1. HELLO! WELCOME TO THE E-PORTFOLIO OF MARTIS GOODWIN AND THE LITTLE CENTER THAT COULD.

2. THE CITY MANAGER SAID THAT THE CENTER WAS COSTING THE CITY MONEY AND WAS NOT BEING USED. The city wanted the center to become self-supporting I accepted the challenge

3. COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS Community relations

4. I SET OUT TO FIND OUT WHY COMMUNITY GROUPS DID NOT USE THE CENTER I INTRODUCED MYSELF TO CIVIC GROUP LEADERS TO INQUIRE AS TO WHY THEY DID NOT USE THE CENTER Number one response: they did not feel that the center management cared about their concerns but only cared about clean-up requirements which the groups considered far too strict.

5. MY FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS, DISCONTINUE THIS CLEAN-UP REQUIREMENT. Since the Center could not as yet afford a cleaning crew, I became the cleaning crew.

6. It Worked. COMMUNITY GROUPS BEGAN TO JOIN THE CENTER AS THEIR HEADQUARTERS. Then began renting the Center for their fund raisers. Also the members of the groups began renting the Center for their private functions

7. Boy Scouts joined the Center

8. Girl Scouts join the Center

9. The Jaycees and a Karate Club join the Center.

10. The VFW joins the Center.

11. Lions Club joins the Center.

12. Adult Exercise Classes and Hunter Safety Classes.

14. It becomes A COMMUNITY CENTER after years of being unused

16. Rock Concerts began to book at the Center

18. So Much Happening

19. Keeping the community informed of so much happening

20. Now with a Center that they can call home, community groups begin to organize ways to raise money for their projects

21. More fundraisers

22. GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

25. COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS Forging Relationships between Civic groups to create community

27. Groups began working together to design tours and educational opportunities for the public

28. People from the youth sports program called requesting an emergency blood drive. I worked with the Red Cross to get the community involved.

31. It worked, and was successful

33. In appreciation the groups that used the Center began to give back by giving donations to the Center

34. The Yellow Jackets donate a Trophy Case to the Center

36. One day I gave a simple drawing of a sign for the Center to the Mayor. I said that I would like to get the community groups that use the Center to work together to build the sign. He tossed the picture back at me and said that it would never get built because no ones cares about the Center enough to pay for it. I started asking the groups if they would be willing to help. Every group told me that that would contribute. The Rotary Club volunteered to spearhead the drive. It happened. Much to the amazement of the mayor and council.

37. The sign drive starts

41. MARKETING AND BUILDING BRAND EQUITY

45. Finally, it worked. Kelly Services began using the Center for its monthly out-services

49. I went to work to make sure the exhibit got heavy PR

52. THEN SOON CAME A NATIONAL SHOW The National Cocker Spaniel Dog Show

55. EVENT PLANNING

56. Worked with the State Police and various civic groups to plan the 50 th anniversary of the Michigan State Police.

58. Worked with numerous service groups to coordinate an exhibition for senior citizens

62. Then I planned an international event

64. HEADLINES TELL THE STORY

65. “ The Center took in more revenue in the first six months of this year than in all of last year.”

67. When Goodwin took over the Center the only activity was a senior lunch program. He has added several activities ”

68. THEN THE AWARDS BEGAN

75. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION