Flint Club Hosts GM 100 Kick-Off Event
Flint Club was honored to host the kick-off event for a nine day celebration of General Motors' 100th anniversary. This birthday party themed festival in Riverbank Park provided the young and young at heart with a fun filled afternoon complete with cake and ice cream! For many kids, this event was their first introduction to the role that GM played in our community's history.
For the next week, venues across the city will host 100th anniversary celebrations of their own. Visitors will have the option of taking several guided historical tours, watching a parade of GM cars from nearly every model year, and listening to live music. Some events are free, while others have entrance fees. For more information and all the festival details, please visit www.flintgm100.com
The Riverbank Park Festival Series is made possible by a generous grant from the Ruth Mott Foundation. This is the second year that Flint Club has organized a series of festivals in Riverbank Park. The GM 100th anniversary celebration will be the third festival of 2008 with more to come each month through October. Reclaiming public space and providing opportunities for Flint residents to enjoy their city are just a few of the ways that Flint Club is helping to transform the city.
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| Flint Club Asks --What Makes a Successful College Town?
On a Thursday evening in late June, a small group of Flint Club members and staff left Flint on a three day journey of discovery. Toting cameras and camcorders, they toured the Mid-west asking the simple question "What makes a successful college town?"
Their first stop was in Royal Oak, Michigan-home of a branch of Oakland Community College. There they strolled the vibrant downtown and spoke with fellow Flint Club members about walkability, feeling safe downtown, and the kinds of shops and restaurants that make up a thriving downtown scene.
Next, they rolled on to Toledo, Ohio and interviewed University of Toledo students about what they liked about the campus community. They discussed the importance of sporting events and local parks as well as the importance of the campus and the community working together and supporting one another's efforts. They also met with a local entrepreneur that works to provide students the kinds of facilities and amenities that they desire.
The next stop on the tour was Ann Arbor, Michigan home to the ultimate urban campus. There they met with a Flint native who came to Ann Arbor twenty years ago and started a bookstore near campus to hear his thoughts on how Flint could succeed as Ann Arbor has in becoming a "college town." They also met with local Flint Club members at an Irish Pub later that evening to learn their thoughts on Flint's future.
The tour rolled on to South Bend, Indiana then on to Kalamazoo, Michigan with more interviews and observations at every stop. What they learned provides a few insights into how Flint can succeed in its transformation from factory town to college town. You can see video from the trip and read the official Not Your Average College Road Trip Blog here.
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Flint Featured in Progressive Travel Guide
Flint, Michigan is featured in a new travel guide that focuses on sites in America with historical and political significance.
You can read a review of the New York Times' review of Progressive Nation here.
You can also read the Flint relevant sections of the book for free online via Amazon.com's Search Inside feature here. |
| Flint Club Announces New Online Social Network
Flint Club was in the game of online social networking long before Myspace and Facebook came along, we just took a different approach. Now thanks to the the Ning network, Flint Club members can enjoy an online social networking experience that provides all the fun and functionality of the popular networks, but is exclusive to Flint Club members.
Request activation of your account today by sending an email to [email protected] . Please be sure to put " Social Network" in your subject line and we will process your request as soon as possible and get you plugged in to a whole new world of Flint Club inter-connectivity.
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| Flint Club Will Host a Mini-Conference on the Film Industry
When: October 16, 2008 & October 17, 2008.
Where: Flint, MI (in the downtown area)
Time: TBA
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, October 17, 2008
Three one-hour presentations in schools around Genesee County to speak to students about career opportunities in the film industry
Schools: TBA
Friday, October 18, 2008
"Quiet on the Set" Mini Conference
We will have several sessions regarding film production, casting calls and more.
Anyone that is interested in being a conference presenter, career day speaker, session volunteer, tour guide, photographer or assistant please contact Sonyita Scales, Program Director at 810-233-5468 or email her at [email protected]. Flint Club also has many exciting sponsorship opportunities available.
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Positive Views
 Members of the Boys and Girls Club of America are dedicated to leaving a positive legacy in Flint, MI. They are hard at work designing their public service announcements for the Flint Club Positive Views campaign.
With assistance from Flint Club, they are working on ideas for their scripts for the commercials that they will film later this month. Once finished, the public service announcements will be broadcast locally on WJRT-TV12 and shared with the world via the Flint Club website and Youtube. |
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Member Profile: Jason E. Kelly
I was born at McLaren General Hospital April 9, 1972 and resided in Flint until I left for the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1990. I am a product of the Flint Public School System. I attended Brownell Elementary, Holmes Middle School, and Northwestern High School. I am most influenced by my parents, Glen & Diana Kelly. They instilled in me an intense desire to grow and give. Service and the greater good have long been a part of my core being. Throughout my life, I've watched my parents give of themselves and attempt to make a positive difference in the community.
I am a major (recently selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel) in the United States Army. After spending the last three years at Fort Hood, Texas, I recently relocated to Norfolk, VA to attend the Joint Forces Staff College. My family and I have moved six times in the last ten years. My wife, Stephanie, and I have two young boys (Jacob 9 yrs & Zachary 2 yrs).
As a child I loved football. Like many young men, I wanted to play professional football. I also liked to draw, so during the off -season, I planned to work as a graphic artist. I will forever be indebted to the city of Flint. The diversity of the city and professionalism of the teachers, coaches, clergy members, politicians, and activists that I interacted with on a daily basis continue to guide both my personal and professional life. Each day, I attempt to apply the tutelage I received from the incredible men and women of the greater Flint community. As an officer in the United States Army, I am personally responsible for the health, welfare, and discipline for scores of men and women on a daily basis. The base for the physical, intellectual, and moral courage I am required to exhibit was established in Flint. I couldn't have asked for better preparatory training for my vocation.
My wife always laughs at me about this, but whenever I visit Flint, I buy a coney from Angelo's, a QP Deluxe and Boston Cooler from Halo Burger, an original Big John's Steak and Onion sandwich, and a pizza (Luigi's Special with sausage) from Luigi's Pizzeria. I also make a point to visit Meijer on Pierson Road.
I love the people of Flint. I've traveled all over the world and I've yet to find a better population. Flint is filled with good, hardworking citizens. I want to be a good ambassador of the city. I am currently collaborating with other Flint veterans to have lights installed at McFarlan Memorial Park in downtown Flint. Every year on Memorial Day veterans and their families gather at the park to recognize men and women of Flint who have died in service to the country. The names of servicemembers that have made the ultimate sacrifice are engraved on granite columns. Members of our great city have given their lives defending the cause of freedom in the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The park is a tribute to our veterans and a credit to our community. The observance currently includes a presentation of colors by a local Junior ROTC program, musical selections, and a 21-gun salute. We hope to add a parade and a family social in the future.
I think Flint is going to become a college town akin to Ann Arbor. I think downtown Flint will regain prominence and we will continue to see great accomplishments from people with roots in Flint. I'd like to see the, citizens embrace change. I'd like to see them apply the same work ethic and commitment to excellence that made Flint great during the last century, great today. I'd like to see more people ask, "what can I do to help?".
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July Volunteer Opportunities
July 17th through July 20th-Volunteers are needed at Riverbank Park to help coordinate paddle boats. Contact Carol-Anne [email protected] for more information and to sign up.
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