February 01, 2016 Meeting Bulletin

 
February 01, 2016 Meeting Bulletin
 
Rotary Minutes 
February 1, 2016
Acting President Chris opened the meeting at 12:15p with the Pledge of Allegiance.  After reciting the Four Way Test, Sarah Rappaport led the Club in singing the Star Spangled Banner.  Dave Zimmer gave the invocation.
 
Joe Valentine sold luncheon tickets.  Regan Gilshire sold luncheon tickets (Mike Williamson won the $13 daily pot).  Marie Dowler greeted. Greg Burry, who told us he joined Rotary to work for World Peace, acted as Sheriff. The Club welcomed many guests and visiting Rotarians.  The Bloomfield Hills Rotary Club is sponsoring a trip to the Detroit Public Theatre, Thursday, February 18th. 
 
Charles Wickins announced that he has now sold enough raffle tickets to the Master’s Golf Tournament to break even with six weeks to go.  George Stern reported that Rotary, working with Doug Koschik, delivered a book from the Fall Friend’s of the Library Sale to give a book to every first and second grader at Owen School.  Bill Roy announced that the next dinner at Hope Warming Center will be April 29th.  Linda Hatfield announced that “Third Thursday” will be held on Thursday, February 18th, 5p at Flemings.  President Chris announced that the One Rotary Summit will be held on Saturday, February 20th, 8:30a to 12:30p at Walsh College.  
 
Bob Kenning gave a Rotary Moment of Interest reading from the May 1, 1964 Rotary Bulletin.  That day the Soldiers’ Monument was moved from Greenwood Cemetery to the steps of City Hall.  Originally, the statue was inside a fence at the center of Old Woodward (Saginaw Trail) and Maple Road.  It was moved to Greenwood Cemetery in the 1890’s and was be moved just a few years ago to Shain Park.  It cost $1,600 in 1869 when it was erected by Birmingham Village, Troy, Southfield and Bloomfield.  
 
Nave Grewal introduced Tom Woiwode, Director, Greenways Initiative, a program sponsored by the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan (one of 80 Community Foundations in Michigan and 750 in the U.S.).  Tom has raised over $200 million during his career and was named Green Leader of the Year in 2015.  CFSE Michigan is proud of its “double up food bucks” program which matches SNAP (food stamp) purchases made for fruits or vegetables at Eastern Market.  The initial seed money of $30,000 has grown to the point where the Federal Government will contribute $1 billion to this cause this year.  The CFSE Michigan acted as banker for the DIA privatization.  
 
The Greenway Initiative promotes “more livable, healthier environments”.  It sponsored the Riverwalk and DeQuindre Cut walking trail.  It promotes Greenways in seven counties.  It also provides professional skills for administration.  CFSE Michigan contributed the firsts $35 million which has now grown to $150 million.  The objective is to connect one-third of the 250 communities in the service area with 100 miles of Greenway trails.  It is hoping to purchase the 10-mile abandoned Detroit Connecting rail line to connect the DeQuindre Cut with a trail closer to the Detroit River.  Tom is quite proud of “Tour Detroit” which started with 2 men and now has 8,000 riders in a mid-September tour of Detroit by bicycle.  Every Monday night 3,000 to 4,000 bikers show up someplace in Detroit for a “Slow Roll” bicycle ride.
 
Next week will be a Club Committee presentation.
 
The meeting adjourned at 1:05p.
 
Respectfully submitted,
George Stern