The Rotary Club of Dearborn is inviting guests to attend a special luncheon program on Thursday, April 30, 2009, at Park Place, 23400 Park in Dearborn.

Juan Kunchikuy, a native of the Ecuadorian Amazon, who has spoken internationally about the need to save the rain forest, will be the Club’s featured speaker. His efforts have also been published in the New York Times.

Kunchikuy, who is fluent in English and several other languages, was raised in a remote area of the Amazon, where villagers speak an obscure tribal language and have hunted with darts tipped with home-made curare poison.

“We are delighted to have such a distinguished speaker present to our Club,” said Valerie Murphy-Goodrich, president of the Rotary Club of Dearborn. “Mr. Kunchiky’s story is one that we believe will fascinate many, so we are extending an invitation to others in the local community to join us at our regularly scheduled Club luncheon meeting.”

Murphy-Goodrich also extended her appreciation to Wendy Sample, art resource teacher for the Dearborn Public Schools and daughter of Dearborn Rotarian David Sample, for helping to make possible Mr. Kunchikuy’s presentation to the Club.

Sample met Juan Kunchikuy during her visit last summer to study Ecuador’s culture. Sample’s travels came about as the result of a Fulbright Scholarship she received from the International Studies Program at Michigan State University.

Kunchikuy was the tour guide for Sample’s study group that traveled to the Amazon’s Yachana Lodge, recognized by National Geographic and others for its ecotourism.

Kunchikuy is in the United States during the month of April to speak to a number of educational groups. Prior to visiting Michigan, he will speak at New York’s Cornell University in celebration of Earth Day. He has also been scheduled to speak to several schools within the Dearborn Public School District and to various groups at Michigan State University where he will have the opportunity to reunite with the group he guided and educated last summer.

The cost to attend the April 30t program is $25 each for non-members and includes a buffet luncheon which begins at 11:30 a.m. followed by the speaker’s presentation which is scheduled to conclude at 12:45 p.m.

The Dearborn Rotary Club will donate funds contributed over the cost of lunch to the Yachina Foundation, www.yachina.org , to further its environmental and educational efforts.

Because seating is limited, reservations for the luncheon program are requested by Tuesday, April 30, 2009 by calling 313-278-7233 or by emailing Dearborn Rotarian Amy Bazzy at ajbazzy@comcast.net .

Dearborn Rotary meets weekly at Park Place in Dearborn. For additional information about the Dearborn Rotary, visit www.dearbornrotary.org  or call 313-278-7233.

Who: Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter
What: 4th Annual Mutt Strut
When: Saturday, May 16th, 9 a.m. to 12:00 registration and activities, 12:00 noon ribbon cutting and Walk start
Where: Ford Field, Dearborn
Cost: Pledge-driven fundraising, $25 minimum for each dog registered, accompanying humans are n/c

Is your dog ready to be the next “Barking Idol”? Or, maybe he needs a doggie massage or “paw-dicure”? Many Fido-friendly activities will be happening during the Mutt Strut, including a Best Howler competition where you can see if your BFF can carry a tune while competing with other doggie howlers. Or, stroll through the Mutt Midway where your pooch can be pampered with a mini massage and pedicure.

All of this and more will take place during the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s 4th annual Mutt Strut at Ford Field in Dearborn. Mutt Strut is a community-wide animal celebration day focusing on a pledge-driven dog walk along a 1.8 mile course through the West Dearborn business district. The walk will take place rain or shine since all weather is good dog-walking weather.

Mutt Strut, which is sponsored by Dearborn Family Pet Care, includes fun activities for the whole family. Some of the highlights include a Doggie Health Zone, Milt Wilcox’s Ultimate Air Dogs (dog dock diving that you have to see to believe), Dog Games and Contests, an all-day Adopted Dog Birthday Paw-ty, and much more. Further details are available at www.DearbornMuttStrut.com . The Web site also provides easy registration and on-line pledging capability, where you can create your own Web page to ask for donations.

More questions? Call (313) 943-2697.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, supporting Shelter operations and community-and animal-related programs. The Friends is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. For more information about the organization, visit www.Dearborn-Animals.com

Remember, the 1st week in May is Be Kind to Animals Week.

FFDAS Contact:
Elaine Greene
DASGreene@aol.com
Friends Executive Director
313-943-2697
Visit us at www.dearborn-animals.com

One of our favorite events of the year strolls into Dearborn May 16 when the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter holds their 4th Annual Mutt Strut beginning at Ford Field Park at 9 a.m.

What’s nice about this walk is that the actual 1.8 mile strut talks place through the West Dearborn business district. This means that for a day our downtown is actually bustling with foot traffic. And if you own a business you might be able to leverage a few sales from passersby walking with their dogs.

It is the type of event our downtown Dearborn needs to see more of. Take a look at what downtown Plymouth does on a regular basis. That city’s entire spring/summer if filled with outdoor events that get people downtown. Tell us that doesn’t help business? I am puzzled why the Chamber and City do not do more of this here. But we digress.

In addition to the walk, the Mutt Strut will have a number of dog contests, including a “Barking Idol” contest, a Best Howler competition, where you can see if your BFF can carry a tune while competing with other doggie howlers. There also will be doggie massages or “paw-dicures”, err, pedicures.

The Mutt Strut will be held rain or shine since all weather is good dog-walking weather. What all of us can do to take part is to make a pledge to a dog taking part in the walk.

You can do that by visiting www.DearbornMuttStrut.com . The Web site also provides easy registration and on-line pledging capability, where you can create your own Web page to ask for donations.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, supporting Shelter operations and community-and animal-related programs. The Friends is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. For more information about the organization, visit www.Dearborn-Animals.com

The Mutt Strut is sponsored by Dearborn Family Pet Care and there will be a number of fun activities for the whole family at the Ford Field Park. Some of the highlights include a Doggie Health Zone, Milt Wilcox’s Ultimate Air Dogs (dog dock diving that you have to see to believe), Dog Games and Contests, an all-day Adopted Dog Birthday Paw-ty, and much more.

If you have additional questions, please call 313-943-2697.