Weekly Speakers

Annual Golf Outing

Medical Mission in Guatemala

2024 Club Photo in Rotary Park

Welcome to the Rochester Rotary Club!

We meet every Tuesday from noon - 1:15 at Harrison's Restaurant & Wine Bar, 401 S. Main Street, Rochester, MI 48307

Kristi Trevarrow Recognized

The Paul Harris Fellow Award is one of the highest honors presented by Rotary International. It recognizes individuals who exemplify Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” through their commitment to making a difference in their communities.

For more than 20 years, Kristi has been a driving force behind the development, revitalization, and promotion of Downtown Rochester. As Executive Director of the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, she has helped transform Rochester into one of Michigan’s premier destinations, particularly during the holiday season.

Kristi’s leadership, creativity, and commitment to local businesses were especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she created the Love Local campaign. The initiative encouraged residents to support Rochester’s small businesses and helped many businesses weather an extraordinarily difficult time.

Kristi brings more than two decades of experience in downtown development and destination marketing. Her responsibilities include business recruitment and retention, marketing, site development, community relations, fundraising, and administration of Rochester’s award-winning Big, Bright Light Show, which attracts more than one million visitors to Downtown Rochester each year.

Rochester Rotarians Put Service Above Self at Neighborhood House

Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self,” and Rochester Rotarians are always looking for ways to put those words into action.

While fundraising is an important part of Rotary’s work—including the upcoming Rochester Rotary Annual Golf Outing, which helps provide grants to nonprofit organizations—Rotarians also believe in rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in hands-on service projects.

This week, Rochester Rotarians are doing just that by helping Neighborhood House prepare for its Blast Off 2 School event. Rotarians are packing school supplies donated by Rochester-area residents throughout the community.

Once all the supplies are collected, volunteers sort and organize them into bags containing grade-appropriate supplies. On Saturday, August 15, local children will gather at Neighborhood House to select a backpack and a school-supply bag filled with the items they need to start the new school year.

Rochester Rotary President Tami Salisbury said, “We like to say that Rotarians are people of action,” and this project is another great example of that philosophy in practice. By giving their time and energy, Rochester Rotarians are helping Neighborhood House make sure local children head back to school prepared—and with a little more confidence for the year ahead.

It’s service above self, one backpack at a time.

Rochester Rotary Charities Receives $1,000 Meijer Community Grant to Help Fight Hunger

Rochester Rotary Charities is helping stock the shelves and refrigerators of the Neighborhood House Food Pantry thanks to a $1,000 Meijer Community Grant.

The Rotary District 6380 encouraged Rotary clubs to support local food pantries, and Rochester Rotary Charities responded by partnering with Neighborhood House, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served the greater Rochester area for decades. The organization provides a wide range of services to residents of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Addison Township, and Auburn Hills, including a food pantry that assists children, seniors, veterans, and working families facing food insecurity.

The Meijer gift cards will allow Neighborhood House to purchase the foods that are often needed most but are difficult to obtain through donations, including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, meat, and other protein items. The grant will also help replenish pantry staples such as canned goods, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, and soup while providing flexibility to respond to seasonal needs and unexpected increases in demand.

Hog Wild on the Keys

Hog Wild on the Keys (watch the video made by David Blair) was a huge success last week! Over 150 Rotarians and guests gathered to enjoy a delicious whole roasted pig with all the fixings. Linda Eastman’s Sangria Rhapsody was a huge hit, too!

Brian Griffin and his Midwest Dueling Pianos performed to a full house that enjoyed singing, dancing, and laughter. Attendees were able to request songs, a feature that proved very popular.

Sponsors also helped make the fundraiser a success. Our thanks to: Jay & Linda Eastman, Brian Griffin, Tamara Tazzia, Jerry Carvey, George Krozier, Karen Joyce, Ernie Schaefer, Gerald Wanket, Christine Hage, Bryan Barnett, Juliane Morian, Cyndee Andrews, Steve Oehler, Phil Lowman, Joyce Joyce, Shirley Gofrank, Tami Salisbury, Roger Roller, Carol Franciosi, TNE International - Jeff Duperon, Oakland Animal Hospital - Tim Duncan, North Hill Property Management - Greg Schaefer, Health Quest Physical Therapy - Stuart Siegner, and Rochester Numismatics - Christopher Pass.

A special thank you is given to the Committee, including David Blair, Jay & Linda Eastman, Brian Griffin, Karen Joyce, George Krozier, Ernie Schaefer, Peter Stuhlreyer, and Tamara Tazzia, whose hard work raised over $10,000 for the Rotary International Foundation.

The Rotary Gateway Park is a hidden gem in downtown Rochester. Built by the Rochester Rotary Club in 1997, the park features beautiful flower beds, a cascading water feature, and benches to sit and enjoy a few quiet moments. The Rochester Rotary Club continues to upgrade and enhance the park through the volunteer efforts of club members and funding from the purchase of memorial bricks.

Learn More About our Park