• Vince Mattina was thrilled to see Tom Neveau back in action after his recent back surgery. So thrilled, in fact, that he wasted no time handing the Treasurer duties right back over. With that burden off his plate, Vince is off to jolly old England for a well-deserved getaway. Cheerio, Vince!
• Karen Joyce beamed as she returned to the Rotary fold—welcome back, Karen! A past president of the Warren Rotary Club, she’s no stranger to service above self. We’re lucky to have her energy and experience back at the table.
• District Governor Sharna Hatcher wasn’t shy about it—she gave a shameless plug for the upcoming District Conference, happening next weekend at Oakland University. Don’t forget: Rochester Rotary will cover the registration fee for any member who wants to attend. Just register on the District website and let Tom Neveau know—your wallet will thank you.
• Meanwhile, Linda Eastman still has some fabulous collectible ducks looking for forever homes. If you’ve been ducking the opportunity (see what we did there?), now’s the time to waddle your way over and reach out to Linda directly.
• And finally, Bryan Barnett brought the brag: the City of Rochester Hills has officially landed the #9 spot on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cities in America list—out of 850! Now that’s something to quack about.

• Merrick Maris IV is a licensed multi-line insurance agent and the proud owner of Merrick Maris IV Insurance Agency, LLC, which was recently opened.

• Joyce Joyce returns to Rotary after a few years and officially joins our Club today—welcome back, Joyce!

• Karen Joyce, daughter of Joyce, is a former president of the Warren Rotary Club and now a proud member of the Greatest Rotary Club in the World: Rochester Rotary. Karen’s Leader Dog, Daisy, will be accompanying her to meetings.

• Diana Mannion recently retired from General Motors and is seeking meaningful ways to give back to the community. We’re thrilled she’s chosen to do so through Rochester Rotary!

Speaking of giving back, Charities President Tom Townsend presented a check to Moe Lietz in support of the Sparkle Network, which provides formal gowns and shoes to high school girls for homecoming and prom, particularly those in need of sizes 14 and up. Moe and her husband are also volunteers at our Beer and Wine Tasting, where Moe proudly dons a PG-rated apron (unlike Phil Lowman’s legendary version).

Tom also brought forward a request to approve a $5,000 grant to Casa Colibrí to fund the training of birth assistants. The membership responded with unanimous approval—another excellent example of Rotary in action.

SONG LEADER

Jerry Carvey led the club in singing two patriotic songs, The Battle Hymn of the Republic and  When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again.

 

SHERIFF'S REPORT

When Sheriff/Mayor Bryan Barnett grabs the mic, you know it’s time to tighten those purse strings—and maybe your alibis—because nobody is safe.

 

He kicked things off with a little whining (yes, actual whining) that everyone loves Tom Townsend more than him. Why? Because Tom gives out money and Bryan collects it. Fair point, Sheriff—but we still love you anyway.

 

To prove he's not bitter (much), he promptly fined everyone younger than Jerry Carvey. That’s right. If you’ve had fewer birthdays than Jerry, you paid up. Spoiler alert: that was most of us.

 

Keeping the fun rolling, he made sure new members felt right at home by setting a very specific precedent—anyone with the same first and last name (looking at you, Joyce Joyce) should expect to fork over some fines. Welcome to the club!

 

Next in line? Linda Eadtman, for allegedly selling hazardous toys. Blake McLellan reported that his kid bit the beak off a duck. The duck survived thanks to some glue. The child? Unclear if she now has a deep-seated fear of waterfowl.

 

Jay Eastman caught a fine for sporting a “Montana” sweatshirt. Bryan’s theory? Jay got lost in the “M” section and reached blindly. Mystery still unsolved.

 

Then came the boating whiners. If you’ve been out on the water this year and still had the nerve to complain about the weather, you were fined. Captain's rules.

 

And just when you thought we were done, Bryan took us on a walk through history:

• Sam Snead would’ve had a birthday today—if he weren’t, you know, deceased. So in his honor, our very much alive Jerry Carvey got fined.If you’ve taken a mulligan, water stroke, or breakfast shot in golf this year—yep, you paid too.
• Crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, opened on May 27, 1937, by foot or by car? Cha-ching.
• Don’t remember the Sex Pistols' God Save the Queen on May 27, 1977? Pay up for that cultural oversight.

Then came the curveball: the Detroit Tigers are off to a great start, and Bryan discovered DTE has a suite at Comerica Park. Naturally, he suggested they host a Rotary table weekly. Erica Schlenker, over to you!

 

Shifting gears, Bryan confessed to seeing Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (no judgment). He then created a few… relatable fines:

• Mission: Impossible – Sleeping through the night without getting up to pee.
• Mission Impossible– Leading our club songs in key (Jerry Carvey, we love the effort).
• Mission Impossible – Squeezing in one more library visit for the Kazakhstan delegation (Christine Hage, overachiever status confirmed).
• Mission Impossible– Finding shoes to match a neon shirt (Dave Archbold, you fashion icon, you).

Finally, in a touching close, Bryan shared a powerful moment from his recent trip to Doha, Qatar, where he visited U.S. troops alongside President Trump and other U.S. mayors. During lunch, he met a soldier from Rochester Hills and asked what he missed most from home. His answer? “Family… and Kruse & Muer bread.” (Priorities. We respect it.)

 

The Sheriff's stint ended with heartfelt recognition of our veterans and a sincere thank you for their service. We raised $195 for our scholarship fund this week.  Scholarships will be given out next week at the meeting.

 

SPEAKER 

Eisha Branner is the founder and CEO of E Community Outreach Services (ECOS), based in Pontiac, Michigan. A proud native of Pontiac, Eisha is a mother of four daughters, a grandmother, a published author, a twin, and a dedicated entrepreneur. Her lived experiences fuel her passion for creating lasting change in the community.

ECOS was born from Eisha’s own journey—having faced homelessness, instability, and a lack of support, she set out to build what she wished had existed for her: a place that sees and supports the whole family, not just the crisis. At the heart of ECOS is a mission to educate, empower, and engage families, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

Serving Oakland County with compassion, connection, and care, ECOS offers programs designed to address real-life challenges with dignity and practical solutions. Their core goal is to empower families in crisis through access to essential resources, comprehensive wraparound services, and pathways to long-term stability. They believe that empowered parents raise thriving children, and thriving children, in turn, build strong communities.

Core Programs and Services

• Parent Empowerment Center: A welcoming hub for families seeking support in housing, employment, education, and mental health. Through personalized case management, workshops, referrals, and navigation assistance ECOS offers a safe space where families can ask for help and receive it with dignity.
• ECOS Family Store: Families earn points by engaging in ECOS programs and use them to shop for clothing, hygiene kits, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and diapers. This model promotes both self-sufficiency and dignity while meeting essential needs.
• Mobile Resource Bus: For families unable to visit the main location, ECOS brings resources directly to schools, shelters, churches, and community events—removing barriers and expanding access.

Looking Ahead

ECOS is expanding into a new location that will significantly increase its capacity to serve. The enhanced facility will include:

• A computer lab
• An expanded family store
• Additional case management rooms, and
• Warehouse space for storing diapers and other essential supplies

Community Engagement

In partnership with local organizations and volunteers, ECOS hosts seasonal initiatives such as:

• Back-to-School Drives
• Winter Coat Giveaways
• Thanksgiving Meal Distributions
• Holiday Adopt-a-Family Programs

Eisha Branner and the ECOS team are committed to being a bridge between families and the services that uplift them, reminding every parent that they are not alone, and someone cares enough to show up.