Raised in Latin America, Yvonne brings a rich “world-view” to her work in the field of education as a former teacher, school principal, director of curriculum and assessment, consultant for priority schools, a state department of education official, as a corporate senior executive in the private sector leading a research and innovation division, and directing a Kellogg Foundation Early Childhood collaborative between Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina. Yvonne currently serves as Superintendent of the Lansing School District in Michigan’s capital city.

 

Since taking the helm in 2012, Yvonne has spearheaded a bold restructuring plan that focuses on research-based models to improve instruction. The plan establishes a long-term instructional vision that aims to achieve educational achievement and financial stability for the largest district in the mid-Michigan’ region. Yvonne is well-known throughout the area as a no-nonsense, student focused leader dedicated to educating students in a caring and collaborative environment. Yvonne recently launched an innovative career and college readiness plan called the Lansing Pathway Promise which provides students with learning options in multiple pathways of learning. (www.lansingpathwaypromise.net )

 

With more than 40 years of expertise in education, it’s no surprise that Yvonne was named the 2015 Michigan Superintendent of the Year. Yvonne was recognized for her visionary leadership and energetic advocacy for public education. In 2017, Yvonne received national recognition by winning the Women in School Leadership Superintendent Award from the School Superintendents Association (AASA). The award is sponsored by AASA and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Throughout the course of her career, she has received numerous other awards, among them are the National Educator Award presented by the Milken Family Foundation, the Human Rights Award given by the Michigan Education Association, and Greater Lansing Woman of the Year Finalist.

 

Yvonne received a degree in speech and theater from Olivet College and a master’s degree in elementary education and racial and ethnic studies from Michigan State University. She was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Olivet College in 1997 and selected as a Distinguished Alumni in 2015. Yvonne and her husband Victor have a home in Mexico where they might retire someday.

Virginia Alice Wheating Cherf was born on January 6, 1925 in Sturgis, Michigan to Merle and Arthur Wheating. As a child, she moved with the family to Hastings, Michigan. While Ginny was working at Eaton Corporation in Battle Creek she met a young, handsome Frank Cherf. They married and relocated to Lansing, Michigan in 1950. Ginny worked in the finance department for Oldsmobile in Lansing. She chose to stay home and raise her three children while always volunteering in the community. She received an award for over 50 years of service in the St. Lawrence Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary, where she dedicated her time and talents to the gift shop.

 

Ginny loved travel, music, dancing, celebrations, cards, bingo, reading, community service and lifelong friendships. Most of all she loved her soulmate, Frank, and her family and anything that celebrated their lives.

 

Never sick a day in her life, Ginny suddenly passed on October 27, 2018 with her best friend, Helen, and Frank at her side. Ginny was full of grace, hope and joy. She is survived by Randon (Frank), Jody (Frank) and John (Kelly) and her amazing grandchildren.

 

Family, friends and others whose lives Ginny touched are invited to a memorial service at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI, 48823, on Thursday, Nov 1 at 11AM. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Those desiring can share online condolences at www.greastlansing. com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St. Lawrence Hospital Gift Shop Volunteer Organization: Mary Magdalen League c/o Sparrow Foundation, 1322 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 204, Lansing, MI, 48912.

We will have a camera team at the Lansing Center on November 9, following the meeting we could shoot

great content from our members.  We are hoping to have members say a couple of lines on camera about Rotary and what do you personally, get out of it each week.  Or perhaps, there is an accomplishment that made a difference in the community or the world.  We will be positioning the Lansing Rotary as people of action, community leaders, problem solvers, opportunity creators, community builders and encouraging people to "BE THE INSPIRATION!"

 

 

 

Chris Swope was greeting us at the door today as one by one we filed into the cavernous hall for our weekly lunch. John Dale was setting the mood with old tunes touched with just enough flourishes to make you have to think before you could name that tune. After shaking a hand at almost every table in the room President Dennis Fliehman made his way to the main stage and called us to order. Bill DuBois was the invocator of the day and did a fine job of calling on the higher power within each of us to up our game. We followed that with a rousing rendition of God Bless America. Jennifer Marsh trudged across the Rotary tundra for the introduction of guests. Sue Mills put a cuff on our arm, asked us to cough twice and took the pulse of the club (we're all good).

 

Ken Beachler, whose raison d'être is to provide a musical interlude for Rotary, introduced our special musical performer today, Laura Croff. Laura sang a song from the musical Oliver and we were hungry for more so we banged our silverware on the table and said, "Please sir, I want some more!" She willingly obliged. She forever endeared herself to Lansing Rotarians who periodically misplace in their memory the next line of the song. Ever the trouper, she laughed it off and finished strong. Reminder: November 2 is the deadline for international grants. Get your apps in! Also, Susan Angel is recording our Rotary thoughts for posterity on November 9, so bring some Jack Handy Deep Rotary Thoughts on November 9. (My favorite repeatable here Jack Handy quote is "I don't think I'm alone when I say I'd like to see more and more planets fall under the ruthless domination of our solar system.") Come on, have some fun, be creative!

 

Paul Rathbun (Chair of the Month) and Glenn Granger (Chair of the Day) were the eye candy on the dais, with Granger introducing our speaker of the day, none other than the Cheerleader in Chief for Lansing Business, Tim Daman. Our fellow Rotarian has been so busy with the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, he truly felt like a guest on Friday. I'm thinking it's a good thing for Rotarians to feel welcome at Rotary. Anywho, Tim updated us all on some of the commercial spending that's been going on in the Lansing region over the last several years. He highlighted Michigan Avenue's resurgence as critical to the Region because attracting talent is of paramount importance if we're to compete with Grand Rapids and Detroit which are finding success in their efforts to create vibrant center city districts. We're going to need more than a few scooters to up our score on the coolness factor. When asked about regional, inter-governmental cooperation, Tim called upon the ghost of Ned Legg who told Tim "that's been an issue since I was president of the chamber back in 1968." President Fliehman graciously thanked our speaker, shook his hand and sent us on our way.

 

Kevin Schumacher's email is:  Schumacher@glassenrhead.com