President Mary introduced Carrie and Brandy who spoke about the summer field trips our club helped the Boys & Girls Club underwrite which among others included the Adrian Skatery, Mud Hens games and Hidden Lake Gardens which the kids thoroughly enjoyed. These trips, Brandy said, involved over 300 kids this summer and actually change kids’ behavior! Carrie said that a survey is conducted every year to determine what the kids really enjoyed the past year. Other stats from this survey were: 96% of members expect to achieve on-time grade progression; 93% of members expect to participate in post-secondary education as a result of what they learned at the Club; 83% of members are having FUN when they are at the Club; 60% of members said they felt safer at the Club than spending time anywhere else. They thanked our club for helping to make a difference in these people’s lives! A huge event for the Club is the Blue Jean Ball.
Following the presentation Carrie and Brandy were presented a check in the amount of $500. (From left to right: Vera Alvarez, Carrie Hartley and Brandy Bedola)
Purity Project – Vera said she met Purity last Friday. She went to Running with Ease and bought tennis shoes and then to Goodwill for clothing. A team of 5 staff, she said, were very helpful in assisting Purity make her selections. They finished up at Meijer’s to get her the necessary personal items. Patty then took her to Devil’s Lake for the day. President Mary reminded members that the club has agreed to allocate a $100 stipend monthly while she is here. Purity has classes at SHU the same time as our meetings but will try hard to attend one of our meetings so everyone can meet her.
Dates to Remember
September 6 – Kids Against Hunger – Two opportunities to volunteer: 8am setup and/or 9am-10:30am to pack10,000 snack packs they will distribute to needy organizations locally. Please meet at the Madison high school cafeteria – main entrance off of Treat Highway. Volunteers should wear Rotary clothing as there will be photo opportunities.
September 13 – River Raisin Cleanup - Mark said he will be following up with those who have volunteered. They will meet right behind the jail at 8:30am and can park behind the Court House and walk down to the entrance to Trestle Park behind the county jail. Be sure and bring gloves and wear a long sleeve shirt in the event you run into poison ivy.
September 19 – United Way Day of Action – Anyone wishing to assist on a project that day is welcomed to do so. Please contact Patty Clark.
September 19 & 20 - Art-a-Licious beverage tent -Brent Mercer is the chair of the event! Volunteers needed. There are 2 bartender slots per shift in addition to a security person. Friday evening’s schedule: 5-10pm; Saturday’s schedule: 12noon to 10pm.
September 25th – DG Liz Smith to visit our club for the first time in her new position.
September 29th – District Governors Golf Outing in South Lyon at the Walnut Creek Golf Club.
November 13-15 – R.Y.L.A. annual conference at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. More info to come. (See detailed info on this program below)
RYLA
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership development program run by Rotary. While participants can be any age, most events focus on secondary school students, university students, or young professionals. RYLA events are typically 3–10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops that cover a variety of topics, including:
Leadership fundamentals and ethics
Communication skills
Problem solving and conflict management
Community and global citizenship
GUESTS: Garden City Rotarians – Steve Kelly and Gene Zelinski; From Michener Elementary School – Tiffany and daughter, Rosemary Olsaver, Kathy Sielsky and Rachel Perez; Ashlee Hutchinson (D & P Communications), guest of Kathy Williams; Junior Rotarians from AHS – Jeff Marvin and Tino Mendez.
The Exempt Badge was raffled off and bestowed on Kathy Williams. Mike Olsaver fined there deserving members: Adams, Wagley, J. Clark, Buron (2), Herrera, Mercer (2), Soto, Douglass, Lewis (2), Pender (3), Satterelli, Smith, Sack (2), Burg, Mark Murray (2), Dawes, Mary Murray, Maxe, Hokenson.