Spring Lake Rotary Scribes Report: February 14, 2020
Resilience – Advocates for Ending Violence
Ernie P. opened the meeting for us with a World Community Service committee proposal and report. The PO River Medical Clinic in Liberia is the area of focus. It’s one of the most disadvantaged and remote areas on the world. The Clinic has to get all supplies by canoe from the ocean, so it’s a very difficult route and process to get necessary food and equipment to the people there. Ernie’s in-laws gave up their careers in the New York area, and moved to Liberia to set up this clinic and dedicate their lives to this project, and to assisting the community in this impoverished and isolated area. He and they are looking for financial assistance to build a climate control system for their clinic storage room. The whole project would cost $5,350. With approval from the club, our club could assist with funds in the amount of $4,350, putting the program right on the money after a $1,000 donation from WEHOP. Approval was granted for club funds to cover the remaining cost of the project.
Sgt. Rhem gave us an overview of the Snow Jam results which Lisa A. had helped put together, rather quickly. It was a fabulous turnout with above average weather conditions – and Pronto Pups! We doubled our drink sales from the previous year, the band was great, broomball got people there early and in big numbers, thanks to Chris B. for putting that together. Thanks to all who sold tickets for us, and to all our new and legacy sponsors that we had this year. The estimated gross revenue from the event was about $33,000, while expenses totaled $16,000, making the net about $17,000 from Snow Jam 2020. This is slightly better than recent years, which have averaged around $15k net.
David ran through the list of folks who helped on Snow Jam; Lisa Ashcraft, club Treasurer, who kept up with all the event finances, invoicing for sponsorships, tracking raffle tickets, selling drink tickets at the tent, which was crazy right away and all night. Brad MacLachlan also helped with tracking tickets, getting those together and also assisted by working with the Spring Lake Interact group. Jacques Labo helped to bring in sponsors and with negotiations the tent rental price. Chris Burns helped with broomball, getting raffle tickets rounded up at the Village Hall, getting the Snow Jam banners up, and down again. Dave Stocking and Jen Lynn run the Euchre tournament. Dave Stocking apparently knows everyone in town, because he goes around and gets donations and sponsorships from everybody. He was also responsible for getting Arturo’s there. Jen let us use her sound system for announcing things at the event. Brian H. runs a successful dart tournament every year, and he was responsible for getting Pronto Pups to the event for us. Kevin Green and the SLCC do a ton for Rotary and for this event. Helping secure licenses and signage are just a couple. Stefanie H. ran the social media and marketing for the event, and it was our best year ever in that regard. This takes a lot of effort from a lot of different people.
Our Snow Jam planning committee at its’ debriefing meeting floated the idea of moving Snow Jam back to the SLCC and hosting an indoor/outdoor event next year. The cost to rent the tent, heaters, generators, chairs, tables and ancillary equipment totaled nearly $7,000. Moving to the Spring Lake Country Club would not only cut the rental space and equipment costs by several thousand dollars, it would also allow for a wider audience to attend the event, specifically one that’s more family friendly. Adding a “Kids Jam” or “Kids Zone” in the club either upstairs, downstairs or both, they will have their own area(s) and activities that will be supervised by the SLHS Interact Club. Ideally the same types of activities that we schedule for Snow Jam outdoors we’ll do at SLCC as well, including a live band, raffle, adult and kids’ beverages, food stands, broomball, curling and golf simulators will be a few of the activities. These changes should allow for a more efficient use of our resources and a better net outcome for funds raised. David R. asked for an informal vote to take the pulse of the room on that idea, and the club voted that we pursue that as a viable option for 2021.
Resilience was founded in 1977 to serve survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Ottawa and Allegan Counties, the Center for Women in Transition has served thousands of victims through providing emergency housing, expanding and evolving it’s services and an avenue for the community to support those that are served there.
The mission is to respond to, reduce and prevent sexual abuse and domestic violence in Ottawa and Allegan Counties. About 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner. About 1 in 5 women and 1 in 38 men have experienced rape or attempted rape. Approximately 1 in 5 children are exposed to domestic violence and 90% are eyewitnesses to it. A 24-hour emergency shutter houses up to 20 people for up to a month at a time. The center is usually full. The center provides trauma support for families, housing supports, basic needs, ie. clothing, etc. Prevention programs are school based, providing opportunities to learn from staff, by promoting healthy relationships among youths.
Resilient Spaces is a program that was started there a few years ago to address work-related issues and potential abuse. Areas of focus for this program include; employees and workplaces, faith communities, salons and other personal care services.
Get involved with Resilience. Local program director is in Grand Haven at 616-392-2829, or check resiliencemi.org
50/50 Winner: N/A (two winners next week)