Events

AGENDA

Presentation of potential service projects to fund with proceeds from the 100th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign. 

Zoom link will be sent by Doug. 

Ms. Goyette will speak to the Club about the programs, activities, and community impact of the Stage Nature Center, located in Troy. The mission of the  Stage Nature Center is to provide resources and education to inspire the appreciation and preservation of nature. Specifically, the objectives of the society are to:

• Provide healthy outdoor experiences and educational activities for individuals of all ages.
• Create an understanding of the value and necessity of stewardship of our natural environment.
• Preserve and protect the Stage Nature Center for future generations.

The Birmingham Club hosts Third Thursday events as an opportunity for members, prospective members, and friends of Rotary to gather for an evening of socializing and fellowship. Participants pay for their drinks and food. 

Location: Sidecar Slider Bar, 117 Willits St, Birmingham

Host: Michelle Devine

Since 2021, Dr. Embekka Roberson has been the Superintendent of the Birmingham Public Schools. She has been with BPS since 2008, having served as Harlan Elementary Principal from 2008 to 2017 and Groves High School Principal from 2017 to 2020. Prior to her position as Superintendent, Dr. Roberson served as the BPS Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning and Inclusion. She has experience at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and holds a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Wayne State University. 

All Club members are invited and encrouaged to attend the planning meetings for our 100th Anniversary Celebration event that is scheduled for the evening of May 9, 2024 at the Kingsley Inn. The September 25 planning meeting will be held in-person immediately following the regular membership meeting. 

District 6380 Rotary Members and Friends are invited to a special webinar hosted by District Governor Collyer Smith. 

Rotarians Make a Difference on Mental Health 

Sadly, mental health concerns have become more and more common. So, what can we do? I am so very pleased to announce that Rotary International President Gordon McInally, will be joining us on a very special Mental Health Webinar:

Tuesday, October 10th from 7:00-8:30 PM ET

Join us for a work session at Earthworks Urban Farm. PLEASE email Michelle Devine (michelle.d.devine@gmail.com) by noon on Wednesday, October 11 if you intend to participate. Details: 

On-site contact: Wendy Casey, Community Outreach Specialist / 313-579-2100 x2204 // Tyler will direct voluteers for their shift.

Parking and Entrance: The site address is 2128 Meldrum, Detroit MI. There is street parking on Meldrum and in the alley along the side of the lot. Please do not park in the alley directly behind Gleaners Community Food Bank. Once parked, come around to the back of Gleaners Community Bank where you will be greeted by a staff member. Please report to Tyler. 

Please be advised that tasks are subject to change due to weather conditions and/or to the rate at which tasks are completed.

Please wear comfortable clothing and long pants that you don't mind getting dirty. Closed-toe shoes are required. We also highly recommend that you bring a reusable water bottle with enough water to last for the 2-hour shift, a hat with a brim to keep the sun out of your face and maybe some sun block. We work rain or shine so dressing for the weather is recommended. This event is subject to cancellation due to unfavorable weather conditions.  Registrants will be notified of event cancellation.

John Barrie is Founder of the Appropriate Technology Collaborative, a nonprofit that designs affordable, sustainable, technologies for the world’s poorest people in Guatemala.  John is an Architect and Mathematician, he has also been an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Michigan.   
 
John is co-founder of Mayan Power and Light, a program in Guatemala that teaches Mayan women about solar power, and creates Mayan woman owned social venture businesses.  Mayan Power and Light was recognized by the United Nations Compact for Sustainable Development as one of the top 100 sustainable enterprises world-wide.    

The Birmingham Club hosts Third Thursday events as an opportunity for members, prospective members, and friends of Rotary to gather for an evening of socializing and fellowship. Participants pay for their own drinks and food. 

Location: TBD

Host: Carol Peterson

Andrea Scobie has more than 15 years experience as an Arts Administrator and Arts Educator working in Detroit. Andrea will speak about the arts sector in Detroit with a wider lense of how organizations are doing overall, emerging challenges, and bright spots within the sector.  

Michigan is lucky to have so many terrific parks and natural areas! Benjamin Prowse, Parks Naturalist, and Donna Folland, Supervisor of Parks and Recreation Planning will join us to talk about Oakland County Parks and Recreation. 

Oakland County Parks and Recreation operate 14-parks throughout Oakland County, with several more to be activated in the coming weeks, months, and years. During this presentation, we will share some new initiatives, new-old parks that we will be operating, and improvements we're hopeful to see. We'll wrap up the presentation with a brief introduction to Nature Education opportunities provided by Oakland County Parks and Recreation.

Amber DeLind, Membership & Engagement Director

Amber stewards relationships with readers for Bridge Michigan and with all individual investors in the work of the Center for Michigan. Previously, Amber led the public engagement team at the Center for Michigan, worked on college access and success grant programs for the Michigan Nonprofit Association and completed two years of national service as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Dearborn and in Lansing. Originally from St. Johns, Amber is a proud alum of Michigan State University (BA) and Grand Valley State University (MPA) and recently completed a nonprofit leadership fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School. A current resident of Farmington, Amber was named one of Oakland County's 40 under 40 in 2020. She resides with her husband, daughter, and dog Coney (AKA Truth Dog). You can reach her at adelind@bridgemi.com.

Jackquelyn Garrett, Fund Development Associate

Jackquelyn manages data systems and supports fundraising efforts for the Center. Previously, Jackquelyn has served as a Program Manager at Michigan Community Resources where she convened Metro Detroit nonprofits and provided capacity-building services related to fundraising and program design and implementation. Prior to working at Michigan Community Resources, she led college access initiatives at the Detroit Regional Chamber and served as a staff member for a member of the Detroit City Council. A native Detroiter, Jackquelyn is a passionate advocate for equitable opportunity expansion for Michiganians. Jackquelyn is a proud graduate of Wayne State University where she majored in Public Affairs. She can be found biking and kayaking in Michigan’s bountiful state parks. You can reach her at jgarrett@centerformichigan.org.

Kathy Tosoian is the Director of Educational Services & Youth Development at Dale Carnegie Training of Southeast, Michigan. She has been a certified Dale Carnegie Instructor for 30 years, teaching and mentoring youth and adults, helping people of all ages to gain self-confidence, improve their communication skills, strengthen their relationships, build leadership skills, and manage stress and worry. These skills are critical to living an intentional life with a positive and healthy mental outlook and vibrant spirit!  

Team Turkey is a multi-Club project that delivers meal kits to low-income families in Oakland and Macomb Counties. the 2023 website is active: https://www.rotaryteamturkey.com/. This year our goal is to register and serve 240 families. 

We need volunteers to particiate in one of three ways: 

1. Deliver meals on Thanksgiving morning. Generally, this activity concludes by about 11:00 AM.
2. Make a donation to purchase the meals. The Rotary Club of Troy is the fiscal agent for this project and donations for Team Turkey are designated for this project. If we exceed our fundraising goal for 2023, the additionall dollars are rolled over to support Team Turkey in 2024.
3. Help identify families who would benefit from a Thanksgiving meal delivery. 

If you want to participate, please go directly to the Team Turkey 2023 website to register as a driver, make a donation, or sign up a family. https://www.rotaryteamturkey.com/  

Participating Rotary Clubs for 2023 Team Turkey are:

• Birmingham
• Lakes Area
• Sterling Heights
• Troy
• West Bloomfield

Ruchita Patel and Michelle Devine are the Birmingham Club leads for Team Turkey 2023. Reach out to one of us if you have questions. 

Dr. Vaibhav Diwadkar is a professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine, Psychiartry and Behavorial Neurosciences at Wayne State University. 

We will gather to in fellowship to celebrate the holidays on Monday, December 6. The meeting requires a RSVP and meal selection that need to be communicated to Marsha Kovacs. The cost per person is $25 and Club Members are welcome to bring a spouse, partner, or friend. We will not have a full business meeting. Lunch service will begin promptly with salads pre-set on the tables. A performance by a vocal quartet will begin at 12:30 as we are fininshing lunch. The luncheon and performance will conclude at 1:15. 

Performers Our singers are assoicated with Van Maanen Studios, led by soprano Katrina Van Maanen and include Sarah Paquet (alto), Brian LeDuc (tenor), and Mike Rowan (bass). The performance will include music of the season appropriate for a diverse audience and a sing-along or two. Katrina and her friends maintain active performance and teaching schedules and frequently perform at the Eagle Tavern at Henry Ford for its Holiday Nights Dinner events   https://katrinavanmaanen.com/

More information coming soon!

This year's Tweener will be on Weednesday, December 27, at noon at the Brown Iron Brewhouse at 13 & Woodward. It is open to members and guests. 

Mary Howlett is the Marketing Manager for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.   

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, Inc. was formed as a 501 (c) (3) with the mission of developing access on the Detroit International Riverfront. The entire vision is 5 ½ miles of Riverfront property, from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge, and will include the construction of a continuous RiverWalk along with plazas, pavilions and green spaces. The Conservancy is responsible for the improvement, operations, maintenance and programming of the Detroit International Riverfront in perpetuity.

In honor of MLK Day, the Club will be paricipating in a service project at Gleaners in the morning. All volunteers welcome. Email the Club for more information. 

This is our Club's annual service project for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We need 20 volunteers and will be working at Gleaners Community Food Bank, South Campus Distribution Center. Rotary members and friends are all welcome! Every participant must register their participation with Gleaners using this link, 

Registration Link:   http://birminghamrotary.gcfb.volunteerhub.com/

More information coming soon! 

Joni Zieldorff is the Executive Director of the Michigan Association for Infant and Mental Health. She recieved her Masters in Social Work from Michigan State University. 

A nonprofit organization and leader in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health leverages collective expertise, resources, and networks to create a more comprehensive and integrated approach to promote the social-emotional well-being and early relational health of Michigan’s infants and young children.  

Their work includes:

(1) partnering and supporting the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health workforce through inclusive and accessible professional development efforts.

(2) working closely with state agencies, such as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Education, and the Office of Great Start among others. These collaborations aim to align efforts and policies related to early childhood mental health services. 

Organization website: Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health 

The Zekelman Holocaust Center is on schedule to finish its significant renovation project in early 2024. Harry will speak to the Club about how the renovations will help the Center transform the future of Holocaust education. 

Transforming the Future of Holocaust Education

The Zekelman Holocaust Center’s core exhibit is undergoing a complete renovation. The renovated core exhibit will elevate Michigan survivor voices in the telling of one of the most horrific events in world history by utilizing:

• The latest historical research on and facts about the Holocaust
• Cutting-edge exhibit technology, design, lighting, and fabrication
• Interactive and carefully curated learning experiences

Our new guided tours will align with best practices in museum education and, following our goal of getting guests safely in and safely out of the museum, updated galleries will feature zones for reflection and inquiry.

Learn more at the renovations here: https://youtu.be/KtXslpSxyTc?si=jIJcrtnxewKEBKaN 

Lisa McCallum is the Chief Lending Officer of Michigan Women Forward, a statewide nonprofit and CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) with a mission to expand economic opportunity for women and entrepreneurs of color and to celebrate the accomplishments of Michigan women.

Lisa oversees Michigan Women Forward’s lending and programming division. She and the Women’s Entrepreneurial Initiative team work to lift up entrepreneurs by providing capital and deploying grants to fund or grow small businesses. Her team’s focus on increasing economic empowerment includes providing comprehensive financial education and workshops that focus on hot topics for emerging entrepreneurs, advocacy, and support throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

Lisa’s career spans more than 25 years in the banking and financial services industry, with a specific focus on small business banking and has been marked by significant roles, including Vice President positions at financial institutions such as Comerica Bank, Huntington Bank, and KeyBank. Lisa has professional certifications in Business and Commercial Lending and Small Business Banking from the American Bankers Association. Beyond professional endeavors, Lisa has channeled her passion for fostering the growth of small businesses into meaningful community service for organizations such as Hatch Detroit, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, Motor City Match, ProsperUs Detroit, and the New Economy Initiative. Presently, Lisa serves on the Board of the Detroit CDFI Coalition.

For more than 20 years, ShelterBox has provided shelter and other essential items to the most vulnerable forced from their homes by disaster and conflict. It is currently responding to the crisis in Ukraine, setting up multiple relief programs both inside and outside Ukraine, to help the more than 3 million refugees who have fled Ukraine, and the millions who remain internally displaced within the country.  

Bill Decker is a ShelterBox Ambassador and member of the ShelterBox Response Team, a group of highly trained volunteers who are often among the first to deploy following disasters. He is also a former member of the ShelterBox USA Board of Directors. 

Ray Swetman's presentation will share information about Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan (RTSEMI).  The mission of Rebuilding together is Repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives. It is a non-profit dedicated to providing Healthy and Safe Housing for low-income homeowners; focusing on veterans and seniors. 

Ray is currently the homeowner advisor and volunteer Team Captain with Rebuilding Together Southeast Michigan. These roles include interviewing low-income homeowners and providing home evaluation reports for Rebuilding Together scope of work plans and he leads teams of volunteers performing home repairs.

Ray's professional career encompasses over 40 years of global automotive aftermarket senior management experience with several key automotive suppliers. Mr. Swetman holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University.
He is a Master Historical Presenter and Special Events Cast Member at The Henry Ford, Greenfield Village since 2017.