Page 13 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Meet the President of the Rotary Club of Wayne

By Sarah Shurge (Canton, Wayne, Westland, and
Many people talk about wanting Inkster) received three (total of 24)
to make the world a better place. If “Core in the Community” kits. The
actions speak louder than words, kits included noise canceling head-
then the Rotary Club of Wayne has phones, weighted lap pads, sensory
proven themselves true to that state- fidgets, and laminated core boards.
ment. “My favorite project is Wayne
The Rotary Club of Wayne is an Clean-Up Day,” said Bevard. “It’s fun
organization of individuals who live because you bring the whole commu-
or work in Wayne and contribute nity together.”
their time, talents, and treasure to In recognition of Earth Day, the
improve the quality of life in Wayne Wayne Rotary sponsored the seventh
and around the world. annual City of Wayne Spring Clean-
In January 1922, Charles Up Day in downtown Wayne on Sat-
McKenny of the Ypsilanti Rotary urday, April 23, 2022. Over 160
Club formally presented Wayne with participants volunteered their time
a charter. With McKenny as their to clean the city and clean by the
sponsor, Wayne became the first Ro- river. The total amount of debris col-
tary Club in a town of less than five lected was 6,170 pounds.
thousand people. “The Rotary makes people's lives
Last year in January 2022, the better,” said Bevard. “I like to help
Rotary Club of Wayne celebrated 100 people. I have a Christian back-
years of service. ground and I believe as a Christian,
“The Rotary motto is "Service you should help and serve people.”
above Self.” I think we have demon- Service has been a large part of
strated that over the last 100 years,” Bevard’s life. She served in the
said Carol Bevard, President of the United States Navy from 1975-2005.
Rotary Club of Wayne. “I’m so proud She was active-duty for three years
to be a Rotarian.” and was the Command Master Chief
Bevard has served in the Rotary (AVCM) of NAS Sigonella's Reserve
since 2019 and has held the title of Detachment out of Selfridge Air Na-
Rotary President since October tional Guard Base when she retired
2021. in 2005. She has lived in Wayne
“My favorite part about the Rotary since 1978 and retired from the
is you help people that perhaps United States Post Office in 2012 as
couldn't help themselves and make an Architect Engineer for the facili-
their lives better,” said Bevard. ties in Southeastern Michigan.
The Rotary Club of Wayne nor- “It’s really about service above
mally takes on three big events a self. All the people I associate with in
year, but last year being their centen- Rotary Club of Wayne President, Carol Bevard. Photo by Stan Shelton the Rotary do this,” said Bevard. “I
nial year, they completed a project a The Rotary also put up Little Free There were 17 Rotarians, several really am so proud to be a Rotarian.
month. Libraries at Rotary Park II, Wayne community leaders, and several The Rotary Club of Wayne Execu-
In January 2022, the Wayne Ro- Memorial High School, Glenwood churches that volunteered their time. tive Board Members consist of: Pres-
tary completed their 17th dictionary Heights Subdivision, Roosevelt-Mc- Most of the supplies were donated by ident: Carol Bevard, Treasurer:
project. Grath Elementary School, and Civi- Rotarians and Teknicolors Inc in Linda Gable, Secretary: Trish Hamp-
It began in 2005, when Wayne Ro- tan Park on Glenwood. Redford donated all the paint. In ton, Rotary Foundation: Pat Rice,
tarian Nate Weiser came across a Ro- For seven years, the Rotary Club four hours, the entire exterior was Membership: Laura Mack, Club Ad-
tary project about providing of Wayne has been a sponsor for the painted and several gutters were also ministrator: John VanStipdonk,
dictionaries to third grade students. concerts in the park. The cost of the replaced a few days later. Service Projects: Lois VanStipdonk,
The project began in 1999 with a Cal- concert is free to the community, but Another project the Rotary com- Public Relations: Stanley Shelton,
ifornia Rotary Club and had spread has been the main fundraiser for the pleted was the “Core in the Commu- and Interact Club: Sue Webb.
across the country. Rotary with sales of adult refresh- nity” Project. The Rotary is looking for more
Weiser saw the value in providing ments, t-shirts, and water. The staff of the Special Education people to join. They meet every Tues-
dictionaries as a resource to stu- In June 2022, the Rotary Club Department (SED) at the Wayne- day at Noon in the Thomas Kelly
dents, so he called it the “Gift of completed the “Paint Veteran’s Westland Community School District Room in the Wayne Public Library.
Words”. Haven” Project. asked the Wayne Rotary for help. If you are interested or looking
For the 18th year, the Wayne Ro- Veteran’s Haven is a non-profit or- The SED wanted kits for first re- for more information about the Ro-
tary has continued working on the ganization run on donations and vol- sponders to have on hand when they tary Club of Wayne, visit waynero-
dictionary project this year. They unteers with the purpose of helping interact with individuals (children tary.com, find them on Facebook at
have served over 5,000 third graders homeless and needy veterans with and adults) who are non-verbal, or facebook.com/waynerotary, or con-
books at three schools so far, and food, shelter, clothing, job opportuni- who may have special needs. tact them at waynerotary@gmail-
have one more school to go to. ties, and much more. Each police and fire department .com.
The Wayne Dispatch · February 2023 · 13