Category: Latest News

It’s time to celebrate! Every year the Rotary Club of Indianapolis reflects on our impact over the prior year with a celebration! 

What to expect:

• Camaraderie
• Fun
• Food
• Silent auction
• Reflections on our community impact, community beautification, world community service over the last year
• Installation and celebration of our new president and board
• Celebration of President Marie! 

Event Info:
June 24th, 2025
The Columbia Club
5:30 pm – cocktail hour
6:30 pm – dinner & program

Cost: Early Bird $65/per person, $75/per person starting June 1 – register at rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/

*Please note: all contributions to this event (ticket price, silent auction, and sponsorships) go to benefit the club. The club is not a 501(c)3 and thus gifts made are not tax deductible.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We hope you or your business will consider sponsoring the dinner. Multiple sponsorships are available if you’re interested in supporting your club in this way. 

This fundraiser helps to support our club’s bottom line so we can provide better experiences for Rotarians as we learn about and support our community. Thank you for your consideration. 

Contact the office at info@indyrotary.org if you’re interested in this opportunity or go to rotary-club-of-indianapolis.square.site/ to reserve your sponsorship today.

Join us on Saturday, May 3 at 10:00 am for a morning of hands-on service at Nora Community Garden, where we’ll be planting a native pollinator habitat to support local bees and butterflies!

We’ll kick off the day with a tour of Helpings of Hope Farms—including a look at their brand-new beehives—before we dig in to plant a variety of native flowers that help our ecosystem thrive.

Meet behind First Baptist Church
8600 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis
Start time: 10:00 AM
Running late? Call Lindsay Maliqi at 317-766-3448 and she’ll help you catch up.

What to Bring/Wear:

• Closed-toed shoes and long pants
• Rotary Volunteer Shirt
• Gloves 
• Gardening tools if you have them (trowels, shovels, rakes, etc.)
• Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen

Please note: There are no restroom facilities on-site—plan accordingly.

Questions? Contact Rotarian Lindsay Maliqi at 317-766-3448.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis elected seven members to serve on the Board of Directors for two years, beginning on July 1, 2025. We are pleased to welcome the following community leaders to serve our club in leadership positions.

Kim Brand, 1st Maker Space
Autumn Bryant, Randall & Bryant, P.C.
Luke Cathcart, Soteria Insurance Group
Jerry Clifford, Retired from Ameritech
Rachel Eble, Goodwill Foundation for Central and Southern Indiana
Glenn Johnson, Keys2Work
John Sullivan, Retired from Schuetz Insurance Services

The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is proud to announce that nominations for the Rotary Outstanding Achievement Recognition (ROAR) Award are open (formerly called Rotarian of the Year). Nominations for Rotarians in good standing who have demonstrated “Service Above Self” during his or her lifetime are being accepted. This award recognizes a life devoted to reflecting the Four Way Test, not just within the Club, but in their career and community life as well. This is considered a lifetime achievement award.

Completed nominations should be submitted no later than April 30, 2025, to Jamie Hanan via email or by completing the online form below.

Public announcement of the ROAR Award will occur on June 3, 2025, and the award will be presented at the 2025 Celebration Event scheduled for the evening of June 24, 2025.

Past Recipients:
2007: Marge Tarpley and Danny Danielson
2008: Dr. Tim Dudley
2009: Hugh Baker
2010: Bill Batt
2011: Bill Ervin
2012: Gene Busche
2013: Club celebrated 100th anniversary and named Rotarian of the Century: Senator Richard Lugar
2014: Paul Raikes
2015: Club celebrated retirement of Executive Director, Susie Harmless, and, therefore, no ROY named
2016: Judge Tom Fisher
2017: Elaine Bedel
2018: Tom Lugar
2019: Jeff Lake
2020: Kathy Cookerly and Bill Bubenzer
2021: Marie Koenig and Larry Brodnik
2022: Peggy Blackard and Norm Melzer
2023: David Leonards
2024: Michael Crowley

Join us for an exclusive and highly educational event featuring Karen Alter, CEO of Borshoff, a premier PR and marketing agency known for helping businesses craft compelling narratives and navigate complex communication challenges.

What You’ll Learn:
• When does your business truly need PR? (It’s not just for crises!)
• Is PR right for your company? Understanding the ROI of strategic communications.
• Common PR mistakes that most companies don’t even realize they’re making.
• How to control your story before the public and media do it for you.
• The evolving PR landscape and why traditional marketing isn’t enough anymore.

Whether you’re a CEO, business owner, or marketing leader, this event will provide practical insights you can implement immediately. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain expert PR knowledge and position your business for long-term success!

Come ready to learn, engage, and take your business’s public image to the next level!

*Corporate Members received a special invitation on February 27 via email from Rotarian Zack Conner with registration details. If you are interested in learning more about corporate memberships, please contact the Rotary office at info@indyrotary.org.

The Environment and Beautification Committee is seeking volunteers for a meaningful service project at Flanner House. On Saturday, March 22, from 9 am – 12 pm, we will be working together to install flower beds and build a shed – a project funded by the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation.

This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community while helping to enhance the beauty of Flanner House. If you’re interested in lending a hand, we would love to have you join us!

To sign up or for more information, please contact Charlie Meyer. 

Backyard Bonfire/St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

Who: Rotarians, friends, guests and anyone looking to enjoy a fun filled Wednesday evening.

Location: Home of Rotarian Stan Jacobs and his wife Marilyn, 9008 Ironwood Court, Indianapolis, IN 46260

Date: Wednesday, March 12 at 5:31 p.m.

Featuring the Gordon Pipers performing around 6:00-6:30 p.m.

For planning purposes, please RSVP to Stanton.Jacobs@gmail.com by March 10.

The Rotary Club of Indianapolis proudly sponsored two talented high school students to participate in the Rotary District 6560 Speech Competition on Saturday, February 8, at Anderson University. The competitors, sophomore Avy Arun and senior Mayah Lopez, both from Westfield High School, were accompanied by the Club Speech Contest Chair, Tom Fodor, as they anxiously awaited the results.

The competition was fierce, with twelve students representing nearly four dozen Rotary clubs in the district. All participants showcased exceptional skills, poise, and passion in their speeches. Among them, Mayah Lopez, who had previously won the Rotary Club of Indianapolis competition, secured third place overall at the district level, earning a $250 prize. Her powerful speech, titled “The Lungs Of Our World,” called for immediate action to address the alarming destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

Both Mayah and Avy will be honored at an upcoming Club meeting, where they will receive the Club’s awards. Mayah will be awarded a $300 prize along with her high school which will further support the speech and debate program.

A special thank you goes out to Westfield High School English, Speech, and Debate Teacher Holly Reineking, whose dedication and hard work always prepare her students to compete at the highest levels.

The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is proud to support young voices like Mayah and Avy, helping to inspire the next generation of leaders and advocates for positive change in the world.

Join us at this year’s 5:31 Club Wine Tasting event hosted by Rotarian Matt Burnett and his wife Jill!

When: February 12, starting at 5:31 p.m., ending at 7:00 p.m.

Where: The home of Rotarian Matt Burnett.

The rules are simple:

1. Bring your favorite bottle of red or white wine ($30 or less)
2. Sample a few wines
3. Vote on your phone
4. Learn the results that evening.
5. Have fun!!

This is a wine TASTING, but just in case, ride shares from Uber or Lyft will be available. Drink responsibly.

Questions? Contact Norm Melzer at normmelzer@gmail.com.