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

Coming Up This Week

President David Stechholz invites you to a Hybrid Zoom meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 7:30 AM.

This week's speaker will be Maureen Miller Brosnan, Mayor of the City of Livonia, Invocation by Rev. David Stechholz.

Please consider inviting friends, family, co-workers, and potential AM Rotary members to learn about the direction our city will be taking over the next year and the plans for reimaging 5-Mile and Farmington as the heart of a new "City Center".

In·vo·ca·tion

During our last meeting, Greg Greene gave the Invocation. Thank you, Greg!

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR VOLUNTEERS TO GIVE THE INVOCATION AT THE START OF OUR MEETINGS.

Please inform Mike Ladwig if you want to lead us with a spiritual or inspiring message to start our meeting.

Member News

Livonia's Historic Cemetaries

February 19, 2025

President Dave Stechholz opened the meeting, and Greg Greene gave the Inspirational Invocation.

Pres. Dave had members sing Happy Birthday to “Us” in honor of the 120th birthday of the beginning of Rotary. The group was reminded that February is Peace Building and Conflict Prevention Month for Rotary.

Pres. Dave announced that the Livonia AM Rotary Club has been invited to present a 45 minute break-out presentation on “Collaborative Club Projects” at the District 6400 Assembly on April 26th, 2025, at St. Claire College in Windsor. Details will be provided closer to the presentation date.

Club members will be voting on the two prospective candidates for District Governor next week and are reminded to review both candidates’ credentials that are available online.

There is no new information on the development of Interact Clubs at Clarenceville and Stevenson High School or a Rotaract Club at Schoolcraft College. However, the discussion is ongoing, and a Zoom meeting is planned for February 24th that will focus on forming a Rotaract Group at Schoolcraft.

At least seven members from the Livonia AM Rotary Club will be attending the 2025 Livonia Westland Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership and Awards Celebration Dinner on Tuesday, February 25th, at 5:00 PM, located at the Italian American Banquet Center. Just for fun, eight members will be participating in Westland Rotary’s Club Trivia Night fundraiser at Joy Manor on Friday, February 28th.

Several other important and interesting events are on the calendar, so check out the club’s website and newsletter. Everyone, mark your calendars for this year’s Installation Party that will take place on June 14th at Tammy Bonifield’s cottage on the lake. We are so fortunate to have Rotarian Tammy provide such a lovely setting for this event.

Today’s speaker was local historian Kathy Bilger. Kathy shared general information on the history of four cemeteries located in Livonia but focused on one cemetery in particular: the Briggs Union Cemetery, also known as the Union Society of Livonia Burial Ground. Located at 6 Mile and Interstate 275, this 1/2 acre cemetery has no historical markers or signage. Kathy spoke about the events leading up to the establishment of the Briggs Cemetery that began in the state of New York over 200 years ago. It was the Quakers that came from the East and settled first in Farmington in 1824 and then settled in the area known as Livonia in 1874. In between that time, the Quakers established the Anti-Slavery Society and were involved in the Underground Railway. The Michigan by-laws that governed the Anti-Slavery Society were groundbreaking for the times, as they proclaimed that men and women were equal. The cemetery was established in 1832 and does not contain any Civil War graves. In 1852, the Trinity Building, which still stands and now serves as a venue for artistic performances, was built as a community meeting house that was open to serve all religious, intellectual, and public purposes.

Thank you, Kathy, for giving us a peek into the history of Livonia’s cemeteries.

Victoria Haltom

DISCON 2025 Scenic Detroit River Cruise

May 31, 2025

For those who will be participating in our District Conference 2025

We are excited to offer you as a DISCON 2025 registered attendee the opportunity to join us on a two-hour Scenic Detroit River Cruise on Saturday afternoon. The cruise will leave at 1:00 pm from the foot of Ouellette Avenue, a short distance from the conference location.

This commentated cruise of the Detroit River will offer views of the new Gordie Howe Bridge and many other iconic sights along the Windsor and Detroit shorelines.

A boxed lunch which can be enjoyed on board the cruise ship will be provided after the Saturday morning program.

Tickets are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis to registered attendees.

To reserve your ticket, contact Elaine Snaden, DISCON 2025 Registrar, as soon as you receive this email, as tickets are first come, first served.

elainesnaden@gmail.com

Upcoming Club Meetings

02/26/2025 - Maureen Miller Brosnan, Mayor City of Livonia, Invocation by Rev. David Stechholz, Board Meeting to Follow, Board Meeting to Follow.

03/05/2025 - Club Assembly, Invocation by Bob Carris.

03/12/2025 - Member Spotlight, Featuring Greg Greene and Mike Ladwig, Invocation by Rev. David Stechholz.

03/19/2025 - Detective Stacy Hayne, Livonia Police Department, Invocation by Mike Ladwig.

03/26/2025 - Elliott Williams, Senior Philanthropy Advisor, Shelter Box USA, Invocation by Greg Greene, Board Meeting to Follow.

Join Us

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!

Upcoming Events

02/28/2025 - Westland Rotary Club Trivia Night, 6:00 PM, Joy Manor, Event Details HERE.

03/12/2025 - District 6400 Grants Seminar, 7:00 PM, Details HERE.

03/20/2025 - Great Lakes Rotary PETS, President-Elect Training Seminar, Thursday, March 20 - Saturday, March 22, 2025, Kalamazoo Radisson, Event Details HERE.

03/28/2025 - Taking Action For Peace Series, Featuring "Can We Have A Conversation", Henry Ford College, 8:30 - 2:00 PM, Event Registration HERE.

04/05/2025 - LAMR Adopt-A-Highway Road Clean-up Day, 8:30 AM, Signup Details to Follow.

04/26/2025 - District 6400 Assembly, St. Clair College, 2000 Talbot Rd. W. Windsor, ON N9A 6S4, 8:00 - 12:30 PM, Event Details to Follow.

05/02/2025 - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at Camp Copneconic in Fenton, MI, May 02 - May 04, 2025, Registration Details HERE.

05/19/2025 - Livonia AM Rotary's Annual Carnival, Sears Parking Lot at Seven Mile and Middlebelt, Monday, May 19, 2025 - Sunday, June 08, 2025.

05/30/2025 - District Conference, St Clair Centre for the Arts in Windsor, Ontario, Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 01, 2025. Registration Details HERE.

06/14/2025 - Installation Party at the Bonifield's Lake House. Details to Follow.

09/09/2025 - Rotary & Schoolcraft College Night at Comerica Park, Go Tigers! Event Details to Follow.