We will be meeting next on February 27th at The Hagerty Center. The program for the day will be about 20Fathoms brought to us byBrittany VanderBeek.
Brittany VanderBeek has spent her career at the intersection of business, higher education, and the nonprofit world, championing business as a force for good and preparing the next generation for successful careers. Through sustainability consulting at BrownFlynn, Michelin’s Global Leadership Program, corporate giving and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy at Hagerty, fund development and community engagement at 20Fathoms, and design thinking teaching at Northwestern Michigan College, Brittany illuminates opportunities for individuals and organizations to innovate and positively impact the world. She has an International MBA from the University of South Carolina and a BBA from the University of Michigan. In the community, she serves on the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Center board and is a Traverse Connect Creative Coast Northern Navigator.
The city will be kicking off construction on Front Street starting in March, so the only accessible entrance to the Hagerty Center will be straight through Barlow St. by the Senior Center since turning will not be permitted. This will be a lengthy project, you may have to plan a few extra minutes to get to the meetings each week.
New Member Alert!
Matt Sitek Chris Forsyth
We inducted two new members on January 20th! Check out their bio's below and be sure to introduce yourself at a future meeting.
Welcome to Rotary Matt & Chris!
Matt Sitek comes to us with a deep-seated passion for family, the great outdoors, and purpose-driven endeavors. As the devoted husband of Meredith and father to three spirited children – Henryk, Stelle, and Leona. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Matt finds solace and joy in activities such as hiking, biking, running, foraging, fishing, and even beekeeping. However, what truly drives Matt is his commitment to purpose. Throughout his adult life, he has been deeply involved in purpose-driven work, notably founding a non-profit after-school program in the Baltimore city schools. However, a significant family health event thirteen years ago served as a pivotal moment, guiding Matt to realize that his expertise and purpose-driven nature could be most impactful in healthcare. Since then, he has dedicated himself to helping healthcare organizations leverage technology to enhance patient care.
Chris Forsyth has dedicated his twenty-two-year career to public service, starting as a municipal attorney and now as a public administrator. He currently serves as the Deputy County Administrator for Grand Traverse County. In this role, he focuses on economic development, local government collaboration, strategic planning, special projects, regulatory compliance, and contract negotiation and administration. Before being appointed to this position in December 2018, he served as the County’s Deputy Civil Counsel. Chris lives in Traverse City with his wife and two children.
PolioPlus
Rotary is a pioneer in the fight against polio and started efforts in 1978 with a very ambitious goal to reach a polio-free world. Rotarians have upheld the Region over the most challenging times, including financial and political crises. Please consider becoming a member of District 6290 Polio Plus Society and you fill out the form here to send to Kathy Hegedus at kathyh@ridistrict6290.org. You can also read up on Rotary's long-term relationship with helping those affected here.
Visioning Session
Thank you to all the members who took time out of their busy schedules to attend the Rotary Visioning Session to start the ball rolling on establishing what is going to be important to our club over the next few years. The district facilitators did a great job of helping us narrow down areas of focus so we can now come up with action plans that will help us reach our goals. If you were not able to attend, do not worry! The work is not over and we still need everyone's help to make sure we keep moving forward in the process. A team of leaders for the visioning has been established and they will have more information to present to the club shortly, so stay tuned!
Upcoming Meetings & Programs
March 5th @ Hagerty - Central High School Spring Musical
March 12th @ Hagerty - Rotary Charities
March 19th @ Hagerty - DDA Update
March 26th @ Hagerty - HelpLink
April 2nd @ Hagerty - Microplastics in local rivers
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