State Representative David E. Rutledge is serving his third term for House District 54, which includes the City of Ypsilanti, along with Superior and Ypsilanti Townships. He is currently the Minority Vice Chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, and serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Local Government Committee.
He is the president of Alpha Environmental Services Inc. and has also served on the Washtenaw County Road Commission, the Washtenaw Community College Board of Trustees, the State Boundary Commission and the Ann Arbor Community Foundation. He earned a bachelor¹s degree in political science from Tennessee State University.
Rutledge and his wife, Geraldine Simmons Rutledge, have two children, Marcus and Felicia, and two grandchildren, Kelton and Darius.
Members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening meet three times a month at a wine bar after work, share a social outing once a month, and promote all their activities on social media like Meetup and Facebook.
As the first evening club in the city, it has attracted many young professionals from Silicon Valley tech firms whose work schedules keep them from joining a more traditional club that meets for breakfast or lunch. But more than the evening format has helped the club grow by 30 percent since it received its charter in mid-2013.
Danielle Lallement, who was its charter president, says the club has been successful because it accommodates members' preferences.
"The majority of our members are in their 30s and 40s, and their financial and work obligations outside the club are great, so we cater to their needs," she says. "We are extremely flexible with our members, their attendance, their payment options, and expectations."
This year marks 30 years since Rotary launched PolioPlus, its campaign to rid the world of polio. Beginning on Rotary's anniversary, 23 February, Rotary members worldwide will be holding events to celebrate three decades of polio eradication progress.
Since 1985 Rotary and its partners have helped reduce the number of cases from 350,000 annually to fewer than 400 in 2014, and they remain committed until the disease is eradicated. Rotary has contributed more than $1.3 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2 billion children worldwide. In addition, Rotary's advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by donor governments to contribute over $10 billion to the effort.
Using their talents, expertise, and leadership, Rotary members worldwide are asked to be gifts to the world this upcoming 2015-16 Rotary year.
Rotary International President-elect K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran called Sunday's address to incoming district governors the "most significant moment of my life."
"All of you have been given so many gifts. And you have now been given this great gift: one year to take all your talents, all your gifts, everything that you are and can become -- and Be a Gift to the World," said Ravindran, revealing his presidential theme at the annual five-day training meeting in San Diego, California, USA. "You have one year to take that potential and turn it into reality. One year to lead the clubs in your district and transform the lives of others. The time is so short, yet there is so much to be done."
May 18, 2015
