Marsha Smith introduced Lou Glazer, President and Co-Founder of Michigan Future, INC.;
The Michigan Future organization's mission is to be "A Catalyst for Prosperity" to advance the Michigan Economy and Provide Higher Household Income and Status for Michigan families thru Higher Education and Futuristic Thought Process and Policies.
Lou Glazer's presentation was very interesting and the Knowledge Base he is advocating is essential for everyone to be aware of. The attached E-mail offers detail information on the critical issues for the Future of Michigan.
Please review the video and other references for your own knowledge base.
Thanks again to the Rotary Club for having us yesterday! Below is a recap. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Lou came to speak to the group about what we see as the reason that Michigan needs a new approach to public policy in order to regain the prosperity we had in the past. There are two global trends that we in Michigan have not reckoned with.
The first is what's called "the great decoupling." Lou shared that, by traditional measures, our economy is doing well. We have low unemployment, the auto industry is doing well, and we have good GDP growth. But those traditional numbers aren't telling the full story. If you look at how Michigan households are doing, they are doing worse than they were in 2000. The evidence for this is that we are 40th in the share of adults who are working (vs. Minnesota, who is second) and 36th in the share of income that come from earnings and benefits. Too many people aren't working, and too many of those who are working are working in low-paid jobs. This results in a Michigan where 40 percent of families can't afford basic necessities.
The second major trend is automation. He recommended watching Humans Need Not Apply for an explanation of how robots are changing the jobs and industries that are available, and creating greater and greater uncertainty about careers. This change means that we have to let go of the idea that people can climb "career ladders." Instead, we need to be training ourselves, and, more importantly, our children, to be "career rock-climbers," where they have the skills they need to be lifelong learners who can adapt to changes. The skills involved in career rock climbing aren't on a standardized test.
Neither of Michigan's political parties is really proposing a solution for dealing with these global trends--which would mean investing in 21st-century education and infrastructure--and we are trying to force that conversation. Our policy agenda has a set of recommendations, but we need to first get leaders to understand these dynamics and change the conversation. Our first request is that political leaders say that rising household incomes--not GDP growth--will be the goal and the measure of their economic policy.
On behalf of TCHS staff and students, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your long-standing support of the summer work study program. It has been clear that students enjoy the summer program and benefit from the ability to earn income and academic credit. As I have been learning about the many aspects of CLC and the summer program, it is obvious that the support of Rotary STRIVE Committee and the Murchie Endowment have played a critical and pivotal role in making the summer work-study program possible.
The work-study program this summer will focus on service-learning, community service, and student wellness. The academic component will focus on math and science. We will be doing volunteer work with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Cherryland Humane Society, Reining Liberty Ranch, Habitat for Humanity, Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear Dune, Goodwill and beach clean up in the Traverse City area. Service projects at TCHS include revitalizing the Maverick Mile, classroom painting, and general outdoor grounds cleaning and upkeep. Wellness education and activities include mindfulness, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, that will be done in conjunction with the Traverse City Youth Health and Wellness Center as well as the Teen Cuisine program with MSU Extension Office. Enrichment will include hiking, kayaking and working in several art mediums with Black Bird Art.
The summer program will be in session for six weeks, Tuesday, June 12th through Thursday, July 19th. Students will be working a total of 23 days, four day per week for five hours per day.
After 15 wonderful and rewarding years as Rotary Show Chorus Music Director, I have decided it is time to hang up my baton. A couple of weeks ago I announced that anyone interested in considering replacing me should contact me. Briefly, the Director works with other chorus leadership to:
Select the music with the arranger for next year’s show.
Create chorus scores with the arranger.
Produce the learning trax with the recording engineer.
Plan and undertake the 14 one-and-a-half hour chorus rehearsals in March and April.
Help singers be successful by assisting with music preparation and improving singing skills.
Coordinate with other show leadership, especially the Saturday morning production team, to insure smooth flow of the show’s entertainment content.
Manage the professional musicians hired to support the chorus.
Lead the chorus so everyone has fun and an enjoyable musical experience.
The chorus calendar begins in August and runs through the end of April. Total hours involved might be around 100 between August and February for music selection, score production and personal preparation. Another 50 in rehearsals and personal preparation in March and April will get the job done. Other than rehearsals, scheduling the time is pretty much up to you.
As for musical experience and skills required, some experience with music theory, choral directing, reading music and teaching singers to sing better and as a chorus would be the primary skills necessary. We have an assistant director so you don’t have to do all the work all the time. We also have a chorus manager who takes care of most of the chorus business and administrative issues.
Because the chorus calendar starts in August, the successful candidate will assume the director’s duties in August of 2019. Ideally, this person would be my wingman/woman as we put the 2019 show together. This would offer an opportunity to meet the chorus and understand their skill level and expectations of the director while seeing what needs to be done without the responsibility of having to deliver. Naturally, it would be helpful if the new director participated in some way with the chorus next year.
Please contact me if you would like to learn more about this exciting and rewarding job.
