WELCOME to the newsletter of the Rotary Club of Livonia AM. Our club meets weekly to socialize, discuss the needs of our community and the world around us, and take action to address those needs. Please consider visiting our club or joining us on a service project.

All Are Welcome!

Meeting Notice and Club News

Every member will have one minute to address the general membership. Members may cede their time. This meeting is intended for members only, please!

This Thursday, November 5th, is music bingo with the Garden City Rotary Club. Our club has volunteered to run the bar for the event. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Purchase includes entry into the Bingo game, two slices of pizza, and a dessert of some sort. Our club will be selling beer and wine and a fun signature drink, as well as soft drinks and water. It will only take a few of us to run the bar, so we are hoping to fill a table of eight, at least, to support the Garden City club. The event starts at 5:30, with Pizza at 6 o’clock, and bingo running from 7 to 9 PM. Please let Bill Friske know if you’d like to go (so we can secure a table) and follow this link to register with the event organizers.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/garden-city-rotary-music-bingo

World Polo Day Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser

October 28, 2026

ROTARY SPAGHETTI DINNER TO END POLIO WORLDWIDE

Walking into Christ Our Savior's Church banquet hall, one could smell the aroma of basil and oregano cooking for the annual Livonia Rotary Clubs Spaghetti Dinner. Both Rotary Clubs of Livonia, the noon club and the morning club, organized the dinner to collect funds to "End Polio Worldwide." The funds that are collected are matched by the Gates Foundation two-to-one and forwarded to Rotary International for the polio eradication project.

October is dedicated by Rotary Clubs across the globe to raising funds to end polio worldwide. More than 2 billion children have been vaccinated since the program began in the 1970s.

As guests arrived, they were greeted by the smiling faces of students from Churchill High School's Interact Club, who were volunteering at the dinner. An accordion player serenaded the crowd as he wound his way around each table. More than 200 guests attended the dinner. Special thanks to Wayne Kinney from Rock Entertainment, who brought his picture station for guests to take snapshots of themselves.

The rich spaghetti sauce was crafted through the efforts of Matt Menard and Deana and Ron Gaffney, who spent the day cooking for this heartfelt dinner event. Italian sausage or two large meatballs were offered as a new feature this year for an additional charge. There was also a gluten-free option and carryout service available.

Rotary members donated desserts, and the table was overflowing with their sweet contributions. AlphaUSA had large cookies frosted with the Rotary logo baked especially for the event. These delicious treats were placed at each place setting. Colorful placemats featuring ads from local sponsors made the tables look extra festive.

Nancy Darga

Club Meeting Featuring, Rev. Dr. Geoffrey G. Drutchas

10/28/2026

After President Erin Dobbins opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and Tammy Bonifield gave reflective thoughts from Henry Van Dyke, Sharon Pommerville collected a "bazillion" Happy Bucks. These included: the Kids Coalition Against Hunger meal-packing event; Bob Carris being honored at the AAA Pregnancy Center fundraising dinner; Nancy Darga's "Go Lions!" win; Marlene Katakias' bookstore grand opening; Northville's Halloween event; meatballs and sausages at the WPD Spaghetti Dinner; and today being First Responders' Day.

Eighteen Rotary members, guests, and a Zoomer (who was late!*) enjoyed this outpouring of "Greene" (money, not the late one).

Bob further mentioned that Rotary LAMR imprinted shirts are available for $13 (you furnish the shirt), with payment due by early December.

We'll give Trey a pass; he and Colleen were at the WPD Spaghetti Dinner in the evening.

More News

The Rotary-sponsored World Polio Day Spaghetti Dinner (October 28th) featured Matt's homemade meatballs, placemats with 31 sponsors, and a record 80 pre-sales.

The club approved the Festival of Trees fundraiser for Children's Hospital of Michigan.

The Giving Committee gave its report. Greg Greene (the on-time one) shared the report, and the grant for the VT SEVA organization's work with blind and needy girls in India was approved.

An update on Sibley Praise was given by Nancy Darga, with funds still being raised.

Also discussed were Deck the Rec (putting up our tree at the Kirksey Recreation Center).

The November 5th Garden City Rotary Music Bingo fundraiser in which we are participating, and upcoming events on November 12th (Rotary Foundation District 6400 Dinner) and November 18th (Peace Seminar at Henry Ford College).

President Erin Dobbins introduced her friend and our speaker, Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Drutchas, founder of Fish & Loaves.

He grew up near Methodist Children's Village in Redford Township and has lived most of his life in or near Inkster Road. Geoffrey is a retired United Church of Christ pastor from the older Evangelical-Reformed tradition.

He noted how Halloween has exploded in popularity. All Hallows' Eve has become the biggest decorating season next to Christmas, with some displays becoming excessive and gory.

He spoke about Halloween's pagan roots and its connection to the Christian observances of All Saints' Day (November 1st) and All Souls' Day (November 2nd), along with society's fascination with the "spirit world."

This led to the thought that we are called to be people who celebrate life, not death. Many interesting thoughts and questions were shared.

The meeting concluded with the Four-Way Test and Greg's real groaners (jokes).

– Dave Stechholz, taker of the notes

A Message From the Wyandotte Rotary Club: Hello, fellow Rotarians, The Wyandotte Rotary Club is honored to welcome Mr. Ruslan Alikperov, President of the Rotary Club “Kharkiv Direct Help International” in Ukraine, to an evening gathering on November 10. We would love to welcome your club members to join us!

Mr. Alikperov will share his club’s humanitarian work in Ukraine and explore opportunities for connection and cooperation between our clubs. This is a unique opportunity to experience Rotary’s international impact and build relationships with fellow Rotarians.

At this stage, we are gathering interest before selecting a location and finalizing the time. Would anyone from your club be interested in attending? Please reply with an approximate number of interested members so we can plan accordingly.

We hope to share this special evening with you!

Nicole Baker & Kaylyn Crayne

Co-Presidents, Wyandotte Rotary Club

Upcoming Meetings

11/04/2026 - Club Assembly, Invocation by Kathleen Pierz.

11/11/2026 - District Governor Kim Spirou's Official Visit, Invocation by Peter Dale, Board Meeting to Follow.

11/18/2026 - Charlie Sergison, First Centennial Title Agency, "Community Member Spotlight", Invocation by Nancy Darga.

11/25/2026 - Thanksgiving Breakfast at George's Senate Restaurant, 39430 Dun Rovin Drive in Northville, 7:30 AM.

If you are interested in offering an Invocation at a future meeting, please contact Victoria Haltom, vickviolin@aol.com, or Susan Paluchniak, paluchniaksusan@gmail.com.

Join Us

VISIT OUR CLUB IN PERSON

We meet at the

Livonia Senior Wellness Center

32001 Five Mile Road

Livonia, MI 48154

Every Wednesday, 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

ALL are Welcome!

Visitors and friends are welcome to sign on and participate with our meeting on ZOOM.

Please introduce yourself to the
group when recognized at the
start of the meeting.

Upcoming Events

11/05/2026 - Garden City Rotary's Music Bingo, Radcliff Center, 5:30-9:00 PM, Purchase Tickets HERE.

11/12/2026 - District 6400 Foundation Dinner, Crystal Gardens, Southgate, 5:30 to 9:00 PM, Details HERE.

11/12/2026 - The Rotary Club of Livonia Monthly Social at The Craft Grille at Schoolcraft College Vistatech Center, 5:00 - 6:30 PM, All are Welcome!

12/01/2026 - Taste Fest 2026, The Rotary Club of Westland and The Livonia-Westland Chamber's Premier Holiday Charity Event, 6:00-8:30 PM, Hellenic Cultural Cnter, Purchase Tickets HERE.

05/06/2027 - The Grand Experience, Rotary District Conference 2027, May 6-9, 2027, Register HERE.