Meet Eddie DeGraw
Hello Circle Pines folks! I am excited to meet you all and get the opportunity to get to know you and discover why you love this special place. Here are a few things that may help you get to know me as we begin our work together.
Entries by Chris Schleuder
Executive Director Search Update
It is with great pleasure that I get to announce our new Executive Director, Eddie DeGraw. Eddie started last week, and plans to be at several of the spring events to meet Circle Piners. As part of Eddie’s onboarding, we will be scheduling several virtual meet and greets with those in different constituency groups as well. If you don’t get a chance to engage with Eddie then, Eddie’s formal introduction to the membership will come Membership Weekend.
Latest News from the Board
The Education Committee is looking for members! If you are interested please email Aidan Albano-Bachtell at anguswaffle@gmail.com and he will connect you.
The Bylaws Committee will meet in mid January through mid March and make recommendations to the CPC Board at that time. If you are interested in this special short term committee, please email Romy Fitschen at chair@circlepinescenter.net.
The new Executive Director Search Committee has started to meet. Watch for an email on the position posting soon…
Please Consider Making a Donation to Circle Pines
Circle Pines Center is such a special place because we feel surrounded by a community of compatible people. This is because of the people who are attracted to Circle Pines. We tend to practice, speak of, and model values, perspectives, and lifestyles that are not the common norm. Whether we are sitting at a table in the Farmhouse, walking through our beautiful land, or participating in a program activity or work project we are part of an extended family that we are fortunate to have…
Strategic Goals Set by the CPC Board
At the most recent meeting the CPC Board set some strategic priorities for the next 3 – 6 months. If you have any questions you can reach out to any board member or to Romy Fitschen at chair@circlepinescenter.net.
Recap of 2022 Fall Apple Cider & Membership Weekend
The membership meeting was attended by 48 members; held in person and over zoom again this year. We hope to continue to do that, so those that are not present physically can hear about things going on at CPC. Of course we had sound issues, and while better than last spring, we will continue to work on. A member mentioned that they never heard of Robert’s Rules of Order. It is the method we use to conduct our meetings…
Update on Our Native Vegetation Restoration Efforts
For the past few years, the Land Use Committee has been working with support and grant funds from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to restore native vegetation on the approximately eight acres of land at the corner of Mullen and Norris roads. For the past two spring-summer-fall seasons we have diligently been collecting bugs every week from traps at our site, as well as a DNR companion site, for the project’s bug study…
Garbage Czar to the Rescue
In our tenth year of the Buttermilk Jamboree, after a two year hiatus, not only was the weather beautiful and full of sunshine, but so was the music, the workshops, the artwork, and the people!! Over the years of Circle Pines Center hosting what has been called one of the best music festivals in the state of Michigan, the stories that we take away are ongoing, inspirational, and even at times deeply emotional. But sometimes, the favorite stories are those that bring us laughter and shine a light on the comradery that Buttermilk leaders and participants feel with one another…
Art at Summer Camp
This past summer of 2022 was my second time teaching clay and ceramics at a summer camp, and my first time working at Circle Pines Center. Josh Behr and I began the summer by converting the People Barn into our summer art studio, repairing two kick-wheels we recovered from the attic of the goat barn, putting up lights and new tables and a large tapestry from last year’s folk opera. I never imagined the art activities we did to have the success that they did…
2022 Fall Mushroom Camp Recap
This September marked the 4th annual hosting of Circle Pine’s Fall Mushroom Camp. One hundred and ten mushroom enthusiasts from all over Michigan, the Midwest, and as far away as Alabama and California, gathered together to hunt for, learn about, and enjoy the amazing variety of mycelium and fruiting bodies (aka mushrooms) that the CPC property has to investigate…