KIWASSEE KIWANIS
  MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

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An update on our fund raising activities was the keynote of our January 27 meeting. Jim Rajewski reported on our recent Candy and Nuts Sales. At our January 20 meeting, President Dave Winegardner gave a State of the Club message. John Ruggles, Chief Operating Officer of Eagle Village, gave a overview of the challenges of running the Village at our January 13 meeting. At our January 6 meeting, Michael Sharrow, Superintendent of the Midland Public Schools spoke on the Bond Proposal that will be on the ballot on February 24. The proposal is to raise money for upgrading aging facilities, enhancing safety, improving energy efficiency, updating classroom technology, modernizing infrastructure, demolishing vacant buildings, and upgrading the bus fleet. Gerald Wasserman, President of the Board of Education aided in the presentation.

Renee Pettinger, Executive Director of The Open Door, gave a look at her organization's activities at our December 30 meeting. Our annual Holiday Party was December 16. December 9 was our annual Kids Holiday Party at Eastlawn School. Mike Cronenberger, President of the Kiwassee Foundation gave a review of the purpose and the activities of the Foundation at our December 2 meeting.

Greg Dorrien, Executive Director of the West Midland Family Center, talked about some of their programs at our November 25 meeting. At the November 18 meeting, Susan Mercy, EMS Dispatcher at MidMichigan Health, with the assistance of her daughter Caitlin Mercy, spoke on the problems of human trafficking which is unfortunately growing. Help is available through the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (1-888-3737-888) and The Polaris Project. Also, Elizabeth Lumbert gave information about the Zonta Club Homewalk on December 6&7. Lori Jackson shared info on the King Daughters Christmas Closet. Member Joe Blewett, Adminstrator of the Pinecrest Farms Adult Foster Care facility, gave an overview of the facility at the November 11 meeting. Committee Goals for the 2014-2015 fiscal year was the agenda for the November 4 meeting.

Roxanne Weisend, Jefferson Middle School Counselor, talked about her work at the October 28 meeting. At the October 21 meeting, Brian McManus, City Engineer for Midland, spoke about the conditions of Midland's roads and the road millage proposal on the November 4 election ballot. The October 14 meeting was the kickoff of our holiday Candy and Nuts sales fund raiser. Candy & nuts will be available from November 1 to December 20. At our October 7 meeting, the officers for the new fiscal year were installed by the District President Steven Witt. The new president Dave Winegardner presented his outlook for the year.

Outgoing President Gordon Rogers gave his year-end report at the September 30 meeting. Committee year end reports were the agendas for the September 16 and September 23 meetings. At the September 23 meeting, Carol Rumba, Director of Creative 360, gave an update on their activities. Mike Krecek, Director of the Midland County Health Department spoke about the mission of the Department and some of their plans at our September 9 meeting. The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Bucket Challenge was the highlight of our September 2 meeting. It was in honor of former member Paul Walker who is living with ALS. Members doused water on their heads and made donations to ALS. View video of event on our Facebook page. Additional donations can be made to www.alsofmi.org. Member Penny Ecarius introduced the Kiwanis Doll, a cloth doll given to children in hospitals for comfort.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan was the subject for the program at the August 26 meeting. Speakers were Fight Crime Michigan State Director Kathy "K.P." Pelleran and Midland County Sheriff Scott Stephenson. At our August 19 meeting, former Kiwassee club president and recently retired Associate Superintendent of the Midland Public Schools Linda Cline talked about some of her experiences in the field of education. Doug Snoddy, chair of the Senior Youth Committee talked about the Kiwanis Youth Guidelines at our August 12 meeting. At our August 5 meeting, intern Bianne Alexander showed some pictures of work she has been doing to beautify the City of Midland with flowers.

Camille Gerace Nitschky and Joslyn Coppens, President and Vice President respectively, of the Children's Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region explained the mission, accomplishments to date, and future plans of the organization at our July 29 meeting. There were two agenda items for our July 22 meeting: an Introduction to our 2014-2015 Travel & Adventure Series and a report by our Audit Committee. Tom Wood, Trauma Program Manager of MidMichigan Health spoke about the health system's trauma center at our July 15 meeting. Our July 8 meeting was our annual Pinecrest Picnic. Brian Jackson, Director of Donor Relations & Special Initiatives for the Saginaw Community Foundation spoke about the functioning of his organization at our July 1 meeting. Jen Coleman, coordinator of the Tri-City Kids' Triathlon talked about their upcoming event of July 19. Member Martha Briggs showed slides of our participation in the Fun Zone Renovation.

Kimberly Clark, Director of Early Child and Family Services for the Midland County Educational Service Agency spoke about the Longview Early Childhood Center, the Great Start Collaborative, and the many services for pre-school services in Midland at our June 24 meeting. Our June 17 meeting was our annual cookout at Emerson Park. Member Martha Briggs reviewed the Kiwanis International Youth Protection Guidelines at our June 10 meeting. Our June 3 meeting was a Membership Roundup. Members Ray Senesac, Heather McLaughlin, Doug Snoddy, and Jim Rajewski talked about Kiwassee activities and what membership in the organization has meant to them.

Some of the efforts of the Midland Police Department to make Midland a safer place for children was the subject matter for the May 27 meeting. The DARE program to keep kids of drugs was one of the topics Community Relations Officer Dan Keeler talked about. Ed Haycock, the new Managing Director of the Dow Gardens gave a synopis of the history and programs of the Gardens at our May 20 meeting. Our annual Pig Auction was our May 13 meeting. It was held at the Salvation Army and netted $443. Bradley Kaye, Director of Planning & Community for the City of Midland. talked about some of the new developments in the City at our May 6 meeting.

At the April 29 meeting, Mellisa Barnard, Director of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, presented slides showing some of the youth activities of the library and of the results of recent remodeling at the library. An open house celebrating the new look of the library will be Sunday, May 18, 2-5pm. On April 22, Sharon Mortenson and Ben Tierney of the Midland Area Community Foundation told us about the Give Local Midland day on May 6. Committee Mid-Term reports was the agenda for the April 15 meeting. At our April 8 meeting, President Gordon Rogers presented the results of a Club Excellence Survey taken last November. Discussions were held on possible improvements. Susan Putnam, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region, explained some of the projects of her organization at our April 1 meeting. Also, the Kiwassee Foundation presented some checks to Longview Child Development Center, West Midland Family Center, Railway Family Center, and the FUN ZONE renovation project.

Jack Telfer, Editor of the Midland Daily News, spoke at the March 25 meeting on the changes that have been occurring in news reporting over the years. At the March 18 meeting, Misty Janks, Executive Director of the North Midland Family Center, talked about the activities of the Center. The FUN ZONE renovation project was the program for the March 11 meeting. Speakers were Sharon Mortenson of Midland Community Foundation, Karen Murphy of Midland Parks and Recreation, and the Volunteer Coordinator of the project, Stacey Urbani, of West Midland Family Center. Sarah Tisdale, Director of Community Affairs of the City of Midland, talked about recent developments in Downtown Midland and the City Center at our March 4 meeting.

Beverlee Wenzel, Executive Director, The Rock Youth Center, told about the programs of the Center at our February 25 meeting. Fund raising was the topic of the February 18 meeting. We had reports on our latest Candy & Nuts Sales and Travel & Adventure Series projects. Our February 11 meeting was our annual Valentine's party. At our February 4 meeting, Kathy Dolan told about the development of the Express Yourself Artshop at Creative 360.

At our January 28 meeting, the Midland County Revenue Enhancement Millage Renewal that is on the ballot on February 25 was the prime topic in a talk by Michael Sharrow, Superintendent of Midland Public Schools. Shannyn Caldwell, a radio host for Family Life Radio, talked about the station and her experiences in working with it at our January 21 meeting. At our January 14 meeting, Jennifer Heronema, President & CEO of the The Legacy Center For Community Success told about programs of the Center for fighting substance abuse among young people. Member Carol Rumba, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator of Senior Services, told about some of the activities of the organization at our January 7 meeting.

1/27/2015