KIWASSEE KIWANIS
  MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

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At the May 21 meeting, Sharon Mortensen, President & CEO, and Emily Schafer, Development Officer, of the Midland Area Community Foundation about "Ready for School" Preschool Scholarship Fund that is now open at the Foundation. Tris Steele, Manager of the Midland County Fair, told about the history and mission of the Fair at our May 14 meeting. At the May 7 meeting, the election of officers for the 2019-2020 fiscal year was held. Also, member Betsy Sullivan summarized plans for the Kiwanis for Kids Charity Golf Outing scheduled for Monday, July 22, at Snow Snake.

The April 30 meeting was our annual Pig Auction. It netted $572. An update of the Boy Scouts organization was the topic of the April 23 meeting. Speakers were Stephanie Bird, Unit Service Executive Director, and Tom Oleniacz, Program Director, of the local Heartland District. Dennis Caney, a member of the Board of Directors of Midland County Search and Rescue, spoke at the April 16 meeting on the work the organization in searching for missing people. Camp Fish Tales was the topic for the April 9 meeting. Executive Director Shannon Forshee and Board Member Kurt Ieuter told about their efforts to bring outdoor learning experiences tor those with special needs. At the April 2 meeting, former coach Kurt Faust elaborated on the STEP UP Coach program in which he has been involved. It strives to make better communities by using coaching principles of positive interactions and healthy competition.

Membership Development was the topic of the March 26 meeting. The newest members told a little about themselves. Older members talked about how they became members. Member Fred Honerkamp at our March 19 meeting shared memories of his experiences in the Vietnam War and how it changed his life. Two members of the Dow High Key Club spoke at the March 12 meeting. They talked about recent activities of the Club and the newly formed Go Green Club that works on recycling. They were Abby Carn, outgoing president, and Grace Pnacek, club member and a founder of the Go Green Club. Featured at the March 5 meeting was reviews of our two major fund raising activities -- Midland Waves and Candy and Nuts Sales.

Kathy Brown, Youth Services Director of the Grace A. Dow Library spoke at the February 26 meeting. She talked about the Jeans-to-Totes project -- a collaborative project between the Library and Kiwassee, renovations to the library needed because of the 2017 flood, and services the library offers. At the February 19 meeting, Member Brian Goodwill tested members with a quiz on historical items related to Valentine's Day. The February 12 meeting was canceled because of the weather. Member Kathy Allen, Executive Director of the Personal Assistance Options talked about the work of her organization at the February 5 meeting.

The January 29 meeting was canceled because of the weather. At the January 22 meeting, Chelsea Davis, Recreation/Building Supervisor/Facility Rentals, and Sheleigh Nicolai, Family Services & Transportation Supervisor, of the West Midland Family Center gave an update of some of the programs at the Center. The January 15 meeting was canceled because of the weather. Member Dee How spoke about the local 4H organization at our January 8 meeting.

The December 18 meeting was the annual Holiday Party for spouses. The Encore Strings violin and cello duo Cindy Mikulin and Mary Adams provided entertainment. The December 11 meeting was a luncheon at the church following by sessions at Central Park Elementary School to have Santa Claus give presents to 1st graders. At the December 4 meeting, two members of the Saginaw River Station of the United States Coast Guard talked about Ice Safety. Speakers were Jason Kuzik and Robert Wolpf.

The topic for the November 27 meeting was on development work for the Midland Center City district. Midland City Clerk Selina Tisdale was the speaker At the November 20 meeting, Roger Briggs, President of the Kiwassee Foundation, gave a review of the activities of the Foundation and of the Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation that is supported by each Michigan Kiwanis club. Jennifer Chappel, CEO of Midland County Habitat for Humanity, talked about the work of her organization at the November 13 meeting. The November 6 meeting had Kiwassee service committees sharing their goals for the new fiscal year.

The October 30 meeting was a look ahead. President Roger Moll gave his thoughts for the current fiscal year starting this month. Diane Stevens, Chair of the Club News & Publicity Committee, talked about her committee's goals for the year. The October 23 meeting was a recognition of major sponsors of our fundraising activities. Members of Kiwassee told about some of our activities. Sponsors were given plaques. At the October 16 meeting, Emily Lyons, a Director at the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke about two Chamber initiatives involving children and youth. Mike Rush, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan, spoke about the mission of his organization at the October 9 meeting. As October is the start of the new fiscal year, member Bruce Rayce who has been Lieutenant Governor for Division 10 of Michigan Kiwanis opened the October 2 meeting with an introduction of our new slate of officers. A preview of our Candy and Nut sales starting in November followed. Then President Roger Moll reviewed the highlights of the last fiscal year.

Member Betsy Sullivan spoke about Trauma and Loss in Children at our September 25 meeting. The September 11 meeting was the first of two meetings in which committees reported on their activities for the fiscal year. The Young Children Priority One, the Club News and Publicity, and the Fund Raisers committees were the first to report. The Junior Youth, the Senior Youth, and the Human and Spiritual Values committees reported at the September 18 meeting. At the September 4 meeting, Sue Landis, Mentor Program Coordinator of the Midland County Juvenile Care Center, spoke about the many efforts in which the Center is involved.

Janine Ouderkirk, Executive Director of Shelterhouse, told about the work of her organization and the plans for a new facility at our August 28 meeting. The August 21 meeting was held at the Longview Early Childhood Center. Member Kim Clark who is Building Administrator and Director of Early Childhood and Family Services for the Midland County Educational Services Agency was the speaker. She told about the activities that go on at the building highlighting the contributions that Kiwassee has made over the years. She also gave a tour of building. Camille Nitschky, Executive Director of the Children's Grief Center Great Lakes Bay Region , talked about the work of her organization at the August 14 meeting. An update of the work of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region was the program for the August 7 meeting. Holly Miller, Executive Director, and Linda Lones, Director of Fund Development & Communication, were the speakers

Michael Sharrow, Superintendent of the Midland Public Schools, discussed several topics relating to the schools at the July 31 meeting. At the July 24 meeting, Brian Goodwill, chair of Human & Spiritual Values committee, interviewed two members Walt Rupprecht and Bill Kuehne on some of their interests. Member Martha Briggs gave a review of the Kiwanis Youth Projection guidelines at the July 17 meeting. The July 10 meeting was a picnic for residents of the Pinecrest Farms assisted living facility held at the farms. At the July 3 meeting, member Alex Rapanos talked about the highlights of the 2018 Kiwanis International Convention.

Ashley Hunt, Advanced Care Planning Specialist at MidMichigan Health was the speaker at the June 26 meeting. She spoke about the importance of making quality of life decisions with family and friends. At the June 19 meeting, Andrea Secrease, Director of Early Care and Education at the Greater Midland Community Center, spoke about her program. It is based on the HighScope Preschool Curriculum. The June 12 meeting was our annual cookout at Emerson Park. At the June 5 meeting, Roger Briggs, President of the Kiwassee Kiwanis Foundation, gave the annual report for the Foundation. Last year they gave $11,540 to local organizations for special projects. He also reported on the work of the Kiwanis of Michigan Foundation.

Dennis Pilaske, Executive Director of the Chippewa Nature Center, gave an update on the Center's activities at the May 29 meeting. The May 22 meeting was a roundtable discussion on What Are the Most Pressing Problems for Midland County's Children and Youth. Participants were Scott Stephenson, Sheriff of Midland County; Doreen Allen, Probate & Juvenile Court Judge of Midland County ; Michael Sharrow, Superintendent of Midland Public Schools; and Bev Wenzel, Executive Director of The ROCK Center for Youth Development. The presentation at the May 15 meeting was about the Leadership Midland program sponsored by the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce. Diane Middleton, Executive Director of the Chamber, and Scott MacNellis, Steering Committee Chair Elect of the program, were the speakers. The annual Pig Auction was held at the May 8 meeting. The agenda for the May 1 meeting was the election of officers for the next fiscal year and a preview of the Kids Golf Classic to be held July 23 at Snow Snake.

Following the April 24 meeting, Nan Hruby of Bolger & Battle Marketing Communications led a workship on building relationships with sponsors. At the April 17 meeting, Katy Hilliard, Family Intervention Committee member at Central Park Elementary School, talked about the STEM program at the school and their truancy prevention program. There were two subject matters for the April 10 meeting. The slate of officers for the next fiscal year was presented. The election will be May 1. President Doug Snoddy reviewed progress on the goals for the current fiscal year. The April 3 meeting featured master gardener Gina Pederson telling about the efforts being done to identify and document wild flowers on the Pere Marquette Rail Trail. The work is available on PereMarquetteWildflowers.com.

Kathryn Tate, Community Integration Leader at The The Legacy Center for Student Success, presented facts and figures about marijuana use at the March 27 meeting. The legalization of marijuana for recreational use in Michigan may be an issue on the 2018 ballot. At the March 20 meeting, Kyle Bagnall, Whiting Forest Program Manager, told about the current project at the Forest of developing an elevated canopy walkway through the Forest. An update of the work of Eagle Village was the topic of the March 13 meeting. Speakers were Carole Hyble, Vice President of Advancement, and Cathy Prudhomme, President and CEO. A review of our Flag Project was the subject for our March 6 meeting. It will now be known as Midland Waves.

The topic of the February 27 meeting was a discussion on local Royal Family Kids and Teen Reach programs to help foster children. Speakers were Rich Shull and Gib Giblin. Katherine Ellison, Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Saginaw Valley State University, gave a review of activities of the organization at the February 20 meeting. The February 13 meeting was our annual Valentine's Party. Entertainment by the Dow High Key Club Ensemble of Becca Haines and Abby Carn. The activities of the Michigan State University Extension was the topic of the February 6 meeting. The speaker was Michael Krauch, Interim Director of the local District 9.

A review of our fund raising projects was the agenda for the January 30 meeting. The work of the Midland County Maternal Infant Health Program was the program for the January 23 meeting. Speakers were, Hollie Barth, director of Material and Child Health Department, and Beverly Pyles, director of Community Health Services. Dave Shane, executive editor of the Midland Daily News, spoke of some of his newspaper experiences at the January 16 meeting. Six members of the Bullock Creek High School Blitzcreek Robotics team talked about some of their experiences at the January 9 meeting. Also at the meeting, Greg Smith, Executive Director of Michigan District of Kiwanis gave an update on recent developments. At the January 2 meeting, Jullian Westphal, Recreation Director and School Age and Childcare Program Director at the West Midland Family Center gave an update on programs at the Center.

05/21/2019