banner
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Adrian
Service Above Self
We meet Thursdays at 12:00 PM
The Center
Corner of Wolf Creek Hwy and US223
Adrian, MI  49221
United States of America
DistrictSiteIcon District Site
VenueMap Venue Map
Stories
Tunnels to Towers Foundation - Tony Cruz
We were delighted that Melissa Parson’s hubby, Tony Cruz, was able to join us today and speak a=on this important cause. Tony said that he was a 20-year veteran as a volunteer firefighter and works with three different agencies and has also worked in law enforcement at the local as well as federal level. He is an electrician by trade.
 
Tony recounted the story about how this organization originated following 911 in memory of Brooklyn firefighter Stephen Siller, a firefighter and Rescue 1, who left after his shift early that morning and was looking forward to playing golf later that day with his brothers. On the way home, he heard about what had happened in New York City and headed to Manhattan. Along the way, Tony said, he was not able to get through a major tunnel so he put his gear (65 pounds in weight)  on and ran the entire rest of the way to the World Trade Center towers which happened to be an exhausting 4 miles away! Unfortunately, Stephen along with 9 others from his unit died that day when the towers collapsed.
 
The Siller family wanted to do something to honor their family member who was the youngest of 7 children who decided to help people by becoming a firefighter in the City of New York. It began with a local 5k run which raised a few thousand dollars, Tony said, which was donated to the local burn center. The next year attendance doubled. Since 2002, he said, there are 70+ events around the world! The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation was founded to help people all over the world.
 
The foundation provides free homes to catastrophically injured veterans and pay off the mortgages of families of law enforcement officials who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Tony mentioned the Dall 5 – police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Frank Siller, Stephen’s father, went the very next day to Dallas to inform the families of these officers that their mortgages were being fully paid off by the foundation.
 
The Gold Star Family Program was another program the foundation founded, Tony said. This program was designed to help families of fallen young soldiers killed overseas who have a spouse and small children. In these cases, the family is set up in a modest, mortgage-free home to live in. To date, there are 68 Smart Homes for those having suffered catastrophic injuries with another 21 in progress, he said. The foundation has paid the mortgages of 56 First Responders across the country and have purchased 40 homes and have given them to Gold Star families. The foundation has also set aside $5M for a COVID-19 Relief Fund.
 
Tony encouraged anyone who would like to give to the foundation through tunnel2towers.org. Prior to the pandemic, Tony was one of the directors who were planning the Stephen Siller 5k Run & Walk in Jackson scheduled for May 16which was postponed. Thanks, Tony for a great presentation!
Announcements
 
UPDATE
Grad Yard Signs – Mark thanked everyone who contributed to this great cause – close to $1,300 was raised! They are all to be returned on June 15.
 
Free Business Friday – Kathy announced a new program WLEN has launched. She said that between 9-9:30am and 4-4:30pm in the afternoon any business can call in an promote their business live on the air for up to 2 minutes for free! Just call 263-1039!
 
1st Year Anniversary Celebration – Luke announced that next week will mark the 52nd week of the Rotary Woodworking Warriors! There are, as of today, 126 veterans registered in the program. That averages out to a cost of about $7.63 per day per veteran to be involved in training and certification at the workshop! Congrats! Funding for next year is at $32,700 along with $5,000 in outstanding pledges. During our Zoom meeting, Mike and Susan Tobey pledged $1,000!,
Virtual Memorial Day Parade (Virtual) – Remember that WLEN is reaching back into their archives to re-create an all-time favorite!  The WLEN Virtual Parade will be celebrated this coming Memorial Day. Because we realize there likely won’t be Memorial Day parades this year, we invite you to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and have a “float” in the parade.  You will be able to describe your business/float/entry and we’ll help you with that.  We’ll also run promotional announcements giving you business ID’s inviting listeners to join the parade.  Just because we are in safe mode, doesn’t mean we can’t honor those who served with the ultimate sacrifice. PLUS - 10 :30 Announcements to run BTA on the days you schedule…. we encourage you to run them to support the memory of the men and women that we honor on Memorial Day.  Your investment: $199.00 in May. Patty, during our last meeting, made a suggestion that we may want to get involved and use the Rotary Woodworking Warriors as our theme. She also said that a number of the vets are working out of their homes and that a recent project has been the building of flag boxes and anyone who knows of a vet who has passed away from COVID-19, to let the workshop know and a flag box will be made and sent to their family for free.
 
Lenawee Bike Tour – The committee decided this past week to go ahead with the event scheduled for Saturday, September 19.
 
RI  Foundation – Mike O. reported that thus far a total of $4,197 has been raised this year towards our goal of $5,600! All members will be receiving a letter from Mike in the mail letting everyone know how much they have given and how much more they need to get to the next level of Paul Harris recognition. We need everyone’s support in order to qualify for matching grants next year through District 6400.
 
Hedke Application – We have completed and submitted the formal application! Of the 50+ clubs in District 6400, typically there only about 10 who complete and submit this application any given year. Who is Richard Hedke you ask?
 
Here’s a little history: Richard C. Hedke was President of Rotary International in 1946. A Detroit Rotarian and President of that club between 1926-27, Hedke moved on to become Governor of what is now District 6400 in 1928-29. He was elected Director of Rotary International for the year 1930-31. Throughout his years in Rotary, his commitment to the Object of Rotary was nothing less than total. He brought to countless Rotary meetings an expanded view of Rotarian concepts and, by his example, led Rotary in every facet to new heights of achievement. 
 
After Hedke’s death in 1969, then-Governor Hugh Archer called for a study group to plan for a suitable memorial to keep alive the memory and vision of Dick Hedke. The group was composed of Governor Hugh, PDG Jack Maynard, Rotarians Joseph Hallissey and Tom Saunders. The study group devised what is now known as the Dick Hedke Award.
 
DATES TO REMEMBER
May 16-24 - E- Race the Stigma 5K Run, Walk & Kids Dash (From their website)
Due to the current circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Governors’ Stay at Home Order, we have decided to continue with the E-Race 5k as a VIRTUAL RUN/WALK. 

How does a virtual event work?  Sometime between May 16th – 24th, instead of meeting downtown Adrian and running together, we encourage everyone to run or walk 3.1 miles on their own either outside or on a treadmill (adhering to the 6’ apart rule at all times). This virtual run or walk will still allow everyone to benefit from physical exercise, because at this time people’s mental health is of paramount importance. Anxiety and stress are at peak levels – physical activity boosts the immune system; improves mood and ultimately is beneficial for positive mental health. All we ask is that you post a picture of you on your walk or run on the E-Race Facebook page and tag yourselves, or just post a picture with the hashtag #eracestigma. We are not requiring you to submit your times to us.  

Registration is still open, race price is only $15 for the 5K, $5 for the Kids Dash, and includes a t-shirt and a medal. Once the Stay at Home order is lifted we will provide further details as to how and when you can get your t-shirt and medal. You will be notified via email and/or social media with this information at a future date. 

If you are not interested in running virtually, you can:

  • Transfer your registration into a donation to the cause of reducing stigma of mental illness and substance use disorders, Last year our 5k raised over $20,000! This money was in turn donated back to the community for health and wellness initiatives.
  • Obtain a refund

Thank you for your understanding of this difficult situation, and we wish everyone good health in the upcoming months.  We will be back, bigger and better in 2021!

Greg Adams, Race Organizer

 
June 25 – Changeover Dinner
 
Upcoming Programs at Our Regular ZOOM Meetings:
May 14 – ZOOM meeting
May 21 – ZOOM meeting - Brenda Henning - Old National Bank
May 29 – ZOOM meeting
 
Guests: Tony Cruz
FINE SESSION  
 
 
Mike & Susan Tobey collected fines from: Dick, Barnett, Mark, Douglass, Chase.
 
Happy Bucks – NONE
Volunteers
Prayer – Kathye
 
Songs – Videos
 
50/50 Drawing – NA
 

TABLE HELPERS: NA

 

 

ROTARACT AT ADRIAN COLLEGE - View their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/rotaractac/

ROTARACT AT SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY

 

 

 
New RI President - 2019-20

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.

 
 
The new theme for 2019-20

 

 

 

Bulletin Editor
No bulletin editor.
Executives & Directors
President
 
President-Elect
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Board Member
 
Chair: Adrian Rotary Foundation
 
Chair: Membership
 
Chair: Programs
 
Chair - Public Relations
 
Chair: Rotary International Foundation
 
International Service
 
Chair - Community Service
 
Past President
 
Webmaster/Bulletin Editor/Facebook Page
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Catherine Sala
May 1
 
Luke Barnett
May 6
 
Max Sielsky
May 17
 
Lorie Easton
May 21
 
Patty Clark
May 23
 
Eloise Hosken
May 26
 
Sam Rye
May 30
 
Join Date
Bob Sack
May 10, 1974
46 years
 
Clarke Baldwin
May 15, 1975
45 years
 
Lorie Easton
May 28, 2015
5 years
 
Kevin Keller
May 30, 1985
35 years
 
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile