Author: Indy Rotary

With the Midterm Elections weeks behind us and most election results certified, it’s a perfect time to truly evaluate the impact the Midterm Elections will have on our City, our State and our Country.  Join two of the brightest political analysts in Indy, Jennifer Hallowell and Jennifer Wagner, to learn the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for policy and politics over the next few years. The conversation will be moderated by FOX59’s Dan Spehler, evening news anchor and also host of IN focus, an Emmy-award winning politcal issues program seen on Sunday mornings.

Jennifer Hallowell has spearheaded successful advocacy and consulting efforts at the federal, state and local levels. After launching Hallowell Consulting LLC in 2009, she served as the consultant for Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, U.S. Congressman Luke Messer and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. Hallowell was the political advisor to former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and the architect of his re-election. During that time, she served as a consultant for the Michigan Republican Party during the 2010 gubernatorial election and later coordinated digital advertising for a successful multimillion-dollar ballot referendum in Michigan. Hallowell was also active in Indianapolis in the Citizens for Wishard Hospital public referendum which resulted in the construction of Eskenazi Health.

Jennifer Wagner is the Vice President of Communications for EdChoice, a national nonprofit that focuses on K-12 educational choice for all families. She is a former Indianapolis Star reporter who has previously served as communications director for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and deputy director of public affairs for National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile and the largest nonproliferation program in the world. Before joining EdChoice, Wagner ran her own public relations consulting firm, serving a number of public, private and nonprofit clients. She also served for several years as spokesperson for the Indiana Democratic Party and has worked on a number of issue-based and political campaigns.

The public is always welcome at Rotary! Our programs take place at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and the cost is just $26 per person. It’s best to arrive by noon and know that we always conclude by 1:15.

Since being elected Governor of Rotary International District 6560, Dale Basham’s goal has been to celebrate excellence. He is increasingly awed by the amazing work of Rotarians in Central Indiana’s forty-four Rotary Clubs. We build schools for girls in Afghanistan, carry clean water to villages in Africa, volunteer by the thousands to solve problems in our communities, and are on the verge of eradication Polio. As District 6560’s largest club, The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is leading the charge by invading Indianapolis with good will, showcasing Service Above Self throughout Indiana, and saving Planet Earth. As our District Governor, Dale will celebrate your excellence on October 23, 2018.

Dale Basham has spent his career in education, serving as a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, director, and school board member for Muncie Community Schools. He now serves on the board of directors of Hillcroft Services, as chairman of the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, Business-Education Partnership, and president of both Muncie Downtown Development Partnership and Muncie Fire Merit Commission. Basham is our current Rotary International District 6560 Governor.

Dale joined the Rotary Club of Muncie in 2010. Since 2010, he has served as the education director for Muncie Rotary. Early on he championed the project for Muncie Rotary is the club’s Service Above Self Partnership, a partnership with local nonprofits, focusing the club’s talents and treasure to serve its community. While he served as the 97th President of Muncie Rotary, his club welcomed more than twenty new members to the club. Dale was honored as District 6560 Rotarian of the Year in 2015. At the same time, Muncie Rotary was named as District 6560 Rotary Club of the Year. He has recently begun work with the Rotary International Action Group for Population and Development, alongside International 6560 Rotarians, Barbara Maves and Tracey Danner-Odenwelder.

The public is always welcome at Rotary. Our programs take place at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and the cost is just $26 per person. It’s best to arrive by noon and know that we always conclude by 1:15.

Sparking a New Conversation: Navigating Race, Faith and Politics

As the new(ish) bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis (with oversight of central and southern Indiana) the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows has jumped in with both feet to listen, learn, and lead. She will address her experience in navigating the often difficult realities of race, faith, and politics and her desire to have real and authentic conversations about these important matters. She also touch on why she remains hopeful about what’s possible for healing and reconciliation in this time of polarization.

The Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows was consecrated as the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis on April 29, 2017. She is the first African American woman to be consecrated diocesan bishop in The Episcopal Church and the first woman to succeed a woman as bishop. Bishop Jennifer, as she is known, is from New York, ordained by the Diocese of Central New York, and is a graduate of Smith College, Cornell University, and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She has served on the executive bishop’s staff in the Diocese of Chicago as well as congregations in the dioceses of Central New York, Newark (northern New Jersey), and California. She has expertise in architecture and has been a historic preservation consultant restoring chapels and small churches in the northeast. She has passion for issues including gun violence, food justice, and racial and class reconciliation.

Bishop Jennifer and her husband, Harrison Burrows, have a son, Timothy. An endurance athlete, knitter and former food-writer, watching American Ninja Warrior is her favorite guilty pleasure.

The public is always welcome at Rotary. Our programs take place at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and the cost is just $26 per person. It’s best to arrive by noon and know that we always conclude by 1:15.

Bird and Lime scooters first appeared in Indy in June and they were met with celebration by some and frustration by others. After being banished by the City in July, the scooters came back this August with much larger fleets and “operating ground rules” as dictated by the City of Indianapolis.

Love them or hate them, the behind the scenes political process (which was not along party lines!) surrounding the scooter invasion was fascinating to watch unfold. Kip will share some insight into that process as well as talk about the role that mechanized scooters can play in terms of transportation infrastructure and how new technologies are consistently being considered, implemented or managed by local governments.

Kipper (Kip) Tew concentrates his practice on public affairs and municipal law, including smart cities and IoT, gaming, alcohol, utilities, and campaign finance. Lime Scooters are a client of Kip’s and he was instrumental in the deal that brought Lime Scooters back to Indy. Kip has also been actively involved in the political process. He was the state chair of the Barack Obama presidential campaign in Indiana and former chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party.

The public is always welcome at Rotary. Our programs take place at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and the cost is just $26 per person. It’s best to arrive by noon and know that we always conclude by 1:15.

Guests are encouraged to bring their helmets (or use one of ours!) and try some demo scooters at Ivy Tech on Tuesday! They will be available for trial before and after the meeting! 

Please welcome Jennifer Pace Robinson, Vice President of Experience Development and Family Learning, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Founded in 1925, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. With a 472,900 square-foot facility that sits on 29 acres, it is the largest children’s museum in the world.

Jennifer Pace Robinson will talk about the design and development process used at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to create new experiences. Based on strong educational theories that promote social learning along with theater and show design techniques, the team at the Museum has been able to constantly develop exciting and dynamic experiences that transport children and families to new times and places. She will talk about early inspiration, how to foster ‘enchantment’ in children and the steps they take to create dramatic three dimensional exhibits and immersive programs to inspire and educate future generations.

Jennifer has worked in the field of museum experience development for over 25 years. As the Vice President of Experience Development and Family Learning at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis she currently oversees all aspects of exhibit development, design, production, program development, educational interpretation and collections care and use. She has created past exhibits about Ancient Egypt, Dinosaurs, Civil Rights, the Holocaust, Popular Culture, the Mercury Space Program and the Modern-day Space Program. She has served as an international consultant for the development of new family-focused museums in several countries including Egypt, China and the United Arab Emirates. Jennifer is a graduate of DePauw University and has a background in archaeology, art history and communication studies. She holds a master’s degree in education from Indiana University with a focus on curriculum and instruction and educational psychology.

The public is always welcome at Rotary. Our programs take place at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and the cost is just $26 per person. It’s best to arrive by noon and know that we always conclude by 1:15.