5 10 50 100 200 Choose an Idea Category SHOW ALL Great Ideas    - Achieving a Healthy Michigan    - Enjoying Michigan's Vast Resources    - Improving Education Attainment    - Modernizing Government at All Levels    - Rebuilding Communities & Transportation    - Revitalizing Michigan's Economy

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Jim Ahrenberg - Sunday, September 27, 2009   Earth Day Tele-Web-A-Thon Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (308 votes cast) As revenue allocation for Michigan's natural resources comes under ever-tightening budget pressure from Lansing, the future of Michigan wildlife management and state park system is increasingly uncertain.Though Michigan citizens have long supported funding through the legislature to protect it's natural assets, many now think this is not the time to raise new taxes. A state-wide campaign to voluntarily raise restricted use funds would also serve as opportunity to showcase Michigan's beauty and bring awareness to Michigan's current challenges and future potential.Coinciding the multi-media event with the annual observance of Earth Day would also give Michigan residents a tangible way to make a difference in the state we love.

Tabitha LaMoria-Greene - Saturday, September 26, 2009   Healthy Schools Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (301 votes cast) We need to jack up the prices of pop, chips, and other "fat kid" foods in schools.They can charge $5 for a soda at Cedar Point or a baseball game, why not in schools? For a percentage of the money that is earned from the kids that make bad decisions buying these foods at school, it will go toward the physical education program. Physical Education needs to be instilled from K-12 grade. Mandatory. Not just games like dodgeball and kickball, but exercise habits should be taught. Simple things like aerobics, swimming, dancing, and other fun choices should be offered. Kids can also raise money for their PE classes. Teach these kids about obesity and the staggering statistics, scare them healthy. Also, any fast food or convenient stores should not be within walking distance of any high school to help prevent kids from buying junk food. Now, I just want to clarify that I'm not a skinny jerk here. I graduated high school in 2007, and I would love to have seen these ideas in place when I was in school.

Rosalie G. Riegle - Saturday, September 26, 2009   Urban Garden in Saginaw Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.1 (289 votes cast) Turn the vacant lots in the East side and elsewhere into gardens. Gardeners could eat their produce and perhaps also sell it at the Framer's Market. Here's one plot that people could use for free. All it needs is willing hands: Fertile, sunny, pesticide-free space near the Cathedral in Saginaw would be ideal for a community garden. This plot–approximately 75' by 150'--is located at Atwater and Howard and has outside water. We’ll pay taxes and water if a community garden manager can be found. A cooperative effort? Individual plots? A hoop house? Selling at the Farmer’s Market? The garden manager would have complete control of this golden opportunity to bring quality produce to the East side of Saginaw. Contact Austin at (989) 755-5867 or Rosalie at riegle@svsu.edu for details.

Richard G. Thibodeau - Saturday, September 26, 2009   SENIORS IN OUR SCHOOLS TO GREATLY IMPROVE GRADUATION RATES Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.1 (302 votes cast) Virtually all Michigan and Metro Detroit public officials,economists,business leaders ALL LIST AS THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY CONCERN- THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN TO ATTAIN MUCH BETTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.BUT AT THE SAME TIME,WE ARE FACED WITH A BLEAK ECONOMY AND SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULAS ARE BEING CUT. AND ALTHOUGH OUR TEACHERS CALL FOR TEACHER TO PUPIL RATIOS OF NO MORE THAN 19-20 STUDENTS PER TEACHER (MANY OTHER COUNTRIES ACHIEVE MUCH BETTER GRADUATION RATES WITH FAR HIGHER TEACHER/PUPIL RATIOS). LET'S GET SERIOUS ABOUT DRAWING MORE CREATIVELY AND SINCERELY ON A SUPER RESOURCE WE DO HAVE- THE SENIOR CITIZENS THAT ARE OUT THERE- WHO HAVE THE TALENT, MOTIVATION AND TIME TO COME INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND REALLY HELP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! When you talk to many educators,community leaders and also seniors themselves, virtually everyone says it's an idea whose time has come. And for those school districts nation-wide who have done this aggressively, they have gotten excellent results.They have found that the kids learn to love and respect these seniors and the seniors find their own lives and mental and physical health enriched in many ways. Let's challenge, empower and ACTUALLY INVITE the many available and qualified senior citizens (there are many with excellent skills and knowledge in many fields) to come into our schools so that virtually every classroom will have a teacher's aide, learning coach, tutor. Also bring more in as lunchroom aides, hall monitors, playground aides. Some middle school kids might first say: "who is this ole duffer?" But the kids will soon love and respect these seniors. This challenge means that we challenge ALL OF OUR RESOURCES TO PARTICIPATE,including available and qualified seniors from such groups as UAW, retired teachers, retired GM,Ford, Chrysler personnel, Optimists. Knights of Columbus. Wouldn't it be super if it was MICHIGAN THAT BECAME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR INVOLVING OUR SENIORS IN OUR SCHOOLS!

Richard G. Thibodeau - Saturday, September 26, 2009   PARTNERS IN HEALTH Rate this idea:   Current Rating: 3.0 (267 votes cast) THE VILLAGE GOES BACK TO SCHOOL....LITERALLY!-PARTNERS IN HEALTH SAFE HOMES FAMILY LEARNING CENTERS IS PROPOSED AS A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HOSPITALS AND HEALTH AGENCIES. To really get serious about preventive health education that can do wonders to help reduce total health care costs...... There has been in existence such programs as the "Alliance For Safe Homes" which works with schools and parents to have parents receive instruction/education on alcohol safety, form a network with other parents, and take a "pledge" that they will maintain their homes as SAFE from abuse of alcohol, that they will not permit consumption of alcohol by minors in their homes, and aim toward their homes being alcohol-free. This new proposed initiative:PARTNERS IN HEALTH SAFE HOMES- FAMILY LEARNING CENTERS,would also teach alcohol safety, but would combine it with a wide range of other safety issues to make a single. comprehensive program, and to take place evenings in the most available and affordable venue that now sit mostly vacant most evenings: our public schools. Rather than various agencies doing piece meal approaches to different safety issues in isolation from one another, this new program would combine into a single program. The lead agency would be our hospitals. Participating agencies would include such groups as Red Cross, Health Dept, Police and Fire Depts, As an incentive for participation-for those families completing an entire course in safety- they would be given recognition as being a SAFE HOME- AND AN IMPORTANT LONG-RANGE IMPLICATION OF THIS 'SAFE HOME PROGRAM' WOULD BE THAT THOSE HOMES CERTIFIED AS "SAFE" COULD BE ENTITLED TO REDUCTION IN THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS. TOPICS TO BE COVERED WOULD INCLUDE: -Child proofing your home -Fire safety -NUTRITION SAFETY-PREVENTING OBESITY,HEALTHY EATING HABITS -STD sAFETY -CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE SAFETY -POISON SAFETY -GUN SAFETY -DRUG PRESCRIPTION SAFETY -& OTHER SAFETY TOPICS