Clare County Community Foundation Has New Leadership

As the new year gets started, the Clare County Community Foundation Board of Trustees greets changes in Board member roles as well as new Board members. The new Board of Trustees consists of Clare County residents who volunteer their time and energy directly to the community through the foundation.

In 2009, the officers are: Carol Santini, Chair; Dan Timmins, Vice-Chair; Colleen Bremer, Secretary; Tammy Chaffee, Treasurer. The trustees are: Lawrence Barco, Jerry Brandt, Jim Doherty, Michael Jenkins, Wilda Mosher, Michelle Neff, Anne Smith, Carl Schwind, Harold Walls, and two new members. Both Amy Stark, and Bret Cook have recently been nominated and accepted to the Board of Trustees.

Ms. Stark, a life-long resident of Clare was nominated and approved as well. Her dedication to community involvement is evident in many ways. She volunteers to help with youth in her church, coaches junior high school girls basketball, coaches for Little League softball in the spring, and Ms. Stark is also a mentor at school. "I am interested in helping the children in our community succeed", she says "I am especially interested in all of the scholarship opportunities the Foundation offers youth in our community. I am excited to be part of the Clare County Community Foundation so I can help get the word out." said Stark.

 Mr. Cook, a financial advisor with Raymond James at Isabella Bank, is an active community member. He currently volunteers on the board for the Clare Rotary Club and sits on the board of Junior Achievement of Clare and Gladwin Counties. In addition to his formal board positions, he is active with the United Way of Clare fundraising campaign and coaches children's sports including little league, T-Ball and soccer. He and his family reside in Clare but he grew up in Marshall, MI. Mr. Cook's father was on the board of the Marshall Community Foundation and Bret grew up watching the steady growth of the Marshall Community Foundation downstate. The growth and community involvement inspired Bret to seek out local community foundations regardless of where he's lived because he understands the strength they have. "As a financial advisor, I am excited to be able to bring my knowledge to this Board of Trustees. I am looking forward to helping the Foundation grow in any way I can." said Cook.

"We are pleased to have such community-minded new trustees,” says Carol Santini, Board Chair. "The strength in our current leadership, as well as the addition of new trustees ensures a great team of leaders who can work together to make change."  Jan McGuire, President and CEO noted, "This board of trustees is very dedicated to the community they serve, I am excited about the new opportunities for this upcoming year.