Changes...

Yesterday my daughter and I, along with many members of the Saline community, said goodbye to an amazing woman. Woodie Merchant was a friend, a mentor, and one of my heroes. As was attested to during her memorial ceremony she touched many lives in a wonderful way. I first met her during her stint as a "cub" reporter (at the age of 60+) at council mtgs when I got elected to council in 1993. She brought so much to our community with her vision, passion, and determination. Instrumental in the consolidation of our school system (one room schools), expansion of the Methodist Church, library system and welcome wagon writer, she made all of us feel so special while doing so much for our community. She was our spark plug...and she will be missed. Thank you Woodie, for being in my life.
And as I said goodbye,
Yesterday afternoon the Center for Michigan and Business Leaders for Michigan Common Sense Reform Summit was held in Lansing. It was developed to discuss how to significantly change Michigan and bring forward ideas that will make our economy stronger and our state more competitive for new investment and talent. Panelists discussed public sector efficiency, making Michigan competitive, and investing in our future. The final panelists were 2011 legislative leadership and Governor-Elect Rick Snyder finished the afternoon. We have a new governor that is ready and excited to get to work. The leadership in the legislature said they want to work together for Michigan and not continue in the previous negative partisan manner. We have much work to do as a state...we are a state of citizens and each and every one of us was asked by this leadership to contribute. So I share the message..don't think of one(self), think of all, that is the real answer to how Michigan will work again.