President Cassie Driscoll holds the gavel as she begins her year of leadership. Her parents and grandmother were on hand to help us celebrate! It promises to be a great year. "Clarkston Rotary is the Place to Be."
The Clarkston Rotary welcomed two new members, Laura Naglik and Diane Pierce to our family on May 29th. Laura and Diane were both searching for ways to enrich their community and have found that through Rotary. Could you be the next piece of the puzzle?
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Thank you to everyone who was able to enjoy the Spring Wine Party on May 14 at Andiamo's! It was a great evening of fellowship, and helped raise money for the many projects, local and international, that the Clarkston Rotary supports! We really appreciate the local businesses that donated raffle prizes. Thanks to our wonderful community for your continued support.
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President Mary Sloan welcomes our newest member, Sara Hennig, to our Rotary family. Sara has long been a supporter of our Rotary Youth Exchange program and is a most welcome new Rotarian! It's great to have her aboard.Clarkston Rotary's now second newest member, Eric Yeloushan, and his family were welcomed into the club. It's a pleasure to have them aboard!
Beginning in January, the Clarkston Rotary will be moving its meetings to Wednesday evenings. Same place. Please check the meeting schedule on the right hand column. Join us for dinner and fellowship as we work to make our community an even better place to live.
Clarkston Rotary's "Shoes for Kids" held on Saturday, December 8th invited 436 Clarkston school children to attend the event and receive new shoes, winter boots, hats and gloves. The Clarkston Area Lions provided free eye exams and the Clarkston Optimists gave new socks to each child. Fifteen local dentists donated toothbrushes and toothpaste to promote better dental hygiene. MPK Photography ended a perfect day by taking a family portrait or a sitting with Santa at no cost to the family. Santa listened intently to a lengthy request list.
"Shoes for Kids" began with a setup by 50 volunteers at Oakland Woods Baptist Church on Maybee Road on Friday night, December 7th in preparation for Saturday.
On Saturday, December 8th, 140 volunteers volunteered in two hour shifts and stayed until the last child left around 3:30 PM. Various assignments included checking in families, the hat & glove room, selecting socks, shoe inventory, shoe helpers, shoe fitters, and guides.
The Clarkston Rotary would like to thank all of the volunteers who took time out of their busy December schedule to help make “Shoes for Kids” a reality again this year.
Background:
For the past 78 years the Clarkston Rotary has proudly sold a published newspaper for donations on the streets of Clarkston. During the first 38 years were primarily focused on providing Clarkston families with Holiday food baskets, Christmas gifts and funds for medical issues, heating and lights. During the past 40 years our club's "Shoes for Kids" program has been providing new shoes, winter boots, hats and gloves to Clarkston children.
Over the past 21 years over 8,400 children have participated in the distribution project, thousands of volunteers have committed their time and the Clarkston community has generously donated of $275,000. 100% of the donation directly support the yearly program.
For more information regarding the programs or volunteering in the future please call Clarkston Rotarian Joel or Mindy DeLong at 248-625-9741
October 25th was the evening of our biggest fundraiser, our wine, beer and spirits party, and it was very successful. The crowd was large, the food was delicious, the added spirits were a hit with those people who don't drink beer or wine, the auction tables were active. Thanks to all who attended and those who worked the party with us. If you weren't able to attend this year, please make a note to watch for the party next year. Your generosity makes it possible for us to do all the great things Rotary does, locally and internationally. Clarkston Rotary allows us to make changes in our local community, in the world and in ourselves.
Welcome, Charlotte, to our Clarkston Rotary family. Charlotte Fern was born to Matt and Cassie Senter.
We held our meeting at Clarkston Lighthouse where we sorted and packed donations that the football team had collected at their food drive. We packed 3500 pounds of food, or 39 pounds per minute! And we had a great time doing it. Talk about organizations working together to create change!
We heard a fantastic presentation by representatives of Team RUSH, our high school US CHAMPIONSHIP ROBOTICS TEAM. What energetic young people! We are proud to help them achieve their goals.
Tonight's Rotary meeting was held at the home of Rotarian Dan and his wife Carol. A great meal, Rotary fellowship, some serious Rotary business and boat ride on beautiful Dixie Lake. Aaaah, Rotary!
We said "Good-Bye" to Louis, and he's on his way back to France. The party was a great success with talks by Louis, his host families, his counselor, and returned YE students Miranda Moore and Sara Banks. Now we're looking forward to meeting our three incoming students from Switzerland, Thailand and Ecuador. 
At Monday’s meeting we enjoyed a video of a Rotary trip Rotarians Mary Sloan and Jeff Lichty took to Kenya to provide eye care to about 1200 people. Working with Rotary clubs in Nairobi and Nakuru, the team of 10 traveled with eye doctors from VOSH (Volunteer Optometrists Servicing Humanity), and the movie documenting the trip was enlightening and entertaining. 
Congratulations, Louis, for earning your letter jacket! Louis's host mom, Laura Burrum, sent the following to the Clarkston Rotary Club in December.
"Louis is a fantastic kid...that has recently made a great accomplishment by any 16 year old standard. He received his Clarkston Varsity Letter in Cross Country Running. His personal record was a 5k in 19:11. He improved 4.93% through his season. Clarkston has an incredible cross country team and because of that the requirements to acquire a letter is difficult and challenging.
Varsity letters and Varsity Jackets are not heard of in France and Louis really really really wants this badge of honor on a Clarkston jacket.
Louis is not the kind of kid that asks for much of anything and appreciates everything!"
So on Monday evening, with many of his host parents, host siblings, Rotary counselor and friends in attendance, Louis received his jacket. What a great evening. The club thanks its Youth Exchange team from the club and the support from the community for this great opportunity.
On Monday evening, January 29, Clarkston Rotarians gathered to assemble goody bags and craft kits for the the upcoming Valentines Dance being held by the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. Member Brad Evans serves on the Foundation's Board and is very supportive of their work. If you'd like to read more about CLF or ways to donate, please visit their website http://leukemiamichigan.org/about-us/
The Clarkston Rotary Club would like to sincerely thank all of those who so generously donated during the recent newspaper sales on local streets and holiday activities. The spirit of the donors was encouragement for those volunteers collecting, not only for their contributions but also for the appreciation of their efforts.
“Shoes for Kids” has been the Clarkston Rotary’s signature community service project for the past 39 years. It takes the collaborative efforts of not only club members but the many friends of Rotary and family members to bring each year’s project to fruition. The Clarkston Rotary has been proudly involved in a Goodfellow type newspaper sales and subsequent service project for the past 77 years.
On December 9th 320 Clarkston community school children were hosted at Oakland Woods Baptist Church and provided with new winter boots, shoes, hats, and gloves.
The Clarkston Rotary Club and all of the many volunteers would like to say thank you to the Clarkston community as collectively, ‘We Can Make a Difference in a Child’s Life’.
The Clarkston Rotary would like to express its gratitude and appreciation by acknowledging the following groups, organizations and businesses for the success of this year’s program:
● A special thank you to The Clarkston News, Jim Sherman and Don Rush, Publisher and their staff for preparation and publication of the special Goodfellow edition, as well as the efforts of Rotarian Mary Sloan in bringing the paper to print.
● We are truly grateful to Oakland Woods Baptist Church, Pastor Sheridan and their congregation for hosting the annual shoe distribution day. To their church members for volunteering their time to help insure that both projects are an absolute success.
● To Boy Scout Troop #199 and their troop leaders for organizing troop members in collecting donations at three holiday event locations. They exemplify everything a community looks for from its future leaders. Troop #199 has provided continuous support to this community service project for the past 19 years.
● To Cub Scout Pack #499 for participating in their fifth year of selling newspapers at Neiman’s Family Market. The enthusiasm and efforts of the scouts did not go unnoticed.
● To the Clarkston Optimists for their continued support with the Opti-Socks program.
● To the Clarkston Area Lions Club for providing free eye exams to all of the families attending.
● To the City of the Village of Clarkston for providing their warm DPW garage for use as a newspaper headquarters.
● To Lighthouse of Oakland County, and the Clarkston Community School administration, Social Workers, teachers and staff for their efforts and support of the “Shoes for Kids” program.
● To MPK Photo and Mark Kelly for building family memories through the family portraits and photos taken with Santa throughout the day.
● To Jim Jacques for spending the entire day in a warm red suit making kids laugh and smile as they tell Santa what they want for Christmas.
● To Neiman’s Family Market for permitting Cub Scouts to learn community service by selling newspapers at their Clarkston store and their continued support of the Clarkston Rotary’s many community service projects.
● To Union Joints (Woodshop and Clarkston Union), Hamlin Pub, Brioni’s Café and Deli, and the Tim Horton’s on Maybee for their commitment and dedication in supporting the many volunteers involved over the two weekends.
● A special thank you to the Clarkston elementary schools who hosted their annual Hat, Mitten and Glove Tree collections. Their continued support provides variety for the attending children as well as extending the program further into the community.
● To all of the volunteers, friends, and family members of the Clarkston Rotary Club who gave so generously of their time, energy, and donations to make this year’s events a true gift. It is the dedication and commitment of the almost 300 volunteers over the two weekends that ultimately benefits so many Clarkston children.
From the Clarkston Rotary Club & Joel DeLong “Shoes for Kids” Chair
Nice crowd at tonight's meeting! 10 members and 6 guests. Our speaker was Chelsea O'Brien of the Clarkston Family Farm. Chelsea enthusiastically engaged us in what sounds like an energetic undertaking and a real positive experience for the students of Clarkston Community Schools.The community has been very supportive of the farm on the corner of Hubbard Road and M15. Many of us didn't even know it was there! Some of us knew it was there but only knew bits and pieces of what goes on there. Chelsea explained that the property adjacent to the Independence Elementary School was originally being used by the District for storage. She learned about it and three years later she and Doctor Rock worked together to make it a wonderful opportunity for the children here in Independence Township. "It's a win-win for all of us. A perfect fit for a non-profit educational farm to be on an educationally-zoned property that used to be a horse farm " Chelsea said. She also mentioned that the soil is rich for gardening, thanks to the horses.
For more information about it and to learn some of the opportunities for children, go to http://www.clarkstonfamilyfarm.com or to the Clarkston Family Farm Facebook page.
What a great evening! Our public meeting on opiod abuse held at the Clarkston Independence Library was well attended and proved to be worth the time spent. We had 39 people in attendance, 13 of whom were Clarkston Rotarians. We also had some Ortonville Rotarians attend. Our speaker, Rony Foumia, did an excellent job of explaining how the problem has become so serious over the years and what needs to happen to start to turn the awful statistics around. The consensus of Rotarians seemed to be that we should consider doing more public interest meetings, maybe quarterly if we have interesting and timely topics. Something for discussion, certainly.
Opioid Crisis Explored
The Opioid Epidemic has become a national emergency and impacts every community in Michigan.
On November 15th the Clarkston Rotary and Clarkston Inependence District Library present a program to explore this critical topic. Rony Fournia, an expert on opioid addiction will lead the discussion on the causes, risk factors, protective strategies, warning signs of addiction and how to find help.
Mr. Foumia, Pharmacist and Regional Manager for Rite Aid, is a nationally recognized speaker on opioid addiction and was recently appointed to the Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee by Governor Snyder. Rony feels passionately about the importance of educating the public and has presented numerous lectures on public health issues.
The opioid program will be held at the Clarkston Independence District Library, 6495 Clarkston Road on November 15th beginning at 6:30 PM. To reserve your seat see the CIDL's event clendar at www.cidlibrary.org or call the library at 248-625-2212.
The Clarkston Rotary, providing service to the community for 77 years.
What a great evening! We had 10 guests, pretty much a full house. Many of them came to hear our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Irene Caracciolo, talk about her exchange year so far. She told us about the activities in which she has participated as well as a bit about her family and home in Sicily.
Scott Loney was a visitor from the West Bloomfield Rotary Club. He came to tell us about a program to be put on by his club and the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor West. On December 3, the clubs will be presenting and honoring Martin Lowenberg, Holocaust survivor, with the Rotary Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Lowenberg has made it his personal mission to share his story with younger generations in order that this dark period in history is never forgotten. Five Clarkston Rotarians and their 3 guests have signed up to attend. Please let me know if you'd like to be added to the list. Or you may register at the link below:
More volunteers are needed for the Ronald McDonald trip on November 11. Please contact President Al if you can participate.
Al picked up $22 as winner of the 50-50.
Club anniversaries were celebrated by Jim Tedder (4 years), Brad (11 years) and Joel (24 years). Great to have you all aboard!!
We sang "Happy birthday" to Karrie. We would have sung to Jeff Reddy, too, but he is still in Germany and wouldn't have heard us.
Jeff Lichty won the Foundation Drawing.
Remember there is no meeting next Monday evening as we are meeting Wednesday, Nov. 15, instead. Please plan to attend the Wednesday meeting at the Clarkston-Independence Library to hear our speaker on the opiod crisis, a very timely topic. The meeting is open to the public and has been advertised in a number of places. A flier is attached. It will be helpful to have everyone register so we know how many will be in attendance and can plan accordingly. 6:30 refreshments.
To all those who attended last Thursday's 'A Taste of the Holidays' wine, beer & food extravaganza at Bordine Nursery - THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND SUPPORTING THE CLARKSTON ROTARY CLUB.
This event allows our club to fulfill its commitment of community service, both locally in Clarkston as well as internationally.
We especially want to thank the great local restaurants and eateries that take time out of the busy, hectic schedules to prepare a virtual palate of taste, textures and colors to the almost 500 patrons that night. Please be sure and tell them what a great job they did the next time you visit them or even better like them on Facebook.
The variety of wines of the world and beers sourced from local breweries only added to the intrigue of the night.
We hope to see you again next year and ask that you tell your family, friends, neighbors and business associates about the Clarkston event.
The Clarkston Rotary Club.
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On July 10 we welcomed our newest member Karrie Marsh! Welcome, Karrie!! We're glad to have you aboard.
If you are interested in joining our club along with all the wonderful things we do for our community, please contact one of our board members listed at our website: www.clarkstonrotary.com.jpg)
Clarkston Rotarians spent their January 30th meeting gathered at the offices of The Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan. 16 in all, we filled gift bags for the Foundation’s Valentine’s Day Dance. More than 140 patients and family members are expected to attend the event so there was plenty of work for Rotarians as well as some of our friends and family members. Although it wasn’t planned, we had enough helping hands to collate and fill dozens of loose leaf binders with information for patients.
Organized by Rotarian Brad Evans, a member of The Leukemia Foundation’s Board, this event gave us an opportunity for wider community service, lively conversation and laughter. We capped the evening off with dinner at the Uptown Grill.
Our club will continue to take on small services projects every month... and all are welcome to join in.
For information on how to volunteer, please contact one of the Clarkston Rotarians by clicking on any name on our home page.
Eileen has worked for 30 years with teachers and children, the Michigan Virtual High School, and Central Michigan University. She is certified in the construction and maintenance of the Biosand water filter. Eileen is a past president of the Rotary in Troy, Michigan. She has been promoting water filtration for developing countries around the world since 2001 and travels to Nepal each year to check on water and health issues in adopted villages and to begin new projects there. She has facilitated the CAWST (the Center for Affordable Water) Biosand Filter Workshop since 2004.
On January 30th, our club will be visiting the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan in Farmington Hills to help with the preparations for their Valentine's Day dance. Anyone interested in joining us for the evening, please contact a Rotarian personally or through our website
Tonight Denyse Loveless Couture spoke to our club about Clarkston Cultural Arts. Clarkston Cultural Arts is bringing the Detroit Institute of Arts' Inside Out program back to Clarkston. This year's program will combine replication of some of the world's greatest artists, along with art from local artists. Come and hear about this program and other creative art events that will be taking place in the Clarkston area this year.
The Clarkston Rotary would like to again thank the Clarkston Community for helping to make the 38th annual "Shoes for Kids" program an absolute success.
Those who truly benefited were the Clarkston children who left Oakland Woods Baptist Church on December 10th with large smiles and warm boots and gloves.
The donations received during our club's Goodfellow newspaper sales the first weekend in December provide the financial means to hold the annual event. The efforts of the volunteers hitting the Clarkston streets is greatly appreciated and they make it all possible.
Forty volunteers gave up a Friday night to help set up and prepare for the distribution on Saturday. Their efforts allowed for the fastest setup ever.
On Saturday, December 10th one hundred and forty volunteers participated throughout the day in various activities assisting the three hundred and sixty five children attending the event.
Thank you as collectively we have helped make a difference in a child's life.
A Special Thank You to following groups for helping to make it all possible:
- The Clarkston News and Don Rush
- The City of the Village of Clarkston
- Oakland Woods Baptist Church
- Clarkston Area Lions Club
- Clarkston Optimist Club
- Boy Scout Troop #199
- Cub Scout Pack #499
- Friends of the Clarkston Independence Township Library
- Clarkston Community School & their Social Workers
- Lighthouse of Oakland County - Clarkston Office
- MPK Photography
- Jim Jacques (Santa)
- Neiman's Family Market
- Broner Hat & Glove
- Union Joints, Woodshop & Clarkston Union
- Hamlin Pub
- Hungry Howie's - Sashabaw Road
- Tim Hortons - Maybee Road
Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
Norman Wesley Brooks
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
Thank you to all the Goodfellow volunteers for braving the streets of Clarkston. Without your help "Shoes for Kids" wouldn't be possible. Collectively we raised over $13,000 through the generosity of others.
The collections will be put to use this coming Saturday when we distribute Shoes, Boots, Hats and Gloves to 300+ children in need. If you or someone you know would like to get a heart filled with joy helping fit children... there is still time to volunteer. Please visit: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4da8af2aa5fe3-shoes2
Thank you and have a Very Merry Christmas!
Clarkston Rotary Club
Our club will not be having our regular Monday evening meeting on November 14th. Instead our club will be volunteering at the kitchen of Grace Centers of Hope (http://www.gracecentersofhope.org/welcome) in Pontiac. In addition to all the great things we do such as:
• Shoes for Kids
• Renaissance High School Scholarships
• Youth Exchange Students
• Team RUSH Robotics Team Sponsorship
• Cub Scout Pack 499 Chartering
• Clarkston Labor Day Parade
• Independence Township Summer Youth Day Camp
• Clarkston Community Schools HELP Program
• Polio Plus
• Shelter Box
• SCAMP Picnic
• Rotary Foundation
• Monthly Service Projects - Operation Gratitude, Children's Hospital Pillows, Grace Centers of Hope
• Yearly Presidential Project - This year's project is support to "The Friends of the North Oakland County Veterans Treatment Court"
We work together on a smaller scale service project once a month. If you would like to join us for any of our future projects, please visit our club on a Monday evening to see all the great things we are doing to help in our community.... and hear some of our fantastic speakers!
Please view our calendar.
Hope to see you soon!
Our fall wine tasting was a great success last night. Thank you to all the restaurants and vendors for sure!
Via Bologna
MacPhee's Restaurant
Parties & Shindigs, LLC
Pita Way
Kruse --Deer Lake Inn
Hamlin Pub
O'Malley's Galley Restaurant
LA Café
OverTime
Joe's Crab Shack
Buffalo Wild Wings--Tom
Hill Top
Great food, great wine, micro brews.... and people!
Thanks to all that attend. Hope everyone can make it to the Spring Tasting!!!
This week we all worked on a small project during our meeting last evening... Clarkston Rotary made no-sew pillows for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.
It is with a heavy heart that the Clarkston Rotary says, “Good-Bye” to past president Bart Clark who died suddenly over the Labor Day weekend.
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Bart lived a full and exciting life. He served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years in the nuclear submarine force. After serving as commander of the nuclear submarine USS Omaha, he went on to serve as the commander of two naval shores activities. His final tour was as Professor of Naval Science at the University of Michigan, during which time he belonged to the Ann Arbor Rotary club. Following his navy career, Bart worked for the Ford Motor company for 11 years. Bart was the great, great, great grandson of Jeremiah Clark, one of the two Clark brothers from whom Clarkston takes its name. In addition to his long-time membership in the Clarkston Rotary Club, he was involved in numerous community committees and projects. The members of the Clarkston Rotary knew they could always call on Bart to chair or serve on any committee, from chairing the Clarkston Rotary 75th birthday celebration to helping organizing the staging for this year’s Labor Day parade.
Rest in peace, Bart.
We miss you.
During our club meeting August 8th, we all wrote personal letters of appreciation to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, U.S. Service Members deployed overseas, Wounded Heroes and their caregivers.....
Tonight Robert Boyle, executive director of The Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan visited our club.
The Furniture Bank of Southeastern Michigan provides beds and essential home furnishings to children and families in need.
Last evening Clarkston Rotary welcomed s new Parks and Recreation Director to speak about his plans. Derek is sure to bring good things to our township!
Last evening our Rotarian's treated the Clarkston SCAMP parents, families, children and counselors to a picnic at Bay Court Park. Clarkston Rotary does this every year to provide the SCAMP families a chance to spend time together.
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President Joel Delong did a great job with the club and had a great 2015-16. Joel welcomed the clubs new president, David Boersma, at a festive affair at beautiful Fountains Golf Course. Outgoing president, Joel Delong, and the past presidents lined up for the traditional passing of the gavel...
The Labor Day parade in Clarkston, has been going 74 years and counting.....
Labor Day celebrates the creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country......
Labor Day celebrates the creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country......
Our club welcomed this past years host families and outbound youth exchange students Sara Banks and Claire Schleusner to bid a fond farewell to Garfare as she returns back to Thailand.
We had another great Rotary event last night at The Fountains to raise money for our local and international projects. If you missed the fun - come to our Taste of the Holiday's the end of October featuring wines from around the world and food from area chefs.For my mother....
One of my earliest recollection of my mother is at the age of 4. I don’t remember when I realized that scars were the result of a healed wound rather than an injury, but the summer of 1974 I noticed pronounced scars on my mother’s leg. Oblivious to the fact that they were already healed, I said to her “mommy, your leg is hurt and I’m going to take care of you”...
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The Clarkston Rotary greatly appreciates the community support and efforts of almost three hundred and fifty volunteers recently in two of our largest community service projects...
Every July the first event of the new Rotary year is a picnic for the students and parents of SCAMP...
Clarkston Rotary celebrated their 75 Year Anniversary on June 19, 2015 during Concerts in the Park.
