Club Meeting Featuring Carrie Thorpe, Rotary Youth Exchange

Meeting was opened by President Erin Dobbins, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, Sharon Pommerville’s Invocation, and Happy Bucks. Today’s guest was Trey Greene from the Detroit Rotary Club.

Erin called for updates on club’s completed projects and ones coming soon. Online Spaghetti Dinner sales are up from last year to 45 and fifteen ads have been acquired for the placemat. Watch for the SignUpGenius to volunteer for specific jobs at the dinner. Dishwashers are always needed. Don’t forget to bring a dessert. Meatballs and Sausage will be available to purchase this year. Tammy Bonifield reported on the status of the Kids Coalition Against Hunger event on Saturday, Oct. 24. Sponsor letters were sent out and the goal is to raise $17,500.00. Peter Dale commented on the Clement Circle Park gardens (located at 9999 Harrison St. in Livonia) that are being spearheaded by the Schoolcraft Eco Club and the efforts of the following people: Carrie Budzinski and our own club members, Steve Alexander, Tom Martin and Peter Dale.

Nancy Darga reported on the progress at Rotary Park. The additional concrete outside of the pavilion has been completed and the installation of lights is forthcoming. A Giving Committee Meeting has been scheduled for October 26 at 6:00 PM on Zoom.

Attention: Zoom availability for regular club meetings. When the meeting is a Club Assembly, there will be no Zoom available. We encourage members to be in person for the Club Assembly to make the discussion of club business more efficient. Bill Friske shared, in support of the Garden City Rotary Club, that our Livonia AM Club will be setting up and running the sale of beer and wine at Garden City’s Music Bingo fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 5:30‑8:00 PM. Livonia AM members can volunteer for this and also buy a ticket to participate in the Bingo game.

Our speaker today was Carrie Thorpe, the Chair of District 6400’s Youth Exchange Program; a position she has held for the last five years. Carrie is a member of the Heinz Park Rotary Club who will celebrate their 10th anniversary on Oct. 24, 2026. Carrie is no stranger to sponsoring students from abroad and has hosted 10 students in her home. The core goals of the program are to promote global understanding, leadership development, language acquisition, and peace as goodwill ambassadors. Applicants are aged 15‑18, are placed for one year in 2‑3 different homes abroad and are sponsored by a Rotary Club in Southeast Michigan or Southern Ontario. The cost to the student’s biological family is about $7,500 plus the cost of airfare, and no cost to the local Rotary Club. The Livonia AM Club has been looking to become involved in the exchange program but has not had a student apply for the program in their area. Currently, Carrie reported that there are 8 outbound applicants eligible for the program in 2028. That means there is a need for 8 families to host inbound students from abroad. Carrie emphasised the lifelong impact the Exchange Program has on the lives of the participants. And lastly, Carrie talked about the need for YEO/YEC Rotarians who will work closely to advocate for the students involved in the Exchange Program. Livonia AM Club members stayed afterward to ask Carrie additional questions about the Exchange Program.

Victoria Haltom

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