Events

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. 

Maria Woloson (League President) and Geri Rinchler (3rd Vice President, Community Engagement) are representatives of the League of Women Voters, Oakland Area. Their presentation will cover information about the voting proposals approved in the 2022 Michigan election. 

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. The orgization never supports or opposes any political party or candidate. The League of Women Voters Oakland Area serves 60 communities and 27 school districts in Oakland County, Michigan. It is one of two local Leagues in Oakland County. The other is the League of Women Voters Troy Area. 

Geri Rinschler has been a member of the League of Women Voters since 1996. She is the former President of the League of Women Voters Oakland Area and current Vice- President of Community Engagement. Prior to joining the League board in 2017, Geri served on the Birmingham Board of Education from 1996-2016. She was also part of the founding boards of the Birmingham Community Coalition, the Birmingham Education Foundation, and the Women Officials Network Foundation.

Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is an award-winning Metro Detroit-based editor, journalist and documentary filmmaker. She is the founder, publisher, and editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup with a mission to produce quality climate, equity, health and environment journalism in the public interest that centers grassroots voices, holds power accountable, spotlights solutions + serves the community.

Since its inception in 2019, Planet Detroit has won awards and recognition from the Society for Professional Journalists Detroit, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and LION Publishers.

Before her career in journalism, she worked in urban planning in local government and nonprofit sectors. She has a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Join us for a presentation by Kelly Stubbe who has been the Executive Director of the Birmingham YMCA since July 2022. She will share an update on our local Y's actviities, recent successes, and future plans. 

Kelly Stubbe serves as an Executive Director within the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and advances the Y's mission through effective operations, ongoing staff and volunteer development, and community collaboration. She has been with the Y Movement since 2011 and started her journey as so many do, a Day Camp Counselor!  Kelly is also a board member for our Birmingham Rotary Club. 

SERVICE PROJECT: We will serve dinner at the Hope Warming Center. Volunteers must register in advance with project lead Bill Roy. 

CHEER ON THE RED WINGS!  Rotarians are people of service but we love having fun too!  On March 21, in place of the usual Third Thursday meet up, we have secured a block of tickets for the Red Wings game. 

There's nothing more that we like than to enjoy the night with as many Rotarians and friends of Rotarians as possible.  Maybe a few of the friends might like what they see, and become Rotarians themselves!

Mark Sackett, General Manager, is a Birmingham resident who assisted his dad coaching baseball at Birmingham Seaholm High School in the late 1980's where they won Seaholm's first and only Baseball State Championship in 1988 as depicted in the book The Miracle Maples by TC Cameron.  Mark formed a nonprofit baseball organization in 2005 and coached many players in his career including DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees and Birmingham resident who helped Mark by lending him money for the refurbishment of Royal Oak Memorial Park at 13 Mile and Woodward.  Mark operated the Royal Oak Leprechauns for three years in a mid-level college league and with much success they were invited to join the prestigious Northwoods Summer Collegiate league that has 26 teams, spans across 3 time zones, has had over 340 players move on to play major league baseball like Curtis Granderson and Max Scherzer.  

Kurt Borngesser, Director of Sales, is a lifelong Royal Oak resident who raised two kids through Royal Oak Schools and college.  Kurt coached multi sports with his kids, but mostly baseball while he ran his own retails business.  He recently sold his business and joined the Leprechauns as their Director of Sales.

The Leprechauns open their season on May 27th at Memorial Park where you can get your "Treat Seat" tickets for 36 of their 72 games in 75 days.

Learn more about the Leprechauns, https://northwoodsleague.com/royal-oak-leprechauns/2023/12/19/about-the-nwl/

Rank MI Vote is a Michigan-based volunteer-run, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to educating the Michigan public about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), and placing before voters electoral reforms that increase the range of choices on the ballot while producing fairer outcomes.

Ron Zimmerman is a board member of Rank MI Vote. 

Jeffrey Imerman has a diverse background and passionate committment to his community. He is the co-founder of CLOZTALK and is a board member of Imerman Angels, an organization founded by his brother. 

Leslie Touma is the founder and CEO of Freekeh Harvest, a woman-owned inventor and producer of high-protein pita chips using a unique and ancient grain. Leslie will speak about her entrepreneurial journey and the challenges and opportunities of introducing a unique product into a snack food market often dominated by large national players. 

https://freekehharvest.com/about/

Mark Mals is the Executive Director, Mercy Education Project – Detroit. 

Through studying philosophy and art history at Michigan State University, Mark Mals discovered truth and beauty. Through numerous volunteer opportunities within the city of Detroit, while earning an M.Div. from Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Mark was exposed to the suffering and humanity in the world. Through years of teaching theology and philosophy at Detroit Loyola High School and the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, Mark encountered the potential in others. Through his family, and all others he encounters, Mark realizes that treating others with kindness, compassion, and love is just a better way to live. Following many years of tutoring young girls at Mercy Education Project (MEP) in southwest Detroit, Mark found his way to becoming MEP’s executive director in 2021. Mark is passionate about helping women and girls live in a world immersed in equality and equity, just as intended.

Linda Kozianowski is the Director of Development for Easterseals MORC. She is dedicated to spreading the word about Easterseals MORC and what the organizaiton does. Linda values every opporutnity to educate the community about the individuals served by Easterseals MORC.  Even if you do not need the services of Easterseals MORC you may know someone who does, and that is what drives her mission.  

The mission of Easterseals MORC is to lead the way to 100% equity, inclusion, and access for people with disabilities, families, and communities. We value individuals for their different talents, backgrounds, identities, cultures, experiences,  and abilities, and are committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that encourages and values diversity where respect, appreciation, equality, and inclusion are core values. 

Easterseals assists more than one million children and adults with disabilities and their families annually through a nationwide network of more than 450 service sites. Each center provides top-quality, family-focused and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the particular community it serves.

Professor Bell has been a resident of Birmingham for a little over 76 years and he and his wife have lived on Pleasant Street in Birmingham for 49 years. 

Academic Career at University of Michigan: A Harvey Bell, IV is one of the College’s first Professor of Engineering Practice and also serves as the Co-director of the Multidisciplinary Design Program. He comes back to college after a 39 year career in the automotive industry with General Motors. During his career with General Motors some of his significant positions were: Chief Engineering, 2.5 Liter Engine, Vehicle Chief Engineer, 4th Generation Camaro and Firebird, Executive Director, Advanced Vehicle Development Center for North America. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and undertook undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan-Dearborn.

100 Ways, 100 Years

Our Club is excited to celebrate its 100th Anniversary with a Celebration Dinner event that will recognize Rotary's impact on our community. Event tickets are on sale and sponsorships, program book ads, and silent auction donations are all being accpeted. All proceeds from the event will support our Club's three anniversary service projects. Learn more about the event and how you can participate on the 100th Anniversary Event. 

(updated as of 2024-03-25)

Peggy Kerr is the Community Engagement Manager and Development Officer for Judson Center. She has been at the agency for almost 11 years working with volunteers, supporters and donors to support their mission. She is proud to be a part of team that serves our community in foster care, autism, adults with disabilities, and behavioral health, among many other programs the agency offers. Judson Center is turning 100 this year, and she is excited to share some of the rich history, along with present day programs that are impacting and serving our shared communities.

Judson Center