Rotary Club Of Grand Rapids

Service Above Selfie Contest
2016-01-04 | Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, 1345 Monroe Ave NW Suite 307, Grand Rapids, MI, 49505, United States
Rotary is about helping our communities and families in need through community service – Now there’s a fun way to put extra money behind those efforts.
Here’s how it works. When you participate in a community service project between January 1 and March 1, 2016, take a “selfie” and post it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn with the hashtag #serviceselfie or #rotarygr. Rotary – Grand Rapids will share the photos at www.serviceselfie.com and pick a list of finalists in early March.
The top three choices will receive a cash prize (1st Place – $2,500, 2nd Prize – $1,500 and 3rd Prize- $1,000) that will be donated to the nonprofit group hosting the community service event.
Winners will be announced at the Service Above Self Award Dinner event on March 24, 2016! Get more details at www.grrotary.org.
Please print the flyer and hand it out to any non-profit that you volunteer for or know, that could benefit from the participation of it’s volunteers. Service Above Selfie flyer

No Luncheon - New Year's Eve
2015-12-31 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | MI
Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year and a wonderful year ahead.

No Luncheon - Christmas Eve
2015-12-24 08:00 - 17:00 | MI
Wishing you and yours joy and peace throughout this holiday season!

Senior Neighbors Holiday Luncheon
2015-12-22 09:00 - 14:30 | Kuyper College, 3333 East Beltline, Grand Rapids, MI, 49525, United States
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids is collaborating with Senior Neighbors Inc. to host the Rotary’s Annual Senior Neighbors Holiday Luncheon on Tuesday, December 22nd in the dining hall at Kuyper College.
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids members and volunteers will serve a delicious sit-down lunch to 200 low income seniors (many of whom are members of the Grand Rapids Senior Neighbors Center and local senior living facilities). Entertainment for the event will be provided by our own Rotarians; Tom Bylenda, Ken Estelle and Inge Whittemore. This annual Rotary Club of Grand Rapids service project is always eagerly anticipated by area seniors and is already completely “sold out” every year!
In addition to the lunch served by Rotarians, seniors are provided with a gift bag filled with basic essentials, treats, and items donated by long-time Rotarian Alan Abraham of S. Abraham & Sons. Seniors area also entered into drawings for gifts donated by Rotary members that are given to the lucky winners as holiday presents.
The Senior Neighbors Holiday Luncheon has been held annually for more than 25 years. It is one of the most anticipated volunteer events by our Rotary members, their families and friends. This luncheon fulfils the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self”, but it goes much deeper. Making a difference in the lives of the these seniors is why the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids and its members continue their participation, support, and hosting of the annual Senior Neighbors Holiday Luncheon.
The luncheon begins at 12:00pm, but volunteers will begin arriving at 9:00am to stuff gift bags and to set-up and decorate for the luncheon.

Anne Berquist
2015-12-17 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Opera Grand Rapids Executive Director Anne Berquist is an international arts administrator and a professional musician. Her extensive international experience in team leadership, expansion of organizational awareness, and relationship building has established a reputation for artistic excellence and innovation.
A native of France, Ms. Berquist moved to the United States in 2001 to become the Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fontana Chamber Arts in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Under her leadership, the program flourished artistically and financially. In addition to earning the anchor organization designation by the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, Fontana Chamber Arts received National Awards for Adventurous Programming. In 2008, Ms. Berquist became the Executive Director of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Culture Center and was named President & CEO of the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts in 2010. In 2012 she became the Executive Director of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, a Florida based professional classical orchestra.
Previous posts include serving as Director of Administration and Director of Studies at the Conservatoire National de Region d’Amiens in France, serving in the Management Department at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, and as Professor of Cello and Chamber music at the Conservatory of Versailles and Saint-Malo.
An accomplished cellist, Ms. Berquist brings with her experience as a musician in addition to experience in managing arts organizations. She has won prizes in cello and chamber music at National Music Conservatories and the Ecole Normale of Paris, holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Missouri, and received an M.B.A. from the University of Paris, La Sorbonne.

John Barfield
2015-12-10 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
John W. Barfield is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Bartech Group, Inc., located in Livonia, Michigan. Bartech is among the nation’s largest independent human capital staffing and services firms in the United States, employing over 3,500 associates nationwide. The Company operates under five divisions: Bartech Enterprise Staffmg, Bartech Workforce Management, Bartech Search Group, Bartech RPO Solutions, and Bartech Managed Services and specializes in engineering, information technology and professional staffing services; business process outsourcing solutions; and vendor management solutions.
The son of an Alabama sharecropper, Mr. Barfield dropped out of high school to enlist in the Army, serving two years in Germany and France. Upon his discharge, he worked as a custodian at the University of Michigan. Together with his wife Betty, he formed the first of many companies, Barfield Cleaning Company, located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In 1969, he sold this company to International Telephone and Telegraph Company. He formed and sold several additional businesses, including Barfield Building Maintenance Company (sold to Unified Building Maintenance Services, Inc.) and Barfield Manufacturing Company (sold to Masco Tech Industries). In 1977, he incorporated John Barfield & Associates, which later became The Bartech Group.
Mr. Barfield is active in many business and community organizations. He is a member of the board of directors of Spaulding for Children and Parkridge Community Center, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, University of Michigan. His past leadership involvement includes organizations such as the United Negro College Fund, Salvation Army of Metropolitan Detroit, State of Michigan Community Services Commission and Rotary International. He supports many humanitarian causes from eradicating polio, to saving a youth community center locally, to building wells and providing safe drinking water in developing countries such as Haiti and Africa. His concern for the growing dilemma of the hungry and homeless population led him to form Share Products. Share brand products were sold throughout the Midwest and the profits were used to provide :free meals and safe lodging for the homeless.
Mr. Barfield has received numerous honors and awards including the Tree of Life Award, the highest honor of the Jewish National Fund in America; The Laureate Award from Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan Business Hall of Fame; The George Romney Award, recognizing his achievement in volunteerism; Northwood University’s Outstanding Business Leadership Award; Olivet College’s Leadership in Individual and Social Responsibility Award. He received the Sapphire Award, a high honor for a leading volunteer who has made a demonstrable commitment to Michigan youth, created by the State of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; the A.G. Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award from Black Enterprise Magazine recognizing his achievements within the African American business community; and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion’s 2007 Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Mr. Barfield holds honorary doctorate degrees :from Jackson State University, Grand Valley State University and Cleary College. He and his wife, Betty have six adult children and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Presidents Meeting - Cancelled
2015-12-10 11:00 - 12:00 | MI
This meeting is open only to the Club Presidents.

Holiday Social at Sietsema Orchard
2015-12-03 17:30 - 20:30 | Sietsema Orchard, 8540 2 Mile Road, Ada, MI, United States

Mindy Ysasi-Castanon
2015-12-03 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Mindy Ysasi is a native of Grand Rapids, MI and attended Grand Valley State University. She received her B.B.A in marketing and management (Seidman School of Business) in 2003.
After her freshman year at GVSU Mindy began an internship at Cascade Engineering in human resources. Upon graduation she began her professional career with Cascade Engineering, serving in a variety of HR roles. Cascade Engineering encouraged strong engagement with the community which led Mindy to become a board member of the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan. In 2006 Mindy was selected as a fellow for the Michigan Political Leadership Program at Michigan State. Mindy achieved her senior human resources certification from HR Certification Institute in 2009.
Mindy joined Herman Miller, Inc. in 2011 as an HR Consultant role supporting the manufacturing operations. In 2012 Milinda joined the board of BL2END, a young professionals organization focused on retaining professionals of color in Grand Rapids. BL2END partnered with Cascade Engineering in 2012 for the first annual Young Professional of Color conference, which Mindy was an organizer.
Mindy began a new career in healthcare at Spectrum Health in 2014. In this role she worked with nursing leaders on performance management, leadership coaching and talent strategy. In fall of 2014 she was promoted to the HR Business Partner role working with both IT and Financial professionals across the health system. Mindy was appointed to serve on the GVSU School of Public, Non-Profit and Healthcare Administration board in 2014. Mindy started an organic collective with three friends in 2014, the Latina Network of West Michigan. A space for Latinas to connect one on one to provide support, mentorship and opportunity an uplifting environment.
In March 2015 Mindy accepted the role of Executive Director, The SOURCE. The mission of The SOURCE is to reduce barriers post employment for employees that work for the member organizations.
Mindy currently serves as the secretary for the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan and is past President, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce – Center for Community Leadership board and the Varnum Diversity Council. She has been recognized with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Young Professional award, the GVSU Alumni Service award, GR Business Journal 40 under forty and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network-GR DoGooder Award.
She resides in the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids with her husband Rafael Castanon.

No Rotary Luncheon - Thanksgiving
2015-11-26 12:00 - 13:15 | MI
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

Club Board of Directors Meeting
2015-11-24 07:30 - 09:00 | MI
NOT AN OPEN MEETING

Dr. Stephen Cohle
2015-11-19 12:00 - 13:15 | MI
Stephen Cohle is the Chief Medical Examiner of Kent County. He has been practicing forensic pathology in Grand Rapids since 1982.
He enjoys fishing and chess and is happily married to Mary, AKA Maria.
He is the author (with R. Byard) of Sudden Death in Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence.
Cause of Death: Forensic files of a medical examiner By Stephen D. Cohle, MD, and Tobin T. Buhk
Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the Country Morgue By Stephen D. Cohle, MD, and Tobin T. Buhk

OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
The Office of the Medical Examiner is mandated by law under Act 181, P.A. 1953, as amended, to investigate certain types of death. These deaths include sudden and unexpected deaths, accidental deaths, violent deaths, and deaths of children 18 and under without significant medical history. The Medical Examiner has the authority under Public Act 181, P.A. 1953, as amended and the Michigan Public Health Code, Act 368 of 1978, to order an autopsy to determine or confirm the cause and manner of death.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners appoints the county medical examiner, who must be a licensed physician, to hold office for a period of 4 years. Every 4 years, the position is reviewed by the board of commissioners.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners appoints a deputy county medical examiner, who must be a licensed physician, and approved by the county medical examiner.
The county medical examiner appoints medical examiner investigators who are responsible for gathering information, taking charge of the deceased person, and arranging for transport to the morgue facility for further postmortem examination as necessary.
The Office of the Medical Examiner is responsible for the issuance of death certificates for all deaths within the jurisdiction of the medical examiner. All cremation permits must also be authorized and issued by the Office of the Medical Examiner. Applications for cremation permits may be submitted by fax.
The Office of the Medical Examiner permanently maintains records (medical examiner’s case report and autopsy report, if ordered) pertaining to medical examiner deaths that were investigated in Kent County. For information regarding obtaining a copy of these reports, call the administrative office during normal business hours, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Programming Committee Meeting
2015-11-18 07:30 - 09:00 | MI
Open to Committee Members only, unless otherwise invited.

Community Engagement Committee Meeting
2015-11-12 13:15 - 14:15 | MI
Committee members only, others by invitation only

Tracey Burke and Joe Brennan
2015-11-12 12:00 - 13:15 | MI
Tracey Burke is the Director of eCare for Spectrum Health, a not-for-profit health system based in West Michigan, comprised of 12 hospitals and 170 ambulatory and service sites. Tracey leads a dedicated group of individuals focused solely on the development and deployment of telehealth offerings. Through the integration of innovative technology, a new electronic front door has been adopted – offering patients enhanced access to lower cost and more convenient care.
During Tracey’s 19 year history with Spectrum Health, she has held several clinical and leadership roles through the system, ranging from radiology to physician relations and business development to operations. Most recently she led the Spectrum Health Employer Health Strategy and system-wide program development.
Tracey earned her Master of Science Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. She has served as an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and is also a member of American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Joe Brennan is the Director of Operations for eCare at Spectrum Health, a non-profit health system based in West Michigan that includes a hospital group, medical group, and health plan.
He has been instrumental in the creation and development of the most robust telehealth program in the State of Michigan. Joe’s career experience in technology and start-up entrepreneurship is beneficial in establishment of eCare services at Spectrum Health.
Joe earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Leadership from DePaul University.

Presidents Meeting
2015-11-12 11:00 - 12:00 | MI

Rotary After Hours - Mathison|Mathison Architect
2015-11-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Mathison|Mathison Architects, 560 Fifth St NW, Suite 405, Grand Rapids, 49504, United States
Please join our Rotarian Tom Mathison and his son Evan Metcalf as they lift up their new office location with a great evening of networking and fellowship.
RSVP Here!

Jesse Bernal, Ph.D.
2015-11-05 12:00 - 13:15 | University Club of Grand Rapids, 111 Lyon St NW Suite 1025, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States
Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D. is Vice President for the Division of Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley State University. Dr. Bernal joined Grand Valley in February and oversees the university’s coordinated efforts to advance diversity and campus climate.
Prior to coming to Michigan, Dr. Bernal serves as Director for Diversity and Inclusion at Santa Clara University in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. In this role, he developed strategies for the recruitment, retention and success of faculty and staff from underrepresented groups and supported efforts to enhance campus climate for faculty, staff, and students. Previously, Dr. Bernal coordinated systemwide diversity and inclusion initiatives for 10 campuses and five medical centers at the University of California as systemwide Diversity Coordinator at the Office of the President. He has served as a consultant on numerous organizational climate assessment projects, LGBT inclusion initiatives, and interfaith community efforts. He also previously worked on educational outreach and academic support programming for underrepresented students as Coordinator of the Educational Outreach Program at the UC’s most diverse campus in Merced, Program Manager for pre-college and first-year summer transition programs at UC Santa Barbara, and Coordinator for a Santa Barbara Public Schools educational outreach program serving low-income 3rd and 4th graders.
While a graduate student at UCSB, Dr. Bernal was appointed to the University of California Board of Regents as student Regent and advocated for a range of statewide policies and programs to support California’s diverse student populations, particularly raising the profile of underrepresented communities such as LGBT students, undocumented students, veterans, and students of color. As Regent, he chaired the Student Life and Alumni Affairs Committee and co-chaired the Access and Affordability Committee of the University of California’s Commission on the Future.
He has served on the California Intersegmental Coordinating Committee – a governor-appointed higher education oversight committee; the California Higher Education Campus Climate Advisory Council; and the University of California LGBT Task Force. He currently volunteers for the LGBT youth support program, the TrevorProject.
On a national level, Dr. Bernal has been active in National Association of Chief Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE), National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE), Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), American Education Research Association (AERA), and the National Conference on LGBT Equality.
Dr. Bernal received his Ph.D. in Cultural Perspectives in Education from UC Santa Barbara. His research has focused on education policy and law, equity and diversity in higher education, campus climate assessments, social justice education, critical race theory, and student engagement and development theories. His current active research focuses on inclusive hiring practices for faculty and staff in higher education and campus climate for Latino and LGBT undergraduates. Dr. Bernal received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Westmont College (Santa Barbara).

"Coffee with the President"
2015-11-03 07:00 - 08:00 | Panera Bread, 99 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, 49503
Join me every Tuesday from 7am–8am at Panera Bread, 99 Monroe Ave NW
To participate in a conversation regarding all things Rotary:

Current dealings within the Club
Club and Foundation activities
Service projects
Financial information
Past meeting recaps
Committee information
How to get involved
Or whatever you would like to discuss!
