Advisory Community Team-Neighbors on Watch
“Neighbors with Police…Caring Together for Our Community”
MISSION STATEMENT
We, the Advisory Community Team-Neighbors on Watch (ACT-NOW) are committed to benefit the people of Gerrish Township by promoting the preservation, appreciation and improvement of the physical, social and aesthetic qualities of all Gerrish Township neighborhoods, through benevolent actions.
History of ACT-NOW | Executive Board Minutes | Community Meeting Minutes
(2023-2024)
Executive Board Members
Chair – John Ellis
Co-Chair – Mike Briggs
Secretary – Julie Hill
Treasurer – Bob Barber
Membership Chair – Carlos Jean-Francois
Community Members At Large:
GAP #1 – Sharon Zacny
GAP #2 – Ralph Rowland
GAP #3 – Stanley Baysdell
Police Officer Representative – Lt. Eric Muszynski
Advisory Board Members (Non-Voting):
GTPD Chief Brian Hill
Community Member Mary Link
(2022-2023)
Executive Board Members
Chair – John Ellis
Co-Chair – Mike Briggs
Secretary – Julie Hill
Treasurer – Bob Barber
Membership Chair – Carlos Jean-Francois
Community Members At Large:
GAP #1 – Sharon Zacny
GAP #2 – Ralph Rowland
GAP #3 – Stanley Baysdell
Police Officer Representative – Lt. Eric Muszynski
Advisory Board Members (Non-Voting):
GTPD Chief Brian Hill
Community Member Mary Link
(2021-2022)
Executive Board Members
Chair – John Ellis
Co-Chair – Mike Briggs
Secretary – Julie Hill
Treasurer – Bob Barber
Membership Chair – VACANT
Community Members At Large:
GAP #1 – Sharon Zacny
GAP #2 – Ralph Rowland
GAP #3 – Stanley Baysdell
GAP Officer Representative – Lt. Eric Muszynski
Advisory Board Members (Non-Voting):
GTPD Chief Brian Hill
Community Member Mary Link
ACT NOW Board Members Retire
At the monthly ACT NOW Executive Board Meeting held on October 2, 2020, two recently resigning board members were recognized for their past service as volunteers on the ACT NOW board.
John Klein (left in photo) served as the GAP #1 Representative for 13 years from 2007-2020 and Kelly Kirkpatrick (right in photo) served as the GAP #2 Representative for 4 years from 2016-2020.
Both of these men where dedicated to supporting the mission of the organization and were involved in many of the fundraising activities and community events that were sponsored by ACT NOW.
Chair John Ellis (center in photo) along with the ACT NOW Board appreciates their dedication and service and will miss them and wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors!
The replacements for these two positions were filled by Sharon Zacny and Ralph Rowland.
(2020-2021)
Executive Board Members
Chair – John Ellis
Co-Chair – Mike Briggs
Secretary – Julie Hill
Treasurer – Bob Barber
Membership Chair – John Ellis Jr.
Community Members At Large:
GAP #1 – Sharon Zacny
GAP #2 – Ralph Rowland
GAP #3 – Stanley Baysdell
GAP Officer Representative – Eric Muszynski
Advisory Board Members (Non-Voting):
GTPD Chief Brian Hill
Community Member Mary Link
ACT NOW 2019 COMMUNITY AWARDS
Citizen of the Year 2019 – Barry McGinnis
Chief Hill presented community awards to Barry McGinnis (Citizen of the Year Award) and Sgt. Norm LaBonte and Officer James Scroggin (Life Saving Awards) at the ACT NOW Annual Meeting & Picnic on July 15, 2019.
All of these men were involved in a rescue mission that took place on the frigid waters of Higgins Lake on May 28, 2019. Their swift action resulted in the safe rescue of two individuals in kayaks that had capsized and they were treading water in 60-80 feet at a temperature of approximately 49 degrees. Neither were wearing life jackets and when Sgt. LaBonte reached them on Mr. McGinnis’ PWC, they were very cold and exhaused.
Mr. McGinnis offered up his boat and Personal Water Craft immediately when he became aware of the situation and assisted Officer Scroggin with retrieving one of the kayaks (the other had sunk) while Sgt. LaBonte rushed both individuals to shore where Gerrish Twp. Fire/EMS personnel and ambulances were waiting. Both individuals were treated on scene and released to the care of their very thankful family.
(2019-2020)
Executive Board Members
Chair – John Ellis
Co-Chair – Mike Briggs
Secretary – Julie Hill
Treasurer – Bob Barber
Membership Chair – John Ellis Jr.
Community Members At Large:
GAP #1 – John Klein
GAP #2 – Kelly Kirkpatrick
GAP #3 – Stanley Baysdell
GAP Officer Representative – Eric Muszynski
Advisory Board Members (Non-Voting):
CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
GTPD Chief Brian Hill
2018 ACT NOW Community Award
ACT NOW Immediate Past Chair Mary Link accepts her Community Service Award from Chief Brian Hill at the 19th Annual ACT NOW Meeting & Picnic that was held on July 16, 2018. Mary served 11 years as the Chair on the ACT NOW Executive Board and has stepped down due to personal reasons. We would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Mary for her dedication to ACT NOW, the community and for her service to “Others.” Mary will still volunteer with ACT NOW and support all the the community programs and projects that they sponsor when she can. In the photo below, Mary proudly hands over the Chair position to newly elected ACT NOW Chair John Ellis. Pictured with John is his son John Ellis Jr. who was elected as the new Membership Chair and Chief Brian Hill.
(2018-2019)
Executive Board Members
Chair – John Ellis
Co-Chair – Mike Briggs
Secretary – Julie Hill
Treasurer – Bob Barber
Membership Chair – John Ellis Jr.
Community Members At Large:
GAP #1 – John Klein
GAP #2 – Kelly Kirkpatrick
GAP #3 – Currently Vacant
GAP Officer Representative – Shannon Fick
Advisory Board Members (Non-Voting):
CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
GTPD Chief Brian Hill
ACT NOW Citizen of the Year (2017)
JOHN ELLIS
John is a very active member of the Gerrish Township CERT team and has served on the ACT NOW Executive Board as a GAP #3 Representative since November of 2015. John was an integral part of the CERT TRAILER Project and is always a willing participant in CERT events, call outs and ACT NOW community events.
(2017-2018)
Executive Board Members
Chair-Mary Link
Co-Chair-Carmine Polisei
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chair-Mike Briggs
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Kelly Kirkpatrick
Gap#3-John Ellis
Gap Officer Representative-Officer Shannon Fick
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT NOW Board Member Al Schultz was recognized for his 17 years of consecutive service on July 18, 2016. He has resigned his position and was presented a community service award plaque at the ACT NOW 17th Annual Meeting & Picnic. Thank you Al for your many years of dedication and service to ACT NOW and your community. You will be missed!
Chief Brian Hill, Al Schultz and ACT NOW Chair Mary Link
ACT NOW Citizen of the Year (2016)
Carmine Polisei
Chief Brian Hill, Carmine Polisei and ACT NOW Chair Mary Link
(2016-2017)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Carmine Polisei
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Danny Bates
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Kelly Kirkpatrick
Gap#3-John Ellis
Gap Officer Representative-Officer Shannon Fick
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT NOW Community Meeting 3-21-2016
“WILDFIRE SAFETY”
Randy Hartman (Fire Fighter Officer) from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources was the guest speaker at the ACT NOW Community Meeting held on March 21st at the Gerrish Township Hall. This was a very informative meeting for the citizens in attendance as Randy discussed how the DNR Fire Services Division works, what areas they serve, what standard and specialized equipment they have available and how the DNR shares resources with other bordering areas including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba Canada. He also shared how their Incident Management Team (ICS) works for fire suppression, including attack plans and the purpose, planning and guidelines used for prescribed burns.
The second portion of the presentation was focused on “Wildfire Safety” and how we can protect our property from wildfires. Due to the increase in building in rural and wooded areas (Wild Land/Urban Interface), the DNR provides community education and awareness on how to be “Fire Wise” so that if a wild fire were to occur near your home or business you would be able to assist the DNR and fire departments in the spreading of the fire onto your properties.
The Michigan DNR recognizes the Firewise Communities program through the NFPA as a tool to use in assisting residents in home protection against wild fires. For more information on this program to to www.firewise.org.
(2015-2016)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Danny Bates
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Carmine Polisei
Gap#3-John Ellis
Gap Officer Representative-Officer Shannon Fick
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2014-2015
JOHN KLEIN
John Klein, Chief Brian Hill and ACT NOW Chair Mary Link
(2014-2015)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Danny Bates
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Ginny Trombley
Gap#3-Stan Baysdell
Gap Officer Representative-Officer Shannon Fick
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2013-2014
SHARON ZACNY
Chief Brian Hill, Sharon Zacny and ACT NOW Chair Mary Link
(2013-2014)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Danny Bates
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Ginny Trombley
Gap#3-Stan Baysdell
Gap Officer Representative-Pam Williams
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2012-2013
DAVE BLAZEJEWSKI
ACT NOW Chair Mary Link, Dave Blazejewski, CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny and Chief Brian Hill
(2012-2013)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Danny Bates
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Ginny Trombley
Gap#3-Stan Baysdell
Gap Officer Representative-Pam Williams
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2011-2012
BOB EDWARDS (Photo Not Available)
(2011-2012)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Danny Bates
Community Members at Large
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Ginny Trombley
Gap#3-Stan Baysdell
Gap Officer Representative-Pam Williams
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Sharon Zacny
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2010-2011
SHARON ZACNY (Photo Not Available)
(2010-2011)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Sharon Zacny
Community Members at Large-
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Ginny Trombley
Gap#3-Stan Baysdell
Gap Officer Representative-Pam Williams
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Don Granzine
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2009-2010
ROBERT BARBER
(2009-2010)
Executive Board Members
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co-Chairperson-Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Sharon Zacny
Community Members at Large-
Gap#1-John Klein
Gap#2-Ginny Trombley
Gap#3-Stan Baysdell
Gap Officer Representative-Jonah Schutte
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Don Granzine
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year 2008-2009
STAN BAYSDELL
San Baysdell, ACT-NOW Citizen of the Year, Mary Link ACT-NOW Chairperson and Gerrish Township Police Chief Brian Hill
(2008-2009)
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS
Chairperson-Mary Link
Co Chairperson- Al Schultz
Secretary-Julie Hill
Treasurer-Bob Barber
Membership Chairperson-Laurice Tanner
Community Members At large
GAP #1- John Klein
GAP # 2- Ginny Trombley
GAP # 3- Stan Baysdell
GAP Police Officer Representative-Officer Jonah Schutte
Advisory Board Member-CERT Coordinator Don Granzine
Advisory Board Member-Chief Brian Hill
ACT-NOW Co-Citizens of the Year 2007-2008
Co Citizens of the year Julie Hill and Laurel Smith Tudor with Chief Hill and ACT-NOW Chairperson Mary Link
