Please see below for some wonderful news and events from our District's Rotary Clubs! Does YOUR Rotary Club have a special event planned, or did your Club have a special meeting or fundraising event? We want to hear about it!
Please send your article and any photos to District Administrator Ingrid Nova at rotary6360@gmail.com. The deadline is the 1st of the month, but please be sure to send anything time sensitive and we will get the news out to the District!
Thank you!
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The Wagner Ballroom @
Eastend Studio & Gallery
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Eastend Studio & Gallery, home of the Wagner Ballroom, had the pleasure of hosting, alongside the Marshall Rotary Club, District 6360’s holiday party in December 2023.
The Wagner Ballroom served as Marshall’s main dance hall from 1870 to 1910. After the closing of third floor gathering spaces in the early 1900s, this room sat unused for over 100 years. Eastend purchased the Wagner Block Building in 2012 and began a massive renovation that led to the restoration of this 3,600 square foot room. The vision of Eastend’s founder, Michael Peck, a nationally renowned decorative painter and resident of Marshall, designed and led the efforts to recreate the room’s former elegance and grandeur for all to enjoy.
This renovation was a true community effort both financially and through sweat equity. Eastend could not have done this without Rotary District 6360 and the Marshall Rotary Club, collectively providing grants and extensive volunteer labor hours.
The Wagner Ballroom is now available as an event space. In 2023, Eastend hosted 45 different events including weddings, showers, birthday parties, business meetings, fundraisers, reunions and more.
Thank you to Rotary for helping make this dream a reality! For more information, please visit www.eastendart.org.
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Albion Rotary Sponsors Albion Safety Coalition | |
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Albion Rotary Club became the first Michigan community to collectively participate in the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Statewide Program. After experiencing 5 fires in the community within a five-month period, one death, and thousands of dollars in property damage; we took a proactive approach to identify, prioritize, and address home hazard risk for the citizens on of Albion. During the past couple months, starting with Fire Prevention month, Rotarians participated in the statewide initiative to address home safety and become informed citizens of available resources to make their homes safer by engaging in a few simple actions. Smoke detectors, Carbon Monoxide Detectors, family escape plan, hearing impaired alarms, and other resources that save lives are available through the state Fire Prevention Program. The mission of the program is to provide sustainable community risk reduction programs to minimize fire deaths, injuries, and property loss within the state of Michigan.
Area Rotarians collaborated with American Legion, local churches, and other organizations to install the units in the homes to alleviate the responsibility on the understaffed Public Safety Department. Several meetings were held with community citizens, coordinated by Chad Everett, Michigan State MI Prevention Liaison, to install Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors in every home in Albion without sufficient protection. Training, installation, and recording data regarding the locations in the homes is all that is required. Michigan Fire Prevention works with local fire departments to supply 10 -year ionization smoke alarms to citizens as needed. Chief Scott Kipp, Albion Public Safety, became Albion Smoke Alarm Project Manager to handle distribution, storage, and training. Lt. Bill Timmins, the official Site Coordinator, and Albion Rotary worked collaboratively to bring the program to fruition.
Since the month of October, Rotarians met the initial goal of distributing over 400 smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide units in the Albion community. Citizens engaged in training, data collection, instillation by coming together as a community to work on the common interest of safety for themselves and others.
Guidelines for home safety is:
- One smoke detector in each bedroom
- One smoke alarm outside of sleeping area; and
- At least one smoke alarm on each level of the dwelling
Guidelines for Carbon Monoxide Detectors are:
- One CO on each level of the dwelling based on the risks and needs, other options are:
- One CO detector outside sleeping area
- One CO detector in mechanical room, or
This is an ongoing initiative that is grant funded by the state. Trainings and distributions will be held as requested by contact at the MI Prevention Program. Kymberly Pashkowsky is Chief Prevention /CRP Division Chief Bureau of Fire Services. Albion Rotary is now a pilot program in the state by being proactive.
Interested organizations can contact Kymberly, the official contact or Vivian Davis , 517-250-3714 or viviandavis1100@yahoo.com for practice experience and support.
Kymberly Pashkowsky
MI Prevention/CRR Division Chief
Bureau of Fire Services
611 W. Ottawa St., 4th Floor
P.O. Box 30700
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (616)250-4147
Email: pashkowskyk@michigan.gov
Websites:
www.michigan.gov/bfs
www.MIPrevention.org
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We hope Mental Health First Aid is becoming a bit of a buzz word! D6360 MH Committee is working hard to make MHFA trainings available to any Rotarian who would like to become a certified Mental Health First Aider.
Eleven Rotarians were certified in 2023. Three zoom trainings are scheduled for January and February. Plus, we hope to offer in-person trainings in Benton Harbor through Corewell Health. These trainings would be open to any Rotarian in D6360. Watch this space as plans unfold.
Mental Health First Aid Certification is a national – and international – training program. Becoming certified as a MH First Aider keeps pace with RI President Gordon McInally’s vision to: raise awareness; erase stigma; and improve access, because a MH First-Aider learns to do all those things. It teaches adults how to:
1. recognize the signs and symptoms of a potential mental health challenge
2. listen nonjudgmentally and offer reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to
3. refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.
Not all disabilities are visible. That’s where Mental Health First Aid comes in. MHFA is one, of many kinds of early detections /interventions to help prevent a full-on mental health crisis and be a catalyst for treatment and recovery. It’s a way to notice changes outside of a person’s typical behavior and/or mood, that indicate there could be a mental health issue.
If you are interested in becoming certified, please contact: Michaela at Pines Behavioral Health Institute: mtorrescamargo@pinesbhs.org
Thank you for all you do every day to improve someone’s mental state by offering a kind word, encouragement and hope.
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For further information on RI’s Mental Health initiatives:
- View Gordon McInally’s World MH Day presentation here: World Mental Health Day Webinar - YouTube.
- Follow Rotary Action Group for Mental Health here: Facebook. RAG MH has already been active for 5 years!
- Explore the Rotary Mental Health Toolkits: Toolkits - Mental Health Initiatives Rotary Action Group (ragonmentalhealth.org)
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Jacquie Blackwell MA Psy, chairs the D6360 Mental Health Steering Committee. She is a Mental Health Coach at her own practice, Amazing Learning Center. Jacquie has been a member of Lakeshore Rotary Club since 2020.
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A direct and compelling headline | |
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Last September 9th marked the 23rd running of the Mt. Baldhead Challenge, starting at Oval Beach and finishing at Coghlin Park in Saugatuck. Over 600 runners participated in a truly unique experience that has become an annual tradition in West Michigan.
Two courses, offered in a 10K length and a half marathon of 13.1 miles, challenge and thrill participants with winding trails though the natural areas of Talmadge Woods and Mt. Baldhead Park on the west bank of the Kalamazoo River. Most of them prepare each year to meet the challenge of the grueling 302 steps to the summit of Mt. Baldhead. Few take for granted the inspiring vistas over lake, river, and lagoon that await them all along the courses.
The event’s popularity has grown steadily in recent years, despite the interruption of the race in 2020 due to the pandemic. Registrations for 2023 were up 25 percent from 2022, the event reached its cap of 600 runners before race day. Demographic records show a broad in-State appeal, but 17 percent come from outside Michigan with some hailing from as far away as Minnesota and New Hampshire.
“It’s a unique race because it occurs in such a unique environment,” says Ed Karasek, race director of the event and treasurer of the Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club, which produces the race every September. “Our area’s unmatched beauty and the quality of the trail systems through these fresh-water dunes are obvious features that make the race unique. But that’s not all,” claims Karasek. “Every year, in feedback surveys, runners give the highest marks for the friendliness and helpfulness of our volunteers, he says. “It’s the total runner experience that makes the Mt. Baldhead Challenge, as we claim, ‘the Ultimate Multi-Terrain Race’.”
The Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club has produced the race since 2012. In 2019, they announced that all race proceeds would be devoted to funding a partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Holland and the Saugatuck Public Schools to launch and sustain after-school and summer programs for youth in Douglas Elementary School. “The Boys & Girls Club @ Saugatuck-Douglas are now entering their fourth year of operation,” according to Jim Sullivan, current president of the Rotary Club. “The service hosts an average of 90 students every school day and is well liked by them and their parents. Many of the kids say “it’s the best part of their day.”
Sullivan noted the growth in race registrations last year increased the need for the community’s help in stepping up as safety volunteers, and Saugatuck and Douglas came through. “We trained and placed about 100 volunteers in the roles of planners, fundraisers, governmental liaisons, and scores of course monitors who come and sit along the course and cheer the runners on while watching out for any emergencies,” he says. “We also provide volunteers with a cow bell and a great volunteer tee-shirt.”
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South Haven Rotary Hosts Open Door Dinner | |
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Rotary Student Program- Virtual Dream Career | |
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Rotary Clubs,
For the first time, we are offering a Virtual Dream Career Event across the District. Please share the flier below with your Interact Clubs and Schools. If you would like to participate as either a Virtual Breakout Room Host or Professional, sign up HERE! We are looking for a variety of professional categories to fill, so if you see someone already listed in a profession you'd like to talk about, offer another category.
If you'd like to learn more, reach out to Rotary Student Program Chair and DGN Jackie Huie at jhuie@johnsonrauhoff.com or text 269.930.1325. Thank you!
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Celebrating Through Giving in South Haven | |
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More than 70 South Haven Rotary Club members, spouses and friends gathered at the Hawkshead Restaurant on December 12 to celebrate the holiday season and reflect on another successful year of working together for the benefit of others in the community, our region and around the world.
South Haven club members are noted for their eagerness to raise a glass in cheer, raise their voices in song and raise funds for those in need, especially at this time of year. Club members and their guests donated $9,500 for the We Care Community Resources Center. We Care typically helps over 250 families during the holiday period with supplemental meals and support, so this level of giving will help them help so many others in need.
Have a safe and happy holidays and best wishes for the New Year…
Photo above: Rotary Club Sergeant at Arms Tom Ruesink leading the We Care donation drive
Photo below: Club Members, Friends and Family enjoying the holiday spirit
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Public Image Presentation:
What's In a Name!
January 30, 2024 6:30-7:15 PM via Zoom
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Rotary International Convention 2024
Singapore!!
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The Rotary convention is where friendship and learning come together to inspire you. In Singapore you’ll connect with people of action from around the globe at Rotary’s biggest event of the year.
We’ll share fresh perspectives, inspiration, and hope – with each other and the world! The convention features world-class dining and cultural attractions, distinguished speakers, energizing breakout sessions, and much more.
Join us 25-29 May 2024 in Singapore where we’ll be Sharing Hope With the World! Register Now!
Click HERE for information about tours before or after the RI Convention!
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Did You Know: RI Convention | |
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Each May or June, Rotary International holds a worldwide convention "to stimulate, inspire and inform all Rotarians at an international level." The convention, which may not be held in the same country for more than two consecutive years, is the annual meeting to conduct the business of the association. The planning process usually begins about four or five years in advance.
The RI board determines a general location and invites cities to make proposals. The conventions are truly international events which 20,000 to 40,000 Rotarians and guests attend. All members should plan to participate in a Rotary International convention to discover the real internationality of Rotary It is an experience you'll never forget.
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Rotary- New Opportunities for the Aging | |
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One current area of special emphasis for Rotary clubs focuses on providing "new opportunities for the aging." In 1990, the RI Board of Directors urged Rotarians to identify new projects serving the elderly that emphasize intergenerational activities and the integration of seniors into society an the workplace. The following year, the board called for an approach that stressed service "with" the elderly as well as "for" them.
With the substantial upswing in the worldwide population of older persons, their needs for special attention have greatly multiplied. As citizen grow older, it becomes increasingly important for them to retain their personal independence and to remain in control of their own lives to the extend this is possible. Many Rotary clubs are seeking ways to serve the older persons of their community who face problems of deteriorating health, loneliness, poor nutrition, transportation difficulties, inability to do customary chores, loss of family associations, reduced recreational opportunities, inadequate housing and limited information about available social agencies for emergency assistance. Some clubs have initiated a valuable community service to assist older persons in retirement planning and adjustment by organizing and sharing the wealth of information available within the club's membership. Other clubs have developed foster grandparent programs and other intergenerational activities that allow seniors to use their experience and knowledge to help young people. Rotarians often can provide services which seniors can no longer do for themselves.
The greatest need of aging individuals is frequently a mere expression of real caring and concern by thoughtful friends. All Rotarians should seriously consider how they and their clubs may actively participate in programs for the aging. It is one area of community service in which there is a growing possibility that each of us may some day be on the receiving end.
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A direct and compelling headline | |
District Foundation Corner | |
For general questions about your District 6360 Foundation and how it can help your Club, please contact Foundation President Gary Campbell, campbellgary929@gmail.com
Any correspondence should be sent c/o Rotary District 6360
to 741 Wolverine Road, Mason, MI, 48854
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District Address:
741 Wolverine Road
Mason, MI 48854
Phone: (517) 604-6360
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