Club Meeting Featuring Debra Harshaw, The Great Pollinator Challenge

President Erin Dobbins opened the meeting with the ringing of the Dick Hedke Award bell, the Pledge of Allegiance, and an Invocation delivered by Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence, dressed in 1776 clerical garb and representing New Jersey.

Twenty LAMR Rotarians, guests, and four Zoom attendees were present.

Two weeks’ worth of Happy Bucks were joyfully collected by Sharon Pommerville, with many stories and promotions shared. We especially celebrated the strong turnout of LAMR members at the June 30th “Meet the Governor Night” in Harrow, Ontario.

Drew Buatti, President‑Elect of our sister Livonia Rotary Club, reported on the two clubs’ joint effort to grill hot dogs and distribute the Declaration of Independence scrolls for the July 8th Livonia Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration. Tammy Bonifield invited everyone to her Irish Hills Iron Lake cottage for the annual party on Saturday, July 11th — complete with food, beverages, jet skis, cornhole, and plenty of fun!

Up‑Coming: LAMR and other volunteers are needed for next Saturday’s 5 Mile Road Clean‑up, starting at 8:30 a.m. on July 18th, followed by breakfast/brunch at Sam’s.

President Erin introduced our Zoom speaker, Rotarian Debra Harshaw from the Windsor-St. Clair Rotary Club, District Governor Kim Spirou’s co‑chair (along with Erin) on the District 6400 “Great Pollinator Challenge.” Our club is participating through our Greenmead garden project, especially the garden near the Newburg Church. Debra explained the concept of building a pollinator pathway using a wide range of plants, supported by her PowerPoint presentation. She addressed the key question: Why are we doing this? Answer: There is a critical decline in global pollinators (butterflies, bees, etc.). We must provide essential food, shelter, and habitat; one‑third of our food is pollinator‑generated. She discussed invasive species and showed native plants that support pollinators across all three growing seasons. She emphasized educating students and children: Do not harm pollinators.

We concluded with the Rotary Four‑Way Test of the things we think, say, and do.

From: Witherspoon, at your service