Club Meeting, Featuring: Samantha Lewis, Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce "Ambassador of the Year"

Our meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an Invocation by Reverend Dave Stechholz, and Happy Bucks by Sharon Pommerville.

A nice "Thank You" note from ShelterBox was read and passed around. Reverend Dave reported that it is National Ice Cream Cone Day today, which prompted several members to respond that any day is an ice cream cone day! Dave brought cucumbers from his garden for members to have. Thank you, Dave!

Condolences to the Darga family on the passing of Nancy's mother-in-law.

Our club received a special request from District 6380 to participate in a Paws for Polio to be held at Rotary Park on September 27th. They would like us to set-up a canopy to promote our initiative to Rebuild Rotary Park. The organizers have a lot of fun activities planned for dogs and their owners that day. See attached flyer for more information.

Tammy Bonifield was excited to inform our club that a very generous check was received from a Charles Swab investor as a donation to Rebuild Rotary Park.

Rebuild Rotary Park financial update is $26,937, which includes $1,036 from our Livonia Spree Wine Tasting event.

Bob Carris reported on the progress of the ultrasound machine that we purchased. It is now waiting for the person to pick up and personally deliver to the clinic in Cameroon.

Bob also informed the club that Touch A Truck is progressing nicely. A Ladies' Parachute Jump Team will take place at 11:30 AM, and the Army Reserve Helicopter that we've been trying to secure for three years might land at the event.

Claude Kendrick signed up club members to help with Touch A Truck, where they worked before, but check the Signup Genius to make sure you're listed to work.

Future events: Livonia's Good Old-Fashioned Neighborhood Corn Roast, September 7th, District Governor's Golf Outing, September 8th at Lakes of Taylor, and our Spaghetti Dinner Community Fundraiser for Polio, on October 22nd.

Our speaker for today is Samantha Lewis, Livonia-Westland Chamber of Commerce "Ambassador of the Year".

Samantha said she sees a lot of us at events throughout the town. She started volunteering at a young age, during her time in Brownies and Girl Scouts.

Once you start volunteering, it seems that you keep volunteering. She has so many interests that she always finds some area that could use her help.

Samantha passed out a worksheet that she was introduced to at a leadership conference. This kept the members involved for a while, with members working hard. The lesson from this was the power of the first instinct. Not listening and following instructions. Determine what you are passionate about and get involved in something meaningful.

Samantha was joined today by her mother, Caroline Lewis, an active community volunteer herself.

Greg Greene ended the program with some dad jokes.

Susan Paluchniak