October was originally the eighth month of the Roman calendar It was only later that January and February were added to the calendar, pushing October to its current position as the tenth month. Here in Michigan and Ontario, we think of apples and trips to the cider mill, football and fall color tours.

At almost all my club visits, the club leadership have questions on how they can recruit more members.  Maintaining and growing membership is a basic task as vital to a club as breathing is to humans.  While each situation, particularly member engagement, is different, I have a few ideas for finding new members that can apply to most clubs.

Carleton

District Governor Russ Jones recognized several club members for their contributions to The Rotary Foundation during his official visit last month.

Vocational Training Team in Tanzania

(Right) Rotarian and Midwife Andrea Cassidy is currently in the Masaai villages in the Siha district of Tanzania with her Vocational Training Team, who are working together with medical professionals through an NGO called PANETA to deliver prenatal and postpartum training.

Plymouth

(Left) During a visit to his home club last month, Governor Russ presented Dr. Chuck Bares with his Major Donor pin.

Windsor-WIDE

(Right) The club inducted three new members in September - Atish Chodha, Izabela Peixoto dos Santos and Caio Lopes e Silva.

Kingsville Southshore

(Left) District Governor Russ helped induct new members Mike and Sonya Donnelly (he’s a transfer, she’s new) during his official visit to the club last month.

Livonia

Club president Jonathan Wennstrom welcomed the club's new member, Layal Boussi, at a September meeting.

Plymouth

District Governor Russ Jones was on hand at his home club last week to induct new member Rachel Ross!

(Right) District Governor-Elect Nick Krayacich and District Governor Nominee Linda Morrow work together during a learning session.

(Below) District Governor Russ strapped into a Zorb ball with 40 other contestants to help raise over $73,000 during the "Bouncing for the Foundation" Zone fundraising event.

(Left) District Governor-Elect Nick Krayacich and his partner Jennifer Jones share a special moment on stage after Saturday evening's "District Governor-Elect class graduation"!

The Rotary Action Group for Community Economic Development (RAGCED) shares technical expertise, best practices, and provides other support to Rotary Clubs throughout the world interested in planning and implementing sustainable economic development projects, visit www.ragced.org to learn more.   

During the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia, RAGCED featured Launch Detroit at their Booth in the House of Friendship for the second year in a row! Visitors to the Booth were able to view, and use the QR Code to scan the Launch Detroit Brochure. 

Since 2012, Launch Detroit has assisted 97 entrepreneurs, and expanded to include the cities of Taylor, Trenton, Riverview, and Southgate, where entrepreneurs with a business or an idea, receive free Business Training, Mentorship, Networking Opportunities, and Micro-Loans. Consider doing business with Launch Detroit entrepreneurs; visit The Marketplace on our website, www.launchdetroit.org.

On July 27^th we conducted an informational Open House at Berke Clinic in Detroit, for entrepreneurs interested in learning more about us. In the coming weeks the Launch Detroit Committee will begin interviewing Applicants for the 2023-24 Class.

If you know an entrepreneur with an idea, who wants to expand their business, or learn more about us, please share our website www.launchdetroit.org; interested entrepreneurs can apply on the website.

Margaret Thorpe Williamson

Chair, Launch Detroit

Immediate Past President RAGCED

Editor Note: There are "Launch" programs in many communities, including "Launch Lenawee." Check out all of the latest news on this great economic development program at THIS LINK!

Plymouth

Over 600 volunteers served more than 10,000 dinners during the club's annual Chicken BBQ September 10th. The coveted boxes include half of a chicken carefully seasoned with secret Rotary spice, an ear of corn locally grown in Ypsilanti, MI and a bag of Michigan’s own Better Made potato chips! (Below) The D-6400 Rotary Youth Exchange students were on hand to help & eat!

Canton

The club recently donated funds to help create the Peace Pole Garden in Heritage Park. The new Peace Pole at Heritage Park is inscribed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 12 languages that represent Canton.  

Kingsville Southshore

DG Russ presented club member Heather Pillon with a meritorious service award during his Governor's official visit September 13th.

Northville

The Rotary Club of Northville hosted its first “Rotary Rewind” September 12th at the Sports Den. "Rotary Rewind" is a satellite club for community members who cannot meet for the club's regular Tuesday noon meeting.

Ro'tryshack Golf Outing

The Windsor-WIDE and Passport to Service clubs teamed up to sponsor their "Ro'tryshack" event September 9th at Orchard View Golf Course. (Below left) "Putt for Polio" raised money for End Polio Now; (Below right) Passport to Service club president Chris Hardy & PDG Michael Duben add some levity to the evening.

Garden City

The club sponsored its "Bounce Back to School" event with Garden City Public Schools.

Club members handed out about 150 Rotary cookies, and promoted the club to those in attendance!

LaSalle-Centennial

Cheers to the club's first trail cleanup for its adopted Rotary trail in LaSalle! Members teamed up with students from @interactclublasalle to clean their adjoining trails from Malden Rd to Brunette Park!

Cottam

The club sponsored its 59th annual Fall Fair & Horse Festival for the community featuring live music, a petting zoo and horsemanship demonstration.

Dearborn

(Right) The club presented a check for $70,000 to the Henry Ford Centennial Library to assist with renovations to the Library's Auditorium.

Windsor-WIDE

(Left) Club members volunteered at Gleaner's and packaged enough dehydrated vegetable soup mix to make 20,000 meals.

(Below) The Windsor-WIDE club also teamed up with Rotary Club of LaSalle Centennial, Rotary Club of Windsor St. Clair and Rotary Club of Kingsville Southshore to build beds for ‘Sleep In Heavenly Peace’ aiding local individuals without beds.

Harrow

Thanks to a generous donation from the Harrow Rotary Club , Essex Fire and Rescue Services will be offering free smoke alarms to residents of the town of Essex.