Ann Arbor Sunrise Rotary


Rotary Holiday Party

Here is a picture from our Christmas gift exchange party at Weber's.

Families Staying At Ronald McDonald House Appreciate Our Help... Here's a letter we received:
"My husband and I are so touched by your kindness. In fact, I was in the hospital with my yougest son when he told me that your group (the Sunrise Rotary Club) was cooking the meal tonight. We both thought- what a blessing. For starters, we are both exhausted from spending a couple of sleepless nights at the hospital and even the thought of figuring out where to go for dinner is a liittle overwhelming. Thank you for providing families the opportunity to take care of loved ones, with the blessing of a warm cooked, healthy meal. It means a lot." -The Oaduhoots Family
Pictured below preparing a special turkey dinner for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House are Jim Libs, Ray Singer and his children, Debbie Green, Beth Marshall, Dwight Cloutier, Larry Fitzgerald and others.

The families staying there need a caring place to stay while their children are being helped at Ann Arbor area world-class hospitals. 600 families a year are served by the Ann Arbor Ronald McDonald House. It was opened in 1985 and operates with a 97% occupancy rate. Every month the Ann Arbor Sunrise Rotary Club serves a special Saturday night dinner for the residents.

Robot Supply & Repair Store Helps Develop Children's Writing Skills! Amanda Uhle, from 826 Michigan, a nonprofit writing center for kids gave us a fascinating presentation of how their organization helps kids to build their literary skills. All of their writing programs are FREE and they are open to all children, especially those in need. One of the most fascinating part of their organization is the retail store that they operate. Their store sells supplies and repairs for robots! The store has over 100 unique items for sale- like "Robodentures", "Eye balls that light up" and "Robot tears." The "Robot store" format helps them raise money for their programs, helps them meet the community, and makes it more enjoyable for kids to learn how to write! They are part of a nationwide affliation of stores under the name of "826." In San Francisco, they have a pirate store. In Brooklyn, they have a super hero store. They have other stores in other cities. The stores have been spearheaded by writer Dave Eggers. Amanda told us about their unique fundraising efforts- they have a moustache event...and a scrabble for cheaters tournament, where the more donations you raise, the more you can cheat at scrabble! See the Ann Arbor News article and video at this link... http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews_multimedia/2008/08/ my_business_liberty_street_rob.html Visit their website at this link... http://www.826michigan.org/store/

Jennifer Spitler from Big Brothers Big Sisters spoke to us at a recent meeting about how their organization has a proven positive impact on children in our community. Research on their volunteer programs points to the powerful & lasting impact "Bigs" have. "Littles" are: 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, and more likely to get along with their families and peers For more information about how you can turn "Little Moments into Big Magic," call 734.975.0933 or email bbbswashtenaw@yahoo.com

Raptor Specialist Enlightens Us
Francie Krawcke, from the Leslie Science and Nature Center visited a recent meeting with an American Kestrel (left) and a Barred Owl (below). Both birds captivated us! The Kestrel is the smallest American falcon. She explained their talons are really sharp and powerful. They also have exceptional eyesight. The Kestrel they have was hit by a semi-truck and broke his wing, and suffered a brain injury. Francie helped the falcon recover.
The Barred Owl (left) makes a sound like, "Who Cooks for You." It has a crooked beak which makes it difficult to feed itself. Francie explained that she is a "raptor specialist." Her mission is to train birds to expose people to the experince of nature. The Leslie Center has 15 raptors on site. They are fund raising to build another structure. The Leslie Center is expanding their audience to include older adults. They have 50 acres for their programs to inspire people about the natural world.

Fit For Use
Jerry Thayer, owner of Fitness Together-Ann Arbor West, spoke to us at a recent meeting about the many benefits of being fit: increased motivation, helping to prevent health problems, increased energy and much more. Jerry welcomes you to give him a call to help with you questions about your fitness. Fitness Together is located at 1785 Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, in the Dakota Building. Their phone number is 734-327-7900 or email Jerry at jerrythayer@fitnesstogether.com Pictured above are Jerry and his wife Barb.

Another Interesting Meeting... Our Visit To Hobbs + Black, Architects

Every week we enjoy a variety of interesting speakers! At a recent meeting, Robb Burroughs and Molly McFarland of Hobbs + Black Architects, gave us a tour of their firm.. The pictures above show the interior of their Hobbs + Black Ann Arbor office. The building was orginally constructed in 1882 as a Unitarian Church. They enhanced the unique architectural features of the building and made a unique office environment for their very successful company. Hobbs + Black is a nationally recognized design firm with over 40 years of experience providing architectural and engineering design and related consulting services. We enjoyed learning a little about the architectural process, and talking about several of their most dynamic buildings and projects. View their Website to see more!

Central American Ministries Andrew Pawuk was a guest speaker at a recent meeting, describing how their not-for-profit organization is devoted to improving living conditions for people surviving in garbage dumps by providing housing, education, health care, and micro-loans. For additional information or online donations please visit: www.camon-line.org

Hepatitis C Fund: The Need To Support Research at the University of Michigan Deborah Green made us aware at a recent meeting of the need to support research in finding a cure for Hepatitis C, the most common chronic blood borne infection in the United States. Here are helpful links to find information: www.hepcfund.org www.Tourdekids.org www.Bighousebigheart.com

Our New Web Address is www.AnnArborSunrise.org Our New Email Address is AnnArborSunrise@gmail.com

We Have a New Location! We now meet at located at 3050 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 One of the top Michigan hotels, Weber's Inn is a deluxe, full service Hotel, Restaurant, Banquet & Conference property. Founded in 1937 by Herman Weber, Weber's is still owned and operated by the Weber family, committed to guest satisfaction. (734) 769-2500 • Toll Free Reservations: (800) 443-3050

	District Governor Audrey Chevalier presents highlights of her visit to India. With the assistance of a video, Audrey showed dramatic examples of what the Rotary Foundation and Rotary Clubs do for people in need: Helping people at a leprosy colony helping children at the Mother Theresa Orphanage in Delhi at clinics that help polio victims to gain mobility with prothesises, braces and tricycles

Helping Area Families In Need Of Fresh, Nutritious Food
A critical need in our community is helping families who are struggling to provide nutritious meals. The Ann Arbor Sunrise and Ypsilanti Rotary Clubs joined together in a special project to purchase a walk-in cooler that makes it possible for the SOS Food Pantry to distribute dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables and meats to families in need. The Rotary Clubs each held fundraisers, and secured grants from the Rotary Foundation to raise the $5,403 needed for the purchase and installation. We are proud to support the SOS Community Services Food Pantry Progam for many reasons, including: Their ability to leverage donations to purchase food-For every $1 donation, they are able to purchase $4 worth of food for families in need, through their partnership with Food Gathers. Their focus on helping homeless families, which is the fastest growing segment of homelessness. Enabling families in need to come to the Food Pantry up to four times a year, to get groceries, that will help them in their struggle to make ends meet in their family budget.

Why is Rotary involved with water projects? Rotarians are concerned with the health hazards of poor water supply and sanitation that cause approximately 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year, which cause 2.2 million deaths each year, mostly among children under the age of five. Wayne Titus presented the TAP project at our Feb. 1 meeting. TAP stands for "The Aqua Project." Wayne organizes Rotary Clubs in our area to work together on water projects in Central America. TAP's primary focus is to develop and implement water relocation and filtration projects. There are many opportunities to participate in their projects. The video below describes the need for clean water projects


Japanese Ambassadorial Scholars Visit

Pictured above are Hiroko Kawashima, Ann Arbor Sunrise Rotary Club President Beth Marshall, Yuri Mano, and Jun Usaka. Hiroko is studying linguistics at the University of Michigan. She told us about the three seperate character sets in the Japanese written language. First, there are the Kanji, which are Japanese characters borrowed from the Chinese language. Second, there are Hiragana characters, which are characterized by a cursive style, and are typically used for words native to Japan. Third, there are Katakana characters, which are characterized by a more angular style, and are typically used for words borrowed from other cultures. Katakana characters have a "consanent-vowel" format for pronunciation of the words. For example the English word "strike" is pronounced "sutoriku" (note the consanent-vowel format). "Something" is "samusinngu." "Hot dog" is "hotto doggu." Yuri is a preforming arts student at Eastern Michigan University. She told us about her beautiful home town of Yurigaoka, which means "many lilly." Yurigaoka is located 40 minutes from Tokyo. Jun, is enrolled in the Ross Business School at the University of Michigan. He told us about the tradition of the Japanese culture of calling a person by their last name first, followed by their first name. Jun is from Okayama City, which is know as the site of Karakuan Garden and Okayama Castle.

Russian Restauranteurs Learned From Ann Arbor Area Casual Dining Experts & Sponsors in Rotary PEP Program

The Rotary Clubs of Ann Arbor hosted a delegation of 11 Russian restaurant owners and managers, along with their team facilitator and an interpreter. The Russian entrepreneurs will benefit from the training and advice in American strategy, marketing, operational practices and techniques from many local businesses and organizations. Participatnts include Zingerman's, Domino's Pizza, The Chop House, Palio, Carlyle Grill, Moe's Southwest Grill, The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, Metro Group Architects and NSF International. The delegation is part of the Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) administered by the nonprofit, nongovernmental Center for Citizen Initiatives. PEP is a nationwide program that brings Russian entrepreneurs and business owners to the United States for intensive industry-specific business training and cultural exchange.

We're Honored For 5 Consecutive Years of Service to the Ronald McDonald House Dave McDowell, (right) director of the Ronald Mc Donald House, presented President Beth Marshall (center) and Director of Community Service, Larry Fitzgerald (left) with a certificate of appreciation at the Aug. 3 meeting. "Families in distress sometimes don't think of the need to have nutritious meals, so groups like the Ann Arbor Sunrise Rotary Club provide a beneficial service at the Ronald McDonald House," McDowell said. The Ronald McDonald House helps families from all around the world who need a caring place to stay while their children are being helped at Ann Arbor area world-class hospitals. 600 families a year are served by the Ann Arbor Ronald McDonald House. It was opened in 1985 and operates with a 97% occupancy rate. Construction has started on a new $525 million womens and childrens hospital at the University of Michigan. With an increased focus on family needs, part of the Ronald McDonald House will be located adjacent to the Intensive Care Unit in the new hospital. Fitzgerald has been instrumental in coordinating the monthly dinners for the past five years, and is appreciated by the Ronald McDonald House, the families being served, and the Ann Arbor Sunrise Rotary Club for his caring contributions of time and effort.

What Is Rotary?
Rotary History
The Rotary Foundation
Rotary Membership

Our Community of Members and Visitors
Debbie Green runs the nonprofit Greenview Hepatitis C Fund (www.hepcfund.org) to raise awareness of hepatitis C and raise funds for research, currently at the University of Michigan. As part of her fund raising efforts, she is selling a 500 recipe cookbook, Cooking Around the World, for $15. You can contact her at: Debbie@vedit.com, 734-223-8400 (cell) or 734-665-3395 (home).
Great Commission Air provides lifesaving humanitarian relief flights in rural Guatemalan villages. Read about their efforts at www.GreatCommissionAir.org
Raymond James & Associates: As an independent professional advisor, Doug Gross can offer you a personalized financial strategy, not a generic investment program. Located at 136 S. Industrial Drive, Saline, MI 48176-9493. Call him at 734-944-7556.
Beth Marshall Independent Financial Consultant offering simple solutions for a complex world. We help our clients organize their financial resources and maximize their opportunities by implementing financial strategies and leveraging the experience of our highly skilled professional team. We help coordinate and simplify the lives of clients who do not have the time, desire or expertise to go it alone in the ever increasingly complex world of finance.
Discover the Secret to Life Balance and Harmonious Living! Contact Kelie Mox Richards, MPH ACC Certified Life Coach
"Cold War Confessions" -an inside look inside our classified defense programs, by author Jay Carp has just been released.
Bruce Stone, VP Senior Fiduciary Officer, JP Morgan Chase Bank, 125 South Main St, 3rd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, 734-995-8185
211 provides callers with information about and referrals to human services, for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Robert Miller is the Washtenaw United Way Coordinator for the development and implementation of the 211 information and referral service.
WOW Energies has new products that remove 85% of the Mercury from electrical power plant flue gases. Wow Energies is meeting the World's Energy & Environmental Challenges. Pictured here is WOW President Mario Romero.
SOS Community Services responds with care and respect to families in need by working in partnerships that result in economic, family, and residential stability.
Michael Angelo Caruso- Learn about his training programs and tele-seminars.
Ray Singer is a personal loan officer with Ann Arbor Commerce Bank. Ray is committed to providing prompt, quality service. He will work with you to explore the best loan options to meet your particular needs.
Your Aging Well Advisor is a public speaking firm whose mission is to educate consumers on resources and strategies for Aging Well. President and CEO Lynn Alexander is an entertaining and knowledgeable speaker on issues and trends facing the 50+ in age consumer as well as their employers, vendors, caregivers and families. Both the public and private sector have benefited from their services.
Spitzer Center for Ethical Leadership Jim Berlucchi is helping leaders and employees optimize their character, relationships and performance through seminars, workshops, assesments and learning materials.
Geraldine Markel, Ph.D. Managing Your Mind Coaching and Seminars: Defeating the Demons of Distraction: Increasing Productivity and Decreasing Stress.
Wright, Griffin, Davis & Co.: Deborah A. Krone, CPA, CFP. Areas of Expertise: Individual Taxation and Planning, Business Taxation and Planning, Financial Planning and Consulting, and Planning issues related to Divorce. 734-761-2005
Exciting Productions is an Ann Arbor, Michigan video production company. They specialize in producing videos for websites to help businesses attract more customers. Video introductions help customers to look at products and services and meet the people will help them. Many people are going to websites first before they purchase products, so it is important to build a connection with those prospects immediately. Contact Jim Campbell at 734-645-7600 or email ExcitingProductions@gmail.com
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