Notable News for October 2020

DCECU Vice President Announces Retirement

Kenneth G. Roznowski, vice president of retail operations for Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union. Announced his retirement after more than four decades in banking.

Roznowski has had a 42-year career, most recently directing all retail and bank member operations for DCECU. During that time, Roznowski has been an example to others and has led nearly every team.

“We are grateful for all the time and talent Ken has lent to the Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union throughout his distinguished career,” said DCECU President and CEO Michael Goad. “Ken has been invaluable in helping to further our mission of providing superior financial services, one member at a time, and will be missed.”

His last day with the organization will be Dec. 1. DCECU will begin the process to hire a vice president responsible for managing and directing the retail, credit and member solutions departments and hopes to allow some overlap to ensure a smooth transition.

Perceptions Receives Grant for MACF

Perceptions recently received a $15,000 grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation Community Investment Fund and the COVID-19 Response/Disaster Relief Fund. This funding will assist the organization in pursuit of its mission to provide sexual orientation and gender identity/expression education, advocacy, networking and resources to individuals and organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts it has had on the nonprofit community, the Midland Area Community Foundation adjusted a recent grant cycle to support the operational needs of the organization.

Perceptions is a hub for the LGBTQ community in the Great Lakes Bay Region by connecting the community through educational opportunities, advocacy efforts, resource referrals and social networking opportunities through its programming and partnerships with other collaborative service providers.

“The LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities already faced a higher risk of the negative effects of social distancing and isolation,” said Scott Ellis, executive director of Perceptions. “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased these risks even more. I’m proud of the steps Perceptions has taken to maintain connections with our community as we all navigate these uncertain times. On behalf of the organization, I thank the Midland Area Community Foundation and United Way of Midland County for providing this grant to support our operations.”

District Receives MASB Master Board Award

The Michigan Association of School Boards has announced the recipients for the 2019 Annual Certified Board Member Awards program. Saginaw Intermediate School District has received the 2019 Master Board Award celebrating boards in which all members have achieved the Master Board Member Award.

According to MASB, the program was developed in 1990 by veteran Michigan school board members, representatives from higher education and state administrator organizations in order to enhance the ability of school boards to improve Michigan public schools and the achievement of 1.4 million Michigan students.

“Our school board members spend dedicated time toward modeling professional development and maintaining their certifications in order to provide the best possible educational experiences for our communities,” said Jeffrey Collier, superintendent. “We treasure the servant leadership and expertise of our school board leaders as they make meaningful decisions that positively impact and advance our school systems.”

Credit Union Awards Scholarships

Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union has awarded 10 scholarships worth $1,500 each to DCECU-affiliated students through two scholarship programs.

This is the eighth year of this scholarship program through the Midland Area Community Foundation. Eight of the scholarships were awarded to members in good standing through the Dow Chemical Employees’ Credit Union Members Endowed Scholarship program and the remaining two were awarded to family members of credit union employees through a separate scholarship fund.

The 2020 scholarship winners and their intended fields of study and universities are:

• Joe Cummings of Bullock Creek High School in Midland, who will study biology at Saginaw Valley State University.
• Serena Fleming-Dittenber of Midland High School, who will study biology at Saginaw Valley State University.
• Ashley King of Heritage High School in Saginaw, who will study optometry at the University of Michigan.
• Thomas Johnstone of Midland High School, who will study business/economics at Alma College.
• Allison Leslie of Herbert Henry Dow High School in Midland, who will study biochemistry at Ferris State University.
• Jaylynn Slabic of Gladwin High School, who will study health care administration at Northwood University.
• Hailee Swantek of Midland High School, who will study accounting at Michigan State University.
• Katelyn Taylor of Swan Valley High School in Saginaw, who will study kinesiology at Saginaw Valley State University.
• Brooke Ward of Coleman High School, who will study business/economics at Saginaw Valley State University.
• Audrey Xu of Herbert Henry Dow High School in Midland, who will study finance at the University of Michigan.

McLaren Bay Receives Achievement Award

McLaren Bay Region has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines: Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

“At McLaren Bay Region, we are dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines: Stroke initiative,” said Clarence Sevillian, president and CEO at McLaren Bay Region. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

McLaren Bay Region earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. Those measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

McLaren Bay Region additionally received the association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll Award.

New Dental Center Opening

My Community Dental Centers opened a new dental center in Bay City in early September.

The dental center is 3,000 square feet at 2614 Center Ave. in Bay City. The center provides dental services to Medicaid enrollees, Healthy Kids Dental, Healthy Michigan Plan, low-income uninsured and those with private insurance seeking a dental home.

“MCDC is proud to have this opportunity to provide quality oral health care to the communities in Bay County. The  Bay  County  Health  Department  has  played  a  critical  role  as  a collaborative partner to make this a reality,” Deborah E. Brown, CEO of My Community Dental Centers. “MCDC is committed to increasing access, improving the dental health of the community and ensuring that our patients have the highest quality experience. We believe that everyone should have access to dental care that is provided with dignity, respect and in a state-of-the-art facility that is clean and comfortable.”

Michigan Sugar Begins Sugar Beet Slicing Campaign

Michigan Sugar Co. began its 2020-2021 sugar beet harvest Aug. 11, with beets being received at the company’s factories in Caro and Croswell. Both factories began slicing the next day, which is the earliest start date for the campaign in the recent history.

The Michigan Sugar’s Bay City and Sebewaing factories began slicing Aug. 17.

Michigan Sugar Co. officials are predicting a seven-month campaign of processing, with the campaign wrapping up sometime in March.

“At this time, we are estimating a crop of 29 to 30 tons per acre and sugar content close to 18%,” said Jim Ruhlman, executive vice president for Michigan Sugar Co., adding about 30,000 of the company’s 162,000 acres of sugar beets had to be replanted this year. “I can’t stop thinking about the resolve that our growers had this spring when they replanted acres and weathered the storms of rain and historic flooding. To have a crop like we do is just remarkable. We are very well positioned for very good yields and high sugar.”