2016
The Carl Parsell Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 in memory of the law enforcement union movement pioneer. Parsell spent an unparalleled career thinking about the welfare of the employees he represented, always taking effective actions to constantly improve their economic status, working conditions, and future. The scholarship continues his legacy of improving the lives and futures of others, through education. Scholarships are awarded each year to Michigan family members of MAP, MAPE and MAFF union members. Funds for the scholarships are derived from the Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing, which took place June 9, 2016.
MAP Sergeant’s daughter excels in academics, softball and helping others
By Jennifer Foley, MAP Editor
Meaghan Barch has all the makings of a successful college student – she works hard to achieve excellent grades, has been admitted to advanced academic programs, worked in a profession related to her field of study, is involved in athletics, and volunteers her time to help others. So it’s no surprise the daughter of Beverly Hills Village Police Sergeant Peter D. Barch has been honored as a Carl Parsell Scholarship winner this year.
“The Carl Parsell Scholarship would assist me in paying for my undergraduate schooling, as I will be paying for my own education,” wrote Barch in her scholarship application. “I will be attending Oakland University (OU) in a pre-medical program. Upon my completion, I will attend medical school to become an obstetrics gynecologist, pediatrician or medical examiner.”
Barch, a Utica High School student with a 3.7 GPA, was selected as one of three 2016-17 recipients of the $2,500 scholarship. She will pursue a degree in Biology at OU.
“She proved to be an overachiever and a class leader,” said her fourth grade teacher, Linda DeCumen of Flickinger Elementary. “Her vivacious personality, intelligence and subtle humility took the school by storm. Throughout her junior high and high school career, Meaghan shared the little time she had tutoring students who needed extra help in math and reading in my classroom. She continually amazes me with her endless accomplishments.”
Barch served as Historian for the National Junior Honor Society, was a National Honor Society member, and Secretary and President of French Club. She was awarded for Outstanding AP U.S. History Student, received an All-Academic Team Award in Freshman Soccer and was a player and referee for American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). She was also involved in Sideline Cheer for Basketball, AYSO Nationals Team Player in 2014, and Beyond the LJ, a club formed to build a school in Africa through fundraising.
Barch received awards for: “A” Honor Roll, Outstanding MST Student and the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. Her scholastic achievements include being accepted to both the Utica Center for Mathmatics, Science and Technology (MST) and Utica Community Schools Academy for International Studies, both prestigious academically talented programs. Barch had to choose which program to pursue and opted for MST. She was also dual-enrolled in college while in high school, attending Utica DEEP Medical Science program through the University of Michigan – Flint Campus.
In the community, she served as a preschool leader for Vacation Bible School at Peace Lutheran Church, participated in St. Jude Walk, was a tutor, event volunteer and VIP Buddy for AYSO, where she also coached the undefeated U8 Boys soccer team and coaches U8 Girls soccer.
Barch is employed at 1st Choice Physical Therapy as an office tech, where she performs patient intake, ultrasounds and electric stimulation. Barch said she received training in the medical techniques while on the job. She also works a second job at Palazzo Grande Banquet Halls, where she was recently promoted from waitress to floor manager. Her medical training includes an internship at Signature Dentistry of Rochester, where she observed dental procedures and made dental impressions.
In addition to the Carl Parsell Scholarship, Barch also received a four-year scholarship from OU for $3,000 annually for her high GPA and ACT score of 28.
Daughter of MAP members learned importance of serving others
By Jennifer Foley, MAP Editor
Kelcie LaTour was raised by parents whose duty it is to protect and serve others, so it’s no surprise that she also wants to pursue a career focused on helping others - an attribute that made her even more attractive as one of this year’s Carl Parsell Scholarship winners.
“My parents have taught me how important it is to give back,” LaTour wrote in her scholarship application. “I started delivering Meals on Wheels with my mom and discovered it made me feel so good to be able to help people.”
LaTour’s parents, MAP members Jack LaTour, a St. Clair Shores Police Sergeant, and Tricia LaTour, a Sterling Heights Police Officer, have a lot to be proud of as Kelcie heads off to Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to pursue a Physician’s Assistant degree while playing softball at GVSU. She takes with her the $2,500 Carl Parsell Scholarship to help reduce her college costs. She also received a GVSU Softball Scholarship.
“My goal is to work at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, helping children affected with cancer,” LaTour wrote. “After watching my father battle the disease, it has driven me to want to make a change in other people’s lives so they don’t have to suffer.”
At Dakota High School, LaTour was active in sports playing basketball, varsity softball and volleyball, and serving as 2016 Varsity Softball Team Captain. She received several county awards including: All District Team, MAC Red Division Honorable Mention, Macomb County Honorable Mention First Base, First Team MAC Red Division, 2015 All Region Team and All County 2nd Team, 1st Base, and was voted Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year in 2013-15.
With a 3.3 GPA, she was on the Honor Roll all four years as well as Macomb Area Conference All Academic Team.
LaTour has helped her community through sorting food during the annual Post Office canned food drive; delivering Meals on Wheels to homebound area residents; volunteering at Miracle League Network helping handicapped children enjoy softball; and teaching younger girls the game of softball.
“I have volunteered at softball camps and given younger girls free hitting lessons in hopes of having more girls fall in love with the game of softball,” she wrote.
“She has an unbelievable knowledge of the game and she strives to do her best at all times and by doing so is able to elevate the play of those around her as well,” wrote Macomb Dakota Assistant Varsity Coach Mike Downey, in a letter of recommendation. “Kelcie is an excellent teammate who always encourages everyone.”
“I also broke and continue to hold multiple school softball records,” LaTour wrote in her application.
“She owns the records for home runs in a season and for a career and the records for runs batted in for a season and for a career,” wrote Dakota Varsity Softball Coach Rick Fontaine in a letter of recommendation. “She has never missed or been late for a practice, never gave up on her herself or her teammates during a game, and showed an eagerness to learn and improve herself every day. Kelcie is well-respected by her peers and is a player that teammates rally around.”
“During the summer I work for Bello Woods Golf Course and play on a high level competitive travel softball team,” she wrote, adding she also babysits year round to save money for college.
Son of fire fighter is dedicated volunteer in pursuit of nursing career
By Jennifer Foley, MAP Editor
Brandon Warda understands the importance of community service and already has a jump start on his career in nursing, earning him the honor of receiving one of three $2,500 Carl Parsell Scholarships for the 2016-17 school year.
Warda, who plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing, began working as a physical therapy tech while still attending Dakota High School in Macomb. He is the son of Michigan Association of Fire Fighters (MAFF) member Jaroslaw Warda, a Macomb Township Fire Fighter who is also a design engineer at FCA Group.
Warda, who has a 3.6 GPA, plans to attend Oakland University. He works at Health Quest Physical Therapy in Shelby Township where he helps patients with their exercises and therapeutic procedures as directed by the Physical Therapist. A dedicated community volunteer, Warda was hired at Health Quest after volunteering there for three months. He also works a second job as a cook and dishwasher at Sycamore Hills Golf Club.
“Within the last four years, I have participated in many activities and clubs including Key Club, National Honor Society, my high school boy’s soccer team, and many volunteer activities,” Warda wrote in his application. “I have participated in volunteer groups to better people outside of my school, such as tutoring elementary school children at the Boys and Girls Club as well as participating in my church as an altar boy.”
In school, Warda received recognition for academics, including being on Honor Roll every semester, good behavior and good acts. “Besides academics, I am also fluent in Polish,” he said. “That was actually my first language from when I was a kid. I would like to study abroad (in Poland) if I am able to.”
“By being able to become a nurse, I can pay back my community by possibly becoming a first responder in aid of patients that are in need of my help. If I was to work in the ICU or emergency services, I would be a first responder once they come into the building,” Warda said. “I’m hoping in the future to become a nurse practitioner.”
By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
Even though MAP Labor Relations Specialist Ron Palmquist technically retired 25 years ago, a weekend hardly constitutes a break in employment. Now, after 46 years of work, he is retiring for real.
Palmquist began representing fellow police officers while he was employed with Southfield Police Department, where he started as an Officer in 1970 and now, at the age of 70, is retiring from MAP on Oct. 31, 2016.
A Retirement Open House in celebration of his hard work and dedication is planned from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 at the MAP office. “Ron has been a big part of our organization,” MAP staff wrote in the Open House flyer. “His knowledge and years of experience brought us to where we are today.”
But that’s not where his story begins. With an associates degree in mechanical engineering, Palmquist’s first career was at Chrysler, but a downturn in the economy two years later led him to law enforcement. “My father-in-law was a Detroit Police Officer and when I was working at Chrysler, I was picking up abandoned cars in Detroit and had some contact with Detroit Police Officers,” Palmquist said. “Some of the folks I talked to said ‘you ought to get into law enforcement.’” Back then, Southfield hired in officers and paid for them to go for their police academy training. “We even had to take a lie detector test. They don’t do that anymore,” he said.
Apparently those officers knew what they were talking about since Palmquist was among seven people hired in from 300 applicants. That’s also where he met MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner, who joined Southfield PD in 1971. “When he was President of Southfield Police Officers Association, I was the Secretary,” Palmquist said. “He went on to work with Carl (Parsell) and MAP. I continued my career until (December) 1991, I retired on a Friday and came to work the following Monday.
He’s seen a lot of changes in Southfield since then. “Toward the end of my career we were having a lot of action,” he said. “That was probably the beginning of the end for Northland (Mall). There were a lot of gang-related incidents. On my last day of work, there was a shooting at Northland.”
Now the mall is no more and Palmquist said the whole area is in need of revitalization. He’s also witnessed many changes in the Union. “I joined right after Carl passed away. Of course, there were less members than what we have today, a lot less members and less groups,” Palmquist said. “We certainly have grown quite a bit over the years since I started.”
The Detroit Red Wings are inviting fans to support the brave men and women in uniform during the Final Law Enforcement Night at the Joe Louis Arena Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. The Wings will take on the Los Angeles Kings during this event, open to all local, state, federal law enforcement officers, corrections officers, sheriffs, security, family members, friends, and the general public.
Tickets start at $47.00. $10.00 from each ticket will be donated to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Each ticket includes a Farewell Season at The Joe Law Enforcement Appreciation Night Patch.
The first 500 ticket purchasers will be able to take a post game shot on the net on ice. Groups of 35 or more will receive an autographed hockey puck for the group leader. For groups of 10 or more or to order by phone, call Jamie Clark directly (313) 471-7138 to pick seat locations and have the per-ticket service fee waived.
Jim Curran of Karoub Associates wanted to alert MAP members about important legislation being introduced tomorrow, Dec. 1, 2016. MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner encourages all MAP members to call their legislators TODAY, Nov. 30, 2016 about these important bills being considered by the State House of Representatives. Please read Mr. Curran's message below and contact your Legislators today!
House Republican leadership has indicated that bills will be introduced tomorrow and that there will be hearings on Thursday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 6.
House Republican plan has the following components:
NEW EMPLOYEES - 2% of pay into HSA
CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES -
If healthcare benefit funded at 80% or higher - no changes
If healthcare benefit funded between 60% and 80% - Employer will only pay 80% of benefit. Similar to 80/20.
If healthcare benefit funded below 60% - Employer must submit a plan adjustment to Treasury to get plan back to 60% funding threshold.
They claim that if you are already paying into a retiree health care plan, the bills don't affect you but weren't able to clarify.
Retiree healthcare will be excluded as a subject of bargaining under 312.
Bill numbers have not been assigned as the bills will be introduced at House session tomorrow.
Will provide more info as it becomes available tomorrow. Hopefully, everybody is above the magic 80% number and this only impact new hires.We can talk about the impact on recruitment as something to consider.
Jim
By Jennifer Foley, MAP Editor
Sterling Heights Police have spent many years helping needy families during the holidays, but in December 2015 they decided to also reach out to families coping with cancer.
Sterling Heights Det. Ken Mercer said the Michigan Association of Police (MAP) represented department has been active with Cops and Kids, covering the expenses and going shopping with needy children for Christmas presents for the past 17 years. This year over 20 officers participated in that program helping 50 children. The department also provided Christmas gifts to two families through New Day Foundation for Families’ Holiday Gift Giving Program. New Day helps cancer patients and their families who are going through a tough time financially as well as physically and emotionally.
The Foundation was started by a woman who lost her husband to cancer and man who lost his wife to cancer. The couple’s deceased spouses had been lifelong friends who both died just six weeks apart from incurable cancers, leaving their spouses to raise five young children. The two later married and Michael Spehn and Gina Kell Spehn’s story of loss and love was featured in the New York Times Best Selling book “The Color of Rain,” which was made into a Hallmark channel movie, which aired for a second time Jan. 18, 2016.
“Crushing expenses, fear andand stress do not discriminate when cancer strikes,” said Josephine Long, Development Director at New Day. “We financially provide, for approximately three months, for core household expenses, but also offer emotional support because every family copes differently. We employ licensed social workers and counselors to better serve our families.”
New Day also helps with the educational needs of the dependent children such as pay-to-participate school activities fees, costs for field trips, school clothing and supplies. This allows the children to focus on their academics by temporarily relieving them from the stresses of home.