Events In April You Should Plan On Attending!!

It is hard to believe a few weeks ago some of us were either playing golf, doing yard work, watching some of our flowers come up after their winter sleep or even just sitting outside taking in some Vitamin D from the sun.  It was going to be a great start to spring, then April happened.  Just love seeing snow in April in Northern Michigan.  But life goes on, and we are kicking ourselves for taking off our snow tires too early.  With all that said, April is here and bring on a new blog post with some great info and events happening in the area.  I challenge everyone to attend one YP event as well as one or even 2 events that are happening around the area.  One of my favorite things to do is have Brunch on a Sunday morning followed by a lovely drive to Interlochen to enjoy an amazing concert put on by the Traverse Symphony Orchestra.  They are led by Maestro Kevin Rhodes, who does a phenomenal job with our local musicians all while giving us an amazing experience.  I highly recommend everyone to attend the event on April 17^th!

            The Young Professionals of the Chamber have a few events that will be happening in the month of April that everyone should plan on attending.  The first event takes place April 7^th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Right Brain Brewery on 16^th Street.  This is a great Social Event for all YP’s to relax, chat, and mingle all while having an amazing beverage from the great people at Right Brain Brewery.  Be sure to bring your business cards and be ready for drinks specials and amazing door prizes.  This is a great opportunity to meet fellow YP’s in the area and to create a great social network, which may come in handy one day.

            Business After Hours is the next event on the Calendar happening April 20 at Team Elmer’s from 5pm to 7pm.  This is a great opportunity to network with other local businesses and professionals of all ages.  You never know who you may end up sharing a cocktail with at this event.  It is a great chance to get your name out there to other business professionals and see how many amazing businesses are located in our beautiful city.

 

            The morning of April 21^st will highlight the YP Monthly Meeting at the TC Chamber from 8am to 9am.  I look forward to this gathering every month whether we have a guest speaker or spend time talking about the community and how us YP’s can make a positive impact by getting involved in everything we can around our area.  It is also a great chance to meet other YP’s and hear about what everyone has cooking up in their lives.  If you are new to the area or are not originally from Traverse City, it is a great way to meet fellow professionals. 

 

 

            The final event for April takes place Tuesday, April 26^th which involves free popcorn!!!  You guessed it, Volunteering at the State Theatre on free popcorn night is a great way to spend a Tuesday evening after work.  Plus, you also receive 2 free movie tickets for volunteering from 5:15 to 7:15.  It is a great way to help out our wonderful State Theatre, which is very special to Traverse City. 

            There are other events that are taking place in Traverse City during the month of April.  We are all itching for that warmer spring weather and getting out of the house to attend one of these events is a great way to be active in the community and hopefully soaking up that warmer weather.  Here are a list of events happening around the area. 

-TC Boat and Outdoor Show at the Civic Center – April 8-10.  For more details visit http://www.traversecityboatshow.com/about.html

-Indoor Farmer’s Market at The Grand Traverse Commons from 10am-2pm Every Saturday.  For more details visit http://www.thevillagetc.com/events-attractions/farmers-market/

-7^th Annual Traverse City Chocolate Festival at the City Opera House from Noon-4.  For more information visit www.TCChocolateFestival.com

-Beethoven Fireworks Traverse Symphony Orchestra at Corson Auditorium April 17^th at 3pm.  For ticket information visit http://traversesymphony.org/

-TART Trails Work Bee April 23 from 10am-12pm.  Celebrate Earth Day networking and volunteering in various locations along the trail.  This is a great event to be outside and burning calories to make the TART Trail the best trail in the world.  For details visit http://traversetrails.org/event/tart-trails-work-bee-2/

Well ladies and gentlemen, that is all I have for the month of April.  I challenge each of you who read through this to get more involved in the community, get to know one another and most of all have fun and enjoy our beautiful area.  If anyone has any comments, suggestions, or questions, please respond to the blog.  I am always up for comments and discussion.  Next month will highlight Agriculture!!!  Please follow the YP's on Facebook and LinkedIn for even more fun happenings and information.

 

Below are the updates from around the area from TCAPS, City of Traverse City, and Grand Traverse County.

TCAPS APRIL 2016

TCTA “Warm Toes” Sock Drive Collects 2,500 Pairs of Socks…and Counting!

Today, Traverse City Area Public Schools tallied the results of the Traverse City Transportation Association sponsored “warm toes” sock drive. The fundraiser collected a total of 2,500 pairs of socks, including generous donations from the Michigan Education Association, Hagerty, Meijer, Chemical Bank, Coordinating Council, Cherry Central Coop, North Bay Produce, and TCAPS families and members of our great community. The socks will be given to school social workers to hand out to students who need them and any extra socks will be donated to Child and Family Services.

TCAPS Robotics Programs Continue to Shine

Traverse City Area Public Schools' FIRST Robotics Teams Off to a Great Season

Teams from both Traverse City Central High School and Traverse City West Senior High School competed at an event in Escanaba over the weekend. TC West's Titan Robotics Team won the “Chairman’s Award,” the competition's most prestigious award. And, TC Central's Raptors Team 1171 won the "Imagery Award." There is plenty more competition yet this season as both the Raptors and Titan Robotics prepare to compete in the Traverse City FIRST Robotics District Competition. The event will be held at Traverse City Central High School April 7-9, 2016. View a preview of this year’s FRC game, FIRST STRONGHOLD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqOKzoHJDjA.

 

Two TCAPS Vex Robotics Teams Advance to World Championships

Two TCAPS teams also qualified for the VEX Robotics World Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. An elementary team, the RoboRunners VEX IQ, and a high school team from West Senior High School, made up of Titan Robotics members Ty Ebling and Granite Winowiecki, both earned a place at the VEX World Championships. Both teams are now raising money to support their trips to Louisville in mid-April. If you are interested in donating, visit www.tcaps.net/donate.

 Willow Hill Elementary School’s Battle of the Books Winners Receive Limo Ride with Joshua Davis

As part of March is Reading Month, TCAPS’ Willow Hill Elementary School held their first in-house Battle of the Books. Fifty-four students in 4^th and 5^th grade formed a total of 11 teams. Students read six books to prepare for the battle. The winning team won a limo ride to Incredible Mo’s with special guest singer/songwriter Joshua Davis!

 TCAPS Board of Education Coffee Conversation

The next TCAPS Board of Education Coffee Conversation will be held on Thursday, April 28^th at Horizon Books from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Come join in the conversation!

TC West Mentor Opportunity

 

Each spring, all TC West Senior High School students participate in student-led conferences to showcase their growth over the course of the previous year. Last year, we changed the curriculum to offer our Senior students an interview with professionals from our community. It was a huge success. We would like to continue this tradition but we are in need of volunteers. We feel that this opportunity will give our seniors a valuable, real-world experience and help them with their communication and presentation skills.  Community professionals will volunteer for a 3-hour block of time (4:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.) on Wednesday, April 27th or Thursday, April 28^th. The interviews will be scheduled in 20-minute increments and the questions and format have been prepared for you in advance. Seniors have spent the last few months preparing for this interview.

If you are able to volunteer for either night, please sign up at this link (http://tinyurl.com/tcwexitinterview) or contact Kate Heydlauff (the event coordinator) at ​​HeydlaufKa@tcaps.net.  If you are not able but have co-workers or know others who may be interested, please feel free to share this opportunity.

 TCAPS Calendar Reminders

·         April 28 - Board of Education Coffee Conversation

·         May 30 - Memorial Day, No School

·         2015-2016 District School Year Calendar

City of Traverse City Update – April, 2016

Spring Leaf & Brush Pickup – The City will begin spring leaf and brush pickup on April 11^th on the east side of town, moving west. This service is offered to City residents only. For more details, visit www.traversecitymi.gov.

Eighth Street Planning and Design Charrette – Have a voice in planning the future of Eighth Street! A project kick-off meeting is scheduled for April 21^st, time to be determined. Stay tuned into www.traversecitymi.gov/plancurrentproje.asp for further details.

Overnight Parking in Traverse City – To help accommodate your guests, vehicles may be parked on the streets overnight starting April 15^th on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights. For further details, contact 231-922-0241.  

Elections Inspectors Needed! If you are interested in being a part of the Election process and working in a precinct on Election Day, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 231-922-4480. Election Inspectors typically work from 5:45 a.m. until roughly 10:00 p.m. on Election Day and are paid for their time.

 

                  Grand Traverse County Update

New Passport Hotline  A new passport hotline provides 24 hour information to potential travelers on the requirements for applying for a passport so applicants can be prepared when they apply. The passport hotline can be reached at (231) 922-4735, option 1.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Dates Announced  HHW drop-off events will be held from 1:00pm - 7:00pm on the following Thursdays: April 21, May 12, June 23 and August 25. One Saturday drop-off event will be held on October 1 from 9:00am - 2:00pm.  Appointments are required for all HHW events and can be made beginning April 1st by using the online scheduling system at www.recyclesmart.info or by calling the RecycleSmart hotline at 231-941-5555.

Clean Out Your Files Week: April 15 - April 22  This is a no-cost opportunity for businesses to recycle unwanted paper material. American Waste will be providing the use of a recycling container at the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market parking lot at the corner of Cass & Grandview Parkway. Accepted material includes newspapers, magazines, old files, office paper and unwanted mail. This container of paper material will not be shredded.

Earth for Earth Day: Compost Give-Away  Get your free compost! Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 8:00 am to noon (or until gone). Self serve, self haul compost is yours FREE at the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market parking lot (Union Street and Grandview Parkway). Compost is courtesy of the City of Traverse City & Grand Traverse County RecycleSmart. Bring your own shovel and container.

Save the Date for The Groundwork Get Local Party!

Saturday, May 21st, 3 - 10PM at The Little Fleet

Meet us at The Little Fleet for the ultimate local party! Pick up your Get Local Passport and collect Groundwork stamps as you explore family-fun activities that celebrate our local farms, food, businesses, transportation and clean energy. Then taste what homegrown dishes the food trucks are cooking up—a celebratory reflection of Groundwork's commitment to getting more locally grown food into schools and institutions. When the sun sets, find your friends and strike a pose for a photo shoot like no other, and dance the night away to the rollicking music of The Go Rounds! Good times guaranteed. 

www.groundworkcenter.org

 

February YP Blog, Updates, Stories, and Highlights.

            Happy February from the YP Blog and Blogger Adam Rhoades.  This is the first official blog I have ever written.  The blogs will have a fun new format with a slew of information and updates from TCAPS, Grand Traverse County, Garfield Township, and City of Traverse City.  We will also have guest bloggers, new business highlights as well as a ton of other random, funny, intriguing, and grasping information. 

            Here is a small tidbit about myself.  I grew up in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, which is 5 minutes from Toledo, Ohio.  I majored in Marketing and Professional Golf Management at Ferris State University.  I met my wife Kaitlin at Ferris State who grew up in Suttons Bay.  We spent 4 years away from Michigan in Austin, Texas but then moved back to Traverse City a few years ago.  I currently work at Traverse City State Bank and Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.  I still try to grow the game of golf teaching golf lessons at The Crown Golf Club when the ground is not snow covered.  I became involved in the Traverse City Young Professionals late summer last year, and it has been very rewarding meeting some amazing people.  To everyone who reads this, I highly recommend you get involved as much as you can especially if you plan on living in the area the rest of your life.  The network you grow personally and professionally is priceless. 

            I am not sure if there is a correct format for blogs, but I have decided that each week I will share something with you that is relevant to what is going on in the community.  And of course I would love feedback.  This month I wanted to focus on the importance and lack of affordable housing.

We all know that the big talk in the past 6 months or so has been the housing market in this area and the lack of affordable housing available especially to young professionals who are new to the area, have been here a while or even want to move back “home.”  This topic of conversation has affected my wife and me since we moved back to the area in 2012.  We were used to living in Austin, where you could find a great place to live at an affordable price that was not far from downtown.
 
When we first moved back we had to move in with her mom for 6 months then move in with her dad for another 5 months before we became very lucky and found a top floor of a triplex next to the airport.  We searched high and low for any housing options even living in Northport after fixing up an old farmhouse that her grandparents own and commuting to Traverse City to work.  After renting our small little place for over 2 years, we were needing a house with the hopes of expanding our family.  We searched and found a few places, made a few offers, but they all needed so much work that we would not be able to afford them.  We even placed an offer on a condo before that fell through the floor.  The whole process that should be a great step in life became deflating and hopeless. 

After looking through what must have been hundreds of listings and emails, my wife and I found a great place in a great location, which would put us closer to her parents.  The process to get the house that we are in was crazy.  We looked at the house at 7:00am, put in an offer 30 minutes later, and quickly found out there was another offer.  We were bummed of course because the house had not even been on the market for 24 hours.  We offered more than listing price knowing the place needed a good amount of work, but we were ready for the renovation project.  We wrote a letter, we emailed the listing agent, and even starting talking to the seller begging him to take our offer telling him our story and how his house fit us perfectly.  After putting in an offer beginning of August, we finally closed on the house October 5^th. 

We had high hopes of moving in after doing some small renovations to our new house, which was built in the mid 40’s, but that quickly changed when we started taking up the carpet and taking down the wall paper and walls.  We ended up renovating for 3 months nonstop with a ton of help from friends and family to officially move in December 31.  Needless to say, we have continued working on the inside of the house since we have moved in finishing projects and other cosmetic items.

I wanted to share my story with you to stress how important affordable housing is in any growing city.  There have been several instances in the past few years where we had intentions of leaving the area due to the lack of housing.  I believe the success to a strong economy, you need to offer affordable housing to professionals who are new to area and to also attract new professionals and potential business owners. 

There are several developments occurring in the area, but the one that has the most impact on the YP’s is the Pine Street building.  The huge benefit of the new Pine Street development is the amount of money it will bring to local businesses especially during the winter and spring months.  It also gives us the answer to the question of where is all the affordable housing the area so badly needs.  

Dr. Brandon Larabee

I would like to introduce to you Dr. Brandon Larabee, who is opening a brand new chiropractic practice here in Traverse City.  Here is a small write up about Dr. Brandon and his practice.  He is one of our new Young Professionals of Traverse City. 

 

Pathways Chiropractic is opening with a mission to empower others to achieve their optimal potential through chiropractic care. Owner Dr. Brandon Larabee believes that a well-functioning nervous system is necessary for living a happy, healthy life. He explains, “Chiropractic adjustments reduce stress in the spine. As a result, clear pathways of communication are restored between the body and the brain.”

A focus at Pathways Chiropractic is to make regular adjustments easily accessible. He says you can expect most visits to last about 10 minutes from door to door. What makes care here so quick? “We work with intent and efficiency, so that seeing a chiropractor fits easily into people’s lives rather than being a destination,” says Dr. Brandon. One aspect of Pathways Chiropractic’s system that makes it so efficient is an open adjusting area. Dr. Brandon chose this design so he can provide adjustments quickly without compromising the quality of his care. He says, “An open adjusting area also reduces anxiety for those receiving a first time adjustment, allows parents to keep a close eye on their children, and promotes camaraderie among members.” Dr. Brandon is confident that his office will foster a wellness-oriented community where people can find natural solutions for living better. 

 

The office is located in Suite C at 1001 Bay Street in Traverse City. The building is parallel to West Grandview Parkway about halfway between North Division Street and Tom’s Food Market, facing the base of West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay. Pathways Chiropractic will be opening on February 15, 2016. Until then, check them out at www.pathwaysofmi.com or call (231) 714-4112 to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Traverse City Area Public Schools Update

TCAPS Recommendation to Board of Education about Possible Building Closures —January 25^th On Monday, January 25, 2016, TCAPS will make a recommendation to the Board of Education about three elementary school buildings with K-5 enrollment of less than 200 students. TCAPS has been exploring redirecting the overhead expenses of maintaining these buildings as a potential option to help preserve TCAPS’ comprehensive and award-winning academic and extracurricular student programming, while keeping class sizes in check, providing adequate compensation for staff, and remaining financially responsible with the community’s investment in its schools. After the recommendation is presented, there will be opportunities for the Board to discuss the recommendation at committee and full board meetings during the month of February. The Board of Education is then expected to take action on the recommendation at their meeting on March 7, 2016. Learn more about the effort to examine buildings with less than 200 K-5 students here: www.tcaps.net/strategic-financial-planning.

Board of Education Coffee Conversation—January 28^th

On Thursday, January 28, 2016, the Traverse City Area Public Schools Board of Education will host its monthly Coffee Conversation from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Horizon Books (243 E. Front Street). The January Coffee Conversation topic is “Low Enrollment Buildings.” Time will also be allotted at the meeting for attendees wishing to discuss other topics of interest with board members. The next Coffee Conversation will be held on Thursday, February 25^th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Traverse City Central High School Presents Footloose

Traverse City Central High School will present Footloose the Musical beginning Thursday, January 28, 2016 and running through Sunday, February 7, 2016. Thursday-Saturday evening performances start at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances begin at 3:00 p.m. at the newly renovated Central High School auditorium (1150 Milliken Dr.). General admission is $17, $12 for students, and $12 for seniors over 60. Tickets are available at: www.mynorthtickets.com.

2016 TCAPS Preschool Enrollment Fair – February 13, 2016 – 10 AM – 12:30 PM: Families wishing to enroll their child in preschool next year are invited to attend TCAPS’ preschool enrollment fair to learn more about TCAPS preschool programs, tour a classroom and/or complete the registration process. The fair will be held at Eastern Elementary School (1600 Eastern Ave.). For more information, please call 231.933.1759 or visit: http://www.tcaps.net/programs/preschool. 

Traverse City Central High School Hall of Fame Seeks Nominations for 2016 Induction Class

Nominations are being accepted for the Traverse City Central High School Hall of Fame’s 2016 induction class. The nominator is required to provide a completed nomination form, photo of the candidate, and three letters of support for the candidate. Nominations must be received at the TC Central principal’s office by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. Hall of Fame application: http://tinyurl.com/CHSHallofFame.

Grand Traverse County Update

January 2016

Easling Pool Open

Easling Pool at the Civic Center Park is open under Grand Traverse Bay YMCA’s management. “Y Central” at the Civic Center will feature a fitness facility in the former meeting room. For more information, contact the YMCA at 231-486-6357. 

Camping Reservations

Reservations for camping on Power Island-Bassett Island this summer are being taken by the Parks and Recreation Department. The number of campsites have increased from four to ten, with five sites on Bassett Island and five on Power Island. Call 231-922-4818 or visit http://www.grandtraverse.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Power-Island-Bassett-Island-8.

Winter Parking Ordinance

The Winter Parking Ordinance prohibiting the parking of motor vehicles on public roadways and shoulders of roads in Grand Traverse County from December 1 to March 31 between the hours of 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 8:00 a.m. and during snow emergencies is in effect. Violators are subject to fine plus prosecution costs.

Garfield Township Update

·         Personal Property Exemption affidavits are due February 10, 2016 for any business with less than $80,000 true cash value of personal property. You can find the form 5076 at your local Assessing Department.

·         Planet Fitness has begun the necessary steps to ensure a March 2016 opening. You can obtain a membership starting February 3rd right next to Aldi's.

·         Jimmy Johns has begun the process to open in part of the building that now houses Family Video on South Airport.

·         Lucky's will be submitting plans to the Planning Department, but we have no time frame on their opening.

·         Dick's Sporting Goods are in the process of getting building and zoning permits but have not been approved yet.

·         Fit Body Boot Camp will be going into the old Bedroom Company building on Division within the next three months.

·         Boardman Lake revamp is complete as well as the new Brookside Commons. There will be a Grand Opening on 1/29/16 starting at 11am at Boardman Lake and 12:30 at Brookside Commons. These are affordable, energy efficient, workforce housing close to town! Go take a look and refer new TC residents!

·         We just closed on additional parkland on Keystone Road to become part of the BVNP, and provide access to the land we own on the east side of the river. We just finished a conceptual park plan on how to develop this land, and will implement pieces of that as budget allows. Planned improvements include covered picnic pavilions, more nature trails, playgrounds, dog park, a bridge to connect both sides of the park across the river, and maybe  a ropes course, zip line and/or 4-season toboggan run.

·         Also in the BVNP, we just received another Trust Fund grant to revamp the area near the Boardman YMCA (which we own), including additional parking, a small boat (kayak/canoe) turnaround, float-on kayak launch, vault toilets and changing area and reconstruction of the pickleball courts.

·         We completed a concept park plan for the trailhead area to the Miller Creek Nature Preserve near Aldi. Not a lot of people know about this so the plan is intended to improve awareness and draw people in. This one includes seating areas, berming and landscaping to buffer South Airport traffic, maybe a hill slide and a fishing pond.

·         Buffalo Ridge Trail should (finally) be under construction in the spring. Bids are due on Thursday (we rebid it due to high bid responses to the first bid).

·         Tree cutting at the Commons has started and the park will be closed while they are in there. We are implementing a hazardous tree removal plan to get rid of fall hazards. Unfortunately nearly 500 trees have to go.

If you are interested in being appointed to a Garfield Township Board Committee please send a letter of interest to Judy at jbattle@garfield-twp.com

City of Traverse City Update

The City is continuing recruitment for various Traverse City Boards and Committees! Currently, the Election Commission and the Local Officers Compensation Commission have vacancies waiting to be filled. The Traverse City Light and Power Board and Joint Planning Commission have expiring terms, giving interested individuals a chance to interview for the positions.   Individuals who would like to learn more about these boards, or would like to apply should visit www.traversecitymi.gov/boards.asp or contact the City Clerk’s Office at 231-922-4480.

Elections Inspectors Needed! If you are interested in being a part of the Election process and working in a precinct on Election Day, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 231-922-4480. Election Inspectors typically work from 5:45 a.m. until roughly 10:00 p.m. on Election Day and are paid for their time.

Employment Opportunities with the City! The City of Traverse City has the following employment opportunities available: Traverse City Police Patrol and Vehicle Equipment Technician (Mechanic). Visit the City’s website at www.traversecitymi.gov/employment.asp for more details.

Input Needed – Parks & Recreation Master Plan – The Parks and Recreation Commission and staff has completed the draft Recreation Plan for 2016 – 2021.  This plan will be the basis for possible improvements to parks and programs and for grant applications during the five year time period.  The plan will be available for viewing until February 4, 2016.  Comments can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Office at 625 Woodmere Avenue during the comment period.  A copy of the plan can be found at www.traversecitymi.gov/parksplan.asp.

Overnight Parking in Traverse City – As a reminder, folks should not park overnight on the streets of Traverse City during the winter months, through April 14. Those who do park on the streets overnight may be towed at their own expense. 

TC Chamber Happenings

February 3 – YP Lunch & Learn (West Bay Beach) 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

February 17 – Business After Hours (Visions at CenterPointe) 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

February 18 – YP Morning Brew (Chamber of Commerce) 8-9 a.m.

February 23 – YP Volunteering at the State Theatre 5:15-7:15 p.m.

March 10 – Leadership at the Movie

For more fun and detailed information visit the chamber website:  tcchamber.org

YP Volunteer Event: Habitat for Humanity Demolition!

WOW! What a weekend! It might've been cold and rainy out on Saturday morning, but while the rest of the town was moping about the weather, an active group of YP and Habitat for Humanity volunteers were up early and ready to work.

A group of us helped a team of Habitat folks take apart a home out on the Old Mission Peninsula that will be town down and rebuilt. All the things we took apart--trim, cabinets, sinks, doors--and everything left in the house that we hauled out ended up in a garage ready for an estate sale. Some of our team spent the day pulling of aluminum siding to scrap, and given the constant downpour outside, let's just say I was totally content to stay inside and pull trim off of walls and remove nails.

The garage was STUFFED with stuff four or five hours later. There were some real gems hidden in that house if you've got the eye for that kind of thing. I all but went ballistic when we came across an original Sega Genesis (complete with Mortal Kombat and Sonic the Hedgehog games)! I'm not sure when the estate sale is, but I may consider driving back up the peninsula specifically to own that Genesis...

I had a great time working with my fellow YPs. We had a lot of hours together this past Saturday morning, and I learned more about all the people there that I don't get to see in passing at the meetings. It's amazing how close I feel to people when I work with them on a great cause, like Habitat for Humanity. There's nothing like sitting on the floor pulling out nails with someone to bring you together, right? And I'm pretty sure we all felt bonded after removing a shelf from an upstairs closet and saw a really old and nasty bagel (with peanut butter) slide off the shelf onto the floor. I mean, those are the things that build friendships, people.

The homeowner graciously cooked everyone up some brats and hot dogs for lunch, complete with potato chips and chocolate chip cookies. How could we not have a good time?! The sun came out for a brief few moments, as did a beautiful Leonberger dog named Bella, who pretty much stole all of our hearts. I may or may not have given her potato chips to show my affection, but I'm pretty sure all she really wanted was a hot dog. Maybe next time, Bella.

There are more YP volunteer opportunities coming up in the next few weeks, so if you're interested in doing good with good folks, keep your eyes and ears open for announcements about upcoming opportunities on our Facebook page. Thanks to everyone who braved the crappy weather to join us, and a big thanks for the Habitat crew for showing us the ins and outs of demolition! (Some of these photos came from the Habitat GTR Facebook page...check 'em out!)

Recap: Roundtable Discussion with Governor Rick Snyder

Well, well! Last week was a BIG week for the Traverse CIty Young Professionals. We were contacted by the Michigan Govenor's office a while back about hosting a roundtable discussion with Governor Rick Snyder. A lot of planning and organization went into making this happening, but the outcome was incredible. 

Last Friday, at an invitation-only event, fifteen YPs from different businesses and backgrounds sat at a table with Governor Snyder to ask him questions and give him feedback about what young professionals want for our wonderful state of Michigan. It was an experience of a lifetime, and I was so honored to be invited and snap some photos. 

There was a lot of hubbub before the roundtable discussion started. I walked around the room and chatted with familiar faces and met some new folks, too. Our panelists, selected by their industry or expertise in our community, took their seats at the table and awaited the Governor's arrival. 

Honestly, this was about as close to any public governmental figure as I've ever been, and I was pretty nervous that I was going to trip over a speaker cord or something and make a huge fool of myself. And I wasn't even asking a question! I can only imagine how nerve-wracked our panelists were, but as I expected, they did a fantastic job. 

Governor Snyder took his place at the head of the table, next to Kent Wood from the TC Chamber. Kent gave some opening remarks, as did Governor Snyder, and then the conversation worked its way around the table as each of our panelists asked their question. Here is a summary of the YPs that were present and the topics they chose: 

Jessica Wheaton (TC Light & Power): Promoting/incentivizing staying in Michigan for current residents. "Live Michigan"

Warren Call (Huntington National Bank): Support for Michigan's water resources and combatting invasive species

Allison Beers (Events North): Future of public education in Michigan

Rachel Johnson (Cherryland Electric): Growing & sustaining diverse economic development

Josh Janowiak (Platinum Sound): Transportation and road funding 

Jeff Fedorinchik (Hallmark Construction): Incentivizing/Encouraging young people to join trades

Drew Bucholz (Interlochen Center for the Arts): Arts and cultural funding

Shannon Owen (Northwestern Michigan College): Higher education funding

Bryan Taggert (Larkin Group): Tax reform in Michigan 

Andrew Kohlman (Image 360): Struggles for "green" businesses

Todd Sanders (Sanders Solutions): More YP involvement in Government

Marie Chantal-Delese (Chateau Chantal): Regulation for farm/food industry

Lee Michaels (Cherry Capital Foods): Creating a career market place for future workforce

Tracy Wittkop (Munson Healthcare): Northern Michigan Rural OB health service funding

As a young professional living in Michigan, I was so pleased with all the questions posed by our panel. Support for small businesses and farming, concerns about education at all levels, needs for better public and bicycle transportation, concerns about protecting our Great Lakes, and making entrepreneurship more accessible for young people…yes, please! These are all issues near and dear to my heart, and to have the Governor in the room responding to all our concerns--truly having our voices heard--that is something that is unlikely to come around again for our organization. What a privilege!

Governor Snyder did a great job listening to our concerns and understanding our wants for this state. He wanted to know what encourages young people to find a place in Michigan to call home, and also asked us to get involved in our local communities. He is working to build more trails in Michigan, but asks that the trail users work to make trails open for all kinds of activities, not specialized and limited to only a few. Greater pre-K education funding will hopefully make an impact across our entire education system, and upgrades in technology will help teachers as they work with students learning at different paces. Agriculture and arts are important topics to Governor Snyder, and he is pushing for more funding and support into these areas, as well as making it easier for young entrepreneurs to access funding for their businesses.

For us young professionals, we are constantly looking to improve our life/work balance: we want a place that fosters creativity and community, but also provides us with a steady, challenging job and a means to provide for ourselves and our families. Quality of life is the name of our game. Lucky for us, Governor Snyder agreed with the importance of these two issues, and encouraged all of us to get involved in our communities and continue building upon the wonderful foundation we all have in here Traverse City. 

One of my favorite quotes from Governor Snyder was, "Do you want to be another yuppie in Chicago, or do you want to make a difference in Detroit?" Although we are far from Detroit, the message is the same: we live in a place where our voices, our opinions, and our choices make a difference. As citizens in this town, we can make a difference in transforming our economy and bringing others to the place we call home; we can share all the goodness to be found in Michigan. 

We are young, but we are mighty, and we have the power to positively impact the place we live and help make it better for all. Personally, that is the kind of place I want to call home, and I am so glad to have that in Traverse City. Regardless of your political beliefs, getting involved in your local governance and community efforts can shape the place you live. So get out there, and get your voice heard!

All in all, it was a great experience to have this conversation with the Governor. I was so proud to see my friends up there, asking tough questions and wanting answers for their concerns about the future of our state. 

Congratulations to all the YPs selected for the roundtable discussion, and a big "thank you" to Governor Snyder for sitting down and taking the time to listen to what we have to say!