Author: Indy Rotary

  • 2013-14 Rotary License Plate Program

    The Rotary License Plates Sales Challenge

    • First Place: $2000
    • Second Place: $1000
    • Third Place: $ 500

    Prize money will be awarded based on the percent of license plate sales by District membership. The total number of plates sold by county within each District is determined from July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014 and divided by the number of members in the District at the end of June 2014. The District with the greatest percentage of sales/members will be awarded the first place prize. Districts with the second and third place percentages will also receive prize awards as listed above. Prize money will be awarded to the 2013-14 District Governors in July 2014 to be used for a charitable purpose within Indiana.

    How to order your Rotary License plate:

    Cost: $40 ($25 group fee, $15 administrative fee)
    The group fee is used to fund Indiana college scholarships and education initiatives.

    Low-digit plates (q100) are still available at an additional cost of $30.

    (Last year, sales increased to 278 plates. Our challenge is to increase sales to 500 plates so we can keep the Rotary Plate alive in Indiana!!)

    Support for the RI End Polio Now Campaign
    For each Rotary License plate sold between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014, the Columbus Sunrise Rotary Club will donate $1 to the Rotary Foundation on behalf of the District to support the End Polio Now initiative:

    • License plate sales will be tracked for each District: 6540, 6560, 6580
    • A check for the amount equal to the number of plates sold in each District will be sent to RI Foundation on a quarterly basis (October, January, April & July)
    • The check will identify the District (6540, 6560, 6580) to receive credit for the donation
    • Each District Governor will be notified of the amount of the donation on a quarterly basis.

    For more information, contact:
    Cindy Green at info[at]columbussunriserotary.org or Trish Moore at 812.371.3243

  • Prominent Arts Panel Speaks at Rotary!

    The Rotary Club of Indianapolis presented a panel discussion on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 with the CEOs of three of Central Indiana’s most important arts and cultural organizations:

    All three organizations have faced major challenges and have undergone significant changes in the last year, which also involved the hiring of these three individuals as CEO. The moderator was Frank Basile, long time arts philanthropist and volunteer. In our panel discussion, they talked about the challenges and opportunities they have been dealing with in the past year and their visions for the future for their organization and the arts and cultural community in general.

    The arts panel discussion was presented at a luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis in the Scottish Rite Cathedral Ballroom, 650 North Meridian Street and was open to the public.

    Download the Press Release.

    We  also had a special “Guest Day” that began just before the program.

  • Indy Rotary World Community Service Completes the “Three Days Project” in Zimbabwe

    Indy Rotary World Community Service Completes the “Three Days Project” in Zimbabwe

    This past summer, the World Community Service Team of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis completed several projects to provide fresh water and help the Ezekiel Guti Primary School in Harare, Zimbabwe. On behalf of the World Community Service committee, thank you to the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and all other contributors who truly make a difference in the lives of others throughout the world!

    The project included:

    • Drilling of borehole, providing necessary casing, water retention tank, and pump,
    • Gas for transportation to borehole location,
    • Project management and administrative assistance,
    • Personal Driving Assistance.

    Ezekiel Guti Primary School

    What We Do. The World Community Service Committee (WCSC) is responsible for identifying and supporting international service projects for the Club. Projects generally have a club member “champion” who ideally works in partnership with an overseas Rotary Club and personally travels to the location of the project to help create relationships and oversee the project. The committee currently supports clean water initiatives in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Haiti and Ecuador; multiple projects in Kenya including support for a legal aid clinic, mother-child hospital, and school classrooms; an aquaculture project in Moshi, Tanzania; a microfinance project in Calnali, Mexico; and peace learning projects in Jamaica.

  • October 26, Make a Difference on Make a Difference Day!

    make a difference dayRotary’s “Make a Difference Day” is Saturday, October 26.

    This year we will make our difference by assembling packages of food at Kids Against Hunger of Central Indiana, located in Noblesville. We will pack food from 9am until 11am for distribution both locally and globally. Children even as young as 5 can participate. Contact Norm Melzer at normmelzer[at]gmail.com for details and to sign up.

  • So Long, Babe…Hope to See You Again

    So Long, Babe…Hope to See You Again

    On Friday, September 27th our beloved “Babe” returned to the Kiwanis, once again. He left our closet to be in their closet, and we couldn’t be more saddened by the loss. On Friday, June 21, 2013 the Kiwanis won a close softball game against the Rotary Club of Indianapolis and because of that loss the traditional “handing over of the trophy” will occur.

    The “tradition” has always been that the losing team must hand the trophy back to the winning team at a club meeting. As anyone can imagine this can be a fun, yet humiliating event each year, so there is truly motivation to hang on to the “Babe!” This year, Greg Albright, Team Manager and Coach returned the trophy. He was accompanied by a few of the players, President Scott Armstrong and Executive Director Susie Harmless.

    Over the many years of softball games, your “Team Rotary” has had the winning advantage, although this may be disputed by Kiwanis because no “official” records have been kept. But, the one thing that has remained consistent has been the wonderful opportunity we are given each year to play at Victory Field thanks to longtime Rotarian Cal Burleson and longtime Kiwanian, Max Schumacher. They have allowed the two clubs to participate in this annual Summer game for many, many years. And, it is fun for the players and the fans.

    If you are interested in playing (and are seriously competitive), please call Greg Albright at 631-3733 or email him at galbright[at]indyrotary.org to get on the roster for next year. You must be a Rotarian to play!

     

  • Two Rotarians Shine as Finalists for Junior Achievement’s “Indy’s Best And Brightest” Awards!

    On Thursday, Ocotober 17, Junior Acheivement will recognize two of our very own at the annual “Indy’s Best and Brightest” event. In Banking and Financial Services, LaTonya Gaither, Service Center Manger at the Teachers Credit Union, Rotarian since November, 2012. And, in Technology, Dan Randolph, Lead Biologist with Dow AgroSciences and Rotarian since December, 2010. Our Rotarians are special! Please congratulate these deserving members of our community and thank them for being members of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis!

  • September 28, Help us Pedal For Peace

    September 28, Help us Pedal For Peace

    Join Team Rotary on  Saturday, September 28, 2013. 3-7 p.m. for this year’s Pedal for Peace.

    The event will take place at Major Taylor Velodrome, a world-class bike racing facility that was built for the Pan Am Games 3649 Cold Spring Rd.

    Watch this short video.

    Tim Dudley and Lisa JeffOur team is “Indy Rotary” and is open to all Rotarians, families and friends.  Last year we had about 15 bikers who had a wonderful time taking turns riding the track, visiting and enjoying food and fun.

    Donations from team participants will provide a school lunch for over 400 children for an entire year in Kenya AND help leading pantries procure 75 tons of food for hungry Indianapolis area residents. The recipients of the lunch would not be in school at all without the lunch so the gift is so much more than just food for these children.

    How do you get involved?

    Go to “Register to ride.”

    Our goal is for each rider to raise at least $100 for the cause – donations can be made thru the website or brought the day of the event.

  • MHAGI Receives Grant from The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation

    Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis is Indianapolis’ leading nonprofit dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives. Mental Health America represents a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation – everyday and in times of crisis.

    MHA Indy, a United Way of Central Indiana community partner, is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    MHA Indy is also an affiliate of the national Mental Health America and a chapter of Mental Health America of Indiana.

  • Help F.I.D.O. Break the World Record of 13,000lbs of Pet Food Donated in One Week!

    Help F.I.D.O. Break the World Record of 13,000lbs of Pet Food Donated in One Week!

    F.I.D.O. (Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside) Guinness Book of World Records for Most Pet Food Donated in One Week (Sept. 22-29)

    ROTARIANS! How can you help F.I.D.O. break the World Record of 13,000# of pet food donated in one week? Sign up for a shift to be a witness for this event! Or, bring a bag of Purina dog or cat food (or any brand of canned dog or cat food) to the Sept. 24 Rotary mtg. and will “retrieve” it from you after the meeting!

    Other Options for donating food. There are several sponsors throughout Indianapolis who can take your monetary or food donations. Please check out this link. NOTE: Please FIRST call the sponsor to see whether they are taking food, money or both.

    Shifts available: All activities are held at F.I.D.O headquarters, 456 N. Holmes Ave. in Haughville, 2 miles west of downtown, on the SW corner of Michigan St. and Holmes Ave. You’ll receive a volunteer packet and a cool t-shirt complete with the Rotary logo on it!

    Sunday, 9/22, from 11:30 – 1:30
    Sunday, 9/22, from 1:30 – 3
    Friday, 9/27 from 7 – 8:30 PM
    Saturday, 9/28 from 12 – 2 PM

    Contact Marie Koenig, F.I.D.O. Treasurer and Supplies Coordinator, by Sunday, Sept. 15. koenigmarie55[at]gmail.com. Phone: 509-0525 THANK YOU!

    F.I.D.O.’s Mission Statement: Improve the quality of life for outside dogs, especially those animals that are chained or neglected, by finding alternatives to continuous chaining.

    Our programs include:
    Outreach, Case Management, Humane Education, Fence Projects, Supplies Distribution, Humane Trapping, and Managing the Indianapolis Pet Food Pantry at FIDO headquarters, 456 N. Holmes Ave. in Haughville.

    To address the growing need for pet food subsidies to Indianapolis residents, FIDO established and manages a dog and cat food pantry. Proof of low-income status and spay/neuter for each pet is required. For clients who are in financial need, free or discounted spay/neuter options are provided. In addition to providing dog and cat food to clients for their own pets, we distribute cat food to feral/free-roaming cat colony caretakers each month. By year-end, we will have distributed 90 tons of pet food.

  • Rotary Conducts 4-Way Test at Christel House

    Rotary Conducts 4-Way Test at Christel House

    On September 5th, the Rotary Education Committee and 12 Rotarians volunteered to assist  Christel House Academy with the 4-Way Test for the first time!

    The 4-Way Test Middle School Program is an amazing opportunity which allows Rotarians to interact with students in the 7th grade giving them ideas/techniques and tactics for great decision making throughout their lives! And all it costs you is a couple hours of your time.

    These activities are vital to the students growth and foundation and we promise the experience is rewarding, eye-opening and fun!

    Watch a video about the 4-Way Test.

    Rotarian Michael Salemi is pictured with a group of students as they discuss this ethical way of making decisions.

    A huge thank you to everyone who helped at this event. I heard nothing but glowing comments from everyone. Please know that this kind of work is such a tremendous investment in our students. It was tremendous to have had so many Rotarians help. And, a special thank you to Dene Nidiffer for leading the charge! Rotarian, Carey Dahncke