chambers visit
September 14 – River Raisin Cleanup
September 21 – Lenawee Bike Tour
October 24 - World Polio Day
October 24 - Welcome Students Back
Guests: Jerry Fisher, Fallon, Mary Martin – all from the Hope Center; Matt Swartzlander.
Mark Daniel Maloney, of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, is the new President of Rotary International for 2019-20. Maloney is a principal in the law firm of Blackburn, Maloney, and Schuppert LLC, with a focus on taxation, estate planning, and agricultural law. He represents large farming operations in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States, and has chaired the American Bar Association’s Committee on Agriculture in the section of taxation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Alabama State Bar Association, and the Alabama Law Institute.