The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation is moving full speed ahead with their new Accelerate initiative, which focuses on improving community health and wellbeing. To present on their latest efforts, the foundation’s Senior Advisor on Healthy Communities Jesse Wolff took center stage at our meeting this week.
President Awesome opened our usual gathering in fine form and traditional fashion. Sharron Zimmerman offered a moment of gratitude and reflection which called our thoughts to service and community, and calmly centered our members for the remainder of our meeting. (Or at least until Cid Lamers or Randy Kamp yelled something from the back of the house.)
Music was performed by our Rotary Show Circus Chorus, who sang singalong snippets of many timeless favorites, including Build Me Up Buttercup, Da Doo Ron Ron and Everybody Needs Somebody to Love. By their conclusion, there wasn’t a still foot or silent voice in the house.
Our club was visited by two Outstanding Students of the Week from St. Francis. Following, Cindy Ruzak introduced our club's newest member, Dr. Andrew Gorecki of Superior Physical Therapy, winner of last year’s Chamber Small Business Celebration Award. Other announcements included an update on the progress of our centennial video and the need for Rotary Show cleanup volunteers this Monday, April 29th from 8 to 9:30am. (Those interested please contact Andrew Kohlmann)
In recognition for her years of service above self, our world-traveling, international development maven Marilyn Fitzgerald received one of our highest honors, the Red Rose, give to her by Ross Childs. Fitzgerald served as our club's first female president, serendipitously during Rotary International's centennial year. She also authored If I Had A Water Buffalo: How To Microfinance Sustainable Futures. Fitzgerald has and continues to work on a myriad of development projects, though generally, her passion is for micro-loan initiatives which elevate women in rural communities, Congratulations & thank you for your service, Marilyn.
Our main speaker was presented by his GTRCF colleague, the ever-jovial Steve Wade.
Wolff spoke succinctly and expertly on topics of community health and wellbeing ranging from the concept of health as a value to changing trends in the wellness field. (Like for example, the fact that there’s now a wellness field...) Items of particular import were availability and access; specifically how quickly they both drop off once one leaves the relative abundance of our region’s main urban area.
"How many of you have had trouble accessing medical services in our community?" Wolff asked the assembled movers and shakers. Tellingly, not a single hand raised. "No one?" He responded. "Well that's because you live in Traverse City." Wolff went on to enumerate on the health and wellness resource scarcity that pervades our outlying rural communities.
Growing health concerns in our region include weight, chronic disease, adolescent behavioral health, and the disparity between the number of patients per healthcare providers--according to Wolff one local county has a ratio of 25,000 to 1. Positive trends include a dramatic reduction in smoking, a relatively physically active population, a good, healthy food environment, and a rise in income equality.
Of our state’s 83 counties Leelanau ranks as the healthiest, followed by Grand Traverse (Antrim comes in at 17th, Benzie 18th, and Kalkaska 29th).
Interestingly, only 20% of a person’s overall is directly tied to health care. 40% results from socioeconomic factors like education, income, and family and social support. 30% is due to health behaviors such as diet and exercise. The remaining 10% is owed to an individual's physical environment.
Wolff concluded by answering audience questions on of balancing our regions many fine wineries with healthy alcohol consumption, making 8th street smoke free, and when it becomes time to transition from study to action.
Rotarians from the five-county area have volunteered to review grant applications for decades and their expertise has shaped our region. Last fall, we shifted our grantmaking strategy, created new criteria and questions.
We now have 2 new grant areas to be considered during the annual cycle. We continue to support community asset building and capital campaigns through our Assets for Thriving Communities grants. We've widened our scope to fund comprehensive solutions to complex community problems through our Systems Change Accelerator grants.
It's time to bring our volunteers up to speed, including those with experience and new volunteers. All volunteer reviewers for the 2019 season – including those who have volunteered in the past – must follow the requirements listed below to participate. We invite you to participate in the training and review process – your perspectives, questions and commitment to impact help us make great grant decisions!
Becky Ewing, Executive Director, Rotary Charities of Traverse City
What do reviewers do, exactly?
During grant review season October-November 2019:
Review & comment on grant applications that have made it through the first round of staff and board review.
Participate in a 1.5 - 2 hour in-person interview with applicants and the review team.
Help the review team come up with a recommendation that goes to the board for final decision in December 2019.
Attend this May’s Grant Training for applicants, or watch the taped session, available in June.
Grant Training for Applicants – REGISTER HERE May 29th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Hear exactly what we share with potential applicants. Please indicate you're registering as a Rotarian Grant Reviewer when prompted.
Traverse City, Mich. – Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center (GOREC) will open its gates to new audiences with the leadership of a new Director, Jamie Lewis Hedges.
Youth have explored the outdoors at GOREC for nearly a century. Following a 61-year stretch as a Boy Scouts of America camp, the unique facility is returning to its community-based roots by welcoming people of all ages and abilities to explore. Just 25 minutes from Traverse City, GOREC sits on a pristine stretch of forest, nestled between Bass and Rennie Lakes. It is a program of Rotary Camps & Services.
Says Rotary Camps & Services Board Chair Mark Newhouse, “We want to ensure that GOREC remains a thriving community resource that revels in its rich history and exciting future. With Jamie as the new director, the future is limitless for all to enjoy outdoor recreation and education opportunities.”
GOREC sits on the first piece of land purchased by the Rotary Club in 1923. Clarence Greilick, then club president, had a vision that the youth of Northern Michigan would get to know the woods, lakes and streams of the region as well as their own backyards.
Executive Director Becky Ewing sees great potential for growth with Jamie at the helm. “We are delighted that Jamie is able to join the staff at GOREC. His unique experience, love of the outdoors and proven track record make him a perfect choice to take GOREC to the next level.”
GOREC staff curates skill-building experiences for community groups looking to cultivate a passion for Northern Michigan’s abundant nature – from team-building retreats to fishing excursions for kids. Adventure activities including climbing, ropes courses, shooting sports and orienteering complement opportunities to get out on the water including kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming. The facility boasts both modern and rustic accommodations to appeal to a wide variety of adventurers.
Jamie is a leader who’s passionate about travel, nature, and outdoor education.
As a child, he wandered the woods of Indiana. Adventure called him from Hoosier corn rows across 48 of the United States. He lived in Florida, a cabin in the Cascade wilderness, the Sonoran Desert, a mud hut in Kenya. Travel has taken him to Canada, Vietnam, Mexico, and Ireland.
Proud of those who’ve mentored him along the way, he educated others in outdoor education. He’s led groups in the Pacific Northwest, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Columbian Amazon. What drives his aspirations is to help organizations benefit their community and environment. He's worked in a home for adjudicated youth and an environmental education center.
Jamie moved to Michigan in 2016 after creating a campus outdoor education program in Arkansas. Eager to make a difference here, he’s applied his skills to digital marketing for area nonprofits.
Jamie brings his skills in nonprofit leadership, natural resource management, and outdoor education. His is a unique skill set that includes Leave No Trace, risk management, and team building. He has a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies in anthropology and natural resources. His bachelor’s degree is in outdoor recreation management.
He's benefited from the Rotary and Scouts in the past. Jamie is so thrilled to carry on the tradition of service while increasing our benefit to youth and adults.
ABOUT GREILICK OUTDOOR RECREATION & EDUCATION CENTER
Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center (GOREC) is nestled between three crystal-clear lakes on rich forestland. We spark passion for the natural world through outdoor experiences. Unplug from modern life and plug in to the natural world around you at GOREC: greilick.org
ABOUT ROTARY CAMPS & SERVICES
Rotary Camps & Services has stewarded more than 1,750 acres in Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties since 1923. Today we are opening up new landscapes for the community to enjoy. Discovery Center Great Lakes is transforming a former coal dock into a community space on Grand Traverse Bay, where historic preservation, environmental stewardship and recreation come together under the leadership of environmental organizations. Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center (GOREC) is opening its gates to the community to spark passion for the natural world through outdoor experiences. Get outside with us: rotarycamps.org
