Signature Program
 
     Born to Read:
       It is never too early to start reading. Beginning at birth, early literacy experiences make a
       difference and through the support of many local organizations the Traverse Bay Twilight
       Rotary Club has adopted a new signature project Born to Read to promote community
       literacy through outreach to families with newborn babies.

 
International Involvement

• Member Carolyn Collins went to Honduras to install water filters – we supported with money for the filters.
• Member Marcia Billings went to Honduras to install mud stoves in homes & latrines.
• Member Priscilla Bachman went to Honduras to install water filters. The club supported with money for a filter. (Cost of a water filter is $100/filter.)
• Michael Collins (former Rotary member) went to Honduras with his son a few years prior to Marcia.
• Sponsored an exchange student (Vitor) from Brazil.
• Marcia also inspected the Hermanis Trust Grant recipients project in Africa, after the club awarded a Grant for this project to assist & educate new mothers on the care of their infants.
• Provided funds for water filters in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, & Honduras. 

Local Involvement     

• Participated in annual Rotary Show and program sales
• Father Fred summer and winter food drives
• Served dinner to annual Thanksgiving Dinner attendees sponsored by Father Fred Foundation
• Helped out at the 4th of July Parade
• Clean up of the Boardman River and Kid’s Creek
• Constructed playground equipment for Cherry Knoll Elementary School
• Boots for Kids support
• Participated in Big Brothers/Big Sisters Bowl for Kids
• NMC BBQ: Cake Walk tent volunteers,Children’s tent volunteers 
• National Cherry Festival community Share volunteers 
• Volunteers at the ‘Kids Free Fishing’ day 
• Collaboration with United Way for  Friday Night Live! book giveaway
• Mock interview participation
• Donated Paul Harris books to local libraries
• Boardman River Restoration Project volunteers
• Adopt a Highway Clean Up 
• Adopted a Christmas Family to provide gifts to a needy family at Christmas
• Munson Manor House – cooked dinner for guests
  

Grants Given

• Donated to a combined Rotary grant proposed by the Exchange student from Argentina (Luciana). The grant was for the refurbishing of an old building in which to house abused women.
   
• Our Club donated $500 towards the Varsity and JV baseball field renovation.  This donation was matched for a total of $1000 donation towards the project.

Fundraising

 
• We hosted a ‘Texas Hold’em Tournament for several years
• Bookmark Fundraisers at local grocery stores & local Bookstores
• Calendar Raffle sales in coordination with the Petoskey Club
• “Honor Boxes” at local businesses to sell various snacks (candy bars, chips, etc.)
• 50/50 tickets and Happy Bucks at meetings