Community Sustainability in the Grand Traverse Bay Area: Part Two
The Neahtawanta Research and Education Center is continuing its work on local community sustainability. This article reports work done since the last issue of Synapse, which covers the period of December, 1997, and January and February of this year. In the first part of the article, you will learn about the three most recent evening discussions hosted by the Center and closely connected work which took place between these sessions. In the second part of the article, you will read about positive examples of sustainability in the Traverse City area which have occurred in this three month period. Also you will be provided an overview of the categories which have emerged as we have sought to identify and understand new iniatives and ongoing activities directly contributing to sustainability in this area.
Evening Discussions And Related Activities
In the elapsed time since the Winter Solstice, three Salons of varying sizes have met at the Neahtawanta Center. We continue to share tasty, wholesome food and good conversation on the topic of local community sustainability.Salon # 8
On December 29th, we had fun and at the same time learned from each other in making a long list of already practiced behaviors which are sustainable (both personal and community/organizational) and which included such varied actions as worm boxes/composting, vegetarian diets, use of solar energy, socially responsible investing, the Traverse City windmill, community mediation, and a locally owned bank. Participants talked about why they come to the Salons and named some particular areas of interest. Out of this came the identification of 5 areas of interest which may become work groups: 1) creating a Council of All Beings; 2) exploring a "structured dialogue" process; 3) exploring possibility of tvtc2 and WNMC programming on sustainability; 4) creating a home page on the World Wide Web on local sustainability in Traverse City; and 5) looking at school curricula which focus on sustainability.
Salon # 9 and Related Activities
On the evening of January 26th at the Neahtawanta Inn the five small task groups formed the month before reported varying levels of activity since the December gathering. Then we addressed the evening's focus -- "how to engage the larger community in the discourse about sustainability". We shared and discussed ideas about how to connect to groups like organic growers and customers of the local food co-op. Throughout the evening, there emerged awareness that there is need to gather data on sustainability indicators in this area. Jim Crowfoot shared his findings from Internet research that several communities around the country are gathering such data and information is available that would be helpful in determining what indicators to research here. An interesting conversation ensued about the need for a societal/community paradigm shift and what it is that assists such a shift; of course, without a clear conclusion. Suggestions were made that such a change is helped by providing people relevant data and facts, rewards for changed behaviors, and relevant stories which touch people's hearts and describe average people coming to basically new understandings and behaviors.
In the time between Salons #9 and #10, staff at the Neahtawanta Center learned that the Community Foundation of Traverse City has produced a Quality of Life Report for 1996 based on a set of indicators first used by Jacksonville, Florida, and is preparing their report for 1997. These reports cover the five county area of Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties. Staff reviewed the 1996 report and subsequently contacted and met with Marsha Smith, Executive Director of Rotary Charities (the funding source for the Quality of Life Survey and Related Indicators Project). She expressed great openness to input from Neahtawanta Center regarding indicators which the Quality of Life Indicators Project is not presently measuring. She also invited Bob Russell and Jim Crowfoot to attend the Research Advisory Committee Meeting which occurred in mid-February.
Salon # 10
Neahtawanta staff shared information about the Quality of Life Indicators Project with participants at Salon #10 held on February 23rd. Together the group identified several indicators which are not presently being used and would focus more directly on local sustainability. Examples of the indicators identified and discussed are: how many business dollars stay in Traverse City and how many dollars leave; what is the racial diversity of the 5 county area; how many crisis intervention agencies are there; what is the trend in availability of lakeshore to the public; what percentage of housing sells for under $70,000?
Several attendees reported on activities/workshops in the community. One of these was an "Open Space Technology" workshop in which Tom Shea participated. It is a process by which persons who come, establish both the content and schedule for the day(s) based on a posed question such as "what kind of community would you like to live in?" Based on the focus question, participants sign up to present seminars on topics they choose and to attend the seminars which are of greatest interest to them. This process has been used successfully throughout the country to assist groups of people to address issues of concern. Salon participants felt this could be a useful process to engage a larger cross section of the Traverse City community in conversations about local sustainability. Perhaps, the local Quality of Life Indicators Project would be interested in using this approach to do the visioning process they are considering doing.
Follow-Up Activities
Recently Bob Russell has developed a Community Sustainability section of the Neahtawanata Center's web site on the Internet. Here you can find the minutes of the 10 Salons on sustainability which have been held since the beginning of August 1997 along with several types of resources available on the Internet and useful to community sustainbility work in the Traverse City area as well as in other localities. Some of these come from long term work of the Center and others from the Center's project on sustainability which began in the summer of 1997.
Also staff of the Neahtawanta Center have continued meeting with different task groups of the local Quality of Life Indicators Project and begun the process of contributing ideas and suggestions. These contributions are based on the Center's long time interest in sustainability (see the pages of sustainability resources on the Center's web site http://www.travers.com/nonprof/center/sustain/index.html) which indexes and provides links to articles on this topic from past issues of Synapse) and its current project on local sustainability which began in the summer of 1997. Throughout December 1997 and January and February of this year, we continued and expanded our efforts to locate and write brief descriptions of examples of positive progress on community sustainability in the Traverse City area. Doing this was both exciting and interesting. Excitement came from discovering the many interesting and important future oriented activities contributing to sustainability which are taking place in this area. For us this stimulated feelings of hope in the face of our realization of the many fundamental changes which are necessary for a region such as this to become sustainable. Attaining sustainability requires new relationships to the natural environment, new ways of meeting all peoples' basic needs., and new means of being interdependent, cooperative, and caring which are necessary for compassionate and satisfying community. While the gap between present conditions and becoming a sustainable community is very large and challenging, what is already occurring in the Traverse city region is a very heartening and hopeful beginning.
One the interesting aspects of the work we have been doing is observing and discerning the major categories--we call them "action arenas"--into which to sensibly group similar activities contributing directly to sustainability. These action arenas in turn shape our search for information. Based on our work to date here are the six action arenas which have become apparent to us: (1) Environment , Food and Agriculture; (2) Economy, Transportation, Housing/Buildings; (3) Health, Helping Families, Children & Seniors, Safety; (4) Education, Arts; (5) Citizen Participation in Planning and Governance and (6) Equity and Diversity. The diagram below provides you a visual image of these diverse but closely interconnected activities which are already contributing to the future sustainability of this local area.
We invite you to send us reactions and suggestions in relation to the categories (i.e. action arenas) which we have used in this article. We expect to further refine and develop this way of viewing what in the Traverse City area contributes to sustainability.
The following list and description of new initiatives and some continuing activities contributing directly to sustainability are highlights from the longer and more varied list of examples which we have located. These additional examples of positive contributions to local sustainability which we documented between December 1997 and February 1998 can be found in the new section of the Center's web site which is devoted to community sustainability. (http://www.traverse.com/center/nonprof/center/sustain/index.html)
ENVIRONMENT
New Institute For Ecological Restoration In Leelanau County
The Sleeping Bear Institute is beginning its work by conducting an inventory of natural resources in Leelanau County. This is the first step toward future restoration processes to re-establish natural diversity and dominant natural processes wherever possible. The Institute's vision for the future calls for additional restoration processes including developing a long range plan for re-establishing a coast forest ecosystem. More information is available from Skip Holtman and Jody Marquis at 941-5158. This initiative is one of the eight projects which are a part of Leelanau 2000. ("Leelanau Makes Plans to Usher in the Year 2000," Lake Country Gazette, Feb. 6, 1998, p. 6.)Bullhead Lake Natural Area Well On The Way To Being Saved
Through citizens' vision, initiative and action, Friends of Bullhead Lake was formed to rescue 28 acres of old growth forest and lake frontage which is one of the few remaining undeveloped properties adjacent to Long Lake. When a previous owner died in 1995, this valuable acreage with its precious natural amenities was quickly bought by a business partnership which wanted to develop it for high-priced homes which would yield them profits. But the Friends group has raised to date $94,500 in donations and acquired a grant of $108,000 from the Natural Resources Trust Fund which allowed them to enter into a land contract for the purchase of this land. Just before the end of 1997, this agreement was brokered for them and for Long Lake Township by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. To complete the purchase and fulfill the terms of the land contract an additional $69,500 must be raised. ("Human Spirit Triumphs at Bullhead Lake," Eric Duck, Grand Traverse Herald, January 7, 1998, p. 4A.)Harbor Springs Schools Successfully Control Pests Without Pesticides
After two years of successful, non-toxic pest management by the Get Set Company, Jim Cooper, Superintendent of Harbor Springs Schools said, "They certainly aren't using what most of us would think of as standard procedures, but their record speaks for itself -- especially when you see it work." All school districts are required by state law to have a pest control plan; if, in following such a plan, a school uses chemical pesticides, students' parents must be notified. Harbor Springs no longer has to provide such notifications. Superintendent Cooper said, "Certainly one of the selling points of their company [Get Set] is the fact that they're not using pesticides or toxic materials." ("Teacher's Pest: Schools Battle Bugs Naturally," Scott Anderson. Traverse City Record-Eagle, Jan. 18, p.1B)FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
Local Land Conservancies Working To Save Farmland
In response to declining farm acreage and farms in northwest Michigan, local conservancies are acting to protect farming and farmland. From 1982 to 1992 the number of acres being farmed in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Manistee dropped 12% (from 302,942 to 267, 228) and the number of farms fell 15% (from 1,749 to 1,481).Since last summer, the Leelanau Conservancy has been operating the Leelanau Agricultural Alliance, a county-wide coalition of farmers, public interest organizations, businesses and local government officials. The Alliance's goals include seeking public policies to help secure the county's agriculture industry, preserve farmland, prevent residential and commerical sprawl. Since 1995, the Acme Township Agricultural Preservation and Growth Management Project has been operating to protect farmland north of rapidly expanding Traverse City by means of strengthened zoning. This project started by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy has been guided by an agricultural study group. This group found through their research that the most important cause of farmland loss is low crop prices and that most residents of the township want to protect farmland in order to maintain the rural character of where they live. Work is ongoing to improve zoning in ways which both protect farming, open space and forest and at the same time provide farmers flexibility if they desire to sell their land. ("What' s Happening to Agriculture in Northern Michigan?" and "Area Conservancies Help Save Farmland," in Great Lakes Bulletin, Fall 1997/Winter 1998, pp. 10 & 13.)
Work Being Done To Get Locally Grown Food To Consumers
On January 9th, about forty area fruit and vegetable growers met at Oryana Food Co-operative to learn about Oryana's commitment "to offer our customers as much locally grown organic produce as possible." Oryana also sought input on how it can better support these local farmers. The meeting was co-sponsored by the Grand Traverse Conservation District. The goals of Oryana's Produce Department are: to promote healthy, sustainable, locally grown, organic produce at the best prices available; to develop and foster strong relationships with growers in the northwestern Michigan bioregion; to work with local farmers who are in transition to produce healthy, organic, sustainable produce; and to educate the community about the environmental and health benefits of produce that is locally grown, organic and sustainably produced. Some of the ideas discussed at the meeting went beyond the relationship with Oryana to other topics of importance to the growers. Any interested growers who missed the meeting are invited to contact Lois LeRoy or Julian Lewis at 947-0191. ("Oryana's Produce Department Meets with Local Growers," Oryana Natural Food News, Feb. 1998, p. 2.)ECONOMY
Community Acts When Largest Employer Moves To Mexico
Citizens in Central Lake have banded together to form an economic development committee and raise the funds needed to hire a professional economic developer. Their action was necessitated by the decision of Texas Instruments, the community's largest employer and a multinational corporation, to move their long time local plant to Mexico. Community action is focused on finding another employer and plant desirous of the highly skilled and soon to be unemployed workforce and empty factory which Texas Instruments will leave behind when it closes the plant this coming September. The local committee includes educators, township government officials, business people and others. So far the community has raised $25,000 through local fundraising events and private donations in order to fund the search and courting process necessary to attract another manufacturer who wants the soon to be abandoned workforce and the rural area of small communities where these people live. The consultant employed by the citizen economic development committee is considering bringing in two or three smaller firms in order to reduce the risk of the area being vulnerable to the decisions of one large company. Right now with the coming layoffs due to the export of jobs to Mexico, the community is vulnerable to many negative changes including the loss of property tax revenues formerly paid by Texas Instruments and the loss of 38 students from its school system as a result of the coming plant closing; if this occurs the school system will lose $250,000 in state funding. Even with the extraordinary ongoing effort of many community volunteers and extensive community fund raising for gaining donations to employ a professional economic developer in order to locate potential new employers, the community is dependent on Texas Instruments' willingness to sell its soon to be closed facility to potential buyer(s). ("Central Lake Works to Fill Texas Instruments Plant," Scott Anderson. Traverse City Record-Eagle, February 1,1998, p.1C.)Local Marketing Of Great Lakes Fish Given New Life
In the face of a declining market for Great Lakes fish, Jill Bentgen, an experienced and skilled entrepreneur, is reversing this trend. She undertook extensive research and development which required more than a year of her time, investment of $125,000 of her own money, and extensive assistance from former professional colleagues and her friends. Among her many challenges was discovering a new way of smoking fish and gaining approval from the State of Michigan for this process. The result is new smoked whitefish products which are produced locally in St. Ignace by the Mackinac Straits Fish Company and not in New York, which was customary. To do this Bentgen drew on her 22 year career designing and marketing new products for Proctor and Gamble and her commitment and confidence that she could create better and cheaper smoked fish products and at the same time create jobs in the local community. She pursued these values because of her extensive business experience and contacts and her commitment to small towns in the North country. This commitment was based on Bentgen and her family having left their former jobs and residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, moving North to Traverse City to live in a smaller town and lead a simpler lifestyle. Since beginning in 1996 to sell the new products -- smoked whitefish sausages, smoked whitefish, and whitefish fillets -- sales have increased 10 times. The company currently has 3 employees but Jill Bentgen projects the potential for further large increases in sales which could lead eventually to 50, year-around, high quality, local jobs. ("Former Executive Lands Smoked Fish Venture," Eric Duck. Grand Traverse Herald, January 7, 1998, pp. 1A-2A.)TRANSPORTATION
New Initiative Founded To Identify And Promote Alternatives
The Transportation and Land Use Policy Initiative has been founded to build popular support for a diversified transporation system in northern Michigan. This new project is a joint effort by the Michigan Land Use Institute of Benzonia and the Environmental Law and Policy Center of Chicago. It plans to draw on the ideas and successes for alternative trasportation and land use which have been pioneered in Oregon by The 1000 Friends of Oregon and in Chicago and its suburbs by the Environmental Law and Policy Center. The Initiative's two primary goals are to halt the proposed 2 billion dollars worth of new highways for this region and to assist local governments in planning and installing alternative transporation programs which are less wasteful and more effective in moving people and goods by incorporating land use reforms to slow and redirect human and commercial settlement patterns resulting in suburban sprawl. ("New Institute Project Promotes Better Choices for Getting Where We Want to Go," in Great Lakes Bulletin: Linking Environmental and Economic Goals, Fall 1997/Winter 1998, p. 13.)HOUSING & OTHER BUILDINGS
Effort Strengthened To Allow Senior Citizens To Remain In Their Homes
Grand Traverse County Commission on Aging is adding a second used truck for its yard maintenance program which helps senior citizes remain in their homes. The addition was made possible by a grant from the Regional Community Foundation's Campbell Fund. The Commission provides a variety of other services including house cleaning, home health care, transportation assistance and information and referral. (Active Years Magazine, January 1998, p. 2.)Youth Group Assists In Providing Housing For The Homeless
Youth group volunteers from the Bible Baptist Church of Traverse City participate in the Goodwill Inn's Homeless Shelter "adopt-a-room" program. One of several local and regional churches that have adopted a room, the youths have painted, plastered, cleaned, and purchased new mattress, curtain, dresser and light fixtures for room 15 with money from fundraisers. In addition to creating a hospitable room for occupants, this work lowers upkeep and maintenance for the Goodwill Inn by $400 to $500 per room. Staff member James Rogers, a homeless person in the past, who began the adopt-a-room program said the success of the program goes beyond the dollars and cents -- 70% of those who stayed in Room 15 are "doing well for themselves after leaving." The youths' pastor, Tim Manzer, spoke of the importance of the youths helping with great needs here in their own neighborhood. He recalls one youth saying that "people might have to stay in a shelter but they shouldn't feel like they are living in a shelter." (Grand Traverse Herald, February 4, 1998, p.2A)HEALTH
Construction Of Health House To Begin This Spring
The first health house to be built in northern Michigan is a joint project of Burkholder Constrcution and the American Lung Association of Michigan. The goal in building the house is to choose construction materials and methods which are good for both indoor air quality and for the natural environment as a whole and then have the house serve as an educational model for both builders and the public. The house will be located in Traverse City off West Long Lake Road in West Winds Subdivision. For the past two years the health house committee has been planning this project. One of the realities focused on by the planners is research showing that indoor air pollution can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution and in the cold weather climate of northern Michigan people spend over 90% of their time inside and 65% of that is in their homes. Because of local factors like climate and availability of materials, no two health houses are the same though all such houses to be certified must meet a distinct list of criteria. ("To Your Health: An Innovative 'Health House' Rises in the North," Amy Sander. Northern Express, Feb. 18,1988, p. 7)Coordinator Of Community Health Partnership Wins Award
Ann Smith of Petoskey recently received the city's Athena Award for her achievements in community service, business and mentoring others. When her husband died in 1983, she took her first paid position as a nurse as part of the Health Promotion Staff at the Community Health Agency where she coordinates a Community Health Partnership for a 4 county area surveying the health needs in those counties. Her mission: to get people and businesses to recognize and deal with negative behaviors that impact health and productivity. She was instrumental in the organizing of the Northern Michigan Wellness Council, employers in a 21 county area interested in promoting workplace wellness. A stay-at-home for many years, she was encouraged to run for the Board of Commissioners, and in 1973 became the first woman elected to the Emmet County Board of Commissioners. In 1984 she became the chair. Later she was a "founding mother" of the Women's Resource Center, helped establish the Department of Public Works and chaired its Solid Waste Planning Commision. She was instrumental in initiating Recycle North , which today is the most comprehensive recycling program in northern Michigan. (The Business News, Jan., 1998, p.7)Fitness Program Continues For The Mentally And Physically Challenged
Twenty-six women and men ranging in age from 20 to 60 are participating in this program under the leadership of Jessie Olson who is committed to helping others train. Olson, a 20 year old student at Northern Michigan College, reports great rewards from assisting the people who are enrolled in this program at The Fittness Center on Eighth Street in Traverse City. "The Challenge Program" began 12 years ago with funding from Community Mental Health, but after this funding stopped a year ago people with disabilities paid their own money or gained help from the few business sponsors of this program. According to Jenifer Pampu, manager of The Fitness Center, the program's home is there because of the facilty's comfortable and unintimidating atmosphere. Based on her experience working at other fitness clubs, Pampu knows that many such facilities don't want people with diabilities because they clash with the chic atmosphere they want to promote; but for her, "Everyone needs health and fitness….There's no reason that somebody with a handicap should not be able to get that" ("Fitness Program Inspires the Clients and the Trainers," Eric Dick. Grand Traverse Herald, Feb. 11, pp. 1A & 3A.)HELPING FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SENIORS
Volunteers Needed To Assist Children
Probate Court needs citizen volunteers to assist kids and families in Grand Traverse County. Volunteers are needed to meet a variety of needs: l) volunteer probation officers to assist youths in successfully completing probation; 2) volunteer transporters and in-home attention workers to supervise youth who need attention in home; 3) learning partner to work with children ages 6 to 14 who have difficulty in school and problems with low self esteem, serving as tutor-friend and role model (Preview Community Weekly, January 22, 1998, p.15)Extension Office To Provide New Support To Families
Leelanau County Cooperative Extension office will begin to promote family wellness by offering childrearing and development education, and peer support for families who are expecting a child or with children up to 6 years of age. The Parenting Community Project will be staffed with two full-time professionals and two half-time family helpers, who will staff weekly gatherings of families, offer referrals to agencies for assistance, and make home visits. Monies will be provided by Family Independence Agency, Grand Traverse Area United Way and other local agencies. MSU Extension will cover the benefit package for professional staff. (The Leelanau Enterprise, January 29, 1998, p. 3, Sec. 3)SAFETY
Open Community Meeting Held To Respond To Recent Violent Acts
Over 50 people met at the Traverse City Opera house in response to recent violent crimes in the community. The group brainstormed ways of responding to the violence before forming volunteer committes to pursue specific ideas which included: inventory community resources and services which can be used to prevent violence, develop a public awareness campaign, investigate possible changes to strengthen assault and battery laws, and develop suggestions for individuals to change the way they behave. According to Rick Wertz, a reporter in attendance, "One idea mentioned … Individuals could find constructive ways to intervene if they see a child being mistreated by an adult at a grocery store." People in attendance included public officials, educators, community activists, business people, clergy and representatives of civic organizations. The meeting was organized by Marsha Smith, Director of Rotary Charities, Rabbi Stacie Fine, and City Councilman, Tom Gilbert. ("Local Leaders Plan Response to Violence," Rich Wertz. Traverse City Record-Eagle, Feb.27, 1998, p.1B)Schools Act To Reduce Violence And Increase Respect
Suttons Bay Elementary School, has a Peace Patrol whose volunteer members receive training to help them prevent fights and resolve misunderstandings and other conflicts. They wear special blue jackets on the playground to be easily identifiable to other students who are encouraged to ask for their assistance. Journalist Mike Norton, who has investigated this topic concludes,"Everywhere you go in northern Michigan, from Cadillac to Cheboygan school officials are handing out the same message; fighting, name-calling and arguing are unacceptable ways to solve problems or blow off steam. Almost every school in the region now has some kind of vioence prevention training or conflict management program." Another conflict management program is at Lakeland Elementary School in Elk Rapids and is called, "We Can Work It Out." Here students learn how to handle difficult situations without name-calling, yelling or other forms of violence. Currently a class of second graders taught by Karen Conrad is writing a book titled, "You Solve It," for other students who want to learn about their problem-solving techniques. The book will be published and distributed by means of a grant from the Antrim County Youth Advisory Council, a branch of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. In describing the importance and benefit of these programs, Kay Myers, Suttons Bay school social worker, says: "We really view this as an employability skill, if you want to look at it that way. There are more jobs lost because people can't get along than are ever lost because a worker doesn't have the technical skills for the job." ("Army of Playground Peace Corps Fights Back Against Youth Violence," and "Grants Help Kids Teach, Learn Non-Violence." Mike Norton. Traverse City Record-Eagle, Jan. 18, 1998, pp. 1B-2B)EDUCATION
New Program Offerred To Address The Erosion Of Ethics
"Character Counts" is being offered by Michigan State University Extension Service. The Program's goal is to create communities supporting public and private morality. Developed in the mid 1980s, by Michael Josephson, a law professor; the program is based on six pillars of character: respect, trustworthiness, responsiblity, caring, fairness and citizenship. The Program maintains that these values are common to every culture and historical period. On January 30, the program was introduced to "dozens of area teachers, social workers, probation officers and other youth workers as part of a workshop on character education sponsored by Strong Families-Safe Children and the Grand Traverse County Probate Court. Karen Pace, an Extension staff member promoting the program stated, "There's no arguing that incidences of lying, cheating, stealing, disrespectful and violent behavior, substance abuse, early sexual activity and pregnancy are far higher today than they were 30 years ago…But it does no good to simply blame young people for their lack of character. We also need to look at what is our responsiblity as adults. What are we doing every single day to teach and model moral values? Everything we do sends a message to young people." Character Counts seeks to have adults&emdash; parents, teachers, friends and neighbors&emdash;all model and teach these qualities. It does not advocate perfection but visible and humble struggle to do what is right in relation to these core values which define basic moral duties and obligations. ("Character Counts Program Stresses Need for Public and Private Morality", Mike Norton. Traverse City Record-Eagle, February 1, 1998, 1B-2B.)New Geography Curriculum Being Developed For Leelanau Students
Soon middle school students in the county will be able to benefit from the recently completed Leelanau County Land Information database. The goal of the new curriculum being developed by the Leelanau Conservancy is to meet the needs of students to know more about the local place where they live. The new interdisciplinary curriculum is being developed in collaboration with the local schools. For more information call the Conservancy Office in Leland at 256-9665. This is one of eight projects which are a part of Leelanau 2000. ("Leelanau Makes Plans to Usher in the Year 2000," The Lake Country Gazette, Feb. 6, 1998, p. 4.)Local Peace Community Meets To Learn About Events In Chiapas, Mexico And Other Situations Needing Peace Keeping Actions
On the evening of February 15 , over 60 people gathered for a potluck dinner, presentations on current conditions in Chiapas, Mexico and sharing of concerns about other needs for peace keeping. The gathering was sponsored by the Neahtawanta Research and Education Center and was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City. Father Peter Dougherty from Lansing, MI described his January visit to this province with the Michigan Peace Team and what was being done in the aftermath of the recent massacre of 40 people. He was joined by Kay and Randy Bond of Grand Rapids who shared their experiences of several peace keeping visits to the same area. After the presentations attendees broke into three groups to share concerns and information and pursue possible joint actions. The foci of the three groups were: the devastating suffering and deaths of people in Iraq particularly children and what can be done in the U.S. to help these vulnerable people, continuing the annual provision of assistance to Casa Materna, a clinic for new mothers, in Nicaragua, and Abolition 2000 which is focused on the total phase out of nuclear weapons.SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING THE ARTS
Retired People Volunteer For The Arts
Both the Dennos Museum and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra along with other area arts organizations benefit from the extensive volunteer work given by many retired people. Specific examples include Gretchen Votruba who staffs the front desk at the Dennos Museum every Monday afternoon, Jean Arnold who volunteers at the Museum's gift shop, Clarine and Dick Olson and Janice and John Erickson who provide volunteer help in fund raising and other areas of work supporting the Symphony Orchestra. ("Retirees Support the Arts Through Volunteerism," Jane L. Boursaw, Active Years Magazine, January 1998, p. 4.)Local Poet Writes About Rural Michigan
Poet Terry Wooten has recently published his eighth book of poetry "The Abstracts of Romance and the Thrill of Being." Though he lives in Kewadin, he says his poetry could reflect life in any small rural Michigan town. He memorizes everything he writes and travels to schools, Stone Circle in Elk Rapids, as well as all over the state and the country reciting. "They're fun to write, and they're fun to recite," says Wooten who describes his work as a poet-bard. (Traverse City Record Eagle, February 1, 1998, p.3E)CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, PLANNING
AND FUTURE ORIENTED GOVERNANCE
Sustainability For The Future A Key Part Of Leelanau 2000
|Leelanau County's project to commemorate the turn of the millennium has as its mission: "to help the people of the Leelanau, young and old, appreciate and preserve our heritage, understand and document our present, envision and plan a sustainable future for seven generations and beyond [emphasis added]." To our knowledge this effort is the first county-wide project in northern Michigan to explicitly focus on working for sustainability and to define it as necessitating planning and acting in the interest of the next "7 generations and beyond." This special effort to celebrate the turn of the millennium is being coordinated through the Leelanau Historical Museum in Leland. Leelanau 2000 has stimulated eight new projects which are being created by seven different organizations. These projects include ones whose purpose is to: attract and support new small, high tech, low environmental impact businesses; develop for Leelanau's middle school students a new, interdisciplinary geography unit; encourage personal and community research and writing projects on Leelanau County's past and present; and re-establish natural diversity and dominant natural process wherever possible. More information on this innovative and visionary project is availalbe on its web site at:http://www.leelanau.com/2000.html ("Leelanau Makes Plans to Usher in the Year 2000," The Lake Country Gazette, Feb. 6, 1998, pp. 4 & 6.)
EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
"English Only" Policy Substantially Changed
In response to a request from the Tribal Council of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and after meetings with tribal representatives, Grand Traverse County Commissioners considered major changes to a recently passed policy which declared English to be the "official" language of the County. Part of the original policy adopted in April 1997, said that a common language was historically and politically important to the nation. Rich Wertz, Record Eagle staff writer described the policy changes thus,"In addition to changing English from the 'official' to the 'working' language, the amended version dumped much of the language of the first resolution -- such as 'Our great nation would not have remained together today if it had began without a common government language' and 'Canadian bi-lingualism has resulted in two attempts to divide the country.' "The new version of the policy goes on to state, "The Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners recognizes the wealth and diversity of language used by Grand Traverse County residents." On December 30th the Commissioners voted unanimously to amend its April resolution to incorporate these changes. Kenny Pheasant, a native language teacher for the tribe, led the effort to get the original resolution changed and in doing so to gain greater recognition and respect for local peoples who speak languages other than English. The Tribal Council in its written submission to the Board stated, "While we recognize that English is the language of the land today, it is not necessarily here by the choice of all the people." As reported in the Record Eagle, "The change was a clarification of their original intent, commissioners said, not a flip-flop in the face of the political and economic power of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians." (Traverse City Record-Eagle, Dec. 11, 1997, pp. 1-2 and Dec. 30, 1997, pp. 1B-2B.)Food Drives For The Hungry
United Parcel Service will transport food donations in the 5 county area for the food drive of Northwest Michigan Food Coalition and United Way of Northwest Michigan. Items need to be taken to UPS pick up locations throughout the 5 counties. Donated items will remain in the county where collected. This is the 4th annual "Love your Neighbor" food drive. (The Leelanau Enterprise, February 5, 1998, p. 4 Sec. 2). Beginning February 1, the Father Fred Foundation of Traverse City is conducting the annual Frost Bite Marathon, a 10-day drive to collect food for the hungry. According to writer Rich Wertz, "This is the fourth year of the marathon, which generally garners a semi-truckload of canned and dried food and other household staples." The Foundation (named for Edwin Frederick) distributes the food to hungry people in Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties. ("Hundreds of Cans Roll in for Food Drive," Rich Wertz. Traverse City Record Eagle, Feb. 8, 1998, p. 2B)New Group Founded At Northern Michigan College
"Triangles and Rainbows," has been founded at Northern Michigan College with the goal of education and support for the growing population of gay students at the College. Chris Franklin, head of the new group, stated that the group is open to anyone who attends NMC, students or faculty and is not only for bisexuals, gays or lesbians. The group plans to meet weekly.("New Group Opens Doors to Gays," Mike Lighthart. White Pine Press, Jan. 30, 1998, p. 3)
Return to the Index of Synapse 43, Spring 1998