Club Meeting, Featuring: Judge Kathleen McCann, 16th District Court of Michigan

Livonia A.M. Rotary Club President, Nancy Darga, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the Invocation by Bob Carris. 18 were in attendance, including 3 Zoomers, with Guests: Kathleen McCann (speaker), Trey Greene (Detroit Rotary), Drew Buatti, and Jacki Graham (Livonia Noon Rotary).

Dave Burton shared a Dr. Suess quote: “Today you are YOU, that is truer than TRUE. There is no one alive who is YOUER than YOU.” [Next week’s Speaker is Samantha Lewis, Livonia Chamber of Commerce "Ambassador of the Year", with Invocation by Rev. David Stechholz].

Things to note: Five Mile Road Clean-up, this Saturday, July 19^th at 8:30 a.m. More volunteers are welcome to help out. Board of Directors Meeting is Wednesday, July 30th, following our Club

gathering, with the Club Assembly on August 6th. Our theme in Rotary this 2025-2026 is “Unite for Good,” with Francesca from Italy as our new RI President.]

TODAY’S SPEAKER: The Honorable Kathleen McCann, District 16 Court Judge (retired). Judge Emeritus (retired) McCann shared her family background, values, and work-ethic, which was formative for her and her siblings.

Getting a good education was paramount. Interestingly, this was Kathleen’s very first time attending a Rotary meeting.

She was at one-time a Livonia Junior High School Teacher, which humorously prepared her well for being a Wayne County prosecutor in the juvenile division. The soft-spoken judge shared some heart-rending stories that revealed great mental illness and abuse, which plagues our nation. She took over her late father’s judgeship seat of the District 16 Court in January 1995, retiring just this year and succeeded by elected Judge Jim Jolly.

Judge McCann shared that her last year on the bench was a tough year, having to deal with a “Sovereign Citizens” individual. She mentioned that we have a desperate need in Michigan for psychiatric help and hospitals for people in need.

Following her talk and Q & A...

• Wayne Kinney & Erin Dobbins gave a brief report on the Wine-Tasting Event at the Livonia Spree. Next year we will invite more corporate sponsors for the event.

• President Nancy made some comments: As LAMR Rotarians, we are “people of action.” We need to be telling of successful events on our LAMR Website, Facebook, and Instagram. She also expressed gratitude to the Livonia Noon Rotary Club.

• PP Dave Stechholz noted that there will be a Wed. evening, July 30^th, 7 p.m. World Polio Day Spaghetti Dinner Committee meeting at Deanna & Ron Gaffney’s house. The World Polio Day Community Spaghetti Dinner is set for Wed., October 22^nd, at Christ our Savior Lutheran Church’s gym.

Today’s Greg Greene’s Jokes were judged “bad.” However, he got off with a light sentence, which was then followed by the recitation of the Four-Way-Test. Nancy rang the bell.

David Stechholz