Sunfield Area Spy's Report - 2009, The Year in Review

The following is a simple compilation of what the SPY organization has managed to accomplish in the year 2009. We did not do this alone. We are but one thread in the cloth that makes up the diverse tapestry of the community at large. It takes the right, prevailing attitude, along with many willing hands to truly build and sustain a community. We are proud to continue to be; along with our corporate and platinum sponsors and supporters; a viable part of the endeavor to make the Sunfield area a better place to live.

• Jim Livermore; Neil & Michelle Estep; and Brain & LouAnn Horag joined the Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth in 2009.

• The legendary "Myrtle The Traveling Fertile Turtle" that shows up every year at the Annual Meeting struck again. Chalk up #9 and #10 in 2009. It will be interesting to see what happens this year!.

• Buddy "The 101 Ways To Prepare Road Kill Master Chef" Collins once again headed up our Wild Game Dinner. We had a fantastic thirteenth year hosting this event. It was once again a success. In fact we had 125 people attend this year. We also gave away more prizes than ever before. This immensely popular activity, founded by Mark Huyck, has evolved into one of our largest fund raisers.

• We continued our financial support for the area kids participating in the youth wrestling program. This year's cost was $350.

• Craig "The Pooh-Bah Of Pasteboards" Cappon once again did a fine job heading up our the twenty-seventh annual SPY's Euchre Tournament, or "The Showdown On Main Street", as it has become to be known. This year the winners were Darin "The Bombastic Baron of Bowers" Weller, (men's champion), and Angela "Call Me Angie And You Die" Coan, (women's champion), for the second year in a row! The worst players in the tournament, Crystal Peabody and her hubby Jamie each won a scholarship to Acme Euchre School.

• We donated $250 to help underwrite a youth outreach program that put on a demonstration at the Methodist Church and at the Farmer's Picnic.

• We donated $100 to local artist Tim Bosworth for needed supplies for his "Dirt Center" kid’s art programs.

• We once again provided both the team and individual funding for the Sunfield area youth playing in the Boys Pee Wee Basketball program. This totaled only $480 this year.

• We covered all of the costs involved with the local girls that participated in the Girls Pee Wee Basketball program.

• We continued providing $450 in funding for the Sunfield Elementary teacher's individual classroom needs.

• We donated a total of $500 to help support the annual Farmer's Picnic fireworks show and other picnic activities. We also covered the costs in providing the porta-johns for the Picnic.

• The 1,563rd "Sunfield Area SPY Report" column was published in the Sunfield Sentinel this year. The "Dirt Sheet", the region’s #1 source for accurate news reporting, is now in its 35th year of publication.

• We donated $500 to Lakewood's Project Graduation. We have been a sponsor of this fine program since its inception 24 years ago.

• We again underwrote the costs of the Sunfield Elementary School's "March Is Reading Month", which provides books for kids. This totaled $308 this year.

• The membership voted to provide $250 in funding for area youth participating in the Middle School Tennis Club activity.

• Scott "Don't Be A Litter Bug" McWhorter completed his fourteenth year of chairing our Adopt-A-Highway project. He coordinated the three roadside trash pick-ups this spring and summer along the 2-mile stretch of M-43 from Shaytown Road to Round Lake Road. His dedication to this effort is truly commendable!

• This year's funding allocation for support of the summer sports programs totaled $8,000. The funding covered all of the expenses for the over 150 Sunfield area kids playing on the 14 to 16 different baseball and softball teams.

• Rosie Best continued her role of running the SPY's annual Celebration Calendar project this year. The Community Celebration Calendar celebrated its 40th year of being a part of the community. Due to the economy, this year we gave all of our local business advertisers free ads.

• We had 20 wonderful people sign up to have their United Way and other payroll deduction program contributions designated to come to the SPY's in 2009. People don't realize how big a difference doing this makes in our ability to meet the many needs of youth in the community. We appreciate everyone that takes the time to make their designations go to work here in our community.

• This past summer---the SPY’s Summer Celebration---roared into its fifth great year. This event was the brainchild of Phil Smith, who had long wanted to do a barbecue cook off. He teamed up with Bob Bumgardner, who had long wanted to do a car show, and the rest, as they say, is history. Then along came Chris Wegener, and a 5-K run / walk was added to the festivities. The Summer Celebration has turned out to be a fantastic event. This year we had some wind, rain, and other challenges to contend with, bt we made it through. The SPY’s Summer Celebration has proven to be a great annual community extravaganza. The PBR Barbecue Team was the overall barbecue cook off champion. Tony Pline won the prestigious Participant’s Choice Award in the car show. Pat & Linda Patton took home the People’s Choice award. In the 5-K run, Eric Stuber was the overall men’s champion and Sarah Sandborn was again the overall women’s champion.

• $1420 was allocated in 2009 to assist kids participating in various local youth summer golf programs.

• We again donated $500 to the Sunfield Senior Citizens Nutritional Program in 2009.

• Oren Best continued to serve as our school liaison and John Fisher served as our liaison to the Sunfield Summer Athletic Association (SSAA), as well as the Farmer’s Picnic board this year.

• It all started with Erv and Gary Lubitz wanting to make a couple of hand-crafted patio rocking chairs that the SPY's could possibly raffle off to raise funds. Then came along "Honest Roy" Harris with some of his company's wrought iron pieces. Then there was some "influence" from SPY's good friend Richard Lenon. Some thoughts and ideas came together and the "Support Our Local Merchants" drawing was created. No tickets to buy---all you had to do was patronize any of our local businesses and you would get a free ticket for the prize drawing. It was all in an effort to help our local economy. Drawing winners were Joanne Milbourne; Julie Meyers; Darcy Kerr; Melissa Thompson; and Jerry Gilbert.

• Bill & Patti Weller maintained the family tradition of locking up the SPY’s Treasure Hunt Championship, when they topped the Coan’s in a hard fought campaign in this year’s version which started in November, 2008 and ended in May, 2009.

• The Dime Pitch Booth that we run at the Farmer's Picnic each year is a major source of summer activities funding for us. Jamie & Crystal Peabody have taken over as leaders of this event for us and do an outstanding job.

• 2009 SPY Community Foundation Scholarship and Recognition Award winners were seniors Chelsey Dow; Ben McKinney; Kara Clark; Marlena Smith; Aaron Clark; Hanna Poole. A total of $10,000 was awarded this year. A special salute goes out to the eight members of this year’s "Scholarship Review Committee" that put in a lot of time and effort in the grueling selection process.

• This year the recipient of the SPY's "Richard Lenon Community Service Award", that goes to the graduating high school senior from the Sunfield area that has demonstrated the greatest involvement in the community, was Hanna Poole. She received a recognition plaque and a $500 cash award for her efforts.

• We also continue to be the chartering organization for the Cub Scouts.

• With the help of Joann Van Orman and Cassel Ice Company, we again covered the costs for supplying free on-site ice for use by local groups during the August Farmer's Picnic activity. Craig Mulholland handles the logistics for us on this.

• We continued our support of local kids involved in the various soccer programs offered. This year's soccer costs totaled $700

• Bill Weller again led a fine crew in putting on the twenty-first annual Centennial Acres / SPY Shootout golf tournament that helps raise funding for our youth programs. Thanks to Bill's eye for continuous improvement, the tournament is getting better and smoother running each year. This year's division winners were: the Brock Elliot team, (overall champions); the Mike Jackson team; the Nancy Jecks team; the Tom Jecks team; and the Diane Updyke team. The "Corporate Challenge Cup" was won by the Wm. Morris & Son, Inc. team. The grand prize drawing winner was Brian Haskin.

• Our nineteenth annual "Barnyard Classic" 3 on 3 basketball tournament division winners were: The Valley Team; Who’s Next; The Suntken Team; and 4 Boys To A Ball. Darin "I’ve Been A Dribbler All My Life" Weller once again did a fine job as the leader of the Classic.

• Jake "Foul Ball" Bosworth continued as the commissioner of the "SPY’s Charities Softball Tournament", that is held during Farmer’s Picnic week. This marked the 38th year the tournament has been held. The Brodbeck Farms team was this year’s champion. Josh Mitchell was voted the tournament MVP.

• We appropriated $2,700 to cover expenses associated with the kids participating in the Lakewood Pee Wee football program.

• We donated $200 to help out the Junior High Band program.

• We allocated $560 to help the Sunfield Elementary School purchase two Mindstorm NXT robotics kits for use in a special program being instituted at the school.

• Back in 2007, we began working at Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments that are held Tripper’s Sports Bar in the Frandor shopping center in Lansing. By law, we are only allowed to get four licenses from the State each year for such activities. We worked our quota of four events throughout the year. These tournaments are not only easy work, but have been a tremendous wind-fall for us in light of current economic conditions. It takes considerable pressure off of trying to generate the funds we need entirely through local sources. Sam Coan has taken over as our project chairman, and has been doing a fine job.

• We donated $100 to the "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" project.

• Numerous upgrades and improvements were made to the SPY’s website this past year. Many thanks go out to Sarah Jameson and Peter Myers for the work they did for us.

• Contributions were made this past year to the "Sunfield Cares" program; the "Community Meal" program; and to "Manna’s Market" to help those in need---an ever increasing number.

• The membership voted to step-in and take over the funding of the utility bill expense concerning keeping the flag and the veterans memorial board at the GAR Hall illuminated. The annual cost involved is $400.

• The 33rd. annual fun-filled 50's/60's, (and now 70's too), Dance was again a fun event. It was again held at the American Legion Hall in Charlotte. The crowd came from all over. The between sets acts were again the epitome of both entertainment and unparalleled artistic achievement. Juaise Peabody served as the chairperson of the committee that puts the dance together.

• Again in 2009, the SPY's were called upon at various times to handle "special needs projects" within the community that were brought to our attention. We feel privileged that we are in a position where we are able to make a difference in this particular way. It seems that these types of needs are increasing every year. Funds allocated for these "quiet" needs totaled approximately $1,500. We are aided in much of this work through donations from people who wish to remain anonymous. This is yet another example of a community working together.

• The Scholarship Fund continued to grow in 2009, through the generous contributions from many individuals; special projects; and especially memorial gifts. We are indeed gratified by the community's support of the Scholarship Fund. Thus far, $136,500 has been awarded to local graduating seniors. The Scholarship Fund continues to be administered by the SPY’s Community Foundation.

• 2009 saw the successful continuation of our "Corporate Sponsor" program. This is a specially designed program that allows us to form a more effective partnership with community and youth concerned businesses and individuals that provide benefits for all.

This year's "Corporate Sponsor" participants were:

Centennial Acres Golf Course
Mapes Furniture Company
Mark Woodman Plumbing and Heating
H.S.V. Redi-Mix
Rosier Funeral Home
American Collegiate Marketing
Tico Duckett Distributing
Mason Ornamental Iron
Mike Davis Construction
Best Tax Service
Charlotte Wal-Mart
Union Bank
Hazel Brothers Drainage
Sunfield IGA
Automated Process Equipment Corporation
Haskin Snow Plowing
Wolverine Engineering
Wm. Morris & Son, Inc.
Down Home BBQ

As tough as things are in this state economically, we are indeed heartened and grateful for their continued significant support.

In 2008, we launched our "Platinum Sponsor" program that is designed to be like the Corporate Sponsor program, but is set-up for private individuals that wish to contribute at least $500 annually to help our efforts. This year's Platinum Sponsors were: are:

Richard Lenon
LeRoy Jackson & Elaine Merryfield
John & Sandra Fisher
Bill & Patti Weller
Sandra Walliczek

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all these fine community minded individuals.

• We again participated in the Lakewood Community Council's Christmas Basket program which helps nearly 200 families in the Lakewood area, including a number locally, with food and gifts. This year we contributed $500, as well as provided a crew to handle all of the deliveries in the Sunfield area.

• "Wild Bill"Weller won the thirtieth annual Bill "Moose" Fisher Memorial All World International Poker Championship. This tournament benefits the Scholarship Fund.

• The "Youth Activities Trust Fund", which was started in 1996 with designated gifts, and is set-up to function like the "Scholarship Fund", in that it is intended to serve as a perpetual source of funding for some of our youth programs, continued to grow. This year, the Trust Fund was turned over to the SPY’s Sunfield Community Foundation to insure its continuation for years to come.

COMMENT

As you can see, the Sunfield Area Sponsors of Programs for Youth (S.P.Y.'s) are an active, vital organization. Our prime purpose is community betterment through helping kids.

I have mentioned this in the past, but it bears repeating. It comes from a note I received in the mail that, to me, captured what the SPY’s are all about---I quote---"Thanks for everything you do to enhance the lives of youth in Sunfield, and thus, everyone in the community. The ultimate value of bringing up a youth in the company of caring adults and in the pursuit of healthy and wholesome activity cannot be measured except as the priceless memory of a happy childhood."

Always remember, there are three main ingredients to our success.

First, there is the drive and dedication of our members.

Second, is the ever-present support and assistance of the S.P.Y.'s spouses and significant others.

Third, and perhaps most important, is the acceptance and backing from you folks out there for our projects, programs, and other activities.

To all of you S.P.Y.'s - to your helpmates - our Corporate Sponsors - our Platinum Sponsors - and to everyone that supported us in 2009 and years past - THANK YOU!!

Thank you for your help, support, contributions of any kind, hard work, dedication, and acceptance. The school, community, and this area in general is a better place because of all of us working and pulling together. We are indeed blessed.

MDXIII

Previous Reviews: 2008  2007  2006  2005