Rotary Club Of Grand Rapids

12.29.22 - No Luncheon - New Year's Celebration
2022-12-29 | MI
No Luncheon – New Year’s Celebration

12.22.22 - No Luncheon - Christmas Celebration
2022-12-22 | MI
No Luncheon – Christmas Celebration

12.15.22 - Holiday Luncheon Celebration
2022-12-15 12:00 - 13:15 UTC | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Holiday Luncheon Celebration
Event info to be provided.

12.8.22 - Tim Kelly
2022-12-08 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Tim Kelly – President & CEO, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
Tim Kelly is the President and CEO at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., an organization he has been with since 2013. In that time he has managed several key capital projects and planning efforts, including the first update to the Downtown Master Plan in more than 20 years. Tim is involved in several local civic organizations, including as a board member at the Downtown Market and the Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Conservancy. Tim also serves a board member for the International Downtown Association and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Prior to working in Grand Rapids, Tim worked for the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency in Long Beach, CA. He has an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Hope College and a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from California Polytechnic University. He is a resident of the City of Grand Rapids where he lives with his wife and 5-year-old son.

12.1.22 - Club 77
2022-12-01 16:30 - 18:00 | GRPM Community Archives and Research Center, 223 Washington St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Join us for an exclusive Rotary Club 77 event and tour of the Grand Rapids Community Archives and Research Center including 250,000+ artifacts and specimens that have been collected for nearly 170 years.
DATE:
Thursday, December 1, 2022
TIME:
4:30-6:00 PM
LOCATION:
Community Archives and Research Center (CARC)
223 Washington St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
EVENT DETAILS & RSVP:
Light appetizers & beverages, the tour of collections begins at 5 PM.
Club 77 events are a great way to introduce and invite prospective members, partners, and guests for an evening of fun, food, beverages, and networking!
Please RSVP to the Rotary office at rotary@grrotary.org by Friday, November 25th and if bringing a guest, please provide their name in the RSVP email.

11.24.22 - No Luncheon - Thanksgiving Holiday
2022-11-24 | MI
No Luncheon – Thanksgiving Holiday

11.17.22 - Richard MacKeigan
2022-11-17 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Richard MacKeigan – ASM Global Regional General Manager – ASM Global Regional Booking Director
Richard MacKeigan joined ASM Global (formerly SMG) as General Manager of the Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall and Grand Center (now DeVos Place) in September of 1998, a position he still holds today. In this capacity, he has overall financial, marketing, booking and operational responsibility for Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall and DeVos Place. He oversees a staff of approximately 150 full and part-time employees at the venues. ASM Global began managing the Grand Center and DeVos Performance Hall in 1994, the Arena since it opened in 1996, and now DeVos Place, the state-of-the-art convention complex, which opened in 2005.
In August of 2006, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority hired Rich as their first Executive Director in addition to his duties as General Manager at Van Andel Arena, DeVos Performance Hall and DeVos Place.
In April of 2007, ASM Global named MacKeigan Regional General Manager. In addition to his duties as General Manager for DeVos Performance Hall, DeVos Place, and Van Andel Arena, he also now oversees the ASM Global managed facilities in Peoria, IL; Rockford, IL; Canton, OH; Saginaw, MI; and Port Huron, MI.
In 2012, ASM Global tapped MacKeigan to be a Regional Booking Director as well. In this capacity, MacKeigan acts as a resource for ASM Global managed venues in Canada and the Upper Midwest for entertainment booking. As one of four Regional Booking Directors, MacKeigan works under ASM Global’s Vice President of Live Entertainment and focuses on relationships with booking agents, promoters, managers, and artists in an effort to increase bookings in ASM Global venues and assure the highest possible quality experiences had by touring personnel while in ASM Global venues.
Prior to coming to Grand Rapids, MacKeigan worked for the Corel Centre (now Canadian Tire Place), the 18,500-seat home to the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Involved in the opening of the venue in 1996, MacKeigan held capacities as Event Coordinator, Booking Manager, and Director of Marketing while in Ottawa.
Prior to moving back North of the border (MacKeigan is a Canadian), he worked in Miami, Florida as Coordinator of Marketing and Public Relations for Joe Robbie Stadium (now Hard Rock Stadium), home to the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. The 76,000-seat venue hosted many large events above and beyond home games for its then-two tenants (MLB’s Florida Marlins), including major concerts, College Bowl Games, world-class soccer, and the 1995 Superbowl while he was there. He also worked as an Event Coordinator for the Miami Arena, then home to the Miami Heat of the NBA and Florida Panthers of the NHL. His first position in Miami was in the Community Relations Department of the Miami Dolphins.
MacKeigan holds a graduate degree in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida as well as an undergraduate degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Commerce from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Born in Montreal, Quebec, MacKeigan’s family moved to Ottawa, Ontario when he was 12 where he attended high school.
He is presently on the Executive Board of Directors for Experience Grand Rapids and the Board of Directors for the Economic Club of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. He is a member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) and is involved with Hospice of West Michigan and The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. Rich and Terri, his wife of twenty-four years, live in Caledonia with their 21-year-old daughter, Lauren, 19-year-old son, Wil, and 18-year-old son, Connor. They have continued to enjoy their life in Grand Rapids and consider themselves very lucky to have been exposed to such a wonderful community.

11.15.22 - Degage Ministries - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-11-15 17:00 - 18:30 | Degage Ministries, 139 Sheldon Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
November 15th – Degage Ministries
Contact:
Katharina Hausler-Gross @ grosskat@aquinas.edu
Date:
Tuesday, November 15th — 5 – 6:30 pm
Location:
144 Division Ave S. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Details:

5 volunteers needed
Serving dinner
A wonderful time of service, teamwork, and conversation

11.10.22 - Gleaves Whitney
2022-11-10 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Executive Director, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Gleaves Whitney, who has served as director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University since 2003, was chosen to fill the role of executive director for the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation (GRFPF) effective Sept. 1, 2020.
Credited with establishing the first sustained and comprehensive common ground initiative in U.S. higher education, Whitney received a National Endowment for Humanities grant for the program. Through his leadership, the Hauenstein Center has hosted major conferences that have helped revive the study of Midwestern history and launched the nation’s first presidential question-and-answer column, “Ask Gleaves.” He also developed the Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy at the Hauenstein Center, which now has more than 400 alumni serving in communities around the nation.
Before joining the Hauenstein Center, Whitney served in Michigan Governor John Engler’s administration as senior writer, chief speechwriter, historian, and assisted in the creation of the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Colorado State University, Fort Collins; and a master’s degree in history from the University of Michigan. He was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley California; and was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to West Germany (1984-1985).

11.7.22 - Ronald McDonald House - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-11-07 16:00 - 18:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
November 7th – Ronald McDonald House Dinner Prep
Contact:
Larry Milks @ larry@themilks.org
Date:
Monday, November 7th — 4 pm – 6 pm
Location:
1323 Cedar St NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Details:

5 volunteers needed
Cooking and preparing meals
A wonderful time of service, teamwork, and conversation

11.3.22 - Club 77 hosted by Greg Rhodes
2022-11-03 16:00 - 18:30 | AEBetancourt, 408 Broadway Ave NW 3rd Floor, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
Rotarian Greg Rhodes and AEBetancourt are hosting the November Club 77!
DATE:
Thursday, November 3, 2022
TIME:
4:30-6:00 PM
LOCATION:
AEBetancourt
408 Broadway Ave NW 3rd Floor, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(AEBetancourt new office is located on the 3rd floor above the New Holland Knickerbocker Brewery)
DETAILS & RSVP:
Club 77 events are a great way to introduce and invite prospective members, partners, and guests for an evening of fun, food, beverages, and networking!
Please RSVP to the Rotary office by Friday, October 28th and if bringing a guest, please provide their name in the RSVP email.

10.27.22 - Bill Coderre
2022-10-27 12:00 - 13:15 | Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, 4090 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49546, United States
Bill Coderre, President & CEO Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes
Bill has been driven by his strong passion for the organization’s mission and an unrelenting personal commitment to managerial success for the benefit of the kids that are favorably impacted by Junior Achievement’s programs. Demonstrates the principles of superior business and fiscal practices in running Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes. Has elevated JA in West Michigan to new levels which other JA chapters strive to achieve.
Specialties: leadership, commitment to metrics, fiscal management, team building, donor stewardship, lobbying, fundraising, commitment, and drive.

10.22.22 - Ramp Build - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-10-22 08:30 - 13:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
October 22nd – Ramp Build with Disability Advocates & Home Repair Services
Contact & RSVP:
Dave Bulkowski @ dave@davebulkowski.com
Date:
Saturday, October 22nd — 8:30 am – 1 pm
Location:
TBD (Grand Rapids area)
Details:

8+ volunteers needed
No previous construction experience is required, all tools will be provided
If possible, bring your work gloves, wear sturdy shoes and outdoor attire

10.20.22 - Dom Federico
2022-10-20 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Dom Federico, Owner, Good Friends Auto
Dom was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Chanel Catholic High School (Marist all-boys school), Case Western Reserve University, with an Undergrad Majoring in Psychology and a minor in Biology. He obtained his MD degree from Ohio State Medical School. He served his OB-GYN internship and Residency a Butterworth Hospital.
Dom was a Founding Board Member of Butterworth HMO (Priority Health), he served on the Butterworth Insurance Exchange (MPIE), and MMPC Board and Finance Committee Member of Butterworth Hospital.
He practiced Ob-Gyn for 41 years in a private ob/gyn, primary care, and specialty practice, multi-specialty group practice, and finally as an employed physician. He delivered over 6000 babies and 99 second-generation babies.
Dom accidentally became a used car dealer!

10.13.22 - Jeremy DeRoo
2022-10-13 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Jeremy DeRoo – Chief Executive Officer, Dwelling Place
Jeremy has a BA in Psychology from Calvin College and a Masters in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University and is an alumnus of the Impact Investing Programme at Oxford University.
Born and raised on a dairy farm in Southern Ontario, DeRoo came to Grand Rapids to attend Calvin College. He met his wife, Heidi, while they were both participating in a study abroad program in Nairobi, Kenya. They now have four children.
DeRoo has always had an interest in cross-cultural diversity and community development, a passion that brought him to visit community development sites in Romania, Uganda, Kenya, and the Philippines. He credits the trip to the Philippines when he was 18 as critical in developing his commitment to helping communities realize their potential as a means of ensuring social justice.
DeRoo came back to Grand Rapids in 2002 to take a job as a housing coordinator at LINC, which was just starting its first projects. From 2002 to 2008, LINC grew from 2 employees to 12 and DeRoo moved into the role of Operations Director where he oversaw the daily activities of the organization including primary responsibility for financial management. When the founding Executive Director left the organization, DeRoo was named interim executive director and was appointed to the permanent Co-Executive Director position in July 2008.
As Co-Executive Director, DeRoo has led LINC in revitalizing neighborhoods through authentic engagement, stimulating economic development, expanding housing opportunities, creating affordable housing, and developing leadership and capacity to residents and grass-root organizations. DeRoo has positioned LINC to create intentional connections at the national, state, local, and block levels to maximize impact in the communities served. Recognizing the community development work within the urban core American context is connected to racial equity, DeRoo has helped build a diverse team of employees and helped address issues of systemic racialization in Grand Rapids.
Since starting with LINC, DeRoo has helped secure over $67 million in funding for community improvement efforts resulting in over 300 families increasing their assets.

10.6.22 - Club 77 - Dave's Haircut
2022-10-06 16:30 - 18:00 | Disability Advocates of Kent County, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548, United States
Club 77 – Dave’s Haircut – RI Foundation Fundraiser
Details:
Rotarian Dave Bulkowski will get his haircut for the first time in 5 years!
You’ll be able to tour the property and donate to The Rotary Foundation as a pledge to cut Dave’s hair. The largest pledges will actually be “making the cuts” aided by a stylist from Capelli Salon. Consider pooling your pledges as a team bid.
All funds will go to the Rotary Foundation and his hair will be given to Locks of Love. The donations will help us reach our club goal to the Rotary Foundation which qualifies us for District grants in the future. Those grants will help us continue to provide ramps in the years to come.
Other “heroic feats” of David’s hair may include:

Purifying the water in Nicaragua
Cleaning the Grand River’s banks
Building latrines in Sri Lanka
A beautiful wig for Locks of Love

R.S.V.P. by Friday, September 30th

10.5.22 - Ronald McDonald House - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-10-05 16:00 - 18:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
October 5th – Ronald McDonald House Dinner Prep
Contact:
Larry Milks @ larry@themilks.org
Date:
Wednesday, October 5th — 4 pm – 6 pm
Location:
1323 Cedar St NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Details:

5 volunteers needed
Cooking and preparing meals
A wonderful time of service, teamwork, and conversation

10.1.22 - Neighborwoods Tree Planting - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-10-01 09:00 - 13:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
October 1st – Neighborwoods Tree Planting with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
Registration Link:
(Please note GR Rotary in the box provided for Community Group)
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks · 2022 Fall Neighborwoods Planting (lglforms.com)
Contact:
Alex Wilson @ alexandra.wilson@ucomgr.org
Date:
Saturday, October 1st — 9 am – 12 pm
Location:
Gerald R. Ford Middle School, 851 Madison Ave. SE (meet at the gym parking lot)
Details:

Multiple volunteers needed to plant goal of 200 trees in 48 hours
No previous construction experience is required, all tools will be provided
Tools and training will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes, clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and bring your own work gloves, water, and snacks

9.30.22 - Ramp Build - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-09-30 08:30 - 13:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
September 30th – Ramp Build with Disability Advocates & Home Repair Services
Contact & RSVP:
Dave Bulkowski @ dave@davebulkowski.com
Date:
Friday, September 30th — 8:30 am – 1 pm
Details:

8+ volunteers needed
No previous construction experience is required, all tools will be provided
If possible, bring your work gloves, wear sturdy shoes and outdoor attire

9.29.22 - Paul Heroman
2022-09-29 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Paul Heroman – Rotary District Governor, District 6290
Paul M. Heroman, an acknowledged transformational turn-around leader, has 30 years’ of experience instituting market-focused, quality improvement to stabilize businesses, reduce costs, grow revenue, and develop staff. Ten years ago, he began translating his deep experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership into his passion for developing future leaders in today’s workforce, obtaining an Executive M.B.A. in his transition to corporate education and development.
In 2016, Paul joined the University of Notre Dame’s Stayer Center for Executive Education retiring late in 2020 but continuing in the executive education space with the Kelley School of Business. Prior to joining Notre Dame, he started and led the Center for Leadership at Grand Valley State University. Paul is a hands-on guide and mentor who knows the challenges leaders face—from middle managers to C-suite executives—and is committed to providing the practical knowledge and resources needed to help people lead and organizations succeed.
Paul has been actively involved with Rotary International for over 25 years, serving as the past president of the Ada-Cascade Club. He is past president of Rotary East Charities (which supports nonprofit youth programs) and Assistant Governor of District 6290. He has been selected District 6290 Governor 2022-23. Paul chaired the club’s Life Leadership program and has served on the board of directors for nearly a decade. He was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary Foundation and has additionally served as director of two nonprofit boards.

9.22.22 - Alicia Córdoba
2022-09-22 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Alicia R. Córdoba, D.M.A., President, Aquinas College
Alicia Córdoba brings more than two decades of experience in Catholic higher education, both as a faculty member and administrator, to her new role in leading the nationally ranked liberal arts institution. A mission-driven and motivational leader, Córdoba has broad expertise in strategic planning, financial management and stewardship, curriculum and program design, fundraising, marketing, team building, process improvement, and related areas.
A native of the Chicago suburbs, Córdoba spent 19 years in faculty and administrative positions of increasing authority at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. She currently serves as associate vice president and Beirne director of the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
A graduate of The Juilliard School where she was the first woman to receive a Doctor of Musical Arts in English horn performance, Córdoba has performed oboe and English horn with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She holds the position of principal English horn in Sinfonia da Camera, a chamber orchestra at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, Illinois.

9.17.22 - Fall River Clean Up - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-09-17 08:00 - 17:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
September 17th – River Clean Up (meet at the “Rotary Spot”)
Contact:
Alex Wilson alexandra.wilson@ucomgr.org or Nick Farr nick@nickfarr.org
Date:
Friday, September 17th — 8 am – 5 pm
Details:
15 – 20 + volunteers needed

9.16.22 - Habitat for Humanity - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-09-16 08:00 - 17:00 | MI
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
September 16 – @ Habitat for Humanity of Kent County
Contact:
Stacey Woods SWoods@WolvGroup.com or Jim Rademaker rademakj@gvsu.edu
Date:
Friday, September 16th — 8 am- 5 pm
Details:
10 – 12 volunteers needed

9.15.22 - "Know Me Better"
2022-09-15 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
The “Know Me Better” luncheon is a fantastic opportunity for Rotarians to connect by sharing their personal story of why they chose Rotary and are committed to serving. #serviceaboveself

9.8.22 - Cathy Holbrook
2022-09-08 12:00 - 13:15 | St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Cathy Holdbrook, Executive Director, St. Cecilia Music Center
Topic: “St. Cecilia Music Center History and Future”
Cathy Holbrook has held a leadership role in non-profit arts organizations for 30 years. She has been the executive and artistic director at St. Cecilia Music Center since 2006. Prior to her position at St. Cecilia, Cathy was the executive director of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra for 11 years in California. She has also held public relations and development positions at the Los Angles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angles, CA and the La Jolla Chamber Music Society in San Diego, CA. Cathy was personal assistant to world-renowned pianist, composer, and conductor André Previn.
Since her time with St. Cecilia Music Center, she has facilitated a rebrand of the Center with a new name and image. She manages the administrative staff and works with the board of directors to maintain a successful and fiscally responsible organization.
Cathy envisioned and initiated a jazz series, folk series, and chamber music series all of which brings world-renowned musicians to Grand Rapids for performances in the superb Royce Auditorium. In 2012 Cathy forged a partnership between St. Cecilia Music Center and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York, the most prestigious chamber music organization in the country, to co-present concerts at St. Cecilia. She was instrumental in bringing music to ArtPrize in 2011 by engaging musicians to exhibit musical entries at St. Cecilia Music Center and initiating independently organized prize money specifically for musical ArtPrize entries.
Seven years ago Cathy created a new partnership with the syndicated radio show Acoustic Café and its host Rob Reinhart. The collaboration brings touring folk musicians and bands to St. Cecilia Music Center for performances. The series also gives St. Cecilia and Grand Rapids national exposure through taped interviews that air on the nationally syndicated radio show – heard on over 150 stations throughout the country.
During Cathy’s tenure at St. Cecilia Music Center, the number of concerts presented in the Chamber, Jazz, and Folk series has increased six times over. The artists presented are of the highest caliber, all Grammy-award winning and in-demand performers. The budget of St. Cecilia Music Center has increased in revenue by 50% with a significant increase in ticket sales and development revenue.
In 2015/16 Cathy orchestrated a $5.5 million capital campaign that allowed St. Cecilia Music Center to complete a $2.5 million renovation on the then 129-year-old building that SCMC calls home at 24 Ransom Ave. That same campaign doubled the size of the endowment for SCMC.
Cathy is skilled in creating strategies for organizational evolution. Her strengths lie in building a strong team within her organization, finding innovative programs to reach a wide variety of community members, and building important relationships with many different constituencies who are stakeholders in the mission of the organization.

9.1.22 - No Luncheon - Labor Day Celebration
2022-09-01 | MI
No Luncheon – Labor Day Celebration

8.25.22 - Speaker Clay West, Special Guests Ariel Dempsey & Yeyoung Lee
2022-08-25 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Clay West – Assistant US Attorney, US Department of Justice
Clay M. West is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, now serving as a Military Judge with the U.S. Army Trial Judiciary, 4th Judicial Circuit. He also is an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Clay attended Harvard College, Cambridge University, and Yale Law School. He clerked for judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the California Supreme Court, before working as a federal prosecutor first at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), and then for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan (Grand Rapids).
His military career began with a direct commission to the United States Army Reserve in 2004. In 2006, he mobilized and deployed to Germany, in 2007 to Iraq, and in 2008 to Afghanistan in support of ongoing combat operations in those countries. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal following those deployments. From 2008 to 2011, he mobilized as counsel to the Guantanamo Military Commission and traveled approximately 30 times to Guantanamo in support of ongoing military commission hearings.
Clay has since worked in the Army Reserve as aide-de-camp and assistant executive officer to a general officer in the Army Reserve Legal Command, and as a brigade judge advocate to a military police brigade in Michigan. In 2020, Clay M. West was selected to serve as a military judge with the U.S. Army Trial Judiciary. He has presided over trials in Texas, South Carolina, Washington State, Colorado, and Kuwait.
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Ariel Dempsey, District 6290 Global Scholar
Ariel Dempsey is a young physician from Grand Rapids, MI who earned her MD at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
With the support of Rotary, she is now pursuing a PhD in Science and Religion at the University of Oxford Dr Alister McGrath. While at Oxford she is also running a Trauma Healing Program for refugees with the Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholars Program. After the PhD she will return to clinical practice medical residency in Psychiatry with a fellowship in Palliative Care.
Her aspiration is to become a Palliative Care physician walking alongside those at the end of life, and an academic theologian drawing on resources of religious traditions to reflect on healthcare and better serve those who suffer.

Yeyoung Lee, District 3630 (Seoul, South Korea) District Scholar
Yeyoung Lee is a third-year (starting Fall 2022) Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) at Michigan State University. Her research interests focus on human capital development, food and nutrition security, the role of different pathways to heterogeneous responses by gender under climate change, and the impacts of agricultural policies on women’s empowerment. She has field experience across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, she has conducted household surveys in Uganda (Mbale District) and interviewed farmers and extension workers in Tanzania (Kilosa District). While working on agricultural extension, she was motivated to pursue her graduate studies to better understand agricultural development and promote practical research.
Prior to joining AFRE, Yeyoung worked as a research intern at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) based in Washington, DC. While there, she was involved in the Gender, Climate Change, and Nutrition (GCAN) project, an initiative implemented under the CGIAR Research Program, and collaborated with colleagues at IFPRI. Back in Seoul, Yeyoung continued to work with her colleagues on the gender-differentiated effects of heat stress on agricultural labor and the linkages between weather variability and intimate-partner violence. Yeyoung’s past field experiences and research opportunities deeply motivated her to move forward with the Ph.D. program at AFRE.
During Yeyoung’s Ph.D. program at AFRE, she has taken 11 courses (total 34 credits), including four core Economics courses (13 credits), three courses in her major field (9 credits), and other major courses. She also passed the first trial of the qualifying exam in May 2020 and has been exempted from the second qualifying exam this year based on the new grade-based policy. In terms of research, Yeyoung published three papers in peer-reviewed journals between Fall 2020 and Summer 2021, including her master’s thesis for Uganda extension service. She also continued to work with her advisor and colleagues from IFPRI to build up her research topics on gender, time use, and the safety net program in Ethiopia and virtually presented her poster at the Agricultural and Applied Economic Association (AAEA) held in Austin, Texas in August 2021. Yeyoung also presented her previous paper for Tanzania at Cultivating Equality conference in October 2021. Yeyoung continues to work on her third-year paper to fill the knowledge gap in gender, time use, and technology adoption.
For volunteer work at MSU, she played the role of a representative named Inclusive Ambassador for my cohorts in the second year and put her efforts into harmonizing with the first-year and upper-year students in grad school. For the next academic year, she started serving as First-Year Liaison in Graduate School Organization (GSO) to help incoming Master’s and Ph.D. students settle in the program in their first year. Yeyoung believes her service and cooperation also are linked with Rotary’s focus on enhancing community development, as her role is to support the student body as a leader.
Immediately after the scholarship period, Yeyoung seeks to work as Young Professionals at International Organization and conduct development projects as a Research Fellow for at least 3 years in Africa. In addition, she plans to build up the necessary capacities for African development research through mid-and long-term work experiences and live in African countries for several years to conduct practical research. Most of all, as a Rotary scholar, Yeyoung’s mid-long term goal is to teach the next generation who will contribute to future research on regional and economic development in the world.
Yeyoung’s long-term career goal is to go beyond research for the local network of Africa and play a role as a community developer who helps African and international communities thrive, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, the elderly, and children. She believes it is consistent with one of the Rotary’s goals (Economic and Community Development) that focuses on the current issues arising in low-income countries. She also trusts her Ph.D. program at MSU will empower her to achieve her goal through substantial coursework, communication with excellent faculty and colleagues, and collaboration with researchers in international development.

8.22.22 - Fill The Backpacks - Volunteer Opportunity
2022-08-22 16:30 - 18:30 | Life EMS Ambulance, 1275 Cedar St NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Our Community Engagement Committee is pleased to provide the following volunteer opportunity for our Rotarians and friends!
August 22 – Fill the Backpacks @ Life EMS Ambulance
Contact:
Eva Martinez eva@elncgr.org
Date:
Monday, August 22nd — 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Details:
5 volunteers needed to stuff backpacks

8.18.22 - Ellen Bacca
2022-08-18 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Ellen Bacca – Chief Meteorologist, WOOD TV
Ellen has won four Regional TV Emmy awards for her work in meteorology as well as the Michigan Association of Broadcasters award for Best Broadcast. She holds two professional seals of approval. The CBM and the NWA.
Ellen is originally from West Michigan where she grew up in her home town of Portage.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology at Valparaiso University in Indiana (home of Orville Redenbacher by the way) before accepting her first job in Montana. From there she worked as a meteorologist and environmental reporter along the coast of North Carolina before returning home.
Ellen is married to her high school sweetheart. She spends her weekends doing anything outdoors from scuba diving to flying hot air balloons with her pilot husband.

8.11.22 - Allmon Forrester
2022-08-11 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Allmon Forrester – Director of Facilities, Planning, and Sustainability, John Ball Zoo
Allmon has been with the John Ball Zoo since 2000. He holds degrees in both Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.
He has over 30 years’ experience in almost every arena of site management including facilities, construction, grounds, housekeeping, sustainability, and planning.
He currently oversees the Facility Department, Building and Grounds Department, security, and owners’ representative for capital projects at the Zoo. He is currently the sitting past-president of the National Aquarium & Zoo Facilities Association.
