Clinton Township, Macomb Township

Rotary Club shifts attention to Macomb Township

By Robert Guttersohn
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Robert Guttersohn Township Supervisor Mark Grabow, the newest member of the Macomb Rotary Club, speaks after being pinned. The Macomb Rotary, formerly the Clinton Rotary Club, held its grand opening July 31. Photo by Robert Guttersohn Township Supervisor Mark Grabow, the newest member of the Macomb Rotary Club, speaks after being pinned. The Macomb Rotary, formerly the Clinton Rotary Club, held its grand opening July 31.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — In attempt to refocus its service efforts in Macomb Township, the Rotary Club held a grand opening July 31 for the rebranding of its five-year-old chapter.

The chapter, which opened in 2007 as the Clinton Rotary Club and was later renamed the Clinton-Macomb Rotary Club, is now officially known solely as Macomb Rotary Club.

“It’s a new day,” said Dennis Torp, the club’s secretary, before the ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Mall at Partridge Creek.

The Rotary Club is a worldwide organization that claims to have 1.2 million members dedicated to service and a peaceful world, according to the organization’s website.

Merle Loche, a past Rotary Club district governor, attended the original grand opening five years ago for the Clinton Rotary Club.

“We’re all going to forget about that tonight,” Loche said. “The important thing is looking forward, looking ahead. This is the growth area of Macomb County for the next umpteen years, and that’s why it’s going to be such a successful Rotary Club.”

“I’m sure that Macomb Rotary with its reopening is going to look to the future and meet the needs of the Macomb people,” said Don Riddell, a Rotary Club district governor.

The club also pinned Township Supervisor Mark Grabow, its newest member, at the grand opening.

“This was exciting as it came forward,” Grabow said. “It’s a new day. It brings Macomb Township into one of the largest groups in the world, and it makes us global.”

He said the club will bring a lot of opportunities to Macomb Township and its residents.

“I am so pleased to be part of this,” Grabow said. “And I want to thank you guys for allowing me to be part of this.”

Torp cited a lack of cooperation with the Clinton Township government for the move but also said it made sense to move, where the population growth is occurring.

“It became the perfect place to do it,” Torp said.

“We wanted to focus on Macomb residents and Macomb businesses,” said Julie Kratz, the club’s new president. “We want to try to put time in talking with local businesses to assist them in what they need.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Robert Guttersohn at rguttersohn@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.