The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is celebrating 125 years since the inauguration of Harrison as the 23rd president. Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin, the site’s president and CEO, says issues that were important to Harrison were the opening of Ellis Island, a sense of history and a good diet of fish, beef and fresh vegetables. Click here to see some of Geeslin’s favorite places to eat.
Category: Latest News
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Phyllis Geeslin – The Five Things I Love
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Rotarian Erik Johnson Nominated by Indiana Sports Corp for the Prestigious ROSE Award
The following article was written by Allison Melangton, President, Indiana Sports Corp
During our Executive Committee meeting earlier this week, we had a special visit from our partners at Visit Indy. They stopped by to surprise Erik Johnson, who has been nominated by Indiana Sports Corp for a ROSE (“Recognition Of Service Excellence”) Award. He’ll be recognized at the event next month.
The mission of the ROSE (“Recognition Of Service Excellence”) Awards is to honor hospitality employees or volunteers who provide excellent customer service. ROSE Award honorees are true goodwill ambassadors for their companies and the city. These industry champions, through one-on-one or behind-the-scenes contact, positively influence a visitor’s experience in Indianapolis. These interactions are really important touch-points with fans, and positively shape out-of-town guests’ impressions of Indy.
I’ve mentioned Erik’s selfless contributions in the past. His volunteer leadership as the chair of the local organizing committee for the 2013 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships in the planning stages of the event was exceptional. On-site, he joined us for many early mornings to help manage the operational parts of the event, and did everything from entertaining guests from the NCAA to spreading straw throughout the Indianapolis Rowing Center to combat a week of rain.
Erik is just one example of the volunteers, facility and hospitality workers, and ambassadors who do so much to make our guests feel at home in central Indiana. Their work, their Hoosier Hospitality, and their attention to detail provide memorable and lasting experiences for our participating athletes and fans.
The four weeks ahead provide a significant opportunity for Indy to welcome more visitors and sports fans as we host the Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
I also appreciated Mayor Ballard’s comments in the State of the City address last night – reminding us to be proud of Indy and to serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for all the things that make Indy a great place to live, work and enjoy great events–like the March line-up mentioned above!
Thank you to everyone who volunteers in our community (whether it be for Indiana Sports Corp or other great organizations) and keep sharing positive experiences with our visitors!
Written By Allison Melangton, President, Indiana Sports Corp
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Carmel Rotarian and Past District Governor Passes Away
William D. “Bill” McFadden, 76 of Indianapolis, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014. Bill was born April 27, 1937 in Indianapolis to the late Dwight and Helen McFadden. He was a graduate of Shortridge High School and Butler University, and served in the U. S. Army Medical Corp.
Bill was co-owner of Circle City Embroidery. He had been an active member of the Carmel Rotary Club since 1976 and served as President from 1991 -1992. He was very active in Rotary Youth Exchange and hosted 6 students who are still part of his family. In 1998 he was chosen as Group Study Exchange team Leader to Norway and served as District Governor 2001-2002. Because of his unfaltering dedication to Rotary and their youth programs, Carmel Rotary awards an annual scholarship to deserving high school student named in Bill’s honor.
Bill’s community involvement included serving for 6 years on the Carmel Town Board – the last 2 as President of the last town board before Carmel became a city. He served on the Carmel Plan Commission for 8 years (2 as President). He served 6 years on the Board of Zoning Appeals (2 years as President) and 2 years on the Board of Works. He is a Past President of the Carmel Clay Jaycees and was also on the Carmel Clay Education Foundation and the Carmel Chamber of Commerce. Bill was also a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
A service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at 4:00 pm on Thursday, March 6 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, where family and friends are invited to gather from 3:00 pm until the time of the service. Everyone will be invited to a reception following the service at the Knights of Columbus 2100 E. 71st St. Indianapolis, IN 46220
Bill is survived by Judy Ford; children, Edward D. McFadden (Susan), Steven D. McFadden (Juli), Shannon Duckworth (Craig), Kelley Burton, (Pete), Cindy Chapek ( Bob), Rob Ford, (Lisa), Cathy Hanna ( Rick), Jeff Ford (Marcia), 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sally Warwick.
Memorial Contributions may be made to The Rotary Foundation 14280 Collections Center Dr. Chicago, IL 60693 for the Annual Fund.
To sign the online guest book, please visit flannerbuchanan.com. Arrangements entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan-Carmel.
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Christel House Academy Science Fair 2014
Members of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis helped judge the Christel House Academy Science Fair on Thursday, February 6, 2014. These are just a handful of the 150 students from grades four through six judged – everyone had a great time! Participants were: Hugh Wolf and Nathan Connor (Education Committee), Laura Sniadecki, Greg Cookerly, Marsha and David Spring, Tye Stebbins, Alan Leighton, Steve Smith and Greg Albright.
If you are interested in helping out next time (we need more volunteers!), please contact Nathan Conner at 317-753-6884.
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Rotarian Carole Darst awarded Alumni Citation
Carole Darst was awarded Denison’s Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation Alumni Citation, the highest award bestowed to its alumni, for her lifelong work in the arts. Carole has been a toy designer, graphic artist, interior designer and assistant director at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She served as director of the Indianapolis Art Center and exhibits coordinator for the Indiana Arts Commission. Congratulations Indianapolis Rotarian Carole Darst! -
Indy Do Day: The Largest Day of Service in Indianapolis to be Led by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is excited to announce the official adoption of its new Signature project – Indy Do Day. This is a Service Above Self initiative that will be managed by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. The growth of this initiative will allow Rotary to continue Growing Indianapolis Communities for the next 100 years and beyond.
WHAT IS IT?
- It’s one day when the people of this city get to know their neighbors, take ownership of their neighborhoods and take care of one another.
- It’s decentralized, ground-up, people-powered community improvement.
- It’s about pride, shared ownership, and stronger relationships.
- It’s about building the most civic-engaged community in the nation where every day is a Do Day.
WHY DO IT?
- It’s good for everybody: Strong communities are built from the inside out…by people who are personally invested and can see their investments matched and multiplied by others.
- It’s good for neighborhoods: Committed residents and organizations build and renew partnerships to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.
- It’s good for learners: When stewardship is regularly taught and modeled, it can become woven into how people interact, and care for, their communities.
- It’s good for the mission: Diverse community, cultural, and faith-based organizations can transform their commitments into tangible action, and unite the members along the way.
- It’s good for business: There is a growing consensus that giving employees a day, or even a few hours, to work in the community is good team building, good brand building, and good business.
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Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Awards $75,000 in Local Grants
The purpose of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation, Inc. is to promote charitable and educational purposes within the State of Indiana and such other charitable and educational purposes deemed appropriate by its Board of Directors. To satisfy this goal, the Foundation requests Letters of Intent be submitted from community organizations that wish to be considered a community grant. Learn more about the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and the grants offered.In 2013, the Foundation received over 100 “Letters of Intent.” 54 became second phase finalists in July, 2013. They were required to submit additional information by October, 2013 and the five recipients were chosen and notified in November.
Rotary Club of Indianapolis recognized on Jameson Camp vehicles CONGRATULATIONS! On December 3, 2013 the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation publicly awarded grants to the following organizations:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis: $25,000
CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions: $25,000
Jameson Camp: $10,000
Peace Learning Center: $10,000
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Indiana: $5,000 -
Local Interact Club Raises Dollars for Relief Effort
Christel House Academy’s high school’s Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, mounted a campaign to raise money for the relief effort following the tragedy in The Philippines. The Christel House Interact Club raised $574, that students’ donated to the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army teams in The Philippines are providing assistance to the thousands of people affected by Typhoon Haiyan. More than 6,000 people have lost their lives in the disaster and 4 million have been left with unsafe housing. In the attached photo, Interact Club leaders (Charlie, Kylien and Chantel) present a check to the Salvation Army Indiana Division’s Director of Relief Services, Jerry Larsen. -
2013 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Report
One of about 60 Rotary Club Foundations, the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation was established in 1947 with a $25,000 contribution by Mrs. Isaac R. Holycross in honor of her late long time Rotarian husband. Our Foundation assets are now worth over $6.2 million and the income from the endowment is used to assist Rotarians to give witness to the Rotary philosophy of “Service Above Self”. The Foundation’s Board of Directors made grants totaling $142,867 during the FY 2013 assisting community organizations, club committees and our members to respond to charitable needs in our community.After many years of giving numerous small grants each year, the Foundation Board has changed our process to give larger amounts to four community organizations three club committees and our unique $1000 member-focused civic entrepreneurship grants. These recipients are listed elsewhere in this report. Our Foundation Funds supported such needs as providing a safer environment for children and homeless adults, clothing for children, assistance for mentally challenged adults and other charitable and educational programs in which club committees and Rotarians were involved.
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Rotarian, Evan Bedel Named President-Elect, FPA of Greater Indiana
Evan Bedel, formerly the Communications Director with the FPA, was recently elected to serve as President-Elect.
The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the leadership and advocacy organization representing the financial planning community. FPA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are charged with helping the organization reach its Primary Aim while upholding the organization’s bylaws.
Evan Bedel has been a Rotarian since April 2011 and has been very involved, recently becoming a Paul Harris Fellow.
Evan is also a Financial Planner with Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc. Says Bedel, “One of my roles at Bedel Financial is to help young professionals establish a solid financial foundation for the future. This service is designed to progressively guide the next generation of wealth accumulators towards an affluent path. I assist in developing long- and short-term goals, debt reduction strategies, saving strategies, investment advice, life and disability insurance analysis, retirement planning, and more. Another role is to educate the adult children of our clients about the importance of fiscal responsibility. Through this education, I teach them about topics like budgeting, inflation, the power of compounding interest, goal establishment, goal funding, the difference between a Traditional vs. Roth IRA, and more.”
