Author: Indy Rotary

  • Rotary-Riley Annual Holiday Party A Huge Success

    Rotary-Riley Annual Holiday Party A Huge Success

    Riley ChildYes, the snow outside was frightful, but the smiles and children indoors where delightful. And of course several hardy Rotarians can accomplish much with the reminder of “service above self.”

    Melissa Sexton, (Riley) and her elves had all the ornament kits ready to go, the live band was tuning up and about a dozen Rotarians and family members gathered to host our annual ornament making party for the kids and their families at the Riley Children’s Hospital, Thursday December 5. Our own Jessica Bex was our organizer and beautiful cheerleader.

    As snow and sleet blew around outside we had the privilege of helping precious children, their families and many of their caregivers create ornaments for a beautifully lighted tree waiting to be decorated.

    Back for his second year as “official” photographer Bob McColgin took video and photographs of the event. See the video here or on the home page (scroll down) of the Indy Rotary website.

    Thank you Rotarians – you are amazing members and we are an amazing Club doing good for the community.

  • Rotarians Are Ringing the Bells for Salvation Army

    Rotarians Are Ringing the Bells for Salvation Army

    For years, Rotary Club of Indianapolis members have rung the bell for the Salvation Army.  As you travel throughout the city, please look for your fellow members – you might see them asking for donations to help those in need!

    And, in related news – as the holidays quickly approach, take some time to give back! Select a toy for the children at Riley Hospital, take a tag from the Plea Tree on Tuesday (set up in the lobby before and after our luncheons) and / or send your Salvation Army donations to the Rotary Office.

    Happy holidays!

  • Day 5 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Jade Miner

    Day 5 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Jade Miner

    The Jade Miner(EXCERPT) “When you walk into Francisco’s tiny front yard you are in a mini-jungle where gorgeous tropical flowers cascade from garden beds crafted from small boulders of unprocessed jade. You are not stuck by the overwhelming amount of trees, plants, and priceless Jade he owns, but his warm brown eyes and calm demeanor. He’s soft spoken, but you cling to each word like a ballad in a beautiful Christmas quartet. His words linger and bounce off plants and in the end you are left with a feeling of calm. I feel both lucky and under dressed in his presence. Francisco is first man to discover Jade in Guatemala. He stands about 6 feet tall with a slight slouch. A slouch, perhaps given, during his search for Jade in the mountains during the past 44 years. He was featured in a 1987 edition of The National Geographic.”
    Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.

  • Rotary and Riley – Working Together for the Next Generation

    The Rotary Club of Indianapolis played an integral role in the opening of Riley Hospital for Children in 1924 and formed a partnership that has changed the lives of Indiana children and their families over the past 90 years. Given the dramatic changes in the current health care market, we will discuss how Riley is preparing to meet the needs of the next generation of children and how our partnership will be more critical than ever.

    [sc_embed_player fileurl=”http://indyrotary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sperring.mp3″]

    Click icon to listen to the presentation from Tuesday, December 3, 2013.

    As president and chief executive officer, Dr. Sperring is responsible for providing overall strategic direction and leadership for pediatric services throughout IU Health, which includes direct operational and strategic oversight of pediatric programs, services and facilities at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, along with shared program oversight for pediatric programs based in the community hospitals. Dr. Sperring will serve on the senior executive team for IU Health.

    Watch the compelling video about cancer survivor, Clare Scheller.

    Dr. Sperring is a national leader in the development of the field of pediatric hospital medicine, and presents at national meetings for pediatric hospitalists. In addition to his clinical work, he has received several teaching awards including the Morris Green Faculty Teaching Award after his first year on faculty and a Trustee Teaching Award in 2006. He currently serves on the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) Council for Child Health Quality and formerly served as a national co-chair for the Academic Pediatric Association’s Hospital Medicine SIG, a member of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Roundtable. Dr. Sperring is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is also a member of the Academic Pediatric Association, American College of Healthcare Executives, American College of Physician Executives and Society of Hospital Medicine.

    Dr. Sperring is a graduate of Emory University and received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1995. He completed his pediatric residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and served as an officer in the United States Navy Medical Corps from 1995 – 2001. Prior to joining the faculty at Riley at IU Health in 2002, Dr. Sperring was a community pediatrician at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in California and New Castle Pediatrics in New Castle, Indiana.

  • Day 4 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Coffee Farmer

    Day 4 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Coffee Farmer

    The Group on the Coffee Farm(EXCERPT) “Timoteo’s hands are worn thin. His calluses show years of hard work. He reeks of coffee. The coffee farmer led us up to his piece of land on a plantation. To get there we walked one hour up a steep and treacherous mountain at a 75 degree incline. His land sits atop San Miguel Escobar and up the mountain we passed families of farmers. Kids tend the farms as young as three. Guatemalans value family and community and it shows during harvest season. Red beans are for picking and under the hot sun we walked from plant to plant plucking beans. Timoteo is a farmer with As Green As It Gets.“
    Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.

  • Day 3 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – When the Pavement Ends

    Day 3 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – When the Pavement Ends

    Debra Des Vignes Day 3(EXCERPT) “You know you have arrived in San Rafael when the pavement ends. Located 45 minutes north of Antigua, San Rafael is one of the poorest communities that Common Hope serves and is completely indigenous. People here speak Kekchi instead of Spanish. It is where I met our sponsor daughter (Simon’s sister) Marisela who is 7 years old. She loves to draw. Brenda, our case worker, was my translator. She is one of three case workers in the area responsible for 80 families.”
    Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.

  • Day 2 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – Running Water

    Day 2 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – Running Water

    (EXCERPT) “Everyone should have an opportunity for running water and electricity but water is a luxury in San Miguel Escobar. It’s where I met a family of eleven who walk at least one mile for water. The family is affiliated through Common Hope and their small home is made of concrete slabs. They have two small rooms and no bathroom or water. A family typically works 250-300 sweat equity hours doing landscaping, cleaning or cooking at the Common Hope site to receive their home. Forty to fifty volunteers help with the build. That is what brings me back here each year.”
    Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.

  • Day 1 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes Lands in Guatemala

    Day 1 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes Lands in Guatemala

    (EXCERPT) “I am remembering how to find my way again. Four years ago I was terribly lost when I stumbled off an American Airlines flight close to midnight drunk on rum and coke and lost in pretentiousness. With no cell service, internet or knowledge of the native tongue, I felt conspicuously powerless. I found the van that took me away up the mountain and back down again to Antigua, Guatemala. A two-week volunteer experience would later impact every decision I make today.”
    Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.

  • Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin Receives Lifetime Achievement Award!

    Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin Receives Lifetime Achievement Award!

    Since 1993, Phyllis Geeslin has been leading the Harrison Site onward and upward. In that time, she has accomplished much that has enriched our shared community, enhanced the guest experience and preserved Benjamin Harrison’s legacy.

    In recognition of those years of service, dedication and contributions to the field of history, Phyllis will receive the 2013 Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Indiana Historical Society (IHS).

    She will receive her award during IHS’s annual Founders Day event on Monday, December 2, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.

    Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin has also served as a Club Director, is a Paul Harris Fellow and the current History Committee Chairwoman.

  • Follow Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – to Guatamala!

    Follow Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – to Guatamala!

    Recently, we told you about Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and her upcoming (fourth) trip to Antigua, Guatemala to serve on a Vision Team for Common Hope. Well, that time has a arrived and beginning Dec 2, you can follow her BLOG (click the link) while she is there! Debra will be there for a full week and plans to post each evening about her experiences.

    Debra travels to Central America on behalf of the Common Hope that supports community schools and provides housing to families that want to participate in a process of development, improving their lives through education and health care.

    Rotarian Debra Des Vignes in GuatemalaDebra is deeply passionate about creating better opportunities for willing children and their families. She actively supports U.S. and international programs that address poverty through better access to education. This, along with the life-changing opportunity for international travel, is why Debra and her family have supported Common Hope, including a sponsor child, Marisella, for more than five years.