Robin Dorman Is New Community Foundation Executive Director
By Diane Ivey

Robin Dorman

Robin Dorman will be introduced as the new executive director of the Mackinac Island Community Foundation at the Foundation's annual community party Wednesday, August 27. Known to many as the friendly postal clerk at the Mackinac Island Post Office, he has been sharing duties with the Foundation since July 18 and has been learning about endowments and philanthropy from former executive director, Jennifer Bloswick, who is now the human resources director at Grand Hotel.

Mr. Dorman, who moved to the Island six years ago, said he is looking forward to managing and expanding the foundation's role in the Mackinac Island community. He will be involved in raising money and helping to manage more than 50 funds at the Foundation. The funds, most of them endowed, are used to enrich and improve the lives of residents and visitors on Mackinac Island, and some of them are dedicated to specific purposes or causes.

Endowed funds are invested, and only the income from the investments are used to fund programs. The money originally contributed by donors remains in the endowment and continues to provide revenue for grants forever.

"It's interesting to see how deep our roots go in the community," Mr. Dorman said. "I like going places where I can represent the foundation and find new and creative ways to utilize money."

"Robin will be a great asset to the Mackinac Island Community Foundation," said board chair Wesley Maurer, Jr. "He is learning quickly, likes people, and has a good sense of how the foundation can contribute to the Island's present and unseen future needs. The beauty of the Foundation's endowments is that contributions made today will be available to meet needs years from now that we don't even know about."

Mr. Dorman lives in Harrisonville with his wife, Kelly, a nurse at the Mackinac Island Medical Center.

He will continue to work part time at the Mackinac Island Post Office until he can earn his federal retirement, and also volunteers for the Mackinac Arts Council and 4-H.

He enjoys being involved in the community.

"The biggest challenge is the long hours," he said. "I get up and I spend some time at the foundation before heading to the post office, and then I come back to the foundation in the afternoon. My wife has been very understanding, and I think I'm learning every day how to manage my time better."

Mr. Dorman studied at the University of Maryland and served 15 years in the U.S. Army, working in military intelligence and as a Russian linguist and instructor. He has lived in many places around the world, although he counts Germany, where he lived for eight years, as his favorite.

The party August 27 is open to the public and will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Gate House restaurant.

Foundation Board Members, in addition to Mr. Maurer, are Vice-chair R. Daniel Musser III, President Bradley Chambers, Secretary Margaret Doud, Treasurer Mike Young, and Trustees Penny Barr, Jack Dehring, Charles Kleber, Kim Kolatski, Kathy Lewand, Mary K. McIntire, Senator Walter North, Carol Rearick, Lorna Straus, and Randy Stuck.