Rotary Club of Dearborn leaders — Shannon Peterson, president 2021-22; Rick Goward, president-elect 2022-23, and Colleen Nieman, president 2020-21 — gather at the club’s 2021 picnic at Crowley Park in Dearborn.
By MARGARET BLOHM
For the Times-Herald
DEARBORN – The Rotary Club of Dearborn, founded in 1923, looks forward to celebrating its centennial anniversary and 100 years of “Service Above Self” in the community and around the world.
The public is invited to save the evening of March 18, 2023, for a strolling dinner and musical concert extravaganza with international headliner Dennis Edwards’ Temptations Review, and opening with Thornetta Davis, Detroit’s Queen of Jazz. The event will be held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn.
“We are the oldest service organization in Dearborn and only the third club in Rotary District 6400 to mark this significant anniversary,” said Colleen Nieman, who is serving as club co-president with Shannon Peterson during the 2022-23 Rotary year.
Nieman, who served as president in 2020-21, said plans were already well underway by Dearborn Rotarian Rick Goward to hold a grand 100th anniversary celebration and community fundraiser when Goward, who was elected to be club president in 2022-23, died unexpectedly on Jan. 30.
“Rick’s death left a big hole in our hearts and those of all who knew him,” said Peterson, immediate past president. “Colleen and I, and the rest of the club knew we had to step up to fulfill Rick’s vision for an unforgettable anniversary celebration that will fund a community project to benefit this wonderfully diverse community. This is our full intent.”
Nieman and Peterson shared that funds raised from the 100th anniversary celebration will be used to help renovate the Henry Ford Centennial Library auditorium, making it more accessible to individuals and groups.
Information about the Rotary Club of Dearborn 100th Anniversary Service Above Self Celebration will be available in the fall on the club website.
Rotary is a global network of 46,000 member clubs with 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers, who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in communities, and in themselves.