Grand River Environmental Action Team
Timeline of GREAT’s History
August 2, 1990 1st meeting to discuss beginning of GREAT at Parkside School after Expedition 1990 and concern about proposed Ayers Rd. Extension to JCC
January 1, 1991 First Membership, founders Marge and Dave Hanselman
June 1, 1991 First Annual Clean-up, 22 volunteers removed 1 ton of trash
June 6, 1992 1st Public Paddle Loomis Rd to Glenshire
March 1992 1st Annual Meeting
March 1993 Marge Hanselman Cit Pat Citizen of the Year finalist (Brooklyn Exponent Citizen of Year in 1991)
May 22, 1994 completes canoe dock construction on Grand River from $2,000 Finlandia (ACA) grant. Washed away next year!
June 17, 1994 GREAT files with State of Michigan to Incorporate
December 12, 1994 GREAT celebrates JCC’s withdrawal of Ayers Rd Extension proposal
August 22, 1995 Resolution for removal for downtown river cap presented to Jackson City Council. Cap removed by 2001.
July 4, 1996 Walk the Cap event to highlight need for its removal.
November 11, 1996 Receives land on Grand River Blackman Twp and on Mill Race in Summit Twp from the Grand River Discovery Project who took temporary possession from donor Joanne Fox until GREAT became a 501 c 3 Non-profit.
December 1996 Receives Jackson County Soil & Water Conservationist of the Year Award. DNR also honors GREAT for river clean-up and interpretive canoe trips.
July 6, 1999 IRS approval as a 501 c 3 Non-profit to clean-up the Grand River and protect its environment in Jackson County, and have public canoe trips
February 2000 GREAT becomes the newest local non-profit to have a web site.
April, 2000 GREAT purchases new canoe trailer.
June 6, 2000 35 tons of trash removed from Grand River in first ten years of annual clean- ups.
July 17, 2000 Requests $40,000 from Wolverine to repair damaged plants of GREAT’s land as result of pipeline gasoline spill. Also a request for a water line for paddlers to drink from! GREAT receives $2,000.
September 9, 2000 GREAT requests Jackson County Road Commission to place watershed signs
March 18, 2003 4 kayaks donated to GREAT by Quiet World Sports
March 2006 Receives UGRIP (Upper Grand River Implementation Project) grant as partner with Jackson County Conversation District to improve local watershed.
February 2007 Help form JAOC (Jackson Area Outdoor Coalition). Annual Earth Day event begins.
September 12, 2009 Annual Clean-up with 114 participants
November 1, 2009 membership reaches 144
July 11, 2010 100th GREAT public paddle (Lions Park to Maple Grove) with celebration cake
December 12, 2010 GREAT receives Friend of Conservation Award by the Michigan Associations of Conservation Districts.
November 1, 2011 GREAT membership peaks at 165
March 19, 2013 GREAT, land trade with State of Michigan is complete after 14 years of work.
September 14, 2013 Annual Clean-up has 137 volunteers, including 62 Jr. ROTC Cadets.
September 23, 2015 GREAT receives Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Jackson.