Bronna started by thanking our club for the work our club has done throughout the community and that she was proud to represent Lenawee County in Lansing. Bronna said she was proud of her accomplishments the past year and a half that strengthen our economy, raising incomes through additional training in skilled trades, reducing taxes and regulatory burdens, increasing resources to school classrooms, and rebuilding Michigan’s infrastructure. She went on to speak about the issues before the legislature in Lansing:
Securing the necessary resources for our senior citizens
Fixing Roads - $4B investment for roads & bridges
Reducing Debt – for our children and grandchildren so they are not saddled with this debt
Ending Driver Responsibility Fees – allowing thousands of Michigan drivers to get their licenses back so they can return to work
Making Government Open & Honest – increasing the transparency of our state government so it restores the taxpayers faith in the government
Respecting & Protecting Taxpayers – The state saved $1B in their Rainy Day Fund (Budget Stabilization Fund) which will better protect taxpayers during tough times
Work for Welfare – so that able-bodied people can work and be on a path of success in exchange for welfare payments that build people up
Income Tax Relief – by increasing personal tax exemptions that tie in with those made at the federal level recently
Providing Tax Relief for Moms and Dads – various tax breaks that have been enacted
Combating Opioids – collaboration efforts have been successful between organizations like Rotary and the health community and need to continue
Improving Mental Health – we appreciate the suggestions we continue to get locally, Bronna said
Results for Students - Record funding for K-12 education – the biggest ever - $14.8B which represents 28% of Michigan’s budget. Bronna has been able to leverage an additional $6.8M for Lenawee County schools during her time in the state legislature!
School Safety - $25M has been set aside for grants to improve building security and the school reporting system
More Skilled Trades – better opportunities to prepare students with the help of local educators to help break down the barriers to training that still exist to moving these programs forward. A big skill gap still impacts this state.
Getting Real World Experience – helping high school students earn course credit and even get paid by completing an internship or work study program so they can build experience while they are still in school to see if they like it before investing in college
Stopping Identity Theft – for seniors in particular. Securing free credit freezes
Tax Credits for those 62 and Older
Protecting Meals on Wheels – Bronna continues to push hard for increased funding to insure nutritious meals for the homebound
Helping Victims of Human Trafficking – through continued legislation
Other efforts she is working on, Bronna said, include auto insurance rates, anti-bullying and Alzheimer’s Awareness (Bronna was selected to receive the Champion for Alzheimer’s Award from the Alzheimer’s Association last year!). Thank, Bronna, for a great update and all you do for Lenawee County.
Paul Harris Fellow – Mike Olsaver, RI Foundation chair for the club presented Helen Bendes with here PHF +6 pin at today’s meeting. Helen thanked the club and mentioned that her brother never had the opportunity to experience the good that came from Rotary's Eradicate Polio Campaign unfortunately and doing what she does for the RI Foundation honors his memory. This represents a total of $7,000 Helen has contributed!
Honorary Membership – President Kathye presented State Representative Bronna Kahle with an Honorary Membership following her presentation at today’ meeting.
Thank You Notes – From Hospice of Lenawee and another from Anne Sherman thanking us for remembering long time member Joe Wagley. Another note was from the Neighbors of Hope thanking us for our donation to the Women’s & Children’s Shelter.
New District Directories – They have been released! Be sure and get your copy at the head table next week.
Raffle Tickets – Patty is still selling tickets for a new golf cart to benefit the Lenawee Humane Society - $5@ 05 5 for $20.
Hospice Raffle – Anne Sherman is also still selling tickets for Hospice’s grand prize of a Harley Davidson at $10@ or 6 for $50. Drawing will be September 8th at 7pm at Forbidden Wheels.
2nd Annual Bike Tour – Chip announced that were are only 4 weeks away and that he has raised $15,000 from sponsors and more expected. Chip encouraged members to get on-line and sponsor a child for the Family Tour Event. Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 22 at the Adrian Armory & Events Center.
Financial Literacy Fair – Patty announced this event which will take place on Thursday, September 27th. More info next week.
New Prospect Brochures are now available with applications for membership inside. Be sure and pick some up!
Upcoming Programs:
August 30 – Ed Lyons from Sand Creek Schools + 2-3 students from the recent Moriyama trip September 6 – Club Assembly
September 13 – Frank Nagel from ProMedica – Lenawee County Health Assessment
September 20 – Member Moments – Danilo Riella and Cindy Sutherland
September 27 – Gwen Fisher - Gerrymandering
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 25 – New TLC Branch – Adrian Chamber welcomes back college students and hand out bottled water. If you’d like to help, be on the four corners of Downtown Adrian between 5 and 7pm. Be sure and wear your Rotary shirts!
August 29 – Next meeting of the Bike Tour committee – Armory at 5:30pm. Visit the club’s Facebook page and “Like” and “Share” the Bike Tour info!
September 8 – Party on the Lake - Club social at Rhonda and Bob Gage’s lakeside home. Meat and drinks furnished – bring a dish to pass – for spouse and significant other.
September 15 – River Raisin Cleanup. 9am – noon. Chairman Mark said the 26th consecutive year cleaning up the Raisin River will take place this date. We’ll be back at Trestle Park like we were 3 years ago. Should again have over 100 people. Mark is looking for 5 members who will serve as team leaders again this year to manage the crews. We still need volunteers! Hot dogs furnished! Need volunteers to bring cookies. Wear your Rotary shirts! We will be looking for a chair to head this project up next year. If you can’t help that day, get on line at vwww.rotarylenaweebiketour.com and register in your name to donate it and we will be sure and give the spot to a person who would like to participate but cannot afford to do so. Follow it up with an email to Chip or Chuck letting us know that you have done this. You can also write a check to the club for that amount and we will credit you with the donation. Thank you.
September 16 – District Governor’s Golf Outing
September 20 – One Rotary Summit at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. Fees will be paid for all members attending. 5:30 – 8:30pm
September 22 – Lenawee Bike Tour - If you cannot serve on the committee but can help out during the actual one-day event on Saturday, September 22nd, please send Chip an e-mail to let him know. This year’s event will be a “timed” event for the more serious riders and begin at the Armory! Along with that, something for families and children (a “slow” ride along the Kiwanis Trail) is being planned.
September 27 - Financial Literacy Fair – Patty announced last week that this event which will take place on Thursday, September 27th. More info coming.
October 18 - District Governor, Paul Sincock, pays a visit to our club! Please be sure and attend.
2018-19 RI President Barry Rassin wants Rotary members to Be the Inspiration
Rassin, a member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. “I want you to inspire in your clubs, your Rotarians, that desire for something greater. The drive to do more, to be more, to create something that will live beyond each of us.”
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Bronna started by thanking our club for the work our club has done throughout the community and that she was proud to represent Lenawee County in Lansing. Bronna said she was proud of her accomplishments the past year and a half that strengthen our economy, raising incomes through additional training in skilled trades, reducing taxes and regulatory burdens, increasing resources to school classrooms, and rebuilding Michigan’s infrastructure. She went on to speak about the issues before the legislature in Lansing:
October 18 - District Governor, Paul Sincock, pays a visit to our club! Please be sure and attend.
