Club Meeting Field Trip to Greenmead's Historic Quaker Meeting House

13 Livonia A.M. Rotary Club members attended today’s off-site meeting/field trip to Greenmead and the Quaker Meeting House. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Peter Dale, himself a Quaker, gave the Invocation. Sharon Pommerville collected Happy Bucks, and a letter of thanks from honorary member Joanna Hardesty was read.

President Erin Dobbins reported on the great Rotary District 6400 event of the Gordie Howe Bridge Walk, and she and Tammy Bonifield shared on the District & Zone Cancun trip. Peter Dale then shared about the Quaker movement in the USA and how Michigan got Quaker settlers via the Erie Canal in New York (1825). He mentioned Livonia and Farmington, NY, and the Quakers who brought those names to our area. The Quaker Meeting House, formerly at 7 Mile and Farmington, was moved to Greenmead 30 years ago. The two doors were for men’s and women’s entrances in the 19th C., with a wall in between for separate meetings, though they worshiped God together. Of course, that changed. Quakers work on consensus, hence very long meetings, focusing on social justice issues.

Business items: 

• Possible involvement with next year’s Tour de Livonia before the Corn Roast. TBD.
  

• Spaghetti Dinner – October 28th. Placemat sponsorships needed.

• Cul-Ex event at Schoolcraft College, October 22nd. Tickets: $250/person.

  

• Possible raffle with the Livonia Noon Rotary Club. TBD.

  

• The Sibley Prairie project was mentioned as a fundraising opportunity for it. TBD.

  

In the presence of all present, we had a quick LAMR Foundation Board meeting, followed by approval of funds for helping to start a new Rotary club.

Following the Four-Way Test, we had a brief LAMR Board meeting.

• No report from the Giving Committee.

• Kathleen Pierz was approved as a new club member, transferring in.

• The LAMR By-laws need updating. We had the opportunity during the meeting to review them and suggest changes, which will be reviewed and compiled. More, TBD.

• Then everyone went outside for a group picture, Kathleen taking one of the pics, and then some of the group went to see the gardens that we’ve been working on at Greenmead.

Editor’s Notes: See the District 6400 October Newsletter – You’ll find Sharon Pommerville, Erin Dobbins, and Tammy Bonifield from our Club in the pictures. (Bill Friske should have been included with the District Golf Outing pics. Oh, well!) … See RI President Yinka’s touching lead article in the October Rotary magazine.

– Dave Stechholz, taker of the notes

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