Visiting Rotarians: None

Guests: Maureen Pfaller (Goodwill Industries), Nicole VanNess (Traverse City Parking Administrator), Don Schmuckal (guest speaker), Emerson and Dominic (future Rotarians). Note: Both Maureen and Nicole have submitted membership applications!

50/50 Raffle: Angelo was the lucky winner of $30 and he donated the proceeds to Backpacks for Kids. Thank you!

Announcements:

• Mark announced that we've received our first Life Leadership Conference application -- very exciting! We would happy accept more.
• Randy announced that Anne Bonney will be part of the scouting expedition to Malawi this summer. In fact, she's going to travel over a couple days early to participate in a marathon! Making the rounds of all the continents.
• For those that are in town, please join us after hours tomorrow (Thursday, March 31) at Rare Bird.
• The monthly Backpacks for Kids Committee meeting has been rescheduled to April 14th (Rotary Charities conference room at TC Chamber). Please contact Ryan if you are interested in details.

Program:

Don Schmuckal was our guest speaker representing Boots for Kids, an outstanding service program in our community that recently benefited from a $1,000 mini-grant from our club's foundation.

 

Boots for Kids was started by "Blondie's" restaurant in Grawn, circa 1959. The restaurant owners ran the program until 1999 and the focus was initially on providing financially challenged Blair Township kids with warm boots for the winter. When the organizers chose to retire in 1999, the Art & Mary Schmuckal Foundation stepped in and, starting in 2001, Don has provided the required leadership.

 

Today, Boots for Kids serves students in the Grand Traverse Region through a long list of generous service and financial partners. The schools identify recipients who are typically part of the free & reduced lunch program. The beneficiaries receive a form to collect specific measurements so that when they receive their box, they have not only a pair of fabulous Columbia boots that fit--but also a pair of gloves, hat, two pairs of socks and a pack of dental essentials.

 

Since 2001 nearly 11,700 students have benefited from this program which, in addition to the school distributions, provides additional outreach through many community partners. They operate with an annual budget of $50,000.

 

Becky Ewing reminded us that if we choose to support Boots for Kids, or any other regional 501c3, we should remember to take advantage of the Rotary Charities $250 match. Form is available in Downloads section of this bulletin.

As a Rotarian in this 5-county Grand Traverse region we have the amazing opportunity to double our charitable contributions with a 1:1 match through the Rotary Charities Matching Gift Program (up to $250 annually)!

Recipients must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations with operations in the five counties of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau and fit within the guidelines of the Rotary Fund. Ineligible organizations include fraternal, social, union, political or veteran groups, university or college alumni associations and church operating funds. 

Deadline for this cycle is December 1st.

Click here to access the forms (located on home page and at left side of bulletin).

If you aren't sure if you've already used your $250 please ask our Club Treasurer, Lilly Clark.