David Mengebier introduced Warren Call who runs Traverse Connect who gave us an update on Traverse Connect’s evolution:  

2019 accomplishments: a large set of changes to business development. New strategic plan to grow family-sustaining careers to retain that demographic. Traverse Connect’s mission is to grow these jobs in the Traverse City area. 2020 will have an economic area that will allow for supporting these careers. 

Action-oriented checklist to be executed in three years. They are ahead of schedule so far. 

Reorganization complete. Merged Traverse Connect with TC Chamber of Commerce and met with all business leaders. There is a robust new committee structure and a 24 people board. This has allowed for combining traditional chamber structure with legislative advocacy and newly built economic activity. 

New branding: Traverse Connect regional economic development rebranding this region with the storytelling of the area for retirement and vacation area. 

Investment in new staff. Community-supported these investments financially. Stepped forward with dollars, commitment and time. 

2020 next steps: 

The website serves the same role as Chamber’s site did:  Community calendar, business directory, advocacy but also resource guide/asset map for the community. Key economic development things/billboard for the community. Why should we move/build here? And how can I be successful here year-round. The website will be live next week. Demographic, average wage, educational attainment and our goals to reach in those areas are also on the site. 

To show the outside worlds we are serious about economic development. 

Business competition. Scale Up North competition – support from Hagerty, Priority Health and NMC are offering prizes. 

For all levels of businesses. Apply for this if you have a growing company, you work with a company, or business deserves recognition. Focused on growing companies that provide a traded good or service that we sell out to the world. A diverse set of companies involved in the competition. The value of going through the competition is very useful. Wants a robust set of applicants for the competition. 

Talent initiatives: attracting talent and developing existing talent 

New career-focused website and how to grow them in a successful way. Job posting and resume sharing. Set of resources on the ground in TC to help you find a job in this area. There will be a navigator team to help facilitate your job search. You can actually talk to someone to help. 

Working with education providers to develop talent for this program. We want to get people like the students here to come back to work and live here. 

There will be an event next week hosting Cincinnati talent Jill Meyer to inform the talent search and support.

Business attraction initiatives selling this area as an economic destination. Great place to grow a business. Improve playing field, drive traffic to the site, partners with TC Tourism and My North Media to improve our attractiveness to businesses. 

Warren will go to Lansing to get some momentum going with the governor’s office and legislators. 

Questions were asked and answered. President Homer thanked him for being here. Wheelchairs of Hope certificate and President Homer adjourned the meeting.

The Mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Most of us never read this mission statement all that closely, but it is true: Rotary Foundation does not DO anything – WE do the work of changing Communities, Rotarians do the work of changing lives, Rotary clubs do the work of making the world a better place, one community at a time.

That’s why we donate to The Rotary Foundation: because THEY aggregate the donations from Rotarians all over the world and make those donations available to Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to undertake projects that change the world, improve lives and make the world a better place.  You and me. Over $300 Million dollars a year in donations from Rotarians are given back every year into project grant funds that turn good projects into GREAT projects. And the Traverse City Rotary Club shares in these funds every year because of your generosity.

Lest anyone get confused, this is the ONLY thing that donations to the Rotary Foundation are used for.

So when we run a promotion, like the 50/50 raffle in which we are asked for our participation, it is to add to that $300M pot in Evanston that becomes the Rotary Matching Grant program every year.

It’s also a bit of fun, too.  Remember four years ago when Dan Jonkhoff won the first prize of $3,600, I think?  He had a bit of fun that year! 

The more tickets we sell across the district the more the prize money is for the six winners.  Half the money from the tickets goes to the winners and half goes to The Rotary Foundation . . . ..and what happens to that money?

Remember that thing we call per capita: the requirement to have club giving equal to $100 per member on average: $10 of your $20 ticket purchase counts towards our $100 per capita, too.

So: do some good in the world, have some fun and contribute to our club reaching it’s per capita goal . . . . . buy a ticket.  I bought 5 – how about you buy 5, too!

After the meeting we will be in the foyer – this week and for the next two weeks.  Cash, check or put it on your club bill.

Thanks! Al Bonney