Bob Hendrickson

Stewardship: the job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property; the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care, i.e., stewardship of natural resources.

Today kicks off Earth Week with Earth Day coming up on April 22, it is worth noting that stewardship should be a cornerstone of all communities. This is not to confuse stewardship with environmentalism or conservation, but can include elements of both.

Stewardship involves taking care of what we have, keeping the quality of life and environment desirable and healthy.

The Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce practices stewardship toward our members and communities. If our communities and businesses are not healthy then the chamber is not either. And when things are healthy, we all benefit.

Keeping in mind the concept of stewardship and community, there are a few GINCC organizations I would like to highlight.

Partridge Creek Farm started as a small project by Dan Perkins to introduce community gardening, youth empowerment and sustainable food sourcing. It has evolved into a multi-dimension organization expanding on the community gardening concept, educational curriculum, internship opportunities and community engagement.

According to their business model statement: Partridge Creek Farms utilizes donations, corporate sponsorships, volunteers, strong community partnerships, grants, and revenue-generating programs to accomplish its mission. Their mission: PCF provides year-round food access and continuously developing education to connect the community with their food and one another.

If you are interested in learning more about Partridge Creek Farm, they will be hosting a GINCC Business After Hours this Wednesday, April 19 from 5-7pm at their main office, 112 S. Main Street in downtown Ishpeming.

The Ishpeming Ski Club is the caretaker of the U.P. Nordic Ski Complex, home of the K90 Suicide Hill ski jump. The site has been the center of ski jumping for the community since 1926 and the club has deeper linage to 1887 with the Norden Ski Club, predecessor of the Ishpeming Ski Club. Currently the ISC maintains five ski jumping hill which offer a safe progression of learning the sport of ski jumping free to local youth.

Club membership is encouraged. In addition, the club has reinvigorated the cross-country ski program and resurrected a portion of the famed Suicide Ski Bowl trails now known as the Norman Juhola Trail System. The ISC recognize that the success of the club depends on getting new skiers involved with the support and is dedicated to the youth program which has been very successful at getting kids on skis both cross country and jumping.

In addition, there is the Range Area Mountain Bike Association, known as RAMBA, that maintains 77-miles of single-track trail for mountain biking and hiking. And the Iron Ore Heritage Trail which maintains a 47-mile corridor between Republic and Marquette.

EDITORS NOTE: Bob Hendrickson is the executive director of the GINCC. He currently resides in Negaunee with his wife, Laura, and daughter, Sierra. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, fishing and hunting along with family time.