Rotary Club of Grand Rapids
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The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids meets Thursday's from 12:00pm-1:15pm @ Kent Country Club
Rotary Club Of Grand Rapids
Latest News
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids meets Thursday's from 12:00pm-1:15pm @ Kent Country Club
New member Kate Wezeman IOM, CPA, MST, SHRM-CP, of the Grand Rapids Chamber, reflects the best of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. Here's why:
JOB JOB: Senior VO of Finance and Operations 💸
FAMILY: Husband Matt, children McKenzie and Trinity, and two pitbull rescues
LOCAL YOKEL: From Spring Lake but is a Westsider now 🍺
READING/WATCHING: Two mysteries and one chick-lit/Shrinking
HOBBIES: Reading, hiking, travel
FOR FUN: Live outdoor music and die-hard Spartan fan
3 ADJECTIVES: Quiet, Caretaker, Dancing Queen 😊
FAVORITE TASK: A good, long tricky bank reconciliation
FARTHEST TRAVELED: Europe
YUM/YUCK: Pizza/Seafood
WHEN SHE GROWS UP: Work in a library 📖
SURPRISE: Has 8 tattoos
VOLUNTEERING: Silent Observer, In the Image, Family Business Alliance
ROTARY REASON: Getting out of her comfort zone, meet new people, networking, and service
A special shout-out to her sponsors, Jon Andrews and Mary Jo Baweja, MA, LLP. ... See MoreSee Less
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At our most recent luncheon we were honored to welcome Steve Tibbe, Paul Soltysiak, and Andy DeVries from the Friends of Valley Field to share the incredible story of Sullivan Field (formerly Valley Field) on the west side of Grand Rapids.
Originally built in 1937, this historic ballpark has seen more than 80 players go on to the Major Leagues and has been home to teams like the Grand Rapids Black Sox and the Sullivan’s. Thanks to recent years of dedication and renovation, it continues to thrive today as a true community gem—hosting baseball, live music, and countless local events.
Perhaps most impressive of all: this transformation has been driven entirely by passionate volunteers—no paid staff—just a shared commitment to preserving something special for our city.
A powerful reminder of what’s possible when people come together to serve their community. ... See MoreSee Less
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The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Charities Foundation is proud to recognize the organizations that have received grants so far this fiscal year.
Each recipient aligns with one or more of Rotary's Seven Areas of Focus - supporting meaningful work in peace and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, and the environment.
Feeding America West Michigan
Fans of Valley Field
IKUS Life Enrichment Services
Oakdale Neighbors
We are grateful to our Rotarians, donors, and nonprofit partners who make this impact possible. Together, we are People of Action! ... See MoreSee Less
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Only 16 days until our Service Above Self Award Dinner sponsored by Meijer! There are still tickets available and other ways to donate. Don’t miss out on a fantastic evening!
#ServiceAboveSelf #Rotary #RotaryClubGrandRapids ... See MoreSee Less
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Let's give a hearty West Michigan welcome to our newest member, David Kane of Kane Engineering Group Inc. A cursory review of his application reveals a biography of brilliance:
BORN AND RAISED: Green Bay, Wisconsin -- a birthright Packers fan 🧀
EDUCATION: Milwaukee School of Engineering
CAREER: Control systems for manufacturing
WEST MICHIGAN ROOTS: 36 years
FAMILY: Wife Victoria and twins Samuel and Brittanee
HOBBIES: Computer programming, electronics, stand-up comedy 🤣
VOLUNTEER: Judge Advisor for FIRST Robotics 🤖
ROTARY REASON: Friendship and community
A special thank you to his sponsors J.R. Muller and Kevin Kelling. ... See MoreSee Less
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Community Engagement Committee planning the future and having tacos! ... See MoreSee Less
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Last Thursday, our outstanding Interact students took the lead at our weekly luncheon and brought in an inspiring guest speaker: Andy Allen, Vice President of Advancement at AYA Youth Collective.
Andy shared how AYA Youth Collective creates communities, rooted in belonging, for youth experiencing instability to own their future. Their vision is a society where all youth have the support they need to thrive.
We also discovered that when Andy isn’t leading in the community, he enjoys performing stand-up comedy — and he can even balance a chair on his chin!
We are incredibly proud of our 32 Interact students from 8 different schools in the area who stepped up, showed great leadership in this year's Interact program. ... See MoreSee Less
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A nice sunny morning, doing work outside at Indian Trails Camp - IKUSLife.org - Thanks to all Rotarians and non-Rotarians who showed up to help out today for the camp cleanup! ... See MoreSee Less
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Let's welcome William Werkmeister to the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan. A partner in Health Innovation Partners, Bill will be a great asset to the club:
WORK: Career social impact venture capitalist💰with a focus on the life science 🔬and technology sectors 💻
BOARD WORK: Currently, National Foundation for Cancer Research, Scitech Development, Geneius Biotechnology, Yale Club of Western Michigan, and Apricity Health 👌🏼
EDUCATION: BS from Cornell University, MPA from Harvard University, MBA from Yale University. Studied at the London School of Economics and political science at New York University. 🤓
3 ADJECTIVES: Driven, loyal, kind 🙂↕️
FARTHEST TRAVELED: China
YUM/YUCK: Italian/Fish
READING/WATCHING: "To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower"/Game of Thrones 🐲
WHEN HE GROWS UP: Mentor others and use experience to help others.
ROTARY REASON: Meet new friends and make a difference 💪🏼
HOBBIES: Hiking🚶🏼 , travel ✈️, photography 📸
FUN FACT: Way too much photography equipment
COMMITTEES: Community Engagement and Rotary Foundation
SURPRISING: Lived in Nicaragua for a summer doing an economic development project
A special thanks to his sponsors, Kevin Paul and Ping Liang. ... See MoreSee Less
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The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan is pleased to extendio a membership to Cristian Anastasiu of Excendio Advisors. Here is what makes him such a great fit for our club:
CAREER: Managing partner and founder of Excendio; 23-year career in the mergers and acquisitions advisory space
PREVIOUSLY: CEO and President of BRAIN North America, Director of Worldwide Sales Operations for CISCO, management positions at Gupta Technologies and ITT Semiconductors 😅
FAMILY: Wife Ingrid and children Marc and Kim 👨👩👧👦
SMARTS: MSEE from Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany, MBA from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, Fulbright Association alum
READING/WATCHING: "Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It"/Blindspot
FUN FACT: While decisions in his line of work can take months or years… at a restaurant, he is almost always the first one to order
ROTARY REASON: To be part of a group of people committed to making a tangible impact locally and globally 🙂↕️
COMMITTEE WORK: Focused on building world community, the Rotary International Foundation, STRIVE Mentoring, or Finance
3 ADJECTIVES: Analytical🤓 , driven 💪🏼, sense of humor 🤣
FAVORITE TASKS: Solve problems, strategize, plan, help make important decisions
WHY WEST MICHIGAN? A 2-year job assignment … 24 years ago 😲
FARTHEST TRAVELED: Patagonia
YUM/YUCK: Seafood spaghetti/anchovies 🐟
SOMETHING SURPRISING: Used to play banjo in a band 🪕
A special thanks to his sponsors, Kirk Dornbush and Matt Tiedgen. ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from Shelley Irwin's post ... See MoreSee Less
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Signup today to volunteer with us!
www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4EA8A823A0FD0-63300604-indian#/
@followers ... See MoreSee Less
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Make Sure to Register Today! ... See MoreSee Less
2026 Spring Learning Assembly
ridistrict6290.org
DISCOUNTED HOTEL ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 17TH 🌟 What’s Blooming on April 18? ✔ Dynamic Learning Sessions Three concurrent breakout tracks designed to equip and inspire: Successful Se...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan and the Rotary Club of #Muskegon come together once again for their annual Joint Service Project at Feeding America West Michigan.
In the true spirit of #ServiceAboveSelf, Rotarians, #STRIVE and #Interact students volunteered their time to support the life-sustaining work FAWM provides across West Michigan and throughout the state. From food distribution to strategic hunger relief initiatives, FAWM plays a critical role in ensuring that children, families, and seniors have reliable access to nutritious food — strengthening the health and stability of our communities.
We extend our sincere thanks to Ken Estelle, Mary Slafkosky, MPA, CFRM, and Frank Almonte for hosting our clubs and for their dedicated leadership. The scale and impact of FAWM’s work — locally and statewide — are both inspiring and essential.
We are deeply grateful to every volunteer who served. When service-minded leaders and young people come together in partnership with organizations like FAWM, meaningful and measurable impact follows.
#ServiceAboveSelf #Rotary #HungerRelief #CommunityImpact #WestMichigan #PeopleOfAction ... See MoreSee Less
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We celebrate the fact that community leader Salina Bishop, CFRE, of Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan, has joined Rotary. We are honored to have her in our club:
WORK: President & CEO
FAMILY: Daughter Dawson and spouse Scott
LOCAL YOKEL: Born and Raised in West Michigan
READING / WATCHING: The Widow by John Grisham / The Good Fight
FUN FACT: Won Miss Carnival Conquest and lived like a queen on a seven-
day cruise, much to her daughter's annoyance
WHY JOIN? Always felt genuinely welcomed
COMMITTEES: Very open and excited to learn how she can best contribute
3 ADJECTIVES: Tenacious, kind, thoughtful
HOBBIES: Running, crochet, hot yoga, long walks
VOLUNTEERISM: Vice Chair of the East Grand Rapids Library Commission,
former board member of Community Food Club
AWARDS: 2025 Crain’s Grand Rapids Notable Leader in Philanthropy
FUTURE: Inspirational speaker sharing her story, motivating and uplifting
others
A special thanks to her sponsors, Craig Clark & Matt Tiedgen. ... See MoreSee Less
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We had the exciting opportunity to welcome Cathy George, Vice President & Head Coach of the Grand Rapids Rise professional volleyball team, to speak at our luncheon. Coach George shared her extraordinary journey through collegiate coaching and how she came out of “retirement” to lead the Rise in their inaugural 2024 season — bringing her legendary energy and passion for the sport to our club!
Her enthusiasm was contagious and left members and guests buzzing — we can’t wait to see you all at a Rise game soon!
We were also honored to recognize:
- Aaron Oberlin as a Paul Harris Society recipient for his generous contributions to Rotary International
- Mary Slafkosky as a Paul Harris Fellow +1 for her continued support and leadership
And a special thanks to Kevin Sauder of the Music Committee for leading us in “This Land is Your Land” for our opening song.
Thank you to everyone who joined — your energy and engagement make Rotary great! ... See MoreSee Less
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It is time to celebrate Jon Frantz of Top to Bottom Cleaning joining the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. We are lucky to have Jon in our club:
BUSINESS FOCUS: Janitorial, commercial & industrial cleaning
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Owner/partner in 4 businesses
HOBBIES: Golf🏌🏼♂️, outdoors🥾, family 👑
VOLUNTEERING: Susan Mast ALS Foundation
SURPRISE: Left-handed in everything except bowling, somehow right arm is
stronger😕
HOME: West Michigan
TRAVELED: Spain & Germany
YUCK / YUM: Oysters 😝 / steak 😋
ROTARY REASON: Networking, community outreach, business development
READING / WATCHING: Never Split the Difference / FallOut
FUN FACT: Owns a corgi named Mable 🐶
COMMITTEE: Community engagement, executive, or finance 💰
3 ADJECTIVES: Humble, optimistic, persistent
A special thank you to his sponsors Shannon Kolarik & @Jon (JR) Jonathan 'jr' Roberts. ... See MoreSee Less
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View or Listen to all 50 at - grrotary.org/unplugged/ ... See MoreSee Less
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youtu.be/-jB4oCgIrhU ... See MoreSee Less
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What a fantastic way to kick off 2026!
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids recently gathered for our annual President’s Social / Club 77 event at Silva, welcoming more than 70 Rotarians and guests for an unforgettable evening.
Guests enjoyed amazing appetizers and drinks, friendly bocce ball competition, and exclusive tours of the venue hosted by owner Mark Secchia. Most importantly, the night was filled with great conversation, laughter, and the joy of reconnecting with fellow Rotarians.
A special thank you to President Shannon Kolarik and Custer for hosting and supporting this wonderful event—we truly appreciate your leadership and generosity.
Thank you to everyone who joined us—we’re excited for another great year ahead! ... See MoreSee Less
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What a wonderful way to celebrate the season! Rotarians, guests, and Interact students came together for our annual holiday luncheon, enjoying a festive meal and great company.
A special thank-you to our very own Rotary band, “Twice December”, for providing live music and setting the perfect holiday mood!
We also loved hearing from Interact President Kate Wittung, who shared an update on the students’ recent professional development offsite meetings and all the great work they’ve been doing.
And last but not least — please join us in giving a warm Rotary welcome to our newest member, Abbey Conway, who shared a little about herself and why she joined Rotary!
Grateful for fellowship, service, and holiday cheer. ... See MoreSee Less
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Rotarians gathered at The Salvation Army on Tuesday night to help sort packages and gifts for children in need as part of their annual Angel Tree Gift Drive!
DID YOU KNOW:
-1,900 families and just under 5,000 kids will be helped through Angel Tree in 2025
-14,000 toys will be collected so each child ages 0 - 12 years gets 3 gifts each & every teenager receives a gift card.
- There is still an urgent need for gifts for kids ages 8 - 12 years old, especially girls. Unwrapped gifts can still be donated until Wednesday, December 17 by dropping them off at 1215 Fulton Street E., GR. (the corner of Fuller & Fulton) or at Kindred House at 555 28th Street SE, GR.
Our deepest gratitude to the hardworking team at The Salvation Army who make this annual toy drive possible, bringing some comfort and joy to so many children in our community! ... See MoreSee Less
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We are thankful that Kelly Gilbert has joined the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan. Let's meet this fixer and planner:
JOB JOB: Owner and fiduciary advisor for EFG Financial
AUTHOR: "Future Proof Investing" 📖
FAMILY: Spouse Ronda and children Chelsea, Kevin, Jonathan, Alex 😅
HOBBIES: Golf🏌🏼♂️ and Hockey 🏒
FAVORITE TASK: Likes to fix things
READING: “The Gap and the Gain”, Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
FUN FACT: Youth hockey coach for 20 years
ROTARY REASON: A way to give back 🫡
3 ADJECTIVES: Outgoing, Energetic, Opinionated 😊
WHY WEST MICHIGAN? Job change in early 90s 😎
FARTHEST TRAVELED: Europe, Italy, Germany
YUK/YUM: Cucumber 😝 Brisket 😋
SOMETHING SUPRISING: Even though coached hockey for 20+ years, he is still a poor hockey player, but plays anyways
WHEN HE GROWS UP: He never wants to grow up
A special thanks to his sponsors, J.R. Muller and Peter Krause. ... See MoreSee Less
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Good Morning District 6290 Rotarians,
After completing the requirements per our district's bylaws, it is my honor to announce the nomination of Ruthann Schulte as the District Governor for the 2028-2029Rotary year. Ruthann is a member of the Grand Rapids Rotary Club.
Ruthann Schulte has been a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids since 2021 and currently serves as co-chair of the club’s Rotary Youth Exchange Committee. She has also served on the Community Engagement and Membership Committees, where she led New Member Orientations. At the District level, Ruthann works with the District 6290 Vision Facilitation Program and is training as the Inbound Coordinator for the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee. From 2023–2024, she served as Assistant Governor before stepping down to spend part of the year in Kazakhstan.
One of Ruthann’s favorite aspects of Rotary is building meaningful relationships—locally and globally. Whether volunteering with fellow Rotarians, connecting with members at District or international events, or sharing a laugh with an exchange student about American cultural quirks, she values Rotary as a foundation for lasting relationships and peacebuilding.
Ruthann first joined Rotary in 2006 with the Rotary Club of Fortuna Sunrise (California), District 5130. Her roles there included Club Secretary, Board Member, and Club President (2012–13). During her years in District 5130, she also served on the District’s Institute for Leadership facilitation team, the District Vision Facilitation Team, the 2012 District Conference Committee, and as Sergeant-at-Arms for Far West PETS. She was an active participant in the Redwood Region Rotary Group, where multiple clubs collaborated on shared initiatives. While living in Fortuna, she was a member of the inaugural Leadership Fortuna class. A highlight of this time was attending her first Rotary International Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, with her husband, Doug Mooney, in 2012, where they also visited one of the students they had hosted on an exchange.
Professionally, Ruthann built her career in natural resources, serving primarily as an Environmental Stewardship Director in the forestry industry. She was also an Executive Director for a nonprofit organization and later became an Advisor to a California Waste Board Member, a Governor-appointed position, during the Schwarzenegger administration. After returning to Michigan in 2015, she became a Forest Certification Auditor for the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative programs.
Ruthann and Doug enjoy exploring West Michigan by bike, kayak, or on foot, as well as traveling and seeking new adventures around the world. Doug is currently teaching English in Kazakhstan through the English Language Fellows Program, and Ruthann will soon join him there until July 2026, after which they will return to their home in Michigan. ... See MoreSee Less
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The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids was honored to host our annual Senior Neighbors Holiday Luncheon at the Aquinas College Donnelly Center this week. This cherished tradition brings together seniors from across Kent County for an afternoon of connection, celebration, and holiday cheer.
Guests enjoyed a festive meal, lively crossword puzzles, beautiful holiday music performed by our very own Rotary Band, exciting prize drawings and restaurant gift card giveaways, and gift bags packed to the brim with goodies and essentials.
None of this would be possible without the 50+ Rotarians who volunteered their time and hearts—prepping gift bags, signing holiday cards, setting up the event, greeting guests, serving coffee and meals, and staying afterward to clean up. Your service truly embodies the Rotary spirit.
A very special thank you to our incredible event co-chairs Katharina Häusler-Gross and Alex Wilson for their leadership and dedication.
We are also deeply grateful to our generous community partners and sponsors:
Cherie Inn
Alliance Financial & Services
Anna’s House
Applebee’s
Elder’s Helpers
Feeding America West Michigan
Meijer
Oasis Senior Advisors
Russ’
The Storehouse
— and to the many Rotarians whose donations made it possible to create overflowing gift bags and host memorable prize drawings:
Asgi & Sheri Fazleabas
Maurice Fetty
Joel Hondorp
Claire & Rod Horlings
Birgit Klohs
Ping & Tim Liang
Michael Loughman
Greg Mead
Monica Pritchard & Tim Sigel
Greg Rhodes
Ruthann Schulte
Jackie Taylor
Bruce Young
James P. White
This event continues to inspire us every year. Thank you to all who helped make the season brighter for our senior neighbors! ... See MoreSee Less
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Rotarians and friends from the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids enjoyed a wonderful evening at All Art Works Studio for our December Club 77 gathering.
We spent the night surrounded by inspiring local art while enjoying great conversation, drinks, and appetizers — the perfect way to celebrate community, creativity, and fellowship as we wrap up the year.
A heartfelt thank you to All Art Works for hosting us in such a vibrant space, and a special thank-you to our Rotarian hosts:
Andrea Nucci (MK Builds LLC), Kyle Kimble (Moxie Real Estate Multifamily), and Peter Krause (Page Hardware Supply). Your support and hospitality made the evening truly special! ... See MoreSee Less
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What a great event - Thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers! - ... See MoreSee Less
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Thank you to our Membership Committee for hosting the Grand Rapids Rotary - New Members Appreciation Social!
It was a fantastic evening of fun, fellowship, and connection—and a great way to welcome our newest members. Thank you for creating an environment where everyone felt included, had the chance to build new relationships, and learned more about the many committees and ways for new members to get involved in Rotary. ... See MoreSee Less
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🔊ANOUNCEMENT 🔊 Michael Goetz-Whittaker, CRPC™ has joined Rotary. Let's get to know him:
JOB JOB: Financial advisor for Merrill Lynch 💰
SPOUSE: Morgan, husky Lulu, cat Stevie, baby due in January 👶🏼
FROM: Petosky via GVSU
3 ADJECTIVES: Collaborative, Analytical, Motivated
FURTHEST TRAVELED: Riviera Maya, Mexico
YUCK/YUM: Fish 😝, Kow Pad w/ Beef 😋
FAVORITE TASKS: Mowing the lawn, building stuff – but not very good at it 😉
HOBBIES: Golf,🏌🏼♀️ Hockey🏒 , Lacrosse🥍 , economics💤 , policy🌏
VOLUNTEERING: Canine Companions®, Coopersville High School Lacrosse
SURPRISING: Father owned an auto repair shop, but can’t change his own oil
ROTARY REASON: To get involved and make an impact in West Michigan
Let's give a special thank you to his sponsors, Jon Andrews and Matt Tiedgen. ... See MoreSee Less
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Grand Rapids Rotary Meeting - 11/21/25 - Dr. Chet Zelasko, PHD - ... See MoreSee Less
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www.GRRotary.org/videos - Announcing the launch of our *New* - You Tube Video Channel! - Watch all the previous Video Podcasts, Speakers, Meetings, and Events you've missed or want to visit again on your smart TV or mobile device via the YouTube app, just click "Subscribe" - You'll find all the latest content and past video content on our website tab as well - "Videos" ... See MoreSee Less
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We are thankful that Steve Hilty joined the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. When you see him at lunch, you can chat about:
MATRICULATION: Albion College
CAREER: Software delivery leader🧑🏼💻, retired
BEFORE GR: Seattle 🧑🏼🚀🪡
HOBBIES: Languages🗺️, travel✈️, hiking🚶🏼♂️, coffee ☕, reading 📚
HANDYMAN: Fixing up his 60-year-old home
LOCAL YOKEL: Michigan native, back home 1 year
VOLUNTEERISM: Literacy Center of West Michigan
ROTARY REASON: Expand his volunteering & community service 🙌🏼
A special thanks to his sponsor, Jon Hankins ... See MoreSee Less
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The winning continues with Caitlyn Gimler, CFP® joining the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan. A manager with Plante Moran Wealth Management, Caitlyn brings a lot to the club:
HOMETOWN: Hobby farm in the Upper Peninsula 🫱🏼🖐🏼
CHILDHOOD: 4H👩🏼🌾, professional barrel racer🏇🏼, qualifying for the Barrell Racing World Championships 🏅, and personal finance
MATRICULATION: Grand Valley State University ⛵
PARTNER: fiancé, Cameron
ACCOLADES: InvestmentNews Rising Stars award, Certified Financial Planner™ designation at 24 years old
HOBBIES: Golf 🏌🏼♀️, Craft cocktails🍸, the outdoors🌄
VOLUNTEERING: David D. Hunting YMCA Advisory Board
ROTARY REASON: Gaining new friendships & networking🕸️
Special thanks to her sponsors, Kevin Paul and Shelley Irwin. ... See MoreSee Less
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The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids is pleased to announce that world-famous Bob Dekker of World Renew is a new member. Bob is **checks notes ** no joke:
CURRENT GIG: Major Donor Advisor 🎁
FOCUS: Reduce the negative impact of global poverty 😮
FOR FUN: Improvising at The Comedy Project and Dog Story Theatre
SPORTS: Baseball ⚾
FAMILY: Husband of 1, father of 3, host-dad of 20ish international students 👩🏼🎓
VOLUNTEERING: Burton Heights Business Association
ROTARY REASON: Social and professional connections 🫡
A special thanks to his sponsors, Alex Wilson and Jonathan 'jr' Roberts ... See MoreSee Less
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Great group outing! ... See MoreSee Less
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Community leader, volunteer, philanthropist, and now Rotarian. Let's give a hearty welcome to Melissa Janes, major gifts and planned giving officer at Guiding Light. Her areas of expertise, awards, and accolades:
FAMILY: Husband Paul and adult children, Colleen, Paul, Robert
FREE-TIME: Aiding aging parents, busy dogs🐶 , fostering family, friendship
HOBBIES: Italy🤌🏼 , gardening🧑🏼🌾 , cooking👩🏼🍳 , fitness 🙆🏼♀️
BOARDS: Dwelling Place, Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, Junior League of Grand Rapids, John Ball Zoo, the Children’s Advocacy Center and Family Futures, as well as at East Grand Rapids Public Schools and Athletics 😅
ROTARY REASON: Service, leadership development, community engagement, personal growth 🤓
Let's thank her sponsors, Katharina Häusler-Gross, Ph.D. and michael sytsma. ... See MoreSee Less
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Guess what? Rachel Millikin is a Rotarian. Let's give a hearty welcome to this outstanding entrepreneur and community leader known for:
WORK: Founder and Owner of Buzz Digital Media Marketing🐝
PARTNER: Joshua Swenson💘
WATCHING: Gilmore Girls
ROTARY JOURNEY: Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) in Lecco, Italy, 2018-19
HOME STATE: Texas🤠
MATRICULATION: Public Relations major and Business Administration minor from Texas State University -- Auctoritas Gravitas Humanitas Veritas
LOCAL YOKEL: 1 year in GR
HOBBIES: Traveling ✈️, cooking👩🏼🍳 , music 🎶
FARTHEST TRAVELED: Hungary
ROTARY REASON: Reignite the RYE program
SOMETHING SUPRISING: Graduated from university, moved across country, and launched a business in less than a year 🐇💨
COMMITTEES: RYE and Public Image Committee 📢
SPEAKS: Italian 🤌🏼
Let's thank her sponsors, Matt Tiedgen and Kirk Dornbush. ... See MoreSee Less
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Last Thursday, over 50 Rotarians and friends of Rotary gathered for our monthly Club 77 event, hosted by Rotarian Ann Callahan and Consumers Credit Union. We enjoyed delicious appetizers, refreshing drinks, and—best of all—wonderful fellowship and conversation.
A big thank you to our hosts for their warm hospitality and to everyone who joined us for an evening of connection and community!
See you at the next one next month hosted by All Art Works Studio on December 4th! ... See MoreSee Less
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🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans 🇺🇸
Today, the Grand Rapids Rotary proudly salutes the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Your courage, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting our freedoms never go unnoticed. On this Veterans Day and every day, we say thank you for your service.
If you are a veteran, or the family member of one, please feel free to share your branch and years of service in the comments so we can recognize you. ❤️
#VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #grandrapidsrotary #ServiceAboveSelf ... See MoreSee Less
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Let's all welcome Kendall O'Connor, assistant city attorney for the City of Grand Rapids, to the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan. A quick review of her bio reveals:
HOBBIES: Video games👾, municipal law⚖️, animals 🐈
HOME: Lifelong Michigan resident and Grand Rapids native
MATRICULATION: Forest Hills Northern High School, Michigan State
University, and @MSU College of Law💚
ROTARY REASON: Service and community building 🤲🏼
VISION: Positive community change through collaboration, friendship, and community building
A special thanks to her sponsors, Paula Jastifer and Amaad Hardy. ... See MoreSee Less
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Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Announces New President!
Long-time Custer Business Development Executive, Shannon Kolarik, Named President of the Rotary Club
of Grand Rapids for 2025–2026
Grand Rapids, MI (November 4, 2025) — The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids is proud to announce
Shannon Kolarik as its President for the 2025–2026 term, effective July 1, 2025. Kolarik assumes
leadership of one of West Michigan’s most active service organizations, composed of more than
200 members committed to Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self.
In her role as President, Kolarik will lead the club’s Board of Directors and oversee the work of
its many committees, which drive initiatives in youth development, community service, and
international outreach. Her leadership will focus on engaging Rotarian's families and the next
generation of leaders, strengthening community partnerships, and fostering a culture of
collaboration throughout membership.
Kolarik has been a committed member of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids for several years,
serving on the Board of Directors and contributing significantly to the Club’s strategic initiatives.
In 2018, she co-founded Club 77, introducing an innovative social format to monthly
programming. She has also played an active role in fundraising efforts throughout the club, and
joint service projects with the Muskegon Rotary. Most recently, Kolarik contributed to the
establishment of two new committees — Women in Rotary and the Legacy Care Committee —
both designed to enhance engagement, inclusivity, and long-term member support within the
organization.
Professionally, Kolarik is an Executive Account manager at Custer, the Steelcase furniture dealer
for West Michigan. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Grand Valley State
University and has built a career focused on relationship-building, strategic thinking and
community engagement.
Her volunteerism extends well beyond Rotary. Kolarik has contributed her time and talents to a
number of community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Kids’ Food Basket, Village
Water Filters, Genesis Waters, Ronald McDonald House, IKUS, and Feeding America West
Michigan. She is also dedicated to providing support and advocacy for working mothers within
her community.
At the club’s ceremonial “Passing of the Tiller” luncheon, Kolarik shared her vision for the year
ahead:
“Rotary has given me a deeper connection to this community and a greater sense of purpose. As President, I’m honored to steward this role, working alongside people who care deeply about service, fellowship and making a lasting impact. My
goal is to listen, learn and lead with intention—ensuring every member feels empowered to contribute and every initiative reflects our shared values.”
Kolarik lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys reading,
golfing, traveling and spending time near sunshine and water. Her warmth, authenticity, and
drive make her a natural leader and a beloved member of the Rotary community.
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids meets on the second, third, and fourth Thursdays of each
month at noon at the Kent Country Club. The first Thursday of the month features a 4:00 p.m.
social gathering held at various locations throughout the city. Visit grrotary.org or follow on
Facebook for more information.
Rotary International is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers
who see a world where people unite and act to create lasting change across the globe, in our
communities, and in ourselves. The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids was formed on March 29, 1913, making
it the second Rotary Club in Michigan and the 77th worldwide at the time. The club now boasts over 200
members and offers a variety of opportunities for members to connect socially and professionally,
including weekly luncheons featuring respected speakers who are national figures, state lawmakers, and local trendsetters. Since their first meeting in the historic Livingston Hotel, Rotary Club of Grand Rapids
members have worked with great care and diligence to fulfill the mission of Rotary International,
“to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace
through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. ... See MoreSee Less
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On 11/3 we had an excited and energized group of Rotarians helping package food and stock shelves at Community Food Club, collectively we packed over 200 bags of quinoa and 100 bags of flour and stocked those essentials on the shelves for the community members that utilize the food club.
A big thank you to Jax Merritt, Jim & Debbie Rademaker, Ruthann Schulte, Marilyn Zack, Melissa Janes, Suzanne & Jerry Callahan and Andrea Nucci for your hard work!
Community Food Club is a non-profit, member based grocery store whose mission is an innovative and dignified approach to food security rooted in consumer choice, member participation, and access to healthy foods. To learn more about the food club, how they support the community and how you can support their mission you can find them at www.communityfoodclubgr.org/ ... See MoreSee Less
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Guess what? Rosalynn Bliss has joined the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Michigan! Here are the Cliff Notes from her member application:
CURRENT GIG: Assistant dean and chief external relations officer at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine 🩺
PREVIOUSLY: Served the The City of Grand Rapids as an elected official for 19 years - first as a City Commissioner and then as Mayor
BORN: City of Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula ⛰️
SMARTS: Bachelor’s degree 🧑🏼🎓in psychology and criminal justice from University of South Alabama and MSW from Michigan State University 💚
VOLUNTEERISM: Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority, the Kent County Convention/Arena Authority, Community Rebuilders, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. 🖼️
HOBBIES: Reading📖 , traveling ✈️, camping 🏕️
ROTARY REASON: Community connections
A special thanks to her sponsors, LODY ZWARENSTEYN and Dr. Jacqueline Taylor. ... See MoreSee Less
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