Ionia & MONTCALM COUNTIES
The Ionia/Montcalm (I/M) FAN chapter was originally founded in 2015 by 8th Circuit Court Judge Suzanne H. Kreeger, who presides over the Ionia/Montcalm Adult Recovery Court (I/M ARC), with assistance from Phil Pavona from the Ingham-Okemos FAN chapter. Judge Kreeger saw the work being done in Lansing and wanted that opportunity for her communities. It was I/M FAN’s hope that, with the help of community volunteers, the challenges of addiction would be more understood, and its grasp on our communities would be lessened, or even removed. Due to Covid 19, our I/M FAN chapter stopped meeting. Now it is our time to re-launch and welcome back I/M FAN to our communities!
Our goal is to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and the hold it continues to have on our communities, to reduce the stigma and change the face of addiction, to educate people about the dangers of prescription and illegal narcotic use, and to support those affected by substance use disorder. Through real people sharing real stories and the use of data, we will reduce the stigma attached to addiction and create an open forum for families and professionals to receive valuable insights on the prevention and treatment of this disease.
In Ionia and Montcalm counties, the "not my car, not my house, not my kid, not my problem" belief/philosophy is killing our families and communities. These are our husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters. We will educate to raise awareness and save lives by partnering with public safety, medical professionals, insurance companies, legislators, legal professionals, schools, families, and friends, facilitating change in the way addiction is viewed and treated. Making a difference one step and one life at a time.
MONTHLY MEETING
1st Monday of the month
6:00 pm
New Hope Church of God
9840 Belding Rd.
Belding, MI 48809
All are welcome to attend
(Children 10 and older please)
CONTACT US:
IMFAN@familiesagainstnarcotics.org
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Jamee Gunn
President
Jamee is a FAN Stronger Together family support group facilitator and provides resources to people who have loved ones with substance use disorder (SUD). A retired speech/language pathologist who worked in that profession for more than 41 years, she has lived in the Greenville community for nearly 35 years. Jamee grew up with a mother in addiction, who never sought recovery before her death. An adult-aged brother also passed away from SUD. Jamee's 35-year-old son, AJ, has been in recovery for 30 months now.
Charles Powers
Vice President
Term Exp 12/20
Charles works in the customer service department of an aluminum extrusion equipment manufacturer. He and his wife lost their 22 year-old-son, Michael, to addiction in 2009. He leads a Grief Share program at his church where he's also held the position of chairman of the building and grounds committee and chairman of the leadership board. Prior to being approached about becoming involved with FAN, Charles had been working on an idea for a drug prevention program. He brings his personal understanding of the struggles and despair families affected by addiction endure to the Ionia-Montcalm FAN chapter.
John Kroneck
Secretary
John has served his community as a Certified Prevention Consultant (CPC-R) since 1985.
In addition to working in prevention education and with prevention coalitions, John also supports the recovery community through their local coalitions.
Ann Tyson
Treasurer
Ann is a full-time addiction recovery coach for Montcalm Care Network. A lifelong resident of Belding, Michigan, in Ionia County, she and her husband of 41 years have been in recovery from drugs and alcohol for 36 years. Ann became involved with Ionia-Montcalm FAN at its inception. Her goal is to reach out and assist those seeking recovery from their addictions, and to help them obtain resources to achieve a healthy lifestyle, so they can become active members in their communities.
BOARD MEMBERS
Kathy J. Kurtze
Director
Kathy is a high school English teacher for the Carson City-Crystal Area Schools and a co-director of the Chippewa River Writing Project at Central Michigan University. She and her husband enjoy life in the country, where they raised their three children. They never imagined a future where they would be affected by addiction. As they struggled with a family member's drug addiction, they learned that they were not alone. Everyone, it seemed, knew someone in their shoes. The FAN credo "no family should have to go through this alone" motivates Kathy's involvement in the Ionia-Montcalm FAN chapter. So, too, does the successes she has seen that continue to give her hope.
Tammy Curtis
Director
Tammy Curtis is a provider network specialist at Montcalm Care Network. She is a volunteer, with her therapy dog Asia, at rehabilitation centers. Her hope is for us to be able to bring comfort to children who are victims of crime. Tammy loves spending time with her husband, three children, and grandchildren. After being raised in a home filled with addiction, she never imagined that once she was able to escape from it she would be struggling with addiction with her own family. She started coming to Ionia-Montcalm FAN meetings and soon realized that she couldn’t save her child from their addiction. She had felt alone and that somehow she did something wrong as a parent. She discovered a wealth of support with FAN, and knew she could help other families. She sees success stories and she sees stories that end with losing of a loved one to drug addiction. Being part of I/M FAN has changed her way of thinking and the way she reacts to addiction. Tammy believes it will take a community coming together and education to help stop the stigma of addiction.
Ken Baker
Director
Ken Baker is the co-founder and director of Soaring Above Ionia Teen Center. Growing up in a house where his mother and her many boyfriends struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, causing unthinkable neglect and abuse for him and his sister, made him passionate about this fight against drug addiction. Ken and his wife fight every day to get the kids of Ionia off the streets and away from drugs. What drew Ken to Ionia-Montcalm FAN is the empathy and passion the organization has, not only to help the addicted make it through their fight be drug-free, but also to work toward getting the drugs off the streets.
Jason Williamson
Director
Jason is from Greenville and has been in recovery for over a year. He and his wife, Jessica, have a stepson, Caleb. Jason was addicted to opiates and heroin for many years. He is currently a participant in the local 8th Circuit Adult Treatment Drug Court. Gratefully, he has turned his life around and is happier than ever. "Sobriety is the key to life," Jason says. By sharing his experiences, strength, and hope, he can guide, mentor, and teach others the right path in life to achieve recovery. Showing people there is a life beyond addiction and the early recovery process is a strength he can offer.
Glen Tyson
Director
Glen is a Peer Recovery Coach for the 8th Circuit Court and assists those suffering from substance use disorder. He's a resident of Belding, Michigan, in Ionia County and he and his wife, Ann, have been married for over 41 years. Glen has been in recovery from substances for over 36 years. He has been involved with Ionia-Montcalm FAN since its conception. His goal is to have a positive and lasting effect on those suffering from substance use disorder by helping them obtain the resources and education to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
ADVISORY BOARD
Dana Beech
School Social Worker, Ionia County Intermediate School District
Cara Byrne
Administrative Assistant, Straight Street Recovery
Rick Devers
Chaplain
Amanda Estill
Prevention and Outreach, Montcalm Care Network
Mike Helmer
Recovery Coach
Trooper Roger Hunt
Michigan State Police
Andrea Tabor
Chair Substance Abuse Advisory Council, Mid Michigan District Health Department
Debora Kenyon
Ionia Families Anonymous Co-Chair
Chris Kenyon
Ionia Families Anonymous Co-Chair
Robert Lathers, LMSW, CEO
The Right Door for Hope, Recovery & Wellness
Kate Long
Montcalm Care Network Physician Assistant
Phil Millerov
Montcalm Care Network
Kristina Richmond
Recovery Coach
Dr. Linda Satterlee
Family Practitioner
Dr. Beverly Shepard
Psychologist, Addiction Specialist
Glen Tyson
Recovery Coach
Patricia Wentworth
Drug Court Graduate, Recovering
Warren Wentworth
Family Support