It was a beautiful day for our last Rotary Zoom meeting for 2020! 

President Mack opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Nikki Sobkowski offered up our Gratitude and Reflection.

Pat Parker shared with us the passing of Lotte Wagner. Lotte was a recent recipient of the club’s Paul Harris Fellow Award for her work in the community which included service at GOREC. 

Alexis Juett presented our newest IM Rotary graduate Miriam Owsley. Miriam earned herself 500 Paul Harris points and has been active with the Good Works Committee and Gratitude and Reflection. Alexis also mentioned that IM Rotary was meeting after today’s meeting. 

President Mack expressed gratitude for all of our Rotarians who have participated in our Christmas Basket program and Salvation Army bell ringing. Tony Anderson was bell-ringing recently and said the generosity of those walking by was truly amazing. He had a hard time keeping all those dollar bills in the red kettle! Dale Chilcote has two bikes that would make great Christmas gifts for some kids. 

Our program today featured the Bright Spots for 2020 from Rotary Charities. Becky Ewing, the captain of the Rotary Charities ship introduced the program and shared the limelight with the Rotary Charities team.

Sakura Takano shared the impact the Betsie Valley Community Center is having on its community. Because of the funding  they received from Rotary Charities they have been able to extend their services.

Their work includes:  

• Assessing early childhood needs and filling the gaps for childcare in the area

• Bringing broadband access to the schools

• Offering a Mobile Services Van

The Mobile Services Van is fully equipped to provide dental, vision and medical care for all ages. They have served eight elementary schools, Safe Harbor and The Goodwill Inn. They are currently seeking healthcare providers in these fields to provide services. The van was funded by the Grand Traverse Community Foundation. 

Freya Bradford shared the Systems Change mission of organizing, collaborating and responding to chronic community issues. Their focus has been on the Homeless Youth Initiative. This was first funded in 2018 and has been renewed. 

The first step was to access what services were needed that didn’t exist. Maps were developed to identify the causes of homelessness and then address those needs. Youth focus groups helped to avoid homelessness and the awareness of friends helping friends brought to light the need to embrace youth as points of help. 

A Youth Advisory Board was developed as part of a leadership initiative. A HUD grant was received and this housing project is one of a few in the country and houses over 50 people. 

Becky Ewing shared how Capacity Building started as a seed grant in 2016. This allowed for the development of a Leadership Learning Lab. The presence of COVID-19 has allowed the program to shine during times of isolation and many are reaping the benefits of this learning opportunity. 

The Leadership Learning Lab has funding from a collaboration of sources that range from Mt. Pleasant and Grand Rapids up to the Mackinac Bridge. The group spends eight months in relationship building with their cohorts. A cross-section of professionals and nonprofits make up the 163 participants in the program. The program has created a community among the participants as they learn to adapt during a difficult time. 

Matt McDonough serves as the director of Rotary Camps and Services and the CEO of the Discovery Center. In the last few weeks, phase one of improvements has begun with grants from:

    Great Lakes Fisheries Trust: $295,147

    Michigan Land Trust Fund:    $300,000

    JJ Becket Access-ABILITY: $2,500

The JJ Becket grant will allow for boarding platforms and a wheelchair lift at Discovery Pier. 

Phase two has yet to be funded but the plans are in the works to include: restrooms, paved parking lot, open park space, fishing shelters, kayak launch with accessibility and a railing along the east side of the docks. 

Twenty percent of the project will go toward infrastructural needs for stormwater management and suitable future construction. 

Today’s presentation demonstrates Rotary Charities’ commitment to giving and supporting our community through a variety of visionary pursuits. 

With that, members were allowed to share stories of Christmas Basket giving and Bell Ringing.

Thank you Rotarians! Please have a safe and blessed holiday season! We will look forward to seeing everyone in 2021!