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 Cleanup Day

April 05, 2025

LAMR Takes Five (Mile Road, that is.)

On a cold, misty, overcast Saturday morning, the Livonia AM Rotary Club Road Cleanup Crew took to 5 Mile Road and picked up litter on both sides of the road (and median) from Farmington to Merriman and then back again.

To begin, the crew assembled in the parking lot adjacent to the Larry Nehasil Memorial Park. Event organizer Greg Greene gave a few ecology stats, and then the thirteen volunteers divided into two teams, split up on each side of the street, and got it done, picking up much litter and debris that most people don’t even notice is there while driving by.

A good time in the very wet air, and much socializing while working along the route took place, only to be dampened by the unfortunate injury to our club member Susan Paluchniak, who is also on the road cleanup committee.

Several club members went to Trinity Health Hospital to be with her, while other volunteers regrouped at the corner Sam’s Place restaurant to warm up and get a bite to eat when we were done.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Susan in hopes of a speedy recovery, and thank you to Tammy Bonifield, Dave Stechholz, Erin Dobbins, Bob Carris and Bill Friske for going to the hospital to comfort her.

Our next cleanup event is scheduled for July 19, 2025.

Thank you to all the volunteers for a job well done!

Greg Greene

Club Assembly

April 02, 2025

Today’s meeting was called to order by President Dave, and the Invocation was given by Victoria Haltom.

President Dave led us in singing The Happy Wanderer, in honor of peanut butter and jelly sandwich day. Happy Birthday was sung to Greg Greene and Bill Fried. Happy Bucks, led by Sharon Pommerville, included remarks about the enjoyable social gathering that Pat Zucal organized at One Under in Livonia. Members of both Rotary Clubs were present.

Reminder that Saturday, April 5th is the first Road Clean-up event of the season. Meet at 8:30 am and breakfast at Sam’s Place after work is completed.

Check out the upcoming event calendar with some significant highlighted activities:

• Livonia State of the City address takes place on Wed. April 9th, from 4:30-6:00 PM, at the VistaTech Center at Schoolcraft College. Registered members as of now include: Tammy Bonifield, Erin Dobbins, Dave Stechholz, Tom Martin, and Deanna Gaffney.
• Register to participate in Clarenceville HS’s Career Day on April 15th.
• No regular Rotary Meeting on April 23; Instead members will be attending the Mayor's Ambassador Breakfast on April 23rd at 8:00 AM at Laurel Park Manor.
• Wine in the Park, sponsored by the Livonia Rotary, takes place Saturday, May 17th, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Rotary Park. Tickets are $35.00 per person (limited to 150 guests). Also a 50/50 raffle.
• Dave and Larry are offering complimentary concert tickets for the Livonia Civic Chorus’ 60th anniversary performance on Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 PM at the Stevenson HS PAC on 6 mile in Livonia. The theme is “Welcome to the 60s!”

Today’s focus was a Club Assembly Meeting:

Thanks to the Membership Committee and the work of Chairman Mike Ladwig for bringing two new members to be approved. Unanimous approval was for Wayne Kinney and Marlene Katafias. Welcome to you both! ​

Bill Friske reported on the approval of grants. There was a discussion and amendment to the originally proposed grant of $750.00 to the Michigan Works Matters organization. Claude Kendrick

proposed raising the grant to $1,500 which was approved by members.

Nancy Darga, our incoming Livonia AM President for 2025-26, gave a summary of her experience attending the PELS 6400 District event. She commended President Dave, Bob Carris, and Bill Friske for being the most enthusiastic and successful salesmen of the year for selling over 90 of our soccer balls at the event. Nancy recounted that the most valuable part of her experience was the wisdom she gained from the various speakers. A common theme and problem for Rotary is the world-wide decline of membership. Other than Asia, membership in all other areas of the world has decreased significantly. Nancy outlined some ideas and ways of thinking to change that:

"Rotary Clubs and its members must tell their stories, they must become “Shift Disturbers”, by becoming a Flamingo—not being one of the crowd but leading the crowd so that others follow in effective ways."

All meetings need to be “Rotary Happy”, and finally, Nancy expressed how grateful she is for the help she is receiving and especially the time Tammy Bonifield, our Treasurer, has spent with her to understand the club’s financials. The meeting closed with a brief update on the “Rebuild Rotary Park” project with Deanna Gaffney reporting that the City of Livonia will support a flyer and that volunteers are needed to run the Wine Tasting Event. Deanna stated that the project is turning into a multi-tiered project that will require many hands on at different levels as the project progresses.

Thank you to Nancy and Deanna for spearheading this most valuable community endeavor.

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!