The Boardman River and the current status of reforming and transitioning that has and is yet to occur was the topic of the day. Introduced by Marsh Smith, Frank Dituri and Kim Balke representing the Boardman River Project, were our speakers for the first of two presentations over as many weeks. Dituri is the chair of the Boardman River Dams Project Implementation Team. With more than 20 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, Dituri has spent the last four years as an Ecologist/Project Manager at the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Natural Resource Department. This affords him the opportunity to guide the future of the river that functions as the life blood of our lakes and land. Kim Balke is a project manager and biologist with the Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA). CRA is the project manager hired by Grand Traverse County to coordinate dam removal and fundraising. Kim has been with CRA for 19 years managing restoration work on the Betsie, Boyne, Platte, Jordan, Pere Marquette and Boardman Rivers.
Dituri gave a general review of the long-term project (2005 to date and beyond) and Balke spoke specifically to the Cass Bridge movement (now through 2017) to a new site, the timeline for it and the takedown and timeline of the dam at the old bridge site.
Goals of the Boardman: A River Reborn project:
Remove decommissioned, unsafe dam structures
Restore 3.9 plus miles of cold water stream
Reconnect 160 miles of habitat to the Great Lakes
Restore 50 acres of wetlands and 50 acres of upland habitat, and
Maintain effective Aquatic Species management to the region
Key points about the project:
Innovative public-driven process to decide the fate of the four dams on the Boardman River – began in 2005
Over 1,000 people participating in over 180 meetings
Unique collaboration between the City and the County, joining together on removing three of the dams and modifying the fourth (Union St.)
Dituri also thanked Rotary and spoke to the role played by the club:
Interest as a landowner in the Boardman River watershed
Stewardship and access to natural resources as core values
Understanding the importance of a neutral convener and the unique role our foundation could play to support the public process (not many other funders support this type of work)
Funding:
2006: $10,000: first money in for formation of the Boardman River Dams Committee
2008: $20,000: to support civic engagement process
2009-2010: $50,000 to support the leadership role for the Implementation Team (Todd Kalish time, granted to the County)
2010: $45,000: “so what funding” to support the development of the Boardman River Prosperity Plan, the first-ever watershed plan in the state to incorporate social and economic aspects of the watershed
2014: $25,000: to support the Cass Road crossing, specifically to incorporate wildlife and pedestrian passage under the newly constructed bridge (note: philanthropy generally considers infrastructure as the responsibility of government, but acknowledges financial constraints and will provide enhancement funding)
Staff time to support the Boardman Prosperity Plan, fund development, and funder relationships. Also act as the fiscal agent for DTE and Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation grants to support the project.
Rotary and its charitable support is making a difference, yet again in the watershed that supports the area in so many ways, practically, environmentally and recreationally.
Soon-to-be ex-President George, as he prepares to divest himself of his gavel, called the meeting to order. Dave Gable led the invocation. Monica Larson introduced our guests and also thanked the photographers and weekly scribes of the bulletin, and welcomed the new members who will join their committee ranks. Marsha Minervini quietly (thanks to a touch of laryngitis – though the club certainly made up for it) led us in song. She also gave an update on former exchange student Luciana who has successfully opened a domestic abuse shelter in her home city in Brazil, following her experiences here and seeing the tremendous work the Women’s Resource Center continues to do here in Traverse City.Sharron Zimmerman spoke to the work projects going forward this year for World Community Service, including Polio Plus, the Hermanus Global Trust, a hospital in Peru and a school in Haiti among others. Brava! President George reminded all that there a social evening is planned for Wednesday 6/24 at Left Foot Charley’s.
We took a little break while they worked on the harbor, and now we are ready to bring back this club and community favorite
Our next Save the Date and Make a Difference Event!
Saturday June 20, 2015
Kids Fish Free and we teach them how at Kids Free Fishing Day
This is so fun , bring your children – your grandchildren – shoot borrow some kids you will have a blast. Please help us and plan to sign up and show up!
The Chamber building will be closed on Friday, July 3rd . It will be open again on Monday, July 6th.
During the work week of Cherry Festival (July 6-10), the Chamber building will be open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
As Second floor tenants (all Rotary offices) please note these building hours - if you try to visit us you will not have access to our office other then these hours - we will need to make arrangements to let you in the building. The Rotary Club office (Suite 203) where Sally & Al work will be closed - July 3rd to July 6th and open all day Tues the 7th and Wed July 8 to noon. We will then close until Monday July 13. I would like to send out the newsletter and any announcements following the July 7th meeting on the morning of the 8th before my son and I take some vacation days together. Thank you for you help with any information you want to share that week! Please contact me if you have any questions or need special accommodation during these times.
-President George, as he prepares to divest himself of his gavel, called the meeting to order. Dave Gable led the invocation. 
Monica Larson introduced our guests and also thanked the photographers and weekly scribes of the bulletin, and welcomed the new members who will join their committee ranks. Marsha Minervini quietly (thanks to a touch of laryngitis – though the club certainly made up for it) led us in song. She also gave an update on former exchange student Luciana who has successfully opened a domestic abuse shelter in her home city in Brazil, following her experiences here and seeing the tremendous work the Women’s Resource Center continues to do here in Traverse City.
Sharron Zimmerman spoke to the work projects going forward this year for World Community Service, including Polio Plus, the Hermanus Global Trust, a hospital in Peru and a school in Haiti among others. Brava! President George reminded all that there a social evening is planned for Wednesday 6/24 at Left Foot Charley’s.
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Rotary Club of Traverse City