A little song, a little dance — no one is safe, regardless of stance! The 74th Annual Rotary Show is bringing back edgy local satire to lace a delightful evening of variety entertainment, featuring the News at 9ish with Stone Petoskey and Maria Benzonia, the baffling powers of magician Ben Whiting, eclectic indie folk rock blues fusion phenom Blake Elliott (Wednesday and Thursday nights), 10-year-old bluegrass prodigy Nic Carman (Friday and Saturday nights), Drive South, and so much more. Proceeds are used to grant money to local organizations doing important things in arts and culture, basic human needs, education, the environment, health and safety, and recreation.

This year’s Rotary Show will be held Wednesday, April, 27 to Saturday, April 30 at State Theatre in downtown Traverse City.The pre-show begins at 7:30 pm, followed by the Mighty Rotary Chorus taking the stage at 8:00 pm.

Reserved seating tickets are available for $15 through the State Theatre box office, either in person or online here.

Visiting Rotarians: John Noonan and Bob Stowe from Rotary Club of Traverse City

Guests: Maureen Pfaller (Goodwill Industries), Nicole VanNess (Traverse City Parking Administrator) - prospective members

50/50 Raffle: Susan Carlyon was our lucky winner and she donated the proceeds to Backpacks for Kids

Announcements:

• Emeline Tarsa has applied for Life Leadership.
• There is a 5/14 work bee at the former coal docks/Discovery Center (typically 9am to noon)
• Many thanks to Doug Kosch and the Boathouse for the RYE dinner. It was a full house and the students did a fabulous job as hosts and servers.
• Grand opening of the expanded Discovery Center to include the former Coal Docks acquisition on 6/7.
• Craig reminded us that there will be an all Traverse City Rotary meeting at noon on Friday May 20th, noon, at Park Place Dome. This meeting may replace our regularly scheduled weekly meeting (to be determined). Our featured speaker will be Dr. John Modlin, Polio Eradication Director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who will be in town delivering the International Affairs Forum program Thursday evening May 19th.

 

Development Plan for the Former Coal Dock

Discovery Center Great Lakes Campus & Harbor

Bob Stowe and John Noon were our guest presenters

• There is a growing need for public access to the public asset that is Grand Traverse Bay. To meet that need, the Discovery Center has been working for years to have the former Light & Power Coal dock opened up for community use.
• Rotary Charities anticipates closing on the property in early May.
• It is being purchased with a $1million grant from Rotary Charities and $500,000 from Rotary Camps and Services for start-up and initial 5-year operating expenses
• Partners are the Maritime Heritage Association, Watershed Center, Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Traverse Area Community Sailing and Inland Seas Education Association.
• The goal is to create a vibrant, public waterfront attraction and a showpiece for universal access.
• The property will become part of the expanding Elmwood Township “Marina District” and Rotary Charities/Camps and Services has been working closely with Township officials to harmonize plans and integrate common uses. Early improvements will include a pedestrian bridge to Grelickville Harbor Park.
• Initial focus will be on the community harbor and pier. It will remain first and foremost the tall ship harbor.
• It will be a smaller version of the Traverse City open space.
• A safe pedestrian M22 crossing is needed and discussions are underway with MDoT.
• The presentation closed with a live, interactive survey of TBSR members about preferred uses and partners in this venture.

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.