President Mack Beers called the meeting to order, and Sid Lammers offered us a moment of Gratitude and Reflection.
Alexis Juett talked about the reinstitution of the IM Rotary classes to be held on the third Tuesday of each month.
Ramona Pleva reminded us of the Blood Drive coming up
President Mack announced the Sunrise Club is meeting for some social times according to Kathleen Guy on 8/27, 9/10 & 9/24 at the Graelickville Harbor Park from 5-7 pm. BYOB – snacks provided. (no glass or open containers.
Big CONGRATULATIONS to President Mack & Lorraine Beers on becoming first-time grandparents! It’s a girl.
Program: NMC
Jamie McNabb Introduced Dr. Nick Nissley the 11th President of Northwestern Michigan College. Nick took the reins a couple of months prior to the pandemic, and has had to weather closing at the college as well as a shift to online education. He comes well-prepared to tackle these difficult mandates and issues. He took his Doctorate of Education degree from George Washington University. He served as the head of Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and Dean of the Business School at Cincinnati State Community College.
Dr. Nissley spoke about his first 6 months in Traverse City, his view of NMC to now and a look at the future, but first, he spoke of how. From his early years in Dr. Nissley pointed out how important education was to him, a young, troubled kid from the wrong side of the tracks. It was at the Milton Hershey School that he received a second chance. One he clearly took advantage of and leading him through opportunities to where he stands today. The breadth of his background spans fro K-12 to Corporate Education and Continuing International Education at the Banff Centre to NMC today.
Nick spoke about his experience at the Milton Hershey School and the impact that it had on his life. He included a brief look at the man behind the school that bears his name. It is clear that Dr. Nissley holds him, his own teachers and the school in high regard.
With Hershey’s words in mind, Dr. Nissley took up the mantle of a Servant Leader to assist in the accomplishments and fulfillment of the hopes and expectations of others. He is committed to helping others think and act beyond boundaries and to achieve more than was previously imagined. More to his point is today he is a community builder. He referred back to an original tenet of NMC’s mission: Community-Centered, Community Serving, placing himself expertly within that ideal.
He spoke to the rich history of NMC, and the strong ties of partnership with Rotary and Rotary Charities. Acknowledging the late Jim Beckett as a key driver of this ongoing relationship.
He exemplified the “Big Picture.”
- 4500 Unduplicated credit students annually
- University Center, Dennos Museum, WNMC Radio and the Rogers Observatory (allowing services and engagement well beyond the Community College service)
- Extended Education for the entire community
- 50,000 ‘Learners’
- Baccalaureate Programming
- $50M Enterprise with a $50M Foundation
Dr. Nissley went on to elucidate his top three priorities for himself
- Listen and Learn
- Build Relationships: He has already spoken and/or met with many of NMC’s stakeholders
- Maintain Momentum
He then turned to the NMC COVID-19 response. He spoke to the “4R’s.”
- Refocus
- Reopening
- Reimagining
- Righting the ship
Finally, he humbly thanked the community that has stepped up to donate and support and commit to NMC in a profound way even at the height of the pandemic.
Dr. Nissley’s final thought: Rotary and its people, as co-owners, can be proud. As he said, “We’re delivering on Student Success and a Balanced Budget with no Tuition increase.” Something to be said for NMC and its stewardship.
