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!

Adopt-A-Road Clean-Up

July 19, 2025

The LAMR Summer Road Cleanup Success Is a ‘2 fer’ for the AM and Noon Rotary Clubs.

The event could not have come under better weather conditions, not too cold, not too hot, but ‘just right’, in the sunshine.

Ten volunteers, six from the Noon Rotary Club and four from ours, cleaned up debris on both sides and the median strip of the one-mile road stretch of 5 Mile, taking about two hours to complete.

Afterward, we all went to Anastasia and Katie's, at 7 Mile & Merriman, for an $11 per meal fundraising breakfast being held in support of them, where our own club member, Mayor Maureen Brosnan was also hanging out.

So, you might say it was a ‘2 fer’, as far as Rotary community benefit efforts go!

Mission accomplished, and great socialization ensued, to boot.

Thank you to the volunteers for cleaning it up and making it another success. We will do it again in September. Stay tuned.

Greg Greene

Club Meeting, Featuring: Judge Kathleen McCann, 16th District Court of Michigan

July 16, 2025

Livonia A.M. Rotary Club President, Nancy Darga, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Invocation by Bob Carris. 18 were in attendance, including 3 Zoomers, with Guests: Kathleen McCann (speaker), Trey Greene (Detroit Rotary), Drew Buatti, and Jacki Graham (Livonia Noon Rotary).

Dave Burton shared a Dr. Suess quote: “Today you are YOU, that is truer than TRUE. There is no one alive who is YOUER than YOU.” [Next week’s Speaker is Samantha Lewis, Livonia Chamber of Commerce "Ambassador of the Year", with Invocation by Rev. David Stechholz].

Things to note: Five Mile Road Clean-up, this Saturday, July 19^th at 8:30 a.m. More volunteers are welcome to help out. Board of Directors Meeting is next Wednesday, July 30th, following our Club gathering, with the Club Assembly on August 6th. Our theme in Rotary this 2025-2026 is “Unite for Good,” with Francesca from Italy as our new RI President.]

TODAY’S SPEAKER: The Honorable Kathleen McCann, District 16 Court Judge (retired). Judge Emeritus (retired) McCann shared her family background, values, and work-ethic, which was formative for her and her siblings.

Getting a good education was paramount. Interestingly, this was Kathleen’s very first time attending a Rotary meeting.

She was at one-time a Livonia Junior High School Teacher, which humorously prepared her well for being a Wayne County prosecutor in the juvenile division. The soft-spoken judge shared some heart-rending stories that revealed great mental illness and abuse, which plagues our nation. She took over her late father’s judgeship seat of the District 16 Court in January 1995, retiring just this year and succeeded by elected Judge Jim Jolly.

Judge McCann shared that her last year on the bench was a tough year, having to deal with a “Sovereign Citizens” individual. She mentioned that we have a desperate need in Michigan for psychiatric help and hospitals for people in need.

Following her talk and Q & A...

• Wayne Kinney & Erin Dobbins gave a brief report on the Wine-Tasting Event at the Livonia Spree. Next year we will invite more corporate sponsors for the event.
• President Nancy made some comments: As LAMR Rotarians, we are “people of action.” We need to be telling of successful events on our LAMR Website, Facebook, and Instagram. She also expressed gratitude to the Livonia Noon Rotary Club.
• PP Dave Stechholz noted that there will be a Wed. evening, July 30^th, 7 p.m. World Polio Day Spaghetti Dinner Committee meeting at Deanna & Ron Gaffney’s house. The World Polio Day Community Spaghetti Dinner is set for Wed., October 22^nd, at Christ our Savior Lutheran Church’s gym.

Today’s Greg Greene’s Jokes were judged “bad.” However, he got off with a light sentence, which was then followed by the recitation of the Four-Way-Test. Nancy rang the bell.

David Stechholz

Club Meeting, Featuring: Erin Dobbins, "Rotorizing Beyond The Club Level"

July 09, 2025

Today’s meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance. Club President Nancy Darga also gave the Invocation:

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” – by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Next was the introduction of the speakers for this morning: Dave Stechholz to talk about the Rotary International Convention that was held in Calgary, and Erin Dobbins will also discuss “Rotarizing beyond the Club level”.

Happy Bucks, led by Sharon Pommerville, had everyone giving a thought on how they thought the Wine Tasting Event had gone. Nancy gave a brief synopsis of the trip to Calgary as her Happy Bucks thank-you.



Victoria Haltom said “Thank You” cards were going out for donations for the Rebuild Rotary Park campaign.

Tammy Bonifield talked about the different fellowships available at the International Convention and most specifically, her “Brew” shirt souvenir.

A report on the results of the Wine Tasting event was presented by Wayne Kinney and Erin Dobbins. The two Rotary clubs are not really expecting to make any money on the Wine Tasting event this year, as it was the first one at the Spree in many years. However, they were happy to report that the Rotary did come out ahead. The two thanked the generosity of the Brass Mug for their donation of the wines, and the employees to pour, and the explain the various kinds of wine that were available for tasting. Also discussed was the costs for printing and the catering. There were approximately 110 paying guests at the tasting and a good time was had by all. Thanks to Wayne, Erin, and all the volunteers for their contribution of time.

Marlene Katafias

VISIT OUR CLUB IN PERSON

We meet at the

Livonia Senior Center Complex

15218 Farmington Road

Livonia, MI 48154

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

All Are Welcome!