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.

Melissa Carruth - Superintendent of Clarenceville School District

October 30, 2024

President Dave Stechholz opened the meeting at 7:30 am with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Victoria Haltom’s Invocation and Sharon Pommerville's Happy Bucks.

The Celebration of Life memorial program for club member Dennis Wright, former City of Livonia Mayor, was passed around for viewing.

A thank you letter from Seedlings, who received our $2,000 grant, was acknowledged. They are part of our Legacy Gift Giving Grant Program.

Pres. Dave gave a shout-out for the participation and success of the Spaghetti Dinner that served a crowd of 245 people. It is estimated that $5,000 will be split between the two Rotary Clubs.

Pres. Dave called attention to the dates November 4-10th as World Interact week and is hoping that the Churchill Interact Club will submit videos and pictures to Rotary International is to be recognized for its amazing contributions this year.

Pres. Dave shared his thanks to the club for sending he and his wife, Janet, to Schoolcraft College’s Foundation fundraiser called CulEx 2024, “Culinary Extravaganza”, an outstanding event that didn’t disappoint the pallet.

The AAA Pregnancy Resource Center organization that we support, by giving a grant to purchase children’s car seats, was able to purchase 85 car seats and store them at a local funeral home. The grant for $2,500 was matched, and then Walmart donated another $1,014, making the total grant $6,014. That’s how the act of giving grows!

Today’s speaker was the Superintendent of Clarenceville Schools, Melissa Carruth.

This is a new position for Melissa (July 2024), having previously been the District’s Asst. Superintendent of learning services, a former Principal at Grandview Elementary, and 14

years as a teacher in the Novi School District. Melissa cited some of the major challenges in education today and how she, as Superintendent, is addressing

those challenges. Clarenceville schools serve about 17,000 students from Detroit, Livonia, Redford, and Farmington. Two major challenges to combat are that student attendance is at an all-time low and mental health issues are at an all-time high.

Melissa and the district have spearheaded a Social and Emotional Curriculum Program allowing students time to discuss their greatest concerns in a classroom setting. The district provides free breakfasts and lunches, Wellness Coordinators, Engagement

Coordinators, and Social Workers that work with the student and their family.

Melissa is no stranger to Rotary and shared that her Mother was an avid Rotary member and in her own words, “dragged to Rotary meetings as a child.” Little did Melissa know that one of her greatest partners to help disadvantaged families receive healthy food on a daily basis would come from the Livonia AM Rotary’s Clarenceville Cooler Project that was initiated by former Club Pres. Claude Kendrick, and raised $30,000 to purchase and install a walk-in cooler that will provide perishable food items alongside their non-perishable food pantry that is open all year long. Kudos to Clarenceville and to our very own Livonia AM Rotarians, whose gift of a cooler will keep on giving for years and years to come.

Melissa has many ideas for improving the educational experience and lives of Clarenceville students—not enough time to mention at today’s meeting but is hoping to increase enrollment to 1,800 students, get a bond proposal on the ballot for 2025, and continue to seek grants that will bring in additional support people into the district. Pres. Dave suggested that the LAMR club consider setting up a scholarship fund to support one or two eligible Clarenceville students. Pres. Dave also mentioned the possibility of starting a Clarenceville Interact Club sometime in the near future. Melissa is in favor of seeing that happen.



Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 am, immediately followed by a LAMR Club Board Meeting.

Victoria Haltom

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!