November 2, 2015 Meeting Bulletin

 
November 2, 2015 Meeting Bulletin
 
Rotary Minutes 
November 2, 2015
 
Acting President Chris opened the meeting at 12:15p with the Pledge of Allegiance.  After reciting the Four Way Test, visiting Rotarian from Detroit Russ Ives led the Club in singing The Star Spangled Banner.  An invocation was given by Chuck Gosh who reminded us that the Four Way Test is a guide to how we should live our lives.  AP Chris informed the Club that President Jim Conley is out of the ICU at Beaumont Hospital and is now allowed to receive visitors.
 
Regan Gilshire sold luncheon tickets.  John Mucha sold raffle tickets (Chuck Gosh won the $20 daily pot and Tom Waffen the $85 raffle pot).  Regan Gilshire greeted.  Linda Hatfield acted as Sheriff.  The Club welcomed Dr. Henry Maiki, the President of the West Bloomfield Club.
 
Dave Palmer announced that, due to the strong dollar, the club’s fund to build a well in Uganda will now buy two wells.  Larry Sherman has challenged the Club to donate to the Rotary Foundation to Stop Polio by offering to match any donation made this year.
 
Next Monday the Club will celebrate exchange student Jose Mukarsel’s birthday with cake and a gift.  Joe Valentine invited everyone to assist in planting trees this Saturday at Manor Park.  Bill Roy asked for help in providing, by cooking or money, a main course for the visit to Hope Warming Center November 11th.  Monday, November 16th is visitor’s day.  Bring a prospective member.  The former Miss Pennsylvania in the Miss America contest will speak. The Club sang Happy Birthday to Doug Koshik.
 
Club Secretary Mark Anderson gave out perfect attendance pendants to attach top Rotary lapel pins:  Bob Swanson (55 years), George Stern (14 years), John Mucha (13 years), Joe Bauman (10 years) – 16 total.
 
John Schrot introduced past member Robert Gibbs.  For more than three decades, Gibbs Planning Group has been a leader in sustainable urban planning.  He has recived a Distinguished Alumni Award from Oakland University and is the author of “Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development”.  
 
Bob started his talk by explaining the history of planning in Birmingham starting with the original layout based on the Jeffersonian grid 300’ x 300’.  As a result of the 1920’s plan, the Village of Birmingham acquired houses and land to build Shain Park, City Hall, the Baldwin Library and the Community House.  Urban planner Arthur Comey instituted the plan for locating schools.  
 
In 1996, Andres Duany, with Bob on the team, developed the 2016 Plan.  Almost all of the 300 suggestions were followed, a rare rate of acceptance.  For example, the City adopted a unified green color for all signs.  Five story buildings would be allowed in place of the former limit of two story with retail on the first floor rather than parking, then two floors of commercial and two floors of residential with the top floor set back to appear as an attic.  All windows must be rectangular with the former horizontal strip windows not permitted   More liquor licenses would be allowed.  Streets would be narrowed to slow traffic and make the City more walkable.  
 
The City still has many challenges, particularly with the Rail and Triangle districts.  It would be advisable to initiate a 2036 plan.  
 
The Club ended the meeting by singing Smiles.  Next week’s speaker will be Elizabeth Luckenbach, as attorney with Jaffe Law.
 
The meeting adjourned at 1:15p.
 
Respectfully submitted,
George Stern