Join us as we kick off a new Rotary year and welcome incoming Club President Joel Hondorp. President Joel will share his vision and goals for the year ahead as he leads our club into an exciting new chapter.
Join the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids on June 25th for our annual “Passing of the Tiller” Luncheon, a special tradition marking the transition of club leadership. During this ceremony, outgoing 2025–2026 President Shannon Kolarik will officially pass the presidential tiller to incoming 2026–2027 President Joel Hondorp. We’ll celebrate the accomplishments of President Shannon’s term and hear her reflections on a…
BIO: Mike is a nationally recognized universal design expert helping organizations create inclusive, accessible, and safer environments across the globe. With the goal of bringing positive change to the world, he advocates for eliminating physical and social barriers in the built environment so all individuals can flourish, maintain their independence, and improve their quality of…
BIO: Lisa M. Perhamus was the inaugural Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professor of Civil Discourse at Grand Valley State University and now serves as the inaugural director of the university's Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse. In addition to her directorship, she is a professor in the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley. Earning her Ph.D.…
Join us for our Club Committee Update Luncheon! Our club offers a variety of opportunities to serve, one of which is on committees that keep us engaged and allow us to grow and serve more in the community and beyond. On May 28th, we will hear from the Membership, Rotary International Foundation, and Club 77…
Skot Welch is a nationally recognized speaker, author, entrepreneur, and community advocate based in West Michigan. He is the founder and president of Global Bridgebuilders, an organizational development and inclusion consulting firm that works with businesses and communities to strengthen leadership, engagement, and belonging initiatives. Welch is also the co-founder and managing partner of the…
Speaker: Steve Tibbe - Grand Rapids Business Broker & Entrepreneur Speaker Topic: TBA Speaker Bio: Steve Tibbe is a respected business and community leader based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With decades of experience in the manufacturing and automotive industries, Steve has built a career focused on innovation, operational excellence, and strategic growth. Throughout his professional…
Join us for our annual STRIVE luncheon, where we meet all the STRIVE students and mentors, and they share their experiences with our club! More about STRIVE: STRIVE (Students Taking a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education) is a Rotary mentoring program designed to support high school seniors in achieving academic and personal success.…
Join us for our annual Interact luncheon, where our Interact students lead the luncheon, and we celebrate all the exciting things they have done this year! More about Interact: A Rotary Interact Club is a service and leadership club for students, typically ages 15–18, sponsored by a local Rotary club. Interact clubs empower students to…
Speaker: Troy Thrash - President & CEO, Kalamazoo Air Zoo Speaker Topic: Kalamazoo Air Zoo Impact on our Region & Inspiring the Next Generation Through Aviation, Space, and STEM Bio: Troy Thrash is the President and CEO of the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, one of the nation’s premier aerospace and science museums. Since joining the Air…