michigan peeps! (Read 648 times)

I got this email from a friend yesterday...I know michigan's budget is in crappy shape and things do need to be sacrificed, but this (library funding) just seems too important to be put on the chopping block. I for one have utilized the regional sharing option with nearly every trip to my local library...while my branch does try to keep updated on their materials, there are still so many items that are not available- being able to check them out from other libraries around here is nice and in some cases incredibly helpful (esp in terms of research for big papers, etc). If you agree, or want to know more, i encourage you to read the following (and to click on the links for more info about this particular proposal).... thank you! Friends, if your family orders books, videos, CDs, etc. through the library's regional book-sharing program, please take a second now to email your state and local reps to ask them to continue this valuable educational resource, as the entire system is currently on the state budget chopping block. Email contacts and sample message below. Thanks! Mike PS: The need is so urgent that the GR Public Library and Kent District Library leaders are organizing an unprecedented grassroots campaign to urge people like you and me to contact our leaders asap (see GR Press article http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-35/117613008437590.xml&coll=6 and new link on GRPL web http://www.grpl.org/yourlibrary/boardinfo/legcontact.html ) PSS: another way you can help is to please forward this message to friends SAMPLE EMAIL MESSAGE From: Mike Buwalda To: SenBHardiman@senate.Michigan.gov Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 Subject: please preserve library funding Dear Senator Hardiman, please do not cut the library regional book sharing program. Our kids (and many of our friends' kids) rely on this program for family educational needs. We voted for the library millage increase a few years ago and pay our fair share of property taxes, etc. in good faith, trusting that these basic services will continue. Thank you for everything you do for our state, Mike Buwalda and family CONTACT INFO Governor The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm PO Box 30013 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-335-7858 Email (web form): http://www.capwiz.com/politicsol/mail/?id=31687&type=GV&state=MI State Senate Senator Bill Hardiman PO Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 Phone: 517-373-1801 Email: SenBHardiman@senate.Michigan.gov Senator Wayne Kuipers PO Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 Phone: 517-373-6920 Email: SenWKuipers@senate.Michigan.gov State House Representative Glenn Steil, Jr. PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-0840 Email: glennsteil@house.mi.gov Representative Tom Pearce PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-0218 Email: tompearce@house.mi.gov Representative David Agema PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-8900 Email: daveagema@house.mi.gov Representative Robert Dean PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-2668 Email: robertdean@house.mi.gov Representative Michael Sak PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-0822 Email: representativesak@house.mi.gov Representative Kevin Green PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-2277 Email: kevingreen@house.mi.gov Representative Dave Hildenbrand PO Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: 517-373-0846 Email: rephildenbrand@house.mi.gov Not sure who your Senator is? http://www.grpl.org/yourlibrary/boardinfo/legcontact.html Not sure who your Rep is? http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp

On another note, we'll be driving from Chicago possibly to Toronto next month. Probably going through Kalamazoo and maybe Detroit, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Battle Creek on the way. So. What shall we do? Besides drink at Bells, which is a given.

What else is there?

QFT. There really isn't much else worth visiting in Kalamazoo. There is a new sushi place by Bells, if you like that, its good. If you do make it further north, the drive on 31 from Traverse City to Petoskey is real nice, takes you along Grand Traverse bay to Little Traverse bay. The run from Charlevoix to Petoskey is fun too, along the lake mostly.

Traverse City is if'n we decide to hug the coast for a bit. We did Mac a couple of years ago, good time! Not cheap, but good fun.

Thanks for posting that. I know did will be particularly interested, as he uses our library quite a bit. I think some of the books he has had out on loan have come from other libraries in the LLC system. k

I don't pay Kent County taxes, since I've moved up a county, but I sure do use the LLC system alot...and since our library is really tiny, I utilize the sharing option constantly!! And I did vote for our last library mil increase in our area. Seriously, Granholm doesn't think she can find anything else to cut???

Seriously, Granholm doesn't think she can find anything else to cut???

You know, after working for the state government, I find it even harder to sympathize with any budget woes. Of course Granholm can find other ways to cut. Libraries, police posts closing/ # of officers reduced, public service employees reduced...they are the areas that most people are going to pay attention to and get all fired up about. And maybe then the public will support whatever revenue raising method she proposes. I used to get (and still do) sick at all of the waste and foolish decisions made by some people in the government. A small example (and I'll spare the agency's identity) is when there was a building that needed some renovating. Bids are required to do this work, and long story short, they accepted a bid from a particular company. They were about to authorize this job in the $20,000+ price range. The job should have only cost the state about $5,000 maybe but no one's lightbulb went on. Luckily, one person did question it and it was found that the company had visited and bid on the wrong building. The job was eventually done for ~$4,000. It was one signature away from being done. Things like this happen all the time. Waste happens intentionally every single day, too, and yet we have a budget problem. Infact, before the end of the year, all the agencies scramble around trying to spend their leftover money because if they don't, then their budget will be cut for the following year. I'm sure this probably isn't just limited to government agencies but I think it's just a shame not to mention crime. /ranting off