Community Calendar

A Tech Toolkit for the Proactive Arts Admin

For nonprofit professionals, staying organized can often feel like a full-time job in itself. This session is designed to help arts nonprofit professionals transition from "putting out fires" to proactive planning by leveraging the full power of their existing digital ecosystem.

We want to help you reclaim your creative energy by shifting from reactive tasks to proactive impact using the tools you already use every day. We’ll dive into "hidden" Google Workspace features to automate your inbox and calendar, followed by high-impact applications for AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to streamline grant drafting, program planning, and donor reporting. You’ll walk away with a practical "productivity toolkit" and the confidence to let technology handle the busy work so you can focus on human-centered work.

Facilitator: Sam Charnes
Sam Charnes is the Associate Vice Provost at Interlochen Center for the Arts, overseeing institutional research and educational technology. Specializing in systems implementation and operational strategy, she is dedicated to using data and technology to drive decision-making and planning.

Audience: Who is this for?
This session is designed for:

Organizations

Must register for event. Not a member - join at https://nwmiarts.org/members/become-a-member.html

Creative Wellness Monthly Gathering
Facilitators: Carol Hohle & Meridith Mulcahy

Time: 1:30 pm–3 pm

Registration Deadline: N/A

Location: Meet at the GAAC front desk, then follow the fun—we may head to locations like Pine Street Studio or Thoreson Farm Studio during the summer. (Reserve Pinestreet Classroom as permanent option)
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $10 member/ $12 nonmember
Min/Max: N/A
Time to Set Up: 15 minutes
Time to Clean Up: 15 minutes

This group will gather once a month to share and learn more about the value of creativity in our daily lives. Over a warm mug of brewed tea/coffee (or ice tea/lemonade in the summer!), come connect with others, share ideas, find inspiration, and practical tips to lead a more creative and whole-hearted approach to life. Each month, in addition to checking in with one another, we will explore different practices (journaling, stitching, collaging, photography) that may pique your creative curiosity.

Each week the group will meet at the front desk of the Glen Arbor Art Center and will move to locations such as Pine Street Studio, the GAAC Classroom, the GAAC grove or Thoreson Farm.

In honor of Health Literacy Month, join us to hear from a wellness expert Friday mornings in October! Each program will feature a presentation and time for a Q&A. No pre-registration needed.

All programs are at 10:30am in the library’s lower level Community Room.

Join physical therapist and pelvic floor specialist Erica O’Neal for a presentation and discussion on ‘Pelvic Health During Perimenopause and Menopause’. This session will feature an approachable conversation about what’s happening in your body, what symptoms are common, and what you can do to support your pelvic health through this transition. Come with your questions and leave with practical, evidence-informed strategies to feel more confident in your changing body.

Erica O’Neal is a licensed Physical Therapist, certified Brain Injury Specialist, Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, and a trained pelvic health therapist at Trailhead Physical Therapy in Traverse City.

AAUW-TC continues our Women Matter series, highlighting local leaders who drive change in our community. This October 19th, we welcome Jessie Houghton, Chief Academic Officer for Secondary Education at Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS). With an extensive and diverse career in education, Jessie currently oversees curriculum, instruction, and post-secondary programming for the district. Her leadership roles include serving as the principal of Central High School, an elementary school principal, and a high school mathematics teacher. Refreshments provided.

Free and open to the public

Public art is one of the most visible expressions of a community’s identity—but the work behind it can feel surprisingly isolated. This Caffeinated Conversation brings together arts commissioners, arts councils, municipal leaders, and public art advocates for a candid exchange of ideas, challenges, and opportunities.

Facilitated by Caitlin Early, the session will explore how public art takes shape across different communities—from murals and installations to policy, partnerships, and planning. What’s working? Where are the sticking points? How do we advocate for public art as essential infrastructure?

This is a peer-driven discussion, not a presentation. Expect practical insight, honest conversation, and the chance to connect with others doing similar work across the region.

Facilitator: Caitlin Early
Caitlin Early (she/her) is the Campaign & Development Officer at TART Trails, and is the curator of their trailside public art program Art on the TART. She also serves on the Traverse City Arts Commission.

Audience: Who is this for? This session is designed for:

Art & culture professionals / administrators
Arts councils / commissions
Public art advocates

“Universal Health Care – What is It? What does it mean for me?” is the topic of the next public forum planned by the League of Women Voters of Northern Lower Michigan (LWVNLM).

It will be held Wednesday, October 21 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Charlevoix Public Library conference room.

Participants can attend either in person at the library or by Zoom.

Speakers are: Laura Ford, PhD, RN, CNP, Professional Senior Instructor at Western Michigan University; and William Wadland, MD, MS, Professor Emeritus Past Chair Department of Family Medicine Michigan State University Associate Dean.

Register for the forum at https://www.lwvnlm.org/october-2026-forum.

Too much to do and too little time? You are not alone! Join us for this interactive workshop to explore tools and strategies to help your organization tighten its strategy and focus on what is most important. Learn how to identify what matters most, align your Board and staff around your top priorities, and develop a strategic screen to stay on track. Explore how to reduce mission drift, increase community impact, and prevent employee burnout and turnover.

Facilitator: Colleen Masterson-Bzdok
Colleen Masterson-Bzdok has over 20 years of experience working with northern Michigan nonprofits as a staff member, board member, volunteer, funder and consultant. She is passionate about helping leaders and organizations improve their culture, align their work around what is most important and maximize their impact in the communities they serve.

Audience: Who is this for? This session is designed for:

Art & culture administrators

Must register for event. Not a member - join at https://nwmiarts.org/members/become-a-member.html

Using Timelines, Find A Grave Website, and Roundtable Topics

In partnership with the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, we are pleased to be offering these bi-monthly informational programs about Parkinson's Disease. PD 101 is a free, in-person orientation designed to help individuals better understand Parkinson’s.

In honor of Health Literacy Month, join us to hear from a wellness expert Friday mornings in October! Each program will feature a presentation and time for a Q&A. No pre-registration needed.

All programs are at 10:30am in the library’s lower level Community Room.

Join Dr. Carrie Sands for a presentation and discussion on ‘Magnificent Morning Routines’. Start your day strong with five simple morning practices designed to enhance physical performance, agility, mental clarity, cognitive function, and neural flexibility. These easy-to-implement techniques can be seamlessly incorporated into your existing morning routine—without adding extra time to your day. Discover how a few intentional movements and habits can help you feel sharper, move better, and set your brain and body up for a magnificent day.

Dr Carrie Sands is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician at Dr. Carrie, PLLC in Leland. She is a McKenzie practitioner and one of only a handful certified in Performance for Life; a specialized form of sports-specific spinal rehabilitation chosen by many professional athletes. She is also certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine for performance enhancement, injury rehabilitation & sports nutrition.