Community Event, BWYP Event
Kegs & Ks 2017 Registration is OPEN!
Kegs & Ks 2017 Registration is OPEN!
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YP Community Tour

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YP Community Tour: Past, Present, Future

We’ve focused on downtown/nightlife enhancement and the arts – now it’s your turn to help us determine what’s next! And we’re hitting the road for your input.

On four different Thursday evenings in June, the public is invited to participate in the “YP Community Tour: Past, Present, Future.” The events will begin at 5:30 p.m. in each city.

“By hosting this event we not only want to celebrate everything we have done as a group and what we love about our hometowns, but capture the conversations so many have about staying committed to our towns and the great future we all want here,” said Jackie Hanton, vice president of the BWYP.

Back in 2011 the Blue Water Young Professionals hosted an I Will Stay If... party to share with our local and state leaders a new take on what our cities need in order to be successful. It’s also how we determined our current priority focus areas. 

Now we want to expand on that party to get new takes directly and unfiltered from the people who are living and working here every day. Not only will local leaders be at each event to help us celebrate present successes, but YPs will look to the public to help guide us in our future endeavors.  

As we’ve gotten to know hundreds of people across the region, we've learned what residents and future talent care about isn't just cooler coffeehouses and music venues. Rather, it's a long-term, sustainable and practical vision for our cities.

“We know what great communities we have in the blue water area and we want to share some of the solutions we see making it stronger,” said A.J. Armbruster, president of the BWYP. “We also want to hear from those attending the event on what will make them stay in – or come back to – the blue water area.”

The YP Community Tour will aggregate and share our community’s ideas for our cities. We will share what we’ve learned over the past few years, celebrate successes, but most importantly we’ll look at each of the photos we collect on this celebratory evening as mini-stories. And we want your voice to play a role in shaping the larger stories of our cities.

Please join us. Tell your story; share your idea in your words.  Why have you stayed? What would your ideal city have? What will make you stay?

New year brings change to board

With the end of 2016, we had to bid farewell to three longtime board members: Crystal Jahn, Kara Schrader and Duncan Smith.

All three aged out of the group and finished up their board terms in December. Their last official act of duty was attending the Ugly Sweater Party, where they all received a lovely roast a la Comedy Central from board members AJ Armbruster and Kendra Lake as well as BWYP hoodies for their years of service.  

But you still may see them around for a little while. Crystal plans to help with the Pine River Poker Paddle in St. Clair, and Duncan and Kara will provide input with succession planning for the board.

The board also elected two new directors, Rafe MacKenzie and Matt Gregor. Rafe has been an active member of the BWYP since early 2014. He hopes to help with membership retainment. Matt has been a member since 2015 and will serve as treasurer.

Both are active with various YP committees on up of keeping busy with demanding careers. Rafe is a chemist with Cargill Salt in St. Clair and Matt runs his own financial and insurance consulting firm, a branch of Axa Advisors, in Port Huron.

More information on the two can be found in their member spotlights.  

Bed Races returns Jan. 28

Get ready to burn some rubber on the wintry streets of Port Huron with the BWYP!

The Blue Water Young Professionals return as the host of the 2017 Chilly Fest Bed Races. What's Bed Races you ask? Only the goofiest race around.

Don't miss the fun of this crowd favorite on Saturday, Jan. 28 in downtown Port Huron. For more infomration on Bed Races or to register a team click here.   

Be sure to check out the other great Chilly Fest events as well. Peruse the ice sculptures, eat some chilli or run PoHo Hot Cocoa. 

Ugly Sweater Party tickets on sale

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Tickets are still available for the BWYP's 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Party!

When: Thursday, Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Vintage Tavern in downtown Port Huron

Cost: $10 per person

Appetizers will be provided. This year we will be awarding prizes for the best homemade Sweater and the overall ugliest sweater. The uglier, the better!

Since the BWYP is all about making the Blue Water Area a place to stay, play, shop and give back, we're requesting warm winter gear to be donated (socks, gloves, hats, scarfs) It can be new or gently used.

YP friends and family are always welcome. Tickets can be bought online here.

 

 

 

Kegs N Ks beats expectations

The final numbers are in and Kegs N Ks beat all goals the Blue Water Young Professionals board set for this year’s fundraiser.

The race, which was held Sept. 17 at Vantage Point, had more than 320 racers and raised $6,360.

“I think that we pulled off a great race despite the weather,” said Crystal Jahn, BWYP treasurer. “We had a good group of volunteers and we pulled it off with minimal complaints.”  

The board originally anticipated around 300 runners and to raise between $4,000 to $5,000. 

Jahn said the purpose of the event was to raise general funds for the group. The board will now discuss how the use the money.

In the past the BWYP has devoted money to revitalizing the Black River Walk in downtown Port Huron – a project that is still ongoing.  

The main event was the 4K run where participates chugged four ounces of beer each lap, but racers weren’t the only ones having fun. Kegs N Ks also featured a keg toss sponsored by Michigan Specialty Coatings as well as a rockin’ after-party with beer, music, ping pong and corn hole.

Of course, the group couldn’t have a successful event without the help of YP members and friends who gave their time and resources to Kegs N Ks. The BWYP board thanks you all!

The board also thanks the other event sponsors Bell’s Inspired Brewing, Earl Smith Distributing Co., Huron Dental, Road Runner Timing, Penn Station East Coast Subs and Kramer Commercial Realty.    

 

Pine River Poker Paddle returns Aug. 20

Combining two popular pastime activities equals great summer fun. The 3rd annual Pine River Poker Paddle returns Saturday, Aug. 20.

Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Thanks to our sponsor DeLude Construction, the cost is FREE to join in the poker fun and be eligible to win a kayak. Best hand wins! 

We will still sell extra cards for $2 each. Paddling starts at 10 a.m.

You can pre-register now.

During this event, participants paddle along the Pine River starting at the St. Clair Boat Harbor to the train bridge and back. Along the way you will stop at five checkpoints to pick up a poker card. There will be an optional longer route to obtain an bonus poker card. You can also purchase extra cards for $2 a piece at the event. 

At the end of the event, the player with the best hand wins a brand new Dagger Zydeco kayak, generously sponsored by DeLude Construction and Great Lakes Marine Outfitters.

Don't own your own kayak, canoe or paddle board? Don't worry, you can rent from the St. Clair Boat Harbor, Great Lakes Paddle Sports, Missy's Kayak Connection or PoHo Paddle Co. There will be a limited amount of kayaks on site to rent so book early!

Local places to rent a kayak/SUP:

· St. Clair Boat Harbor (kayaks and SUP): 810-329-4125

· Great Lakes Paddle (kayaks): 810-320-6684

· Missy’s Kayak Connection (kayaks): 810-488-0798

· PoHo Paddle Company (SUP): Contact Cecelia at 810-434-7832

YPs take over South Beach

South Beach Night at Casey's Pizza will benefit future BWYP projects

Throw on you crisp white and stark black and head over the Casey's on Aug. 6 for South Beach Night. All door donations will benefit the future work of the Blue Water Young Professionals.

The YPs will be volunteering as valet parking attendants, club "security" and paparazzi for the dress-to-impress event.

Interested in volunteering for the event? Let us know on our Facebook event page! If you don't want to volunteer but still want to help the BWYP out, join the party!

When: Saturday, Aug. 6 at 9 p.m.                                                                                                Where: Casey's Pizza & Sub Shop                                                                                                                    628 Huron Ave., Port Huron                                                                                                 Cost: $10 donation at the door 

Kegs N Ks offers BWYP members opportunity for involvement

September is fast approaching and with it the Blue Water Young Professionals fundraising event, Kegs N Ks.

This event returns Sept. 17 at Vantage Point in downtown Port Huron, but there's still plenty of work to be done before it arrives.

We're looking for volunteers willing to expand their skill set and have a good time. Race or drinking experience a plus!

Love to plan? No problem! Join us June 7 at 5:30 p.m. for a planing meeting at Loft 912. We will hold breakout sessions tailored to your interests.  

Enjoy the fun and excitement of big crowds? We got that covered as well! We're looking for volunteers to help promote Kegs N Ks at Swampfoot on July 9 with a keg toss demo.

We also need manpower the day of the race. And of course you'll get to have a rockin' good time at the afterparty!

For more information, please contact bluewateryps@gmail.com. Learn more about Kegs N Ks

Kegs N Ks is sponsored by 

Bell's Brewing and Earl Smith Distributing Co.

2016 a busy year for Black River Walk

Spring and summer are shaping up to be a busy time for the Black River Walk with multiple projects in the works. All are a continuation of the work started by the Blue Water Young Professionals when we adopted the river walk in 2011.

This spring Jeff Marshall from Marshall Funeral Home in Greenville will install 12 bronze plaques in honor of the donors and designers of the maritime-themed benches and bike racks put in the fall of 2014. He donated the plaques at cost.

Last year, the BWYP was awarded a $45,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources’ Recreation Passport program. Signage promoting the BWR as part of the Island Loop Trail is currently being approved by the DNR and will be installed this summer.

The signs will be over 8 ft tall in the shape of sails so they tie in with the nautical theme of benches, bike racks and painted picnic tables already along the Blue River Walk.  

Archways to mark the start and end of the trail are also being designed as part of the DNR Passport grant. 

We are also working with community partners to build a pavilion with fire pit seating areas and grilles for cookouts. It will be completed by end of summer 2016.

Read more about the pavilion project in the Times Herald.