Month: October 2016

Can Do! will feature economic development in the region for its October monthly program. A memorable panel of local and community speakers will discuss regional economic vitality at the Charlotte Community Library at 7 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26. Panel speakers include Pat Gillespie, Chief Visionary, Founder and President of Gillespie Group; Nate Scramlin, Senior Community Assistance Specialist at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; as well as key leaders of #CharlotteRising, a new economic development nonprofit organization. “The October program will be of great importance, given the tremendous momentum here,” said Barbara Fulton, Ph.D., Can Do! President. “Charlotte is moving forward with a collaborative force unique to our community and local leaders have made great strides in connecting regionally.” While there are many projects and initiatives underway, the strategic conversations of Can Do! panels are “one level up” from any one project or program. Each month, Can Do! programs focus on one of the “Seven Elements of Healthy Communities” from the standpoint of community vitality and prosperity. Each time, the four pillars of Can Do! come into play, which are Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Charitable Assets and Youth. As each “element” is discussed, community leaders and interested individuals become more aware of the vision, strategies, resources, and trends in our region. Those who attend the meeting have the option to bring their smart phones, if they have them, to participate in an...

Geoff Goll was just a child when Polio threatened his future. Growing up the son of a doctor in central Ohio, Goll spent nearly a year in Akron’s Children’s Hospital fighting the virus. So it was with great passion and awareness of how Polio affects the lives of those it touches, that Goll spoke to the Charlotte Rotary Club Tuesday, Oct. 11 about continuing its dedication to eradicate the virus. Goll was a guest of Charlotte Rotarian Ed Foster, who is also a polio survivor. “Polio has been a part of my life as long as I can remember,” Goll said. “I’m one of the lucky ones.” Goll was one of the first individuals to receive the polio test vaccine developed by Jonas Salk in the early 1950s. The Food and Drug Administration would approve the vaccine just a few years later. “It was a really big deal when they actually went out and announced, ‘folks this vaccine works,’” Goll said. “Church bells rang. Kids were let out of school. Between 1954 and 1957, 97 percent of the cases of polio in the United States disappeared.” In 1985, the World Health Organization announced 365,000 children a year contracted polio throughout the rest of the year, Goll said. It was then that Rotary International decided to do something about it. Goll, the Rotary International Polio Eradication Zone Coordinator for Zone...

In July, the Howser and Kimmer families announced the generous gift of a new sculpture to be built at AL!VE, Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital’s experience-based health park in Charlotte. The rainbow sculpture, INSPIRE, was motivated by an experience Lee Howser had many years ago. Another rainbow sculpture captivated him and stirred memories of the times he had started over and transformed his life into something new and different and, often for the better. “I never forgot that moment and that sculpture,” Lee said. “The pivotal and transformational role that AL!VE plays in our community and in people’s lives made me believe this was the perfect place to create a similar inspirational piece of artwork.” Over the last several months Lee has shared some of those transformational stories with the Charlotte community, such as the perseverance of Gladys Deland and her daughter, Sharon; the motivation and community discovered at AL!VE by Liz Hollopter; and the good health and friends gained by Andy and Gennesis Boyd. The Howsers, Kimmers and HGB are pleased to announce INSPIRE will soon be constructed in PRESERVE, south of the main parking lot at AL!VE. The dedication ceremony is planned for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, and community members are welcome. There will be a brief ceremony at 5:45 p.m. when HGB and AL!VE team members thank the Howsers for their gift. Also in attendance...