SL Rotary Scribes Report

Jan. 17, 2020 meeting

Our weekly meeting, held at the SLCC, started with an update of the SNOW JAM 2020 proceedings.

First, Sell, Sell, and Sell tickets. Need more?? See Chris Burns, Brad Mac, or Dave Rhem. Second, we

have about $12K of sponsorships, and still waiting on more. Any prospects, contact Stephanie Herder or

Dave Rhem. The Big Days are Friday, Feb. 7 for the Euchre Tournament at the GH Elks Lodge and

Saturday, Feb. 8 for the Snow Jam outdoor and entertainment tent festival at SL Central Park. The

committees are functioning as intended, and the beneficiaries of funds will be Momentum Center,

R.E.A.D. and Ottawa Resilience, helping to End Violence.

The Friday program was introduced for presenters that involved familiar folks: Michelle Hanks and

former member Michelle Dixon. They are rushing to get their arms around a new venture known as

COURTYARD CONCEPTS! The Michelles explained that the informal presentation of music at some area

venues, such as the Farmer's Market, Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium in GH, and other places

required a lot more effort and organization than had been provided in the past. In an effort to use the

expertise of the Hanks, and the energy of many volunteers and hands on business experience of

Michelle Dixon, it was decided by the Michelle's to start a 501© 3 non-profit corporation to produce,

direct and organize musical events, and to have people needing care and comfort and encouragement

to participate in the arts, as the recipients of the profits from the musical events being presented by

COURTYARD CONCEPTS.

Hence, a contract to produce 4 musical events in the summer at the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront

Stadium, hoping for at least 2200 guests at each concert, and perhaps up to 2500 per event. The

concerts have not finished signing the guest artists, but the level of entertainment is to be the same as

the level entertaining at Meijer Gardens. As a bonus effort, there are 10 additional planned concert and

entertainment events at other Tri-Cities venues, which will present area and regional talent. The focus

of the efforts by the Michelle's and the Board of CC (which includes Mike Cotteratl) is to bring musical

and entertainment talent to the entire area, with beneficiaries of funding for such events being those

who might otherwise not be involved in artistic presentations primarily involving music. Some of the

beneficiaries will receive free or low cost tickets, or musical training at low or no cost, and the People

Center services, plus a rapid response network of providers to families in need.

The Hanks, at 7 Steps Up, will be transferring their production and stage equipment to Courtyard

Concepts, but the venue provided by them in SL will continue to function as in the past however the

production of events will be staged by Courtyard Concepts.

There is risk involved in the Courtyard Concepts business, involving primarily attendance at events,

perhaps adverse weather, booking talent, arranging for concessions and licensing rights, and

maintaining a great reputation for producing entertainment events. The same sound equipment and

technicians that appear at Meijer Gardens will be available for the Lynne Sherwood WF Stadium events,

so it is planned that higher quality entertainment will create a setting on the water that is great to be

part of.

Keep your eyes on the planned events as the first one is scheduled for Thursday evening June 25 at the

Waterfront Stadium in GH. The rest of the scheduling will fill in as the winter and early spring

progresses, so overall the Michelles appear to be on the right track to enhance the entertainment

opportunities in our Tri-Cities Area.. We look forward to Updates. Some of us Oldsters remember

when the Athertons brought national talent to a little restaurant in Port Sheldon, stopping by on the

way to Chicago or Cleveland (and Detroit) so West Michigan appreciated live entertainment talent that

learned to like our area in their travels.

Thanks for the presentation, and the example of how small business is started by people with an

entrepreneurial spirit, and the will to put their efforts and reputations on the line to create an

experience for others, and to benefit others. We look forward to future updates!!

Your Scribe,

Tom Boven..