Austin Garcia, President (Hart); Tim Harvell, President-elect (Shelby); Julee Sarto, President (Ludington);
Jack Greve, Executive Director, SPLKA; Bob Vipond, Grant Chairman (Ludington)
The Rotary Club of Ludington in collaboration with the Rotary Clubs of Shelby and Hart donated a $7,876 check to Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) to support SPLKA’s effort to bring reliable electricity and internet to its trailer at Little Sable Point Lighthouse. SPLKA manages and maintains four historic lighthouses on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan.
In July 2023, Jack Greve, SPLKA executive director, sent out a plea asking for donations to make SPLKA operations at Little Sable Point Lighthouse sustainable for the long-term.
“Installing these utilities will drastically improve our services to our lighthouse guests, help retain our current volunteers, and make it easier to recruit new volunteers,” Greve said. “For those that have volunteered at Little Sable Point Lighthouse, you know first-hand how unreliable power and the internet is at this site.”
Rotary Club of Ludington responded by applying for a grant for matching funds from Rotary District 6290. To maximize the donation, the Ludington cub asked for support and collaboration from neighboring communities. The Rotary Clubs of Shelby and Hart joined with Ludington for a combined contribution of $4,500 and were able to secure a grant for an additional $3,376 in matching funds.
“We can’t thank you enough,” Greve said. He said the addition of power and reliable internet service will help to attract volunteer keepers to the site, while providing reliable phone service for safety. “Preservation, promoting and educating the public about the historical significance of our lighthouses is critical to the historical preservation of our beautiful Great Lakes,” Bob Vipond, Ludington Rotary Club.