August 25, 2026 (Aug. 25, 2026)

ATTENDANCE

If you couldn’t join us on August 25, you were missed! We had 42 attendees, including John Pollock, who was Ernie Schaefer’s guest and is also considering joining the club.

Rotarian Janette Phillips from Bloomfield Hills, who is also our Assistant Governor, was visiting along with the new District Governor Lee Halsted.

FIFTEENTH HANDSHAKE

This week’s greeter, Linda Eastman, declared Yolanda Udell the lucky member to go fine-free!

ROTARIAN OF THE WEEK

Karen Joyce passed the trophy to Tom Neveau in recognition of his willingness to serve as a driver when she needed to attend District training sessions.

💰 HAPPY BUCKS: TRAVEL, LOTTERY LUCK & A WHOLE LOTTA MOOLAH!

Vince Mattina has apparently decided that his life goal is to travel like Phil Lowman—and he’s off to a good start! Vince is heading out for a week of serious hiking, proving once again that some people vacation by relaxing, while others apparently vacation by voluntarily walking uphill for miles. Good luck, Vince!

David Archbold confessed to playing the Michigan Lottery every single week. And apparently, that strategy finally paid off! A while back, Dave temporarily misplaced his Social Security card. Normally, not a huge deal—until he hit a $2,500 lottery jackpot and discovered that collecting the prize required several forms of identification, including, you guessed it, the missing Social Security card. So Dave hunted high and low and found the card and then made the trek to Sterling Heights, showed his required forms of ID, collected his $2,500 in cold, hard moolah, and returned to Rochester—where he was immediately subjected to a Rotary barrage of suggestions about how he might donate that money to the club. Funny how quickly your friends become financial advisors when you hit the jackpot!

Karen and Joyce Joyce are packing their bags and heading off on a fabulous adventure to Portugal and France, with a little Matterhorn thrown in for good measure. Bon voyage, ladies! We expect pictures, stories, and, naturally, a full report on how much walking Vince actually did compared to the two of you!

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

We have plenty of reasons to celebrate in the coming week! Join us in wishing Ted Roumell, Greg Schaefer, Tamara Tazzia, Roz Burns, and Alan McLellan a very Happy Birthday! 🎂🎈 We hope each of you has a wonderful day filled with good friends, good cheer, and plenty of reasons to smile.

And while we haven’t seen Trevis Harrold in a while, we certainly haven’t forgotten him! Trevis is celebrating three years as a member of the club. Congratulations!

CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Membership competition: the Blue Diamonds lead "the other team" by 2 points. Go Blue!

Jennifer Lundy joined Rochester Rotary today. Huzzah! Jennifer works at MKG and thanks Shirley Gofrank and Vince Mattina for introducing her to Rotary.

President Tami Salisbury reminded everyone that there is still time to sign up for Rochester Rotary Charities' Annual Golf Outing. We continue to recruit golfers and sponsors.

Due to the golf outing on September 21, there will NOT be a regular meeting on September 22.

SONG LEADER

In honor of District Governor Lee Halsted's visit today, song leader Bob Lytle led us in singing Rotary-Our-Rotary to the tune of O, Tannenbaum and The Meeting Song.

🚨 SHERIFF’S REPORT: SUMMER IS ENDING, SO EMPTY YOUR WALLETS! 🚨

Sheriff David Blair stepped up to the podium and immediately put David Archbold in the hot seat—not for any actual wrongdoing, but for the outrageous generosity of sharing his lottery winnings.

Dave admitted that he regularly plays the Michigan Lottery, and the Sheriff couldn’t resist reminding everyone that if Dave had hit that multimillion-dollar jackpot, there might just have been a very generous Rotary donation in our future.

What a guy! We’re pretty sure “sharing the wealth” is somewhere in the Rotary Four-Way Test.

Then Sheriff Blair turned his attention to Vince Mattina, who recently confessed that his goal in life is to travel like Phil Lowman.

Naturally, the Sheriff had questions.

What exactly does that mean, Vince?
Are we talking luxury travel? Frequent-flyer miles? Five-star hotels? Or are we talking international travel with a slightly questionable itinerary?

At this point, we’re wondering if Vince is merely aspiring to be Phil Lowman—or if we should start checking the Interpol watch list for his name. Just asking for a friend.

Then Sheriff Blair decided it was time to address the real crime of the day: SUMMER IS ENDING.

And apparently, denial is taxable.

If you refuse to admit that summer is winding down… $5.

If you deny that Rochester kids are already back in school… $5.

And if it has been 40 years since you were last in a classroom—or you’ve somehow forgotten what September means—$5.

The Sheriff then declared a Pure Michigan Fine for anyone who has traveled “up north.” And apparently, Blair’s definition of “up north” is generous. If you made it as far as Saginaw, congratulations—you owe $5.

Own a boat? $5.

Went golfing? $50! Because, according to the Sheriff, golfers are obviously rich.

Attended the Woodward Dream Cruise? $5.
Actually drove in the Cruise? Well, that’s not a fine. That’s a registration fee.

And because nothing says “summer is over” quite like a giant coffee topped with cinnamon-flavored nostalgia, Pumpkin Spice Season is officially on the Sheriff’s radar. Looking forward to your first Pumpkin Spice Latte? $5.

Still working on those summer projects you swore would be finished by Memorial Day? $5.

And then came the venue news.

Since we’ll be shifting venues, anyone confused about where we’re meeting, worried about parking, or generally experiencing even the slightest amount of logistical anxiety—$5.

But Sheriff Blair wasn’t finished emptying our pockets.

He announced a $5 Community House Renovation Assessment for everyone. The project is going to be expensive, so apparently the Sheriff has decided the Rotary Club is now a funding source.

Of course, since the money supports the great things Rochester Rotary does, we’ll let it slide. Just this once.

So, as the Sheriff wrapped up, wallets were lighter, summer was officially on life support, Pumpkin Spice was lurking around the corner, and several members were probably reconsidering their recreational choices.

All this folderol raised $190 for Rochester Rotary Charities.

SPEAKER

Creating a Lasting Impact Through Rotary

Dr. Lee Halsted, a Rotarian for 33 years and a dedicated leader in service, recently shared his passion for Rotary and his vision for creating a lasting impact through service.

A Doctor of Optometry, Lee practiced for 45 years and has been deeply involved in Rotary at the club, district, and international levels. He has served as a club president, Assistant Governor for Western Oakland County, and in numerous community projects, including youth programs and Brighton’s Fourth of July celebrations. He has also participated in international eye care mission trips, primarily in Kenya, along with a memorable exploratory trip to Egypt.

Lee’s commitment to Rotary’s mission is reflected in his service as a Major Donor, Bequest Society Member, Paul Harris Society Member, and PolioPlus Society Member. He is now a member of the Highway M36 Rotary Club, serving the Pinckney, Hamburg, Putnam, and Hell communities.

Growing Rotary, Growing Our Impact

Lee emphasized that his passion—and the passion of many Rotarians—is service. He pointed to this year’s Rotary International President, Olayinka Babalola, and his theme, “Create Lasting Impact.”

One important way Rotary can create that lasting impact is by growing its membership.

“The more Rotarians we have, the more we can accomplish,” Lee noted. While Rotary membership has declined in many parts of the United States, Rochester Rotary bucked that trend with a net gain in membership last year. Lee encouraged members to continue inviting others to experience the opportunities Rotary provides.

He also reminded members that Rotary’s reach extends far beyond individual clubs. The Rotary pin represents an organization that crosses borders and removes barriers, bringing people together to serve others regardless of geography or circumstance.

“We are here for everybody,” Governor Lee emphasized. Whether through local projects, international service, youth programs, or simply sharing individual talents and passions, there is a place for everyone in Rotary. Lee encouraged members to discover what excites their fellow Rotarians and find ways to get them involved.

“No one needs to sit on the sideline,” he said. “We all can contribute our time and talent to improve things in our communities and the world.”

Lee also reminded newer members that Rochester Rotary is one of the three largest clubs in District 6400. Being part of such a large organization allows members to be part of something capable of making a significant difference locally, nationally, and around the world.

Looking Ahead

Lee also highlighted several upcoming Rotary events.

The District Foundation Dinner is scheduled for November 5 from 5:30–9:30 p.m. at the Polish Century Club in Sterling Heights. Early-bird registration is $65 and includes dinner and an open bar. This year’s speakers include Mike McGovern, who is involved with Rotary’s PolioPlus initiative.

Lee stressed that while Rotary is closer than ever to eradicating polio, the work is not finished. Polio remains endemic in Pakistan, and continued commitment is essential to achieving worldwide eradication.

The District Conference will take place April 30–May 1 at the Bavarian Inn and Conference Center in Frankenmuth.

With opportunities ranging from local community service to international projects, leadership development, fellowship, and the fight to eradicate polio, Lee’s message was clear: Rotary allows everyone to make a difference. The key is to get involved—and help create a lasting impact.