From the Desk of the Main Street Program Director

by Rae Gosling, Grayling Main Street Program Director

As many of your likely recall, Grayling Main Street (GMSt) hosts an AmeriCorps VISTA member in our office. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve a program for one year, and then often times move on to other opportunities. This week marked the changing of the VISTAs in the GMSt office.  

Our former VISTA member, Ms. Heather Tait, completed her year of service last week with a final day of training and celebration in Lansing, among other AmeriCorps service members. She stopped in a couple times to clear out her desk, wrap up her informational binder, and tell us a few more corny jokes.  

During Tait’s time with Grayling Main Street she built capacity specifically in the communication sector of our program  If you are not following us on Facebook, you certainly should. She did a wonderful job of developing a good schedule of posting and set the ground work for generating content that encourages viewers to participate. At this time, we are looking for a couple folks to take the reins, and work with me to continue to positive inviting Facebook page Tait worked to build for us.  

Tait was also instrumental in reviving the monthly e-newsletters for GMSt. Her creation of a new format, as well as inputting information into the distribution mechanism we use, helped to get the newsletter going again. This helped us to make progress in how we engage with volunteer. Additionally, she coordinated two volunteer engagement events.  

Tait’s work with GMSt was greatly appreciated, and we look forward to using the tools she built us in the future to continue to build connections with our community and volunteers.

At this time, I would like to introduce our new AmeriCorps VISTA Member, Ms. Erica Blair. Blair is no stranger to Grayling, and many of you have probably met or seen her around town.  She has volunteered for GMSt events since the beginning, and grew up not far from here.  Her youth was spent living in Higgins Lake, and attending Roscommon schools. As a young adult, she has taken time to explore others areas of Northern Michigan, the nations, and the world. We are delighted to welcome her to the team and think she will be an asset as we move into this next phase of growth for GMSt and Grayling as a community.

In the coming year, Blair will focus on funding development and business attraction. She will work closely with the Organization Committee, Promotions Committee, and the Economic Vitality and Project Rising Tide Committee. Her goals include: revising our fundraising practices related to events; further development of our annual partnership program; and identifying businesses that could be a good fit here, in order to reach out and invite them to tour Grayling. 

If you see Blair around, be sure to offer her a congratulatory high-five on her new position, as well as a hearty thank you for her service as an AmeriCorps VISTA member.

Want to know more about GMSt and what is going on in Downtown Grayling?  Check back in future editions of the Avalanche for more From the Main Street Director’s Desk.  You can also check out our website, www.DowntownGrayling.com, find us on Facebook, or email your questions to DowntownGrayling@gmail.com.

 

Rae Gosling is the Program Director for Grayling Main Street. She has been with GMSt since April 2016. She is a Grayling resident, wife, mother, local shopper, avid supporter of all things Grayling, and keeps everyone on their toes wondering what color her hair will be next.