The YMCA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships & Health Innovation is Casey Thompson. She leads all work with the Evidence Base Health Intervention programs; Diabetes Prevention, Enhance Fitness, Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA and Healthy Weight and Your Child. Casey also serves in the role as the Executive Director of the Downtown Wellness YMCA, while also providing leadership to the association’s anti-hunger initiative, association marketing, membership and group fitness. Casey has been a member of the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing for 10 years. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts with Majors in Kinesiology and Sports Management.

 

Casey’s passion is helping others and making a difference in her community.

Jeff Scheibel began his role as President/CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing on December 1, 2013.

 

In his 30 year career with the YMCA, Lansing serves as his 5th Y community. Jeff’s career path includes the communities of La Porte, Indiana, Waukesha, WI, Ft. Worth, TX, and Dallas, TX.

 

Throughout his career with the YMCA, Jeff has served in nearly every capacity of leadership within the organization. His passion is focused on the mission of the organization which is “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all – the YMCA accomplishes their mission each day through programs that build character. The YMCA builds character by teaching and demonstrating positives values, especially the 4 core values of the Y which includes caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

 

Jeff’s leadership guides one of the larger non-profits in the Greater Lansing area, which has been in existence since 1877. The YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing provides service to the community through their 6 branch locations as well as the many off site program locations in local schools, churches, and community centers.

 

Jeff and his wife Sue and their 3 golden retrievers Gibbs, Lambeau, Coco, and they reside in East Lansing. Their son Matt is a graduate of Marquette University with a double major in accounting and finance, and he lives and works in Milwaukee, WI. Their family enjoys outdoor events, activities, and are especially fond of long camping weekends.

Click Here for the application for the Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation Grants.  Guidelines are available electronically at the Rotary Club of Lansing website at www.lansingrotary.org  A free applicant account is required to apply.  All applications must be submitted in their entirety by 11:59 p.m. EST on March 29, 2019.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

The Special Projects Committee is organizing a book drive during the month of April! Books will be donated to the Early Literacy Program at the Ingham ISD to reach students in the Lansing School District. Your book donations can be brought to a Club meeting on March 29 and throughout the month of April. The books will be presented to the school kids before summer break. Thanks for your support!!

The Lansing Center welcomed us with a carb feast: Chicken Florentine, green beans, side salad and a mystery cheesy soup-like mixture over pasta. They were kind enough to remind us we live in Michigan and it’s still winter by keep the room temperature just above freezing as President Fliehman gonged us to order. After reminding me to silence my cell phone he brought Josh Holliday to the podium who, by way of invocation, celebrated our diversity, uniqueness, and commitment to compromise after which we did Francis Scott Key proud by trying to drown out John D. Smith’s accompaniment in Rotary 73 part harmony.

 

Lisa Smith had Jack Davis introduce his guest after which our other guest decided he better introduce himself. Diane Sanborn told us Dick Ammons must be doing better after his stroke since he is coming home from Mary Free Bed next week. Prayers met.

 

Announcements: Foundation grant applications now open on the Rotary website beneath “Foundation “with deadline set for March 29th. John Person presented Mary Moreno of the Gardner International Magnet School a check for $6000 to go toward a “Sensory Friendly Room” to aid special needs students.

 

Special Music by Clarinetist Lucas Walters playing “Concertino in B minor” by C.M. Von Weber was a wow factor introduced and accompanied by John Dale Smith. The young soloist achieved a perfect score at the Solo Ensemble Competition only equaled by JD Smith’s son. Challenging and melodious a real ear candy by the two of them.

 

Al Yambor the Chair of the month, day and week introduced Joe Johnson Founder and CEO of Vade Nutrition, protein Supplement Company, who started off his presentation appropriately enough with a video of Joe and his wife presenting to Shark Tank. They concluded their presentation, to convince the sharks that they were heals overhead committed to the enterprise, with synchronized standing back flips without spotters or matts. His road to success, like many young entrepreneurs, was strewn with failures and false starts. The message he made clear to all: success depends on perseverance and learning from, not being stymied by failure. High tech marketing doesn’t hurt either. Meeting the demands of we consumers to have it now and not have to work to get it, is a winning formula growing 100% sales in one year.  Obviously individually wrapped dissolvable packets of protein powder met the need to not have to mix and wair for dissolution.  If a gian corporation doesn't steal the idea, ignoring the patent, and burying him in lawyers he's just getting started.  We love a good success story.  Way to go Joe.

 

Next week we're at the Country Club of Lansing to hear Jeff Scheibel and Co. who are keeping the YMCA current unlike Sears.  See you all there and yes:  GO GREEN!

 

Jim McGillicuddy's email is:  sjmcgillicuddy@comcast.net