Lansing Link for Sept. 25

September 25, 2013

Events today:
Sept. 25                       Soup and Salad Luncheon
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.    Lakeshore Learning Center, Van Wagoner Building, Lansing

The Bureau of Transportation Planning (BTP) is hosting a Soup and Salad Luncheon today, Sept. 25, to benefit the 2013 State Employees Charitable Campaign (SECC). Enjoy a variety of delicious soups, salads and desserts, and support a great cause for just $5 (not $10, as was erroneously reported in Lansing Link last week).

SECC events continue in Lansing
State of Michigan employees can support the Harvest Gathering campaign for local food banks at the Breakfast Bonanza tomorrow, Sept. 26, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the lobby conference room of the Van Wagoner Building. Breakfast includes scrambled eggs and toast or breakfast burrito, sausage links, hashbrowns, fruit, coffee or juice for only $5.

Sign up to donate to the SECC through payroll deduction at a "Telethon Tuesday" and have the opportunity to win a coupon for a free lunch at a local restaurant. The October events are listed below:
Oct. 1              Van Wagoner Building Lobby, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Oct. 8              Van Wagoner Building Lobby, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

BTP also is hosting a Golf Putt Challenge to benefit the SECC:
Oct. 7 to 11     Van Wagoner Building, Third Floor

Check out this creative course during your breaks or lunch all week long. Vote for the best hole and be eligible to win a prize. Stay tuned for more details.

Questions? Contact Rebecca Petri at petrir1@michigan.gov or 517-335-2962.

Attention all BTP brownie bakers!
The BTP Intermodal Policy Division has this announcement:
"The Policy Division's fabulous Brownie Bake-Off is back by popular demand. In 2012, we raised $357 for charity. This year, we're striving to match that amount or even beat it. Do you have a favorite brownie, dessert bar or cookie bar recipe that you think is worth tasting? If your family and friends enjoy it, trust us, so will we. Don't be shy, sign up today. The cost to enter is $2.50 per pan and a prize will be awarded to the person receiving the most votes. Melinda Ball won last year with her fabulous triple-layer brownies, snatching the title away from previous winner Rob Lippert. The field is wide open, and anyone can win.

If you're more of a taster than a baker, mark Wednesday, Oct. 2, on your calendar and join us in the Van Wagoner Building Lobby Conference room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For the low price of $1, you can sample four brownies and then vote for the one you think is the most delicious. If you find it hard to choose just one, for just $5 you can taste them all and vote for your favorite five.

When you're ready to register as a baker for what promises to be the highlight of this year's SECC campaign, please contact Kim Young at 517-241-4819, youngk10@michigan.gov, or you can walk down the north aisle and find her between Pillars B-12 and B-13 and sign up in person. Best of all, all of money raised will go to a SECC charity designated by the winner."

MDOT blood drive is next week
The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Van Wagoner Building. Donate for a chance to win tickets to the Michigan-Michigan State football game on Nov. 2 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. For an appointment, log in to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code MDT. Call Kim Henderson at 517-335-2479 for details.

Harvest Gathering looking for King and Queen candidates
A team is hard at work planning the annual Harvest Gathering Tailgate Luncheon for Oct. 29 and is in need of King and Queen nominations. Once the candidates are announced, the team will be placing cans around the Van Wagoner Building to collect donations for the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The King and Queen candidates who raise the most money will be crowned at the Harvest Gathering Tailgate Luncheon at the First Presbyterian Church in Lansing. E-mail your nominations for King and Queen to Heather McCardel at mccardelh1@michigan.gov by Monday, Sept. 30.

Harvest Gathering donation boxes
Look for boxes at the elevators throughout the Van Wagoner Building in Lansing to drop off nonperishable food items and toiletries to help support the Harvest Gathering campaign for local food banks. Please, no glass containers, and separate food from non-food items. Most importantly, check those expiration dates. Your donations benefit the Food Bank Council of Michigan. Questions? Contact Kim Young at 517-241-4819 or youngk10@michigan.gov.

SOUPer luncheon looking for musicians and singers
From the SOUPer Luncheon entertainment coordinators:
"MDOT's got talent! Now is the time to get ready to showcase your talent for charity. We're looking for instrumental and vocal soloists, duets, trios and others to perform at MDOT's annual SOUPer luncheon on Dec. 10. This annual event raises money to support the Southside Community Kitchen in Lansing. Interested? For more information, contact Jeanne Day-LaBo at 517-373-9246 or day-laboj@michigan.gov, Bob Parsons at 517- 373-9534 or parsonsb@michigan.gov, or Pete Porciello at 517-335-2603 or porciellop@michigan.gov."

Events at a glance:
This calendar has been compiled to help you keep track of upcoming MDOT fundraising events. 

NOTE: Lansing Link is an electronic newsletter for dissemination of information to Lansing-area MDOT employees. This newsletter is intended for internal use only. Send all article submissions to Barbara Hicks, Office of Communications, at MDOT-LansingLink@michigan.gov by Monday noon preceding the date of publication. Questions? Call Barbara Hicks, 517-335-2482.