Sorry for the lack of content in this week's newsletter. I am working only a few hours this week as my step-daughter is getting married and the event starts tomorrow with a party at our house for 30 people and doesn't end until Sunday. I will add more informative and inspiring Rotary stories for you next week!
We are having a Club Assembly at our Rotary meeting on Friday. Please try to sit together and talk about your committee's business. I know that some of you may be on several committees - in that case, sit with those you like the best. :) Looking forward to seeing you all Friday. Holly
Pres. Holly gaveled the program portion of the meeting to order with an announcement that VP David Stocking is recovering at home from sinus surgery, with much difficulty. Please feel free to email, snail mail, etc. encouragement to David as it appears he has a fight on his hands which can use lots of prayers, thoughts and notes.
The Program centered on presentations from four possible organizations seeking grants from our Rotary Club to advance their own community efforts. As an added message there will be a combined meeting of SL Rotary, GH Rotary and the Chamber, at the SLCC, on Monday Oct. 23, with a time to be announced. This will be in lieu of our Friday noon meeting of Oct. 20, so hopefully there will be a great turnout on Monday for a sitdown meal where a presentation will be made by Justice Bernstein of the Mich Sup. Ct. and by Lt. Gov. Calley which will be an announced topic of interest to all.
Before the other 4 organization presenters, Paul Winter announced that the SL High School Rowing Team will be moving in a year to cause a storage building to be located along the Grand River, near the middle school in all likelihood, and will be seeking a grant a year from now to help defray the cost for the storage building to be used for sculls, rowing equipment and oars, and other necessary equipment. We will look for future updates on this great school program, which will be for all interested students.
The Program presenters were:
1. Past District Gov Gernot Runschke of Grand Haven presented a grant request for continuing the water supply improvements to communities in rural Honduras. To date the effort by many, but mainly Rotary volunteers, including members from Grand Haven, Spring Lake and other local clubs, has provided over 4300 people in 18 villages with clean, safe and sanitary water, with source, pipelines, collection system, tanks, distribution lines to homes, and taps. The health conditions of the populace served by the clean water has improved dramatically, especially the reduction in the mortality rates of youngsters. Also improving are education, health, and business opportunities for the people served. The funding is a combination of sources, including grants from RI, the Foundation, local clubs, and private sources. GH Rotary is providing $19,000 for the next project in a village in Honduras, and the Project needs another $13,000 to be funded. The total budget is around $131,000 for the source plumbing, and the transmission, etc. This has been a longer term project, which is continuing with help from a Rotary Club in Honduras, and local funding from various Rotary sources in the US.
Sara Lewandoski, the Director of TCM Counseling, presented a request to continue help with funding for counseling for school age children to be diverted from depression and suicide. There have been some teen suicides in the area and in cooperation with the Spring Lake, Grand
Haven and a Holland School trained counselors are being assigned to help with the treatment of young people who exhibit needs to avoid depression, which sometimes leads to suicide. The numbers of youth considering suicide are increasing, and the treatment before the effort of suicide occurs avoids the despair that accompanies a suicide. In the past school year over 100
students in Spring Lake were counseled by trained therapists dealing with the issues of depression and suicide. Over 180 students received counseling in Grand Haven. The need is to secure more trained therapists to assign specifically to the students. There is a full time staff person at TCM now, for students, and several part time counselors. The key to identifying students in need is using the QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) suicide prevention training. This training is provided to students, parents, and teachers. The grant request is to provide funding for more trainers, and ultimately to help defray the counseling costs. The annual cost in the Tri-Cities to provide training is $17,000. The program is receiving multiple support from the public schools, Kiwanis Club, United Way, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the TCM, and the request to SL Rotary is to become a financial supporter. The need is increasing, unfortunately, and QPR works.
The next Presenter was Kristina Stamm, representing the Tri-Cities Kiwanis Club, concerning an effort it is working on to find housing for homeless students in the Tri-Cities area. There are active efforts from representatives of social agencies to wrap their arms around providing safe, sanitary and decent housing for actual homeless students, numbering over 230 in the Tri-Cities. These are kids without an address, no permanent traditional housing, like an apartment, house, condo or mobile home. They live in places that have a spare couch, bed, basement room, a car, or a bench outside. Their family life is miserable, with no parents, or perhaps one claiming to be a parent but unable to provide shelter, meals, or care and comfort. Yes, those kids are here and most do come to school during the school year but only because they are cold and hungry, or need help. The definition of homeless is the absence of sustainable housing. The Proposal was for a Grant to provide funding to students who are homeless to help with their basic needs, such as 2 pair of shoes a year. Also to provide a dental exam, and a stipend for basic utilities if a
room is found for the student to live in that is decent, safe and sanitary. This program is evolving but should occupy more attention in our communities because the need has been identified. The Kiwanis are showing that they have the ability to organize efforts beneficial to the Community, and perhaps this avenue is worth a Grant.
The last Presenter was Michelle Dixon, of our own Club. She made a pitch for funding to the Village of Spring Lake to repair and fix the Mill Point Band Shell, which was mostly funded by a prior SL Rotary Grant. Some built in deficiencies, and deferred maintenance, will fix the Band Shell. The roof needs fixing, and the immediate fix issues could occur for perhaps $6500, and perhaps some volunteer labor. The comment from the Village Manager was the money for maintenance was not in this years budget. Hopefully the needed repairs and maintenance can occur this coming year because the deterioration typically accelerates when it reaches the level now occurring. This Project might initiate a discussion as to how grant recipients can help keep the object of the Grant at a higher priority for upkeep, but it was a valid observation of a need, here in Spring Lake.
That was the basics of the Presenters, and the need of the organizations for SL Rotary grants from funding earned at various venues, including the winter ice and community efforts in Central Park, plus other gifts received at our Club. We are fortunate to be able to consider these Grant opportunities because it was not many years ago that money was scarce for grants, and the members of Spring Lake
Rotary have worked very diligently to raise funds for worthy Projects. Feedback to the Executive Board of the Club, as to budgeting the funding of any Grants, will be solicited from the membership. Thanks to all who helped with the Presentations. All have elements that are quite Worthy!!
