Former president John Racine ran the meeting in Awesome Allison Beers absence. Vern Gauthier let the club in singing "No Flies on Us" Susan Kraus told everyone to keep an eye out for an upcoming email on the increasingly-popular boating trip to Power Island. Stay tuned for logistical details. Chris DeGood is still looking for volunteers for Kids Free Fishing Day on Saturday, June 15th for the 2nd shift 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at the NMC waterfront campus (Hagerty Center) Carla Weaver said she's still looking for a host family for an exchange student (a young man from Brazil). See her for details. Vern Gauthier is still looking for people to join the WORLD FAMOUS Lawn Chair Drill Team. See him for details. Bruce Finlayson briefed everyone on the Life Leadership Conference, to be held in Tustin on June 13-16. The mission of this conference is to "educate and inspire youth, utilizing the Rotary model of Service Above Self, to expand their leadership roles in service to their schools and communities, and to the world." See Bruce to find out how you can help out. Several Rotarians were honored for perfect attendance over a period of years, with the most distinguished being Don Breadon at 44 years!!!!!!! Oz won $76 in the 50/50. Steve Wade introduced the speaker, fellow Rotarian Warren Call. Warren is president and CEO of Traverse Connect, and he gave the second of two presentations this year about our region's aging population, specifically focusing on the role of regional economic development. Some interesting points from Warren's presentation. - Our population is going up, but the number of people in the workforce is not. This could lead to problems down the line.
- We are aging as a region more rapidly than state or national averages, in part because of the influx of retirees
- Our median income is 3.1 percent below the state average, but the cost of living is 3.3 percent above the state average.
- We are 19 percent below the state average on our population of millennials, but 33 percent above the state average on people 55 and older.
- Warren suggests the Grand Traverse region needs to take a more strategic approach to economic development in order to grow a competitive, prosperous sustainable regional economy.
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