City declares Nov. 3 ‘Melissa Fleis Day’ in Rogers City
“In recognition of her accomplishments on the national television show, “Project Runway,” the city of Rogers City proclaims November 3, 2012, ‘Melissa Fleis Day’ in Rogers City,” said Mayor Beach Hall at the last meeting of the Rogers City Council.
With those words, the Rogers City native will be honored at the annual banquet of the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce Saturday evening for giving recognition to her hometown in the Lifetime television network reality show. The show pitted 16 clothing designers in a weekly competition.
“The chamber board of directors felt it was appropriate to acknowledge Melissa this way and we are thankful the council chose to honor her with a day, as we requested,” said chamber executive director Ray Spain.
Businesses are encouraged to use their windows or signs to greet Melissa using black and white, and red, colors she used prominently in the show.
Fleis will arrive in Rogers City via Traverse City, as she was scheduled to fly out of San Francisco sometime today. It is not certain if the delays due to Hurricane Sandy will alter her flight plans.
Her trip is being sponsored by 15 businesses and individuals including True North Radio, Mark Slown, Rogers City Rehabilitation Hospital, the Alpena News, WATZ-WGRZ Radio, Kortman’s Restaurant, Wolverine Power Supply, Carmeuse Lime & Stone, Dr. Robert Taylor, Erik and Amy Nadolsky, Huron Auto Sales, Alpena Regional Medical Center, Awakon Federal Credit Union, Nautical City Festival, Inc. and Presque Isle Newspapers.
Melissa will give a presentation at the chamber banquet at the Water’s Edge Restaurant and answer questions from the audience. As of press time Wednesday morning, there were about 50 tickets left for the event. Tickets will be on sale at the Rogers City Area Chamber of Commerce until noon Thursday or until 250 have been sold.
In addition to her appearance at the chamber banquet, Spain and chamber board of director member Richard Lamb have arranged for her to come into classrooms at three area schools, as she requested. She begins her day at Rogers City High School during first hour Friday. More information on what classroom she will be in is at the high school office.
From there she will go to St. Ignatius Catholic School, where she will meet with some students at 10 a.m. She is a graduate of St. Ignatius. Then, to cap a busy morning, she will visit the Rogers City Elementary School where she will visit a classroom.
Fleis made the final four of the fashion designing reality show, which recently wrapped up its 10th season on the air. She survived a variety of challenges where the designers had to craft various garments and have them judged on the show’s runway. Each week one designer was eliminated from the show until there were four left. Those four had the task of completing a line of at least 10 garments which were shown in a grand fashion show at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The mayor’s proclamation continues with “Melissa has distinguished herself in the world of fashion by making it to the finals of the popular Lifetime Television Network reality show. She has consistently shown her skills and creativity in designing and constructing various garments which set her apart from other competitors. More importantly, she has made these accomplishments while carrying herself in a manner that makes her hometown, family and her parents Jim and Doris Fleis very proud.”
The chamber of commerce can be reached at 734-2535.
(UPDATED after going to press–Less than 40 tickets remain for the chamber banquet. Sales will end at noon Thursday, Nov. 1 or when 250 have been sold.)