Category: Latest News

Orangutan at the Zoo
The International Orangutan Center was designed with the orangutans in mind every step of the way. While it may not look like a traditional forest, the International Orangutan Center acts like the home territory of orangutans in the wild. This spectacular addition to the Zoo and to the Indianapolis community will be home to a fascinating group of these endangered great apes, offering them a special facility designed and built especially to meet their physical, social, and intellectual needs.

Our new habitat will allow the orangutans to engage in their natural behaviors, while also challenging their curiosity and creativity. It will:
- Accommodate the orangutans’ arboreal lifestyle.
- Stimulate and engage their remarkable intelligence.
- Support their unique social structure.
The habitat also will create a visitor experience like no other. Zoo guests will enjoy diverse viewing opportunities, ranging from intimate encounters at ground level to spectacular aerial rides above. A soaring Beacon of Hope will draw people into the Zoo while enhancing the Indianapolis downtown skyline. With its unique design, it will become an icon for the Zoo and a beacon for the city and for wild orangutans. Location: Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222
April 16, 2014
JA in a DAY – Rotarians Made a Difference
Rotarians made a difference in children’s lives at JA in a Day on April 10, 2014! The following volunteers agreed to get on board for JA in a Day on April 10, 2014! Thank you: Adam Cobb, Rada Cretu, Latonya Gaither, Matt Will, Tom Fodor, Jennifer Butler, Jeff Lake, Bruce Glor, Bill Bubenzer, Evan Bedel, Marie Koenig, Don Dorsey, Andrea Geiger, Lauren Scheldrup, Norm Melzer

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- Where: IPS, Joyce Kilmer Academy #69
- When: Thursday, April 10 from 9am to 3pm
- Special Training Session: 45 Minute training session will be held directly after Rotary lunch on Tuesday, April 1.
JA In A DayJunior Achievement is dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action, and help strengthen their communities. In central Indiana, we provide in school education program to grades K-12 as well as our experiential capstone programs such as JA BizTown® and Finance Park® Virtual, which enforces the idea that kids learn by “doing.”
April 14, 2014
Upcoming Rotary Social Activities!

Rotary Golf
Rotary Golf will be starting up again on Monday, May 12, at River Glen just North of 116th off Allisonville Road. Be sure to tell them in the Clubhouse that you are with Rotary to get the discount – $26 for riders or $20 if you want to walk. The plan is to have a putting contest at 3:00 pm and tee off after 3:45 pm or so on the first day only. More info to follow at a later date.

On Monday, June 23, we will have our outing at the Brickyard Crossing. Tee times will start at 2:00 pm and the format is Individual Bankers Handicap. The cost is $65 (discounted Rotary rate). Guests are welcome and when we hit 32 golfers, that is it! Please make your checks payable to Rotary Golf and mail to me at 3612 N. Washington Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46205-3592 or give them to me at Rotary; please DO NOT mail them to the Rotary Office.

5:31 Club
May 7th: Northside Social, Broad Ripple
June 4th: Weber Grill (includes new member reception)

Other activities:
Symphony on the Prairie: More information TBD, Summer 2014

April 10, 2014
Central Indiana Education Alliance’s First Annual Education Weekend

Thanks in part to an Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Civic Entrepreneurship grant and as part of the Central Indiana Education Alliance’s First Annual Education Weekend, the Rotary Education Equity Awards will take place on May 16-18, 2014. The awards, which will honor individuals who have had their impact on education, felt either inside, or beyond, the traditional educational setting, will be announced during a special awards presentation on Friday, May 16, 2014.

Click here to access an electronic copy of the nomination form.

Led by Jamal L. Smith, Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, representatives from Talent Alliance, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, the community, and students will comprise the selection team.

Nominations are due by Monday, April 21, 2014 at 5:00 pm.

April 9, 2014
On April 10, Indianapolis Rotary Takes Over IPS #69 Instruction for the Day

Rotary Club of Indianapolis volunteers are partnering with Junior Achievement of Central Indiana to take over instruction at IPS #69 on April 10, 2014 from 9:00am – 3:00pm as a part of the JA in a Day program.

JA in a Day is Junior Achievement’s one-day version of the JA In-School program, which provides five sessions of JA curriculum custom-designed for each grade level. Thirteen Rotary volunteers will teach grades K-2 for the entire day using JA programming.

JA programming focuses on educating young people in the areas of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness, and inspires them to explore and create opportunities, make good decisions and believe in their potential.

“The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is committed to creating the next generation of leaders. I cannot think of a better way to help children accomplish this goal then to acquire the skills necessary to become a future business owner,” said Dr. Matthew Will, Vice President of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation, Past President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, and Director of External Relations, Associate Professor of Finance, School of Business at the University of Indianapolis.

The Rotary Club of Indianapolis, and the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation also supported this volunteer event through the Civic Entrepreneurship Grant. The grant was able to fund two JA classes to support this extraordinary impact.

About Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
JACI reaches over 17,000 preschool through high school students in Central Indiana each year with In-School, after school, on-site, and summer camp programs aimed at teaching students in the areas of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness. More information at www.jaindy.org.

About Junior Achievement USA®
Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches four million students per year in more than 120 markets across the United States, with an additional 6.5 million students served by operations in 117 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

April 7, 2014
Rotarian, Betty Tonsing Releases Book

Stand in the Way! Patient Advocates Speak Out is now available on amazon.com. Go to amazon.com and see what people are saying about this book, written for you. And do not forget to like Patient Advocates Speak Out on its own Facebook page. I do not mean to alarm (yes I do) but eight jumbo jets crashing each and every week (the equivalent of the number of people who die each year from medical error and infections) is a very serious problem (perhaps crisis?). This book is full of good stories, and hope.

March 31, 2014
JA in a DAY
Rotarians made a difference in children’s lives at JA in a Day on April 10, 2014!

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- Where: IPS, Joyce Kilmer Academy #69
- When: Thursday, April 10 from 9am to 3pm
- Special Training Session: 45 Minute training session will be held directly after Rotary lunch on Tuesday, April 1.
Click to Enlarge

JA In A DayJunior Achievement is dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action, and help strengthen their communities. In central Indiana, we provide in school education program to grades K-12 as well as our experiential capstone programs such as JA BizTown® and Finance Park® Virtual, which enforces the idea that kids learn by “doing.”

The following volunteers agreed to get on board for JA in a Day on April 10, 2014! Adam Cobb, Rada Cretu, Latonya Gaither, lMatt Will, Tom Fodor, Jennifer Butler, Jeff Lake, Bruce Glor, Bill Bubenzer, Evan Bedel, Marie Koenig, Don Dorsey, Andrea Geiger, Lauren Scheldrup, Norm Melzer

We Need You!
March 26, 2014
New Rotarian, NaShara Mitchell Finding Her Space

Women Entrepreneurs: Finding Their Space

A business owner and assistant dean at IUPUI has announced an expansion of what she calls the only coworking space in the state with a focus on women. Studio B owner NaShara Mitchell says high demand has led to the need for a larger space in Indianapolis. She is launching a crowdfunding and awareness campaign to coincide with the facility’s grand re-opening. Mitchell and KA+A Community Manager Janneane Blevins discussed the importance of networking and mentorship programs on Inside INdiana Business Television as part of our focus on women entrepreneurs throughout the state.

Read Full Story, Courtesy Inside Indiana Business

March 21, 2014
2014 Rotary Club of Indianapolis Board Election Results

Election results are in and these are the newest Board members for the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, serving a two year term from 2014 to 2016.

Evan Bedel, Bedel Financial Consulting
Steve Harris, PNC Bank
Debbie Hyde, Somerset CPAs
Marie Koenig, F.I.D.O.
Dr. Mercy Obeime
Michael Salemi, Colored Threads
Lauren Scheldrup, Junior Achievement

The officers of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis are President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Board of Directors, “Board”, consist of fifteen (15) members of the Club.

The elective officers, who are not elected Directors, become ex officio members of the Board during tenure of office, with the right to vote. The immediate Past President is an ex officio member of the Board with the right to vote for the year following his term in office.

Eight Directors are elected in odd numbered years and seven Directors are elected in even numbered years. Directors are elected for a term of two years and shall hold office until the adjournment of the annual meeting at which their respective terms expire, and/or until their successors are elected and qualified.

March 13, 2014
April 10 – JA In A Day
You can make a difference in a child’s life! Grab your favorite Rotarian and join us for JA in a Day.
- Where: IPS, Joyce Kilmer Academy #69
- When: Thursday, April 10 from 9am to 3pm
Junior Achievement is dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action, and help strengthen their communities. In central Indiana, we provide in school education program to grades K-12 as well as our experiential capstone programs such as JA BizTown® and Finance Park® Virtual, which enforces the idea that kids learn by “doing.”
March 13, 2014