Flint Rotary World

Charter No. 220 – Rotary Club of Flint, Michigan – Organized April 7, 1916 Rotary theme for 2011 - 12 – “Reach Within To Embrace Humanity” Kalyan Benerjee, Vapi, Gujarat, India, Rotary International President, – Joe Reynolds, Genesee Valley Rotary, Swartz Creek, MI, Governor, District 6330

Coming up this week: Mark Stutrud, President of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan

Last week’s meeting featured: Ms. Claressa Shields, Boxer Extrordinaire

Judge Duncan Beagle did a Barbara Walters style interview with Fli nt native and No. 1 female amateur middle weight champion, Ms . Claressa Shields and her trainer, Jason Crutchfield . Just a few weeks ago, Ms. Shields was a virtual unknown to most Flint natives and in that short time she has been hounded for interviews by some of the biggest names in the news. As Rotari ans, we can take pride in knowing one of our own accomplished what the other nationally known news media types could not yet accomplish - an exclusive interview. Although The Flint Journal was in attendance for the interview, Judge Beagle was asking the questions. She is sixteen years old now, but Ms. Shields began training when she was just eleven years old. Her father introduced her to boxing because she Judge Beagle interviews wanted a sport that she had to rely upon herself alone to succeed, unlike Flint Boxer, Claressa basketball. She began training with Jason Crutchfield at Berston Fieldhouse. Shields, and her trainer, He had passed her off to another trainer at first and then saw what she could Jason Crutchfield. do so he took her back under his wing and began training her to box. He said she is a complete all around fighter . . . continued on page three

Upcoming Programs

Mar 23 - Dr. Rima Kudish, Executive Director of the Genesee County Free Medical Clinic

Mar 30 - “Genesee County Educational Foundation,” Lisa Hagel, Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) Superintendent, & Jerry Johnson, Executive Director of Communications and Development Apr 06 – Good Friday – No Meeting

VITAL STATISTICS Officers and Directors For the May 9th meeting: Kristina President – Tiffany Flynn President Elect - Don Rockwell Kamensky served as the greeter, with Vice President - Joe Fioroni introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians Vice President – Dawn Hibbard provided by Elizabeth Cummins. Mark Director – Kim Egerer Eneix led us in song and David Gaines Director – Shannon Polk offered the inspirational message. Jane Director – Amy Krug O’Dell sold 50/50 tickets. The 50/50 winner Director – Rob Bennett was Jerry Preston . Set up and take by Jim Past President – Jerry Johnson Kovas with assistance from Don Barrow. Club Administrator - Amy van der Putte As always, thanks to pianist Paul Vanston . Treasurer - Rebecca Millsap Secretary/Treasurer Emeritus - Richard Cordell

Other Rotary News: th Area 7 Assistant Governor, Jeff Bennett attended our March 9 meeting. He assured us that Governor Joe Reynolds was working hard for us. He also reminded us of upcoming event dates and asked us to participate in the Area 7 Literacy Program. There will be a Group Study exchange to Korea from April 4 th rd till May 3 and asked if we know any young professionals who might be interested in participating. We also are running an Area 7 billboard and bus sign program to promote Rotary.

Rotarian Elizabeth Cummins, as Chair of New Projects Committee gave an in depth report on the projects Flint Rotary has contributed to in the recent past. Some of them include Flint River Farm on Beach Street. They maintain a year round hoop house for urban farming. Flint Rotary contributed $10k to help install the new hoop house this past January. We also donated $15k to install new handrails at Whiting to help the disabled. On the north side of The Cork on Saginaw St. there will be new outdoor seating replacing the current gaping hole. It will be open to all folks strolling downtown. ($15k donated to Uptown Reinvestment Group.) Flint Rotary along with C.S. Mott and the Kresege Foundation has donated to U of M- Flint Urban Alternative House. It is used to teach construction renovations and energy efficiency. Over the past 2 years we have contributed $70k to the Rotary Plaza in downtown Flint. We have contributed $25k for the balcony, building and outdoor stalls at the Flint Farmers Market. There is still $10k left for investments this year. Way to go Flint Rotarians!

Make-ups: Where to make up: Monday Saginaw Valley 12:15 PM Makeup Makeup Location Horizons Conference Center Date Rotarian Tuesday 02/28/12 Richard Cramer Palm Beach Gardens, FL Clio 7:15 AM Roger’s Lodge 03/05/12 Richard Cramer Palm Beach Gardens, FL Durand 11:30 AM 03/09/12 Howard Shand Sarasota Sunrise, FL Durand City Hall Basement Grand Blanc 7:15 AM Sophie’s Kitchen Fenton 7:15 AM Spring Meadows Country Club Genesee Valley (Flint) 12:15 PM Redwood Lodge, Hill Rd.. Lapeer 12:10 PM Lapeer County Center Bldg. Columbiaville 6:30 PM Rotary Building Wednesday Greater Flint Sunrise 7:00 AM Sarvis Center Owosso 12:15 PM Owosso Memorial Hosp. Annex Saginaw 12:00 PM Saginaw Club Davisburg 7:00 PM Don Hart Community Center Thursday Flushing 7:00 AM Sorrento’s Restaurant Burton 12:10 PM Brookwood Golf Club Frankenmuth 12:10 PM Zehnder’s Restaurant Corunna 12:00 PM United Methodist Church

Continued from page one but it is her drive makes her a winner. On Feb 18 th , she won the division and the next day she was back in school in Flint. Claressa will turn 17 in March which makes her just old enough to be an Olympic competitor. In May, she and (22 year old flyweight) and Queen Underwood (27 year old lightweight ) will fly to China to compete in the world championships. There will be 12 contenders from each division who will advance to the London Games. Claressa is back training hard Monday through Friday each week to be prepared for China. She has every intention of being part of the first U.S. Olympic women’s boxing team and coming back to Flint a winner. Time Magazine , in the March 12, 2012 edition, has a spread on the first Women’s Boxing team to compete in the Olympics. Claressa Shields has a three-page photo spread. In her interview, she says her father told her the story of Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila, who became a professional boxer. At Rotary she said Laila made her father proud and she also intends to make her own father proud of her. What a great ‘Good News’ story Ms. Shields is for Flint!

Headline Kim Egerer introduced three female students from The Valley School, Laura Peters (3.97GPA), Alaina Ellis

(3.85 GPA) and Rebecca Smith (4.0 GPA). All of these young women have attained outstanding records of achievement. The Rotary Four-Way Test Lynne Hurand provided us with the Member Minute. She has spent a good deal of time exploring the world Of the things we think, say or do: recently and has participated in some daring feats. She said that preparing for the Member Minute caused her to 1. Is it the TRUTH? reflect back to her past which has included being a 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? volunteer at FIA, working at the Chamber of Commerce, 3. Will it build GOODWILL and Kettering University work with entrepreneurs from the BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Soviet Union and working with children with special 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all needs at U of M hospital. She still has a dog picture con cerned?" done by a child at U of M which kind of looks like her dog. Lynne has been a Rotarian for 24 years so far. Just to smile… Lynne Hurand and Jonathan Hohn helped us welcome ****************************** A little boy was in a relative’s wedding. As he was coming New Rotarian, Steven Low . He is the Executive down the aisle, he would take 2 steps, stop, and turn to the Director of the Flint Jewish Federation . He attended crowd. While facing the crowd, he put his hands up like University of Texas and has a J.D. from St Louis claws and roared. So it went, step, step. ROAR; step, step, University. He is married and has 3 children. His oldest ROAR; all the way down the aisle. As you can imagine, the daughter lives in Israel providing relief assistance to the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he needy. His son lives in Manhattan and is a rock reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the musician and educator. His youngest daughter is a child sniffed and said, “I was being the Ring Bear.” freshman at Denver University. His wife’s family ************************* invented the hobby industry and Steve takes advantage A little boy opened the old family Bible with fascination of it by enjoying many hobbies, although he has given up looking at the old pages as he turned them. Then, golf for tennis. He has served as Exec. Dir. of the Jewish something fell out of the bible. He picked it up at looked at Federation in Southern IL, SE Missouri and Western it closely. It was an old leaf that had been pressed between Kentucky. He is doing a presentation to Flint Rotary on the pages. “Grandma, look what I found,” the boy called April 20 th. Welcome Steve Low! out. “What have you got there, dear?” Grandma asked. With astonishment in his voice he answered, “It’s Adam’s suit!”

Bulletin Editor: Pam Faris Phone: 810-444-2833 E-mail: [email protected]