Jane Fisher, Development Coordinator, Methodist Children's Home Society

Today’s meeting was presided over by President Nancy Darga with an Invocation by Victoria Haltom. Correspondence included an invitation to Plymouth Rotary’s dueling banjo event on October 24th, to raise funds to End Polio. 

Correspondence included an invitation to Plymouth Rotary’s dueling banjo event on October 24th, to raise funds to End Polio. 

Our Rotary Park Rebuild Project received $250.00 from the Saline Rotary Club in District 6380. 

The Spaghetti Dinner is fast approaching on October 22nd. There is still time to get sponsors for a spot on the placemats, sign up to volunteer and bring a dessert. 

The Senior Center is closing its doors on November 12th. That means that the Livonia AM Rotary Club must find a new home for meetings and storage. The new Senior Center can provide minimum storage and wants to charge to rent out a room each week. Other options are being investigated. Susan Paluchniak volunteered a part of her garage for storage, and Larry Stephens has a temporary room for meetings at his church. Bill Friske and Tammy Bonifield volunteered to clean out the storage room at the old Senior Center. The TV from the room is ours to take.

Rebuild Rotary Park received $300,000 from the State, but the city says that is not enough to cover the proposed cost of the project if everything is going to be replaced as it was before the damage. The city has suggested installing three unisex stalls in the bathrooms.

Pat Zucal continues to work on upgrading the Membership Directory. A photographer is still needed to take new headshots.

Bill Friske has been working on setting up a new Google Account for the club’s Digital Archive Project.

Today’s speaker was Jane Fisher, Developer and Coordinator for the Methodist Children’s Home Society located on Six Mile in Redford. The Livonia AM Club has been previously involved with the Methodist Home as we organise a soccer game and dinner for the kids each year, thanks to our Rotary member David Burton who runs the soccer camp. This year’s game and dinner is scheduled for October 29 from 6-8 PM.

Jane was a speaker at our club meeting earlier this year, speaking about her role as Director of Livonia’s 2025 Spree. Jane was appointed her role with the Methodist Children’s Home in July of 2025. Currently the Methodist Home houses 18 boys, ages 9-18 years. There are nine cottages. The Home has served the community since 1917. The organization runs 19 programs, from housing to mental health and community resources. Their Mission is to provide individualized treatment, care, advocacy and permanency to children and families impacted by childhood trauma. Funding comes from grants and donations.

Several Livonia AM Club members volunteered at the Kids Coalition Against Hunger Meal Packing Event on October 11th. Tammy, who is instrumental in organizing and supervising this event, reported that 40,000 meals were packed and an estimated $17,500 was raised. Congratulations to a successful outcome for this event. 

It’s not all work and no play—Livonia AM members will meet at a cider mill on Oct. 16 and several will be attending the D6400 District Foundation Dinner as well as breakfast at George's Senate Coney Island on Haggerty in November.

Victoria Haltom