Sheri Jones was recently inducted into the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle in recognition of her dedication to excellence and the significant contributions she has made to the television industry over the past 25 years.

 

Sheri anchors the 6 and 11 o'clock news for WLNS TV 6 and leads its Crime Stoppers Program.  Her weekly Crime Stoppers report has aided in the capture of many of Mid-Michigan's most wanted fugitive felons.  The program has also earned her several awards, including honors from the Associated Press, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Central Michigan Crime Prevention Association, and for four years in a row, the top media award from the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan.  Sheri has also been awarded by the State of Michigan as an Outstanding Advocate for Crime Victim's Rights and was a featured speaker at Eastern Michigan University for the Center for Regional and National Security.

 

In the last decade, Sheri has earned several prestigious community awards including:  the 2013 Michigan Women's Hall of Fame - Extraordinary Woman Award - with special acknowledgement from Governor Rick Snyder, the 2012 Citizen of the Year Recipient from Delta Township, the 2011 Woman of the Year from the National Association of Professional Women, the Athena Award from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Jack Breslin Walk of Life Award from Ingham Regional Medical Center, the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America, the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.  Sheri was also named South Lansing Community Service Person of the Year - receiving proclamations from U.S. Congressman Mike Rogers, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.  U.S. Senator Carl Levin deemed her Michigan's Crime Fighting Mom.

 

Sheri's expertise has been showcased on National Television including Forensic Files and The Montel Williams Show. 

 

In 2009, Sheri wrote and hosted an hour-long documentary for the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame that aired statewide on PBS.  In 2010, this documentary entitled "We Can Do It!" won an Emmy.  Today some 800 schools across Michigan offer students access to it in their research libraries.

 

In May 2015, Sheri chaired the Women Build for Habitat for  Humanity Capital Region.  Over the course of one week, she rallied 100 women to frame the walls of a habitat home for a Lansing Family of "quadruplets plus one".  She also helped raise $10,000 to support the efforts of Habitat's local affiliate.  Because of her efforts, WLNS TV 6 received the Community Involvement Award from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

 

In 2006, Sheri was the Capitol Campaign Chair for Child and Family Charities that raised more than $2 million dollars to build Angel House in Mason, Michigan.  Angel House is a temporary shelter/home for abused and neglect children from the Tri-County Area.

 

Sheri is an honor's graduate of MSU's College of Communications Arts and Sciences.  Sheri is an active member in a number of community groups including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Children's Trust Fund of Michigan and Child and Family Services Charities.  Sheri lives in Lansing with Rocco, her husband of 25 years, and their three children.

Cast members from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will perform for us on Friday, May 12th at the Lansing Center.  Based on the hit film, this musical tells the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who conned his way into cockpits, operating rooms and courtrooms across the country by impersonating pilots, doctors, lawyers and more.  This will be performed at Riverwalk Theatre from June 8th to the 18th.

Dick Ammons provided the invocation today on perseverance, followed by God Bless America.

 

President Jack mentioned two events the previous night, the annual Empty Plate dinner and the Small Business Association dinner, led by Chris Holman, who spoke and spoke and spoke.

 

Jenn Dubey resurrected the Hands On Committee’s commitment to the Red Cross, rallying seven Rotarians to install smoke alarms in many homes in our community. Way to go Jenn! Next up, the Hands On Committee will build a home with Lansing Habitat for Humanity. Stay tuned for the date and more info.

 

Paula Cunningham was recognized for receiving the Sojourner Truth Award by the Association for Professional Women – a well-deserved honor!

 

Donna Gardner spoke about the Paul Harris Campaign, which has raised $17,000 to date with more commitments to come. We exceeded her monetary goal but not her participation goal of 100% of the club. We stand at 43% participation (compared to 40% last year) but there is still time to make a gift of any size. The club celebrated Paul Harris and the 100th anniversary of Rotary International Foundation, singing Happy Birthday and enjoying cake.

 

The District Conference is May 12-13 in Battle Creek; Lansing Rotary will be recognized Saturday for our anniversary and Duane Vernon will be presented Friday with the Rotary Hero award.

 

A warm welcome to Maria Lenz with Eaton Federal Savings Bank, who received her red badge.

 

Ken Beachler introduced special music, cast members from “Catch Me If You Can,” opening June 8 at Riverwalk.

 

Michelle Lantz and Justin Sheehan announced it was College Decision Making Day for 50 high school students.

 

Our speaker of the day was Dr. George Kikano, Dean of Central Michigan University’s new College of Medicine. He opened with the grave announcement, “We have a problem with healthcare – not to get political.” We spend 18% of our GDP on healthcare, our infant mortality rate is going the wrong direction, and we have a severe shortage of healthcare physicians and that shortage is growing. Several years ago, CMU’s Board of Trustees decided to try to fill the gap and developed a medical school curriculum that is unique. “We know what we are and what we are not.” Eighty percent of their med students are from Michigan, and their goal is to retain them in Michigan. This year CMU had 5500 applicants for 100 positions. Everything else being equal among the applicants, CMU gives priority to students from Michigan. Credentials like a high GPA and published papers don’t matter; they look for personality, leadership skills, communication skills, and commitment to teamwork and the mission. Each student is known by name, and the college assigns three staff to each student. Currently, 50% of grads stay in Michigan, and he is hoping for 60-65% next year. Less than one third of their curriculum is lectures. Instead, the college focuses on team-based, case-based learning, with clinical experience starting in year one. By the third year, students are in a “clerkship” residency, imbedded in a community. If they understand the community and feel part of it, they are more likely stay. It is a true team approach – they learn how to work with nurses, social workers, receptionists – everyone on the team. “We are unique.”

 

During Q & A, the question was raised as to whether reduced credentials for new students dilutes the quality of the doctors. Dr. Kikano said absolutely not. What dilutes quality today is the for-profit medical schools, unaccredited medical schools in the Caribbean, and online medical schools. CMU is creating well-rounded students, not just scientifically smart; the school is not competing for the same core students as other medical schools.

 

Three Rotary clubs in the Saginaw area collaborated on a fundraising campaign called “Thanks for Staying” to create a fund to provide debt repayment incentives to medical students who stay in the community.

 

A Rotarian cited the need for more funding to meet the healthcare needs of rural and poor populations. Dr. Kikano said we don’t need more money in healthcare to meet these needs. We need better healthcare structure and programming – we incentivize the wrong things.

 

When asked for his opinion on Obamacare versus Trumpcare, Dr. Kikano said we need healthcare reform, and neither plan will address disparities and misalignments. Both plans have the same lobbying groups – don’t trust the numbers they give you.

 

Laurie Baumer's email is:  lbaumer@ourcommunity.org