mybaycity.com March 28, 2018
Rotary Article 11210

AMP: All Music is Power Topic of Rotary Program

March 28, 2018
By: Stephen Kent


Tuesday's Rotary program was opened by Donny Brown who told Rotarians how he, Andy Reed, and Mark Lyons founded AMP (All Music Is Power) several years ago in Bay City. Donny is a musician and songwriter who is known as one of the founding members of the rock band The Verve Pipe.

Following the introduction, Donny welcomed Laurie Middlebrook (Spear) to the stage and the two sang several songs accompanied by their guitars. This introduction to the music typically played by AMP set the stage for a description of the program by Mark Lyons, a long time special education teacher.

AMP is a non-profit organization that provides an interactive musical concert series aimed at special education students from kindergarten through twenty-somethings. The group started performing a couple of times a year in the Bay Area. The reception was so positive that they quickly made plans to perform regularly and now have engagements throughout the state.

According to Lyons, music reaches special education and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) students where other things don't. Videos of performances showed just how excited and engaged the students have become. Kids got up to dance, sing, play drums and participated. The excitement was contagious.

AMP started on a shoestring. Soon funds began to come in through grants and donations and today the program is thriving. "We're doing OK now, but even if we had no funds we'd find a way to do this. It's that rewarding!".

Both Donny and Laurie will be performing at the upcoming Rotary Mitten State Music Revival scheduled for May 5 at the Historic Masonic Temple on Madison.

For more information visit AllMusicIsPower.com.


Donny Brown, Laurie Middlebrook (Spear) and Mark Lyons
Photo: Andy Rogers



CLUB NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS



Tuesday was the club's monthly Birthday celebration where members born in the just ending month are recognized. The club encourages each birthday member to take this occasion to make a contribution to the Rotary Foundation to celebrate their special day.

The Spring Community Grant Cycle has closed. Chairperson Tara Welch reported that there were 15 applications received this time, a near record. She asked that anyone who would like to help review these applications to please contact her.

Harvey Schneider that at the recent PETS (President Elect Training) conference he raised his hand and got sworn in. "I guess that means you're stuck with me". He then noted that the club's practice has been for the President-Elect to nominate the prospective president three terms out. The executive committee discussed this and felt that the process should be opened to "self-nomination". This will ensure a transparent process and also identify people who have an interest in the position. Contact Harvey if you are interested.

Harvey also noted that information has been provided on the District Conference in May. He passed out sheets with the basics and said that if members can attend they should sign up now.

Mike Stoner from the Northern Bay and Arenac club in Pinconning was in attendance. That club was sponsored by our club 10 years ago. Mike told members about the upcoming 2018 Rotary Saginaw Bay Nature Festival. Printed schedules for the six-week festival were available. The closing banquet will be at the May 5.

Paul Wiese asked members to help think of program ideas for the upcoming few months.

There are two openings on the club's Board of Directors. Terms are two years. One opening had just 3 months to run. The other is for a year and 3 months. President Chadwick asked that any member interested in serving on the board should contact him. Serving on the board is a good way for a new member to check off one of the "Red Badge" items as well as learning a great deal about the club.

The Doubletree has made a decision that for people not eating lunch there will be a $4 charge for soft drinks. This can be paid at the front table on entry. Water will continue to be free.

Next summer's International Convention will be in Toronto, an easy trip for many of us. Be sure you sign up with her to attend this life-changing Rotary experience. The fee for that event will go up by $80 on the first of April. If you plan to go the time to make your reservation is now.


MEMORIES

Dig out your favorite Rotary memory photos and
let Brenda Scramlin use them for the weekly
Club slide show. It'll be fun for everyone!


 




---- DATES TO REMEMBER ----



May 5, 2018 - Mitten State Music Revival
    Sponsored by Bay City Rotary Club.

March 22 to May 5, 2018 - Pinconning Nature Festival . With over 20 planned activities, there's something for everybody. The two weeks wrap up with the May 5 Nature Festival Banquet
    Sponsored by Northern Bay and Arenac Rotary Club.

May 4-5, 2018 - District Conference Frankenmuth
    New format and breakout sessions.
    1 and a half days rather than two full days.
    Watch the District Web Site for information.

June 23-27, 2018 Rotary International Convention Toronto


Upcoming Programs

(See the official schedule at RotaryBayCity.org )

April 3, 2018: Business Solutions for Recruiting, Hiring, & Retaining People with Disabilities Presented by Gary Holik, Business Relations Consultant, State of Michigan.

April 10, 2018: Bay City Cooperative Market presented by Robin Deveraux-Nelson


Rotary is an intimate affiliation of carefully selected business and professional people,
having as its objective the promotion of high ethical standards in private, commercial
and civic life, and dedicated to the ideal that the basis of all worthy endeavor is unselfish service.




Current and past DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.

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LINKS

RotaryBayCity.org BayCityMorningRotary.com
District 6310 Web Site District Dispatch Archive
Rotary International Make-up On-Line at RotaryEclubOne.org
The Rotary Global History Fellowship rotaryfirst100.org
Rotary Global History.


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