Locally however, we have a charity, Rotary Charities that has a TON OF CASH and has blissfully handed it out to the needy, and for other community project for years.  Its goal was to fill in where government or other charitable works were not sufficient, and using money acquired from the proceeds of an oil trust it has donated millions to worthy causes in the past few decades.

The problem with money that has arbitrary purpose, is that it will attract folks with agendas and very definite purpose.

And in the case of the Rotary Charities, it seems that its board has been preempted by those with a left of center, socialist agenda.

And if not that, then it is folks who are complacent enough to not see what is happening under their noses.

For example one Marsha Smith, Executive Director.  

What fun it is to announce great projects and money giveaways!

Nearly $540,000 in Grants to Support Grand Vision

Building Quality Place Through Transformational Grant Making

Emphasizing her point, Rotary Charities in 2009-10 announced nearly $540,000 in grants to support the Grand Vision. These were directly related to implementation of the Grand Vision, explained Marsha. "When evaluating grants we look for proposals that fit our mission. Specifically, the proposal must meet an identified community need or enhance the quality of life for citizens in our region. All of these successful grants demonstrated that clearly and aligned with the Grand Vision guiding principles..."

She has been its champion since its inception.

"Marsha Smith is a 30-year resident of northern Michigan. As a member of the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission she led a comprehensive visioning process in 1990. She is one of the founders of New Designs for Growth and is currently serving as a Champion of the Grand Vision."

But never mind a conflict of interest.  There is some serious capital to be spent on Grand Visions!

But what are those?  What is a "Grand Vision?"

Agenda 21.  Specifically UN local Agenda 21, a wonderfully worded set of planning goals for the United States that cannot be done in a straight out top down manner.  It cannot be a set of rules placed by our "leaders" because to do so would reveal the nature of what will result in the most egregious private property takings one has ever seen.

Using specially trained "consensus building" facilitators of this clandestine operation, dissenters of local "sustainability" plans are quieted through a number of techniques.  One of those is ridicule, but not by facilitators, but rather by those facilitators using others who have swallowed hook line and sinker, the improved prosperity promise of such planning. Planning that ultimately has a social utopian angle to it.  Utopian, in that we all as individuals don't consume, own or control too much, and the world is better for it.

And the continuing justification for such plans is in the numbers.

My goodness 12,000 people participated in the Grand vision process!  And it is a PLAN, and it is GOOD!

Never mind the actual consensus building process which alienated those who were of conservative principles, and have a concern that this type of planning results in the inability of property owners to use their own land, buildings, easements etc., in a way they see fit.  Especially if its not in the plan.  The preordained plan.

Marsha Smith has been there from the get go.

And she is apparently "facilitating" the hiring of Government paid lackeys to move said plan forward.

From that same piece linked to above:

Here are five key reasons why the Grand Vision is different, and why I am confident that it will result in meaningful change:

*Diverse stakeholder support: The Grand Vision planning process was developed by more than 34 people including builders, Realtors, environmentalists, government officials, affordable housing specialists and business leaders. This disparate group demonstrated their commitment by working together for more than two years to design this process using a consensus decision-making process.

*Regional scope: This process is designed to include input and develop growth management strategies for the entire five-county region. Growth and traffic congestion do not respect township or county borders. The only way to tackle the area's growth is on a regional scale.

*Backing of all levels of government: The Grand Vision process has significant federal, state and local funding that has allowed us to hire the nation's premier scenario planning experts.

*State-of-the-art approach: The scenario planning process uses cutting-edge computer modeling and visualization technology that is specifically designed to incorporate the input from thousands of citizen viewpoints. It actually gives people a picture of the various growth scenarios and results in one publicly supported scenario.

*Emphasis on results: In addition to incorporating the good planning work that has already been done in the region, the Grand Vision will include a detailed and measurable implementation plan and some funding to implement prioritized projects.

And she isn't even trying to hide her involvement and dual role as grantor and recipient.

Grand Vision to Grand Action

The Grand Vision to Grand Action VISTA Program seeks to connect citizens, especially students and people in poverty with the activities and organizations that are working to implement one of six guiding principles of the Grand Vision: Thriving Cities and Villages; a Regional Transportation System; Affordable Housing Choices; Protected Natural Resources; a Viable Food and Farming Economy and Sustainable Green Energy. The multi-partner coalition includes businesses, local units of government, nonprofits and community institutions. VISTA volunteers will work with schools to develop Service Learning Opportunities; help small communities develop their own unique sense of place; and build the capacity of volunteers to help provide comprehensive services to people in poverty. More information about the Grand Vision can be found at www.thegrandvision.org

Member Duties : VISTA members will work to build infrastructure to connect residents to projects and processes of the Grand Vision and Poverty Reduction Initiative that engage citizens in making their communities a better place to live and to improve prosperity for all.

Program Benefits :
Childcare assistance if eligible ,  Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend ,  Education award upon successful completion of service ,  Health Coverage ,  Living Allowance ,  Mileage Reimbursement ,  Relocation Allowance ,  Stipend ,  Training .

Terms :
None

Service Areas :
Community and Economic Development ,  Community Outreach ,  Homelessness ,  Housing ,  Neighborhood Revitalization .

Skills :
Communications ,  Community Organization ,  Public Speaking ,  Recruitment .  

...
SUMMARY
Program Type:
AmeriCorps VISTA
Program
Grand Vision to Grand Action
Program Start/End Date
10/31/2011  -   11/03/2012
Work Schedule     Full Time
Education level
College graduate
Age Requirement
Minimum:  18    Maximum:  None
Program Locations     MICHIGAN  
Accepting Applications
From  08/01/2011  To  08/25/2011
Contact     Marsha Smith
202 E. Grandview Parkway, Suite 200
Traverse City   MI   49684
231-941-4010
msmith@rotarycharities.org
thegrandvision.org

Oh, Nearly forgot "poverty reduction".  In fact there is so much more that my fingers are hurting just thinking about it.

From local charity being abused to the federal manipulation by the grant process, there is so much to love about this agenda.