Michigan Land Use Institute

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Our Back Pages

March 17, 2004 |

MLUI

Helen and Former Governor William Milliken

That Milliken Magic
Our dear friends Helen and Bill Milliken, Michigan’s grandest first
couple, bring people together around land use like no one else. So the loan of their peerless names to the Institute’s Fund for Michigan’s Future is thrilling — and is proving to be very effective. In its first year, the Milliken Fund gained almost 100 members, whom we count on for opinions, exceptional support, and recommendations for more Fund members. You can join by making an annual contribution of $1,000 or more. Contact Betsy Alles at 231-882-4723 or betsy@mlui.org.

Hello and Goodbye — and Thanks!
The Institute is pleased to announce new appointments to our Board of Directors. Veteran board member Bob Otwell, who was named as the new treasurer, manages the Grand Traverse and Leelanau county greenways programs and administers the TART biking and hiking trails. Reg Bird, former chair of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, helped raise more than $30 million to save 6,000 acres of dunes and forests along Benzie County’s Lake Michigan shoreline. John Logie, Grand Rapids’ mayor from 1991 to 2003, is a Smart Growth leader who practices law at Warner, Norcross, and Judd. Nancy Griffin was president of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society and a financial securities professional before moving to Frankfort, where she volunteers at the high school. Joyce Petter manages her Saugatuck gallery; she’s raised organic beef, renovated and constructed buildings, and organized grassroots community actions. Merci Beaucoup to Howard Tanner, Virginia Pierce and former treasurer Dick Hitchingham for their valuable service as board members. Dick remains our in-house accounting master.

Prime Time
Deputy Director Keith Schneider writes about Governor Granholm’s Smart Growth agenda in the March/April 2004 edition of E magazine. And our hard-charging founder also debates an outspoken opponent of land use reform (imagine that!) on NPR’s “Justice Talking.” If you miss the broadcast during the week of March 22, check the audio archives at www.justicetalking.org.

Help Wanted
Build the Smart Growth movement by helping to build our membership. Send names and addresses of friends that might be interested to maryellen@mlui.org or call 231-882-4723. Instead of junk mail, we will send them one complimentary copy of Great Lakes Bulletin in your name, plus an invitation to join.

ImPress-ive

The Institute burned up the presses this winter with a plethora of popular publications. A state senator ordered 300 copies of 10 Ways to Increase Michigan’s Prosperity. Many Web sites are posting links to People and Pavement. Hard Lessons went to every school board in the state and triggered tremendous press and legislative interest. And we burned through most copies of 3 Steps to Improve Public Access, about the proposed Crystal Lake boat launch, in a week. All are downloadable at http://www.mlui.org/publications.asp.

Michigan Land Use Institute

148 E. Front Street, Suite 301
Traverse City, MI 49684-5725
p (231) 941-6584 
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