District Governor David Thomas gave some words of encouragement.
Dale Chilcote, chair of the 100th-anniversary committee, shared a cool video made for the club's centennial CLICK HERE to view
Awesome Allison Beers said the centennial celebration is postponed until Dec. 5.
Andy Kempf, chair of the World Community Service committee, shared a word of thanks for the amazing support for the emergency relief request for Safe Passage.
The speaker was Sue Bolde, executive director of the Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center. CAC brings justice, hope, and healing to children and families experiencing sexual abuse, physical abuse, and violence.
Sue said that children are at a higher risk now because they are not in school, and a large percentage of child abuse incidents are reported by teachers or other school staff. Therefore, it's important for everyone to keep an eye out for abuse. A special COVID-19 message from the CAC:
Entire families are sheltering at home and anxiety is high. Parents no longer have any reprieve from the stress of child-rearing. The watchful eyes of teachers, guidance counselors and child care providers are not on guard. In fact, educators are the primary source of reports of abuse, accounting for around 20% of all reports made. Our current reality makes it even less likely that young victims will be able to escape their abusers. Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center continues to respond to the emergency needs of children by providing emergent forensic interviews and triaging emergent forensic medical exams. Counseling clients remain connected to the reassuring, reliable presence of our therapists via tele-mental health, helping children and families to feel that they are not alone. CAC is a lifeline for children and protective caregivers now more than ever.
TRAVERSE CITY — Homer Nye can point to dozens of ways the Rotary Club of Traverse City has helped its hometown and beyond just in the 35 years since he joined.
Nye pointed to the many nonprofits the club helps through its Good Works Committee grants, the international projects its members organize and fund, one committee’s water quality work at Kids Creek and another committee’s efforts to help people with disabilities.
That’s just naming a few — the club does so much it’s not easy to recall it all, said Nye, now the club’s president.
There’s more to come too from the club and separate-but-related Rotary Charities Foundation, Executive Director Becky Ewing said. The planned Rotary Square project will honor the club’s 100 years, and the foundation put $1 million toward making it a reality... CLICK HERE to read the full story
TRAVERSE CITY — A centennial celebration could be just the thing to brighten these uncertain times.
As often happens in times of need, Rotary of Traverse City has just the answer: May marks its 100th birthday.
Over those years Rotary has more than lived up to its motto, “Service Before Self,” and in doing so has helped northern Michigan grow into the vibrant area it is today. Just as importantly, Rotary has positioned itself to continue that service far into the future.
Rotary’s story is a fascinating saga of service, full of accounts of dedication, vigilance, humor, the occasional controversy, and yes, even oil strikes.
In the next month the Record-Eagle will run a four-part series examining both the group’s past activities, and how it is evolving to face the challenges of the 21st century.
Today’s local Rotary organization is made up of three branches: The Rotary Club (“We do good work locally and internationally”), founded in 1920; Rotary Camps and Services (“We steward land”), formed in 1955; and Rotary Charities (“We help others do good work”), founded in 1976. Each branch has its own story — independent, yet intertwined with the other.
Each of the upcoming articles will focus on one of these branches...CLICK HERE to read the full article
Cherry Queen Mary Jean Nolan at a Rotary luncheon in July, 1966.
Special to the Record-Eagle/Traverse Area District Library Historical Archives
More Information
May 1, 1920 Grand Rapids Rotary Club sponsors Rotary Club of Traverse City's charter. Dry goods seller James T. Milliken is the president of the 24-member club.
1923 Shares sold to finance Camp Greilick Camp for youngsters, Rotary Camps is formed
1942 Rotary Show debut called "The Minstrel Show" to raise money for good works.
1940s Four-way test emerges from northern Michigan as a guiding principle for Rotary International: Is it the truth? Is fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
1952 Jim Beckett, longest-serving Rotarian joins the club.
1955 Rotary Camps and Services is founded to focus on conservation and land management
1976 A free-flowing oil well discovered on Boys Scouts Camp Greilick property, spurring $600 million in local grants through present time, and a $50 million foundation.
1977 Rotary Charities is formed as a tax-exempt organization, made up of rotating, elected club members. Projects include capital grants, incubation opportunities and conservancy.
1987 Rotary membership opened to women.
1989 Rotary took on the Park Place Hotel, completed a total renovation in 1991, and sold it to Regency Hotel Ventures
1997 Rotary starts to fund and stabilize the State Theatre to 2012
2004 Marilyn Fitzgerald is the first female president of Rotary.
Today, Rotary has 50 different committee projects ongoing, and plans in the works for a Rotary Square project in downtown Traverse City.
To the Rotary Club of Traverse City, which is celebrating 100 years of service to the region. It was chartered in May 1920, just 15 years after the first Rotary Club was formed in Chicago.
Some projects over the years: In 1989 Rotary took on the Park Place Hotel, completed a total renovation in 1991, and sold it to Regency Hotel Ventures. In 1997, Rotary started to fund and stabilize the State Theatre until 2012. Today, Rotary has 50 different committee projects ongoing.
Past Rotary Charities Executive Director Marsha Smith feels that outstanding leadership may be one of Rotary’s greatest gifts to the community.
“I believe that the true legacy of Rotary and Rotary Charities has been the leadership it has provided to the community. And how Rotary leaders have served as role models to others in the practice of caring, committed, and balanced civic leadership,” Smith said.
There’s more to come, too, from the club and separate-but-related Rotary Charities said Executive Director Becky Ewing. The planned Rotary Square project will honor the club’s 100 years, and the foundation put $1 million toward making it a reality.
Club President Homer Nye said he’s proud of the difference the Rotary Club has made in Traverse City in the past century.
“It’s almost like a time for the club to come together and say, ‘By golly, good things have happened and we’ve been a part of it,’” he said
As COVID-19 began to spread, the polio program helpline center in Pakistan responded by expanding the capacity to listen to people’s concerns, convey accurate information on the pandemic, and provide medical advice from onsite doctors. Read how answering more than 70,000 calls a day has turned this polio program resource into a vital support system for Pakistan’s COVID-19 response. [More]
Rotary Club of Traverse City Good Works Fund TART Trails’ 2019 Grant Report: Vasa Pathway Skill-Building Trail Loops
Impact Summary
With funding from the Rotary Club of Traverse City, TART Trails and partners were able to construct two one-mile, single-track trail loops at the Bartlett Road Trailhead of the Vasa Pathway. We engaged 50 volunteers who served 265 hours to construct these trails. The single-track loops provide an entry-level experience for new mountain bikers, providing positive, healthy and safe outdoor experiences. CLICK HERE to view full report
The Regional Community Foundation has established the Urgent Needs Fund to provide grants to local nonprofit, governmental, and educational organizations that are providing vital services and basic needs and will support efforts that are impacting and benefiting communities across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties. Rotary Charities Board voted to make a $10,000 gift to the fund. In addition, they approved raising the individual Rotarian match from $250 to $500 for any gifts donations specifically for this fund between now and the end of the year. If you would like to make a gift, you can do so here: www.gtrcf.org/give/urgentneeds
If you would like to request the $1 for $1 match from the Rotary Endowment at the Community Foundation, for the Urgent Needs Fund please complete the MATCH FORM and submit it with your gift or send totcrotary2822@gmail.comor mail to the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation 223 Lake Avenue, Ste. B, Traverse City, MI 49684
