Member Spotlight Featuring, Peter Dale

Today’s meeting was led by President‑Elect Wayne Kinney, since President Erin Dobbins and Treasurer Tammy Bonifield are in Cancun soaking up the sun and learning new ways to become more effective Rotarians. Two special guests at today’s meeting were Kathleen Pierz and Cheryl Sheffer. Kathleen has applied for a membership transfer from Colorado to the Livonia AM Club, and Cheryl is considering completing an application to become a Rotarian. We also welcome back Pastor Dave Stechholz from his European travels, celebrating his anniversary with his wife, Janet.

Last week Rotary activities were abundant, and kudos to all members who participated and helped make the week enjoyable and successful. Several Rotarians attended the social night at Schoolcraft’s Grill, golfed or worked at the Lakes of Taylor District Golf fundraiser, or cooked and served hot dogs, drinks, and bananas at the Good Old Fashioned Corn Roast. Special thanks to Erin Dobbins, Tammy Bonifield, and Bill Friske for the extra mile they went to make these events really special. All in all, Rotary was out, about, and visible.

Bob Carris, Claude Kendrick, Erin Dobbins, Nancy Darga, and Tammy Bonifield had a Touch a Truck wrap‑up meeting with the students of Churchill’s Interact Club. Final figures will be shared later and are expected to be lower than last year due to the event closing early because of weather.

Nancy shared with our members an updated roster of events for the coming months. A Road Clean‑up is occurring on September 19 at 8:15 AM, followed by breakfast. Stay tuned for an email to sign up for a volunteer spot for the Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser to eradicate polio on October 28. Many hands are needed, and all are expected to bring or donate a dessert. Advertising/ sponsorship spots are also available for members to sell on table placements. Check our club’s website for the promotional poster and placemat example. Ad spots are $150.00.

Plans are being made to walk the Gordie Howe Bridge on September 26 at 10:00 AM. There is no cost for this, but participants must have a passport or an enhanced driver’s license. The District Governor plans to be there to dedicate the planting of a Peace Pole. For details, please see our club’s website.

Today’s speaker was our newest club member, Peter Dale. Peter joined Rotary in July but has been very active in nonprofit volunteering activities for many years. He is married to Chris and has a grown daughter and son. His daughter lives independently and has had a lifelong disability. His son is deaf and is married to a woman who is also deaf. Family is everything to Peter, and he prepared a slideshow of photographs to share his rich and diverse ethnic heritage, made up of Ukrainian, Russian (Moscow), French, Yorkshire, and Greek influences. Peter’s great‑grandfather was part of the Russian aristocracy, and his mother was raised in Greece. Peter’s parents escaped to Austria during World War II and settled in Wayne, Michigan. Peter was born and grew up there in a farmhouse by a lake.

Peter shared that religion is a central part of his life, and he was originally raised Greek Orthodox. After being drafted for the Vietnam War, he later became a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker). Peter supported his family by owning and operating a record store on Jefferson Ave. in Detroit and then The Car City Classics Record Store in St. Clair Shores. Before retiring, Peter’s last record store was in Ann Arbor: Encore. He sold the store and retired at age 62. Peter loves music, played the violin, and was an avid Tango and Country Western dancer. He stated that he believes the best recording ever made was by Miles Davis in 1959, Kind of Blue.



Peter is currently involved with our club’s project of refurbishing, reviving, and creating pollinator gardens at historic Greenmead in Livonia. You can meet Peter there every Tuesday at 9:00 AM and get your hands dirty pulling weeds and planting.

Victoria Haltom

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