After a ½ sandwich (we're trying to save on carbs prior to the "HOLIDAYS"), salad and a cup of soup President J. R. called the 18^th meeting of his term to order.  But then, who's counting?  Future President Homer Nye (he definitely might be counting) gave the Invocation.  Gregory Luyt led us in song with a broad smile on his face as we sang our very own "Rotary Song."  Ramona Pleva introduced today's quests, which were many.  There were no visiting Rotarians, nor did we have any Students of the Week. 

President J. R. called to order a Special Meeting of the Full Membership.  The purpose of the meeting was to announce the slate of proposed officers and board members for three board seats, Secretary, and President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Traverse City for the 2018-2019 Rotary year.  Elections will be held during the Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club on Tuesday, November 21, 2017.  An elected Director serves a two-year term.  Each year we elect three new Directors.  The President-Elect serves a one-year term and shall succeed to the office of President the following year.  The Secretary is elected for a three-year term and is limited to two consecutive terms. 

Since there were no nominees from the floor, the following slate of board members and officers was presented:

 

To fill three Board member seats for two-year terms for the Board of Directors:  

 

 

 

To fill the position of Secretary:   Bob Stow

To fill the position of President-Elect:   Homer Nye

What a great slate for "Election Tuesday"!!!!!

 

One-way Coat Day will continue every Tuesday thru November 28^th                                                          

Martini night is November 14^th at the Top of the Park @5:00 PM

Christmas Party December 5^th at the Traverse City Yacht Club                                                                     

Don't forget this is Rotary Foundation Month – become a sustaining member with a yearly donation of $100, or request to have $25 added to your quarterly dues statement.  It really is "painless".

Our 50-50 winner was Mike Wills.  He won $40. 

 

Leah McCallum introduced our speaker for the day, Rob Bacigalupi.  Rob has had a 19-year tenure with the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA).  Rob came with lots of support from the DDA today.  Sitting at my table were Bill Golden, the current Chairman of the DDA, and Steve Constantin, the immediate past Chairman and current Secretary of the DDA.  Also, sitting next to me was our own Colleen Paveglio who works for the DDA. 

 Rob gave us an update on the DDA with regard to both the present and the future.  Live, Work, and Play are the keys to the DDA philosophy.  Currently, there are 378 housing units with approximately 630 residents in downtown Traverse City.  There are another 47 units under construction.  Hundreds more are proposed.  There are 177 retailers along with 66 restaurants, cafes, and nightspots.  There are also 179 non-retail businesses.

The City has 1,766,000 sq. ft. of non-residential space.  More than half of this is "Office Space".  522,111 is "Retail Space", 168,752 is "Dining Space", and the remainder is "Vacant".  Retail represents 30% of non-residential space downtown.  It's essential to the quality of life that draws tourists, condo-buyers, and residential renters.  Rob delved into labor force concerns, worker wage issues, parking and mobility, communications, placemaking – all the things that go into a well-thought-out Strategic Plan.

 

 

To All New Rotarians, please meet the chairs of the Christmas Basket Committee following Tuesday’s meeting at the Coast Guard Air Station for a brief orientation. Each Christmas our club adopts dozens of families and provides them with food, presents, and other treats to help assure they have a wonderful Christmas. As someone who joined the club in 2017 you are asked to shop for one of these families. The committee will provide all of the money and other resources needed. On Tuesday we’ll take 5 minutes to go over the program and timeline. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday! If you have questions contact Dale Chilcote, Dan Rickard, or Steve Wade.

The temperature is dropping, soon the snow will be falling.  A sweater, a hat, gloves and boots and you are ready to go out and face the elements.  Can you imagine having to do that in your sneakers, with an old sweatshirt and a windbreaker and nothing more?  Too many people in our community are just making it financially and are unable to afford the winter clothing that is needed to go to work, go to school, the grocery store and more.  If you have gently used winter clothing:  coats, hats, gloves, mittens or boots that you would be willing to share with our neighbors in need, we would gladly distribute them.  Each year we have families in search of these items.  Frequently they are working, just not making enough to handle rent, food, utilities, medical bills AND winter gear.  Please consider helping out your neighbors when you are replacing your winter gear by donating those gently used, clean items to The Father Fred Foundation. 

 

Each year the volunteers in our Clothing and Household Goods area hear comments from our guests as to how grateful they are to be able to get a warm coat or perhaps a pair of boots at The Foundation.  So many in our community are working jobs that pay at or near minimum wage and with housing and transportation cost a bit higher in our area, affording expensive clothing items is challenging at best.  Whatever you can do to help lighten the load for those in need, is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all that you do in our community.  It is thanks to donors just like you that we can all make a difference in the lives of our neighbors. 

God bless you,

Deb Haase

‎Executive Director - ‎The Father Fred Foundation

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Todd & Byron, for making us look and sound good!

 

Greg Luyt leading us in song

 

Susan Kraus, Rotary Social Chair 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beth Karczewski, sharing on Every Rotarian Every Year

 

Leah McCallum

 

Rob Bacigalupi

 

Club President John Racine