“It doesn’t take long in Guatemala to know the papaya stand owner by name, to taste the chocolate water in your sleep, to have tired hands and an achy back. You move along to the beat of the city and you adjust in the poverty stricken villages. In a single day you meet a coffee farmer and a Jade miner and they both welcome you into their home as a best friend would. Together we communicate in broken words. “Okay, okay,” he says. “Si, si,” I say. You worry about asking if they have a baño (bathroom). Am I prepared to walk for miles? The return home isn’t easy. It never is. On the flight back excitement to see family is overpowered by tears of what I have just left behind. I have left behind work that still needs to be done. There is a green plastic bucket that needs to be filled with coffee beans. There are nails on walls of the home that still need to be hammered, and I forgot to hug the Jade Miner. I forgot to tell him that his hard work and his profits will help send his kids to school. I can’t make that promise because I know that he is unselfish. He shares his profits with others because he wants to benefit his entire community. He sees the bigger picture. They all do here. The return home to 24/7; those days are never easy. The mind races, faces slide in and out, conversations surface. It was in Central America where the coffee farmer in the fields taught me to be less rigid with my time. And savor coffee. I mean really let the scent of the beans linger. The Jade miner taught me to stay in the present and keep a razor-sharp focus. The construction crew taught me to hammer away. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Our sponsor daughter. Her dreams. My dreams. They intersect. They did along that dusty gravel road in San Rafael. Remember that road with no pavement or water for miles. Do you remember? When I give here I see the change almost immediately. Find your reason. Stop and talk about it. I worry we are all just shuffling through this life.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.
Category: Latest News
-
Day 6, Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – The Final Day – 24/7
-
Rotary-Riley Annual Holiday Party A Huge Success
Yes, the snow outside was frightful, but the smiles and children indoors where delightful. And of course several hardy Rotarians can accomplish much with the reminder of “service above self.”Melissa Sexton, (Riley) and her elves had all the ornament kits ready to go, the live band was tuning up and about a dozen Rotarians and family members gathered to host our annual ornament making party for the kids and their families at the Riley Children’s Hospital, Thursday December 5. Our own Jessica Bex was our organizer and beautiful cheerleader.
As snow and sleet blew around outside we had the privilege of helping precious children, their families and many of their caregivers create ornaments for a beautifully lighted tree waiting to be decorated.
Back for his second year as “official” photographer Bob McColgin took video and photographs of the event. See the video here or on the home page (scroll down) of the Indy Rotary website.
Thank you Rotarians – you are amazing members and we are an amazing Club doing good for the community.
-
Rotarians Are Ringing the Bells for Salvation Army
For years, Rotary Club of Indianapolis members have rung the bell for the Salvation Army. As you travel throughout the city, please look for your fellow members – you might see them asking for donations to help those in need!
And, in related news – as the holidays quickly approach, take some time to give back! Select a toy for the children at Riley Hospital, take a tag from the Plea Tree on Tuesday (set up in the lobby before and after our luncheons) and / or send your Salvation Army donations to the Rotary Office.
Happy holidays!
-
Day 5 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Jade Miner
(EXCERPT) “When you walk into Francisco’s tiny front yard you are in a mini-jungle where gorgeous tropical flowers cascade from garden beds crafted from small boulders of unprocessed jade. You are not stuck by the overwhelming amount of trees, plants, and priceless Jade he owns, but his warm brown eyes and calm demeanor. He’s soft spoken, but you cling to each word like a ballad in a beautiful Christmas quartet. His words linger and bounce off plants and in the end you are left with a feeling of calm. I feel both lucky and under dressed in his presence. Francisco is first man to discover Jade in Guatemala. He stands about 6 feet tall with a slight slouch. A slouch, perhaps given, during his search for Jade in the mountains during the past 44 years. He was featured in a 1987 edition of The National Geographic.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Day 4 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Coffee Farmer
(EXCERPT) “Timoteo’s hands are worn thin. His calluses show years of hard work. He reeks of coffee. The coffee farmer led us up to his piece of land on a plantation. To get there we walked one hour up a steep and treacherous mountain at a 75 degree incline. His land sits atop San Miguel Escobar and up the mountain we passed families of farmers. Kids tend the farms as young as three. Guatemalans value family and community and it shows during harvest season. Red beans are for picking and under the hot sun we walked from plant to plant plucking beans. Timoteo is a farmer with As Green As It Gets.“
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Day 3 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – When the Pavement Ends
(EXCERPT) “You know you have arrived in San Rafael when the pavement ends. Located 45 minutes north of Antigua, San Rafael is one of the poorest communities that Common Hope serves and is completely indigenous. People here speak Kekchi instead of Spanish. It is where I met our sponsor daughter (Simon’s sister) Marisela who is 7 years old. She loves to draw. Brenda, our case worker, was my translator. She is one of three case workers in the area responsible for 80 families.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Day 2 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – Running Water
(EXCERPT) “Everyone should have an opportunity for running water and electricity but water is a luxury in San Miguel Escobar. It’s where I met a family of eleven who walk at least one mile for water. The family is affiliated through Common Hope and their small home is made of concrete slabs. They have two small rooms and no bathroom or water. A family typically works 250-300 sweat equity hours doing landscaping, cleaning or cooking at the Common Hope site to receive their home. Forty to fifty volunteers help with the build. That is what brings me back here each year.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Day 1 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes Lands in Guatemala
(EXCERPT) “I am remembering how to find my way again. Four years ago I was terribly lost when I stumbled off an American Airlines flight close to midnight drunk on rum and coke and lost in pretentiousness. With no cell service, internet or knowledge of the native tongue, I felt conspicuously powerless. I found the van that took me away up the mountain and back down again to Antigua, Guatemala. A two-week volunteer experience would later impact every decision I make today.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Indy Rotarians in the News: Curish and Markoff
Born and raised as a Hoosier, Dana attended Hanover College. She studied chemistry/biology, thinking she would become a microbiologist, but fate drew her to the nonprofit world instead. She admits, “I have always had a passion for caring for those with low income.” She recalls an unforgettable moment as she was volunteering one morning with onsite registration for “Race for the Cure.” She asked a participant if she was running as a survivor, and the woman replied with tears in her eyes, “Well I thought I was, but I just found out I’m not.” She had been to the doctor the day before to learn that her cancer had metastasized. Dana felt an instant emotional letdown and gave the woman a hug, reassuring her that she would be a survivor. This incident marked a turning point in Dana’s life as she recognized the crucial timeliness for taking action, being proactive and catching the cancer before it’s too late.
Though Susan Goodman Komen fought breast cancer just as many women and even some men do, she is remembered as one who made an effort to make life better for others instead of focusing only on herself. Today Susan G. Komen represents the largest mass movement against breast cancer. Since 1982, Komen has invested $2 billion in community outreach and global research studying the causes, treatments and cures of breast cancer.
Komen Central Indiana is one of four affiliates in the state. Of the funds raised, 75 percent of proceeds stay within our community, implementing grant programs aimed in helping 30,000+ low-income Hoosiers within 21 counties. The remaining 25 percent of funds are applied to global research grants seeking specific causes, improved treatments and lifelong cures for breast cancer. Read full story.
Written by Janet Striebel, Publication: At Carmel. Janet is a Freelance Writer and has been writing for atgeist.com for five years. After graduating with an English degree, she later earned a Master’s in Instructional Design from the University of Kentucky. She is married and has three children. The best part of Janet’s experience is meeting all of the amazingly interesting people living in our community. Curish photo by Brenda Staples Photography
Member in the News: Rotarian Rick Markoff teaches students to focus on the leadership skills that make a difference in private and public companies and organizations.
Several of IUPUI’s top graduate students made their mark late last month at the Strive Together Cradle to Career Network Convening in Dallas, earning widespread praise for a presentation that was born in one of several Organizational Leadership and Supervision courses taught by School of Engineering and Technology faculty member Rick Markoff.The students involved — Ben Johnson, Brian Hansen and Shannon McCullough — focused on the leadership skills that make a difference in private and public companies and organizations. They drew plenty of praise from conference attendees but also the support of Jeff Edmondson, the managing director of Strive Together.
To prepare for their presentation, the IUPUI grad students called on several segments of their Organizational Leadership and Supervision courses, including face-to-face sessions with business entrepreneurs and civic leaders who have been happy to share their experiences in Markoff’s classes. Read full story.
-
Rotarian Elaine Bedel Featured on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” (with video)
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is excited to share that Rotarian Elaine Bedel was on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” on November 11th, 2013. WATCH THE VIDEO. She participated in a live panel discussion with Tyler Mathisen, co-anchor on “Power Lunch”, and Bernie Clark, Executive Vice President of Advisor Services with Charles Schwab. The panel spoke on current investor sentiment as well as their thoughts on the current political and investment environment.
Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc. is a comprehensive, fee-only wealth management firm, dedicated to helping clients achieve financial security. Established in 1989 by Elaine Bedel in Indianapolis, Bedel Financial Consulting is one of the top 25 Women-Owned Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) in the country according to WealthManagement.com.
Life is a series of choices. Bedel Financial helps you choose what’s next.
We strive to meet your unique planning needs with a team comprised of two professionals with different disciplines, financial planning and investment management. With this rare approach, we are able to provide a thorough planning experience to ensure all aspects of your plan are considered and addressed before taking a step forward.
