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

Join both the Livonia AM and Noon Rotary Clubs on Thursday, June 11th, from 5-6:30 PM for an Evening Social at Schoolcraft’s Vistatech Center’s Craft Grill. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

All are welcome!

Club Meeting Featuring Jack Smiley, President of the Sibley Prairie Association

May 27, 2026

President Nancy Darga opened the meeting, followed by the Invocation, given by Victoria Haltom. Happy Bucks recognised the return of Marlene Katafias and Victoria Haltom from successful medical procedures and how the club’s main fundraiser (Carnival) is drawing large crowds. Bill Friske provided the number of people who have been accessing our website for carnival information—the numbers were impressive.

Our newest perspective member, Peter Dale, was in attendance and

will be voted on today at the Board meeting to approve his membership. He shared that he will be one of the readers of the Declaration of Independence at Livonia’s 250 year celebration.

President Darga reviewed upcoming activities on the club’s calendar.

Check the club’s website for dates and times. Could still use volunteers for Livonia’s Passport to Safety, June 6th, 10:00-2:00 pm, contact Susan Paluchniak, 734-674-3499, and the Wine Tasting Event at the Livonia Spree on June 26th, from 5-7 pm.

Please join our Livonia AM and Noon Rotary members for a club Social on June 11th at Schoolcraft’s Vista Center’s Craft Grill from 5-6:30 pm. This is our first planned social gathering and an opportunity to invite friends and family to become more familiar with members of Rotary. Food and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.

Our speaker today, Jack Smiley, was a longtime friend and associate of President Darga and is the President of the Sibley Prairie Association.

Jack spoke about the plans to purchase the prairie for 6 million

dollars and the potential total cost of 9.7 million to preserve and restore the area, making it available to the public in the near future.

The Livonia Am Club recently became a supporter of the prairie along with 13 groups from 44 states. Jack shared that the prairie supports

several rare species, 150 wetlands, a complex ecosystem and a diverse habitat. Plans for the future include constructing walking paths, parking lots, a public pavilion, and an endowment fund.

Victoria Haltom

Club Meeting Featuring Brian Yopp, Motor Cities Heritage Area

May 20, 2026

Our meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an Invocation by Mike Ladwig.

Happy Bucks were collected.

Thank-you notes from students at Schoolcraft College who received financial aid were passed around.

Tammy Bonifield was so excited to tell the members about RYLA. Our Club sent three students, one from Garfield and two from Churchill High School to RYLA, a high school leadership program held at a local camp.

There will be a day of service on May 23rd with the two Livonia Rotary Clubs to build 20 picnic tables for Rotary Park. Bring your own tools.

Today's Speaker

Our speaker for today was Brian Yopp, Motor Cities Heritage Area. This is part of the National Park System and works to promote and preserve the rich automotive and labor legacy. It tells the story of how our auto tinkers became titans, how this area helped establish the U.S. as an industrial power, and how the industry created the middle class.

This is not a Ford or GM story but a Michigan Story. The historical significance of the Motor Cities area, including Henry Ford and the labor movement. We can’t lose the history of the labor movement. This area was built around the mills that Henry Ford built. The farmers would work at the mill and still have time to tend the farm

In 1932, there was a hunger march in Dearborn. The march went over Fort Street. The marchers were met with resistance, 5 people were killed, 3000 people marched. That bridge was to be torn down, but thanks to Motor Cities, that place of importance in labor relations has been turned into a nice park with signage of the events that happened there.

Motor cities signs if you see the signs, you know you’re in a special place.

They have a new program," Share the Story,” a place where citizens can write an auto-related story.

Nancy reminded us all that we need to tell our story. We need to remind people of the history of the area.

Susan Paluchniak

Upcoming Club Meetings

06/03/2026 - Club Assembly, Invocation by Rev. David Stechholz.

06/10/2026 - Isolina Carlini, Classroom English and Language Arts (ELA) Teacher & Robotics Administrator, Livonia Public Schools, Invocation by Bob Carris.

06/17/2026 - Paul Sincock, Plymouth Rotarian and District 6400 Membership Chair, Invocation by Greg Greene.

06/24/2026 - Nancy Darga, "My Year as Club President", Invocation by Mike Ladwig.

Join Us

VISIT OUR CLUB IN PERSON

We meet at the

Livonia Recreation 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

06/06/2026 - Livonia Passport to Safety, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Signup Details to Follow.

06/26/2026 - Livonia Spree Wine Tasting Event, Eddie Edgar Arena, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Details HERE.

06/30/2026 - Meet The Governor, Harrow, Ontario, 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Details to Follow.

07/08/2026 - Celebrate The Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Rotarians and Interact Students, Livonia Civic Center City Hall Campus, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Declaration Read at 7:00 pm.

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

Upcoming Committee Meetings

06/15/2026 - Giving Committee Meeting via Zoom, 6:00 PM.

09/21/2026 - Giving Committee Meeting via Zoom, 6:00 PM.

12/21/2026 - Giving Committee Meeting via Zoom, 6:00 PM.

03/15/2027 - Giving Committee Meeting via Zoom, 6:00 PM.

Meeting Notice and Club News

Coming Up This Week

Upcoming Club Meetings

Join Us

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Committee Meetings

Past Meetings and Events