Start your engines and help us celebrate the 100th Running of the Indy 500. This is a historic event for Indianapolis locals and visitors, and we need volunteers. Volunteer registration for events and programs fueled by the 100th Running Host Committee is now open and we look forward to engaging an amazing team of ambassadors.
March 1, 1926 – March 12, 2016
Past President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis (1994-1995)
Born on March 1, 1926, in Carmel, IN, he was the son of J. Grant and Goldah Roberts Johnson. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Virginia Williams, and his grandson John David Downing. He is survived by a daughter, Joanna Lynne Downing, Knoxville, MD; a son, Gregory Charles, Willis, VA; a grandson, Corey Charles Downing, and a brother, James, Richmond, IN.
Charles graduated from Earlham College, Richmond, IN, and earned a master’s degree from Hartford Theological Seminary, Hartford, CT. He was awarded honorary doctorates by Indiana University and Marian College.
Prior to his retirement in 1994, Charles was vice president of Lilly Endowment, a family foundation in Indianapolis, which provided funding for a wide range of charitable organizations in Indiana and nationally. During his eighteen years on the staff he served as an advisor to many charities and was deeply involved in the founding of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, the National Committee on Planned Giving, and in developing an initiative to encourage the growth of community foundations throughout the state of Indiana. In 1993 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.
Earlier in his career, Charles was development officer for Earlham College, Richmond, IN, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, and the American City Bureau, Chicago, IL. After Charles and his wife retired to Tucson in 1996, he was president of the Board of Trustees of the Carondelet Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors of the Oro Valley Community Foundation, and a volunteer at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona. Charles never stopped working; in his 80’s he was instrumental in founding the scholarship program for employees at Splendido Retirement Community in Oro Valley.
Charles was an avid golfer with many friends at Skyline Country Club, and a lifelong car enthusiast, focusing on Ford Model As and early V8s. Charles was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers). He was the third of the four Johnson brothers, JW, Phillip, Charles, and James. Their extended families brought him great joy. Charles was very fond of his son-in-law, Jim and step-grandsons, Jeremy, Ben, and James; his daughter-in-law, Colleen, his step-granddaughters Karen and Diane, and his great-grandsons Brody and Riley. – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?n=charles-a-johnson&pid=178090468&fhid=20175#sthash.ajuNORGq.dpuf
A lot of us are starting to think about spring and tree planting! Can’t wait to get out? Then, check out the Garfield Park Tree Planting event. This is a Rotary-supported event along with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Friends of Garfield Park.
Sign up today! We are targeting 150 volunteers to plant 140 trees. And, a tree planting demo will be provided along with the required tools and refreshments at the event. Kids are welcome.
On a cold February day (25 degrees), 12 Rotarians met to play golf in the warm inside confines of Golftec (70 degrees). We divided into 3 teams and played a scramble format golf tournament coordinated on 3 simulators to be the exact course. Rotarians got to swing their own clubs on the high tech simulators for a chance to play golf in the depth of winter. The simulators were advanced Trackman launch monitors and High Definition monitors that showed the flight of the ball and provided distance, club head speed and many other statistics. The simulators even allowed for putting on the greens which seemed to confound many of the participants.
The consensus of the group was that it was a fun experience and we were glad to have an opportunity to swing a club with fellow Rotarian in the winter. Afterwards we met at a local brewery for fellowship and discuss our golf prowess (or lack thereof). Thanks to Jerry Clifford for the attached picture of the group.
On April 16, 2016 our Rotary Racers Team will walk or run for the Cure! Plus, there will be Tutus and lots of pink adorned Rotarians to recognize cancer survivors, loved ones, family members and friends. It’s a great cause and our club can be proud of our Rotary Racers! Won’t you join us? Sign-up by joining the Rotary Racers Team!
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® Series is the world’s largest and most successful education and fundraising event for breast cancer ever created.
The event raises significant funds and awareness for the breast cancer movement, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.
This Race is unique in the fact that 100% of the net proceeds are allocated to our mission. 75 percent of the net income stays in our community to help fund local programs offering breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment. The remaining 25 percent of the net income supports the Susan G. Komen® Grants Program.
Rotary 5:31 was at The Tap Beer Bar on Wednesday, March 2 – 306 N. Delaware Street . 5:31 to 7:30pm.
Reservations and punctuality not never required! 5:31 meet-and-greets are our most popular event get-togethers. They are a fun way to get to know folks outside of our regular Tuesday programs. We always meet at a new location somewhere in the city and it is never dull!
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis membership is a diverse and treasured group. Check out this video spotlight on Rotarians, Tom Surgener and Kelly Tingle. Are you interested in becoming a member of our club? Get started here!
Rotary Under 40 invites you to the our first annual “Rotary Madness!” This event is open to ALL Rotarians and friends as we kick-off the NCAA tournament season. From 12pm to 4pm at BW3s.
Rotarian Elaine Bedel and her company, Bedel Financial Consulting Selected for Financial Planning’s Top 150 RIAs List for 2016
Financialplanning.com recently released its Top RIAs list for 2016. It’s the fifth year Financial Planning has published this list, and Bedel Financial Consulting is the only Indianapolis-based firm to be included. The 150 are a select group of RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors) who provide fee-only services. According to research firm Aité Group, there were 59,422 independent RIAs at the end of 2014, managing $2.7 trillion in assets of high net-worth individuals and institutional investors.
“I’m honored and delighted to be ranked among the top 150 RIAs in the U.S.,” said Elaine E. Bedel, CFP®, CEO and president of Bedel Financial. “Being an independent fee-only RIA is challenging in today’s rapidly changing financial environment. But I strongly believe our independence and fee-only business model offers the highest and most ethical service to our clients.”
New Jersey-based Discovery Data, which collects data on the financial industry, compiled the rankings for Financial Planning based on the amount of discretionary and nondiscretionary assets managed by the RIAs. To be included, the RIAs must be based in the U.S. and truly independent—free of affiliations with broker-dealers, insurance, firms, banks and large outside investors. Furthermore, individuals had to comprise 50 percent or higher of their client base.
Bedel’s expertise as a financial advisor is frequently requested for speaking engagements and for interviews. She’s featured on WTHR Channel 13’s Your Money show every Wednesday and has authored a weekly financial planning column for Inside Indiana Business’s newsletter, “The Inside Edge,” since 2003.
Bedel Financial is a wealth management firm providing fee-only financial planning and investment management services. Bedel founded the firm, which has since grown to 19 employees, in 1989. Bedel Financial actively manages more than $900 million in client investments.
For more information, visit Bedel Financial.
