Join the Rotary Club of Indianapolis on November 5 as we visit 9 Irish Brothers at 575 Mass Ave. Stop by anytime between 5:31p-7p. Reservations and punctuality not 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!
Join Jameson Camp (Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Grant Recipient) for an evening of great fun and to support a great cause!
October 4, 2014, 5:30-9:00 p.m.
2001 Bridgeport Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46231
GRAND Prizes Include:
4 one-day “Hopper” tickets good at all 4 theme parks –
Walt Disney World, FL;
Condo for 1 week at an RCI Resort;
Weekend getaway – Blue Chip Casino &;
so many silent auction gifts its mind-blowing!
Tickets are $50 and include:
1 bag of playing chips – gaming by Broad Ripple Sertoma Club
Gourmet appetizers & desserts by Elite Catering
Adult beverages by Taxman Brewing
Musical entertainment by T-Bone DJ
Door Prizes!
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By: Rotarian, Sara Anne Hook, 317-278-7690, sahook@iupui.edu, Rotary Club of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
As the project leader and “champion,” I am pleased to report that the Calnali (State of Hidalgo, Mexico) Microfinance Project just celebrated its fourth year of operation. Calnali is a rural municipality with a population of approximately 17,000. Poverty and unemployment are high and although this mountainous region is beautiful, it is remote, making travel to the area difficult and time-consuming. With substantial funding for loans from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis as well as a contribution from the Rotary Club of Cottleville/Weldon Spring, Missouri, the project has now provided several hundred women with modest loans so that they can start their own small companies, with some women receiving multiple loans as they demonstrate the success of their ventures.
As of June 2014, the project had 243 borrowers organized into 26 communal banks, which act a support groups, representing a 274 percent increase in the number of women being served since July 2010. As of June 2014, the average loan balance was $216 with a total loan portfolio of $52,580. Many of the women have used their loans to grow beans, corn and vegetables or to bake bread, which provides fresh, healthy, locally-sourced food to the community. In addition to their loans, the women receive empowerment training and money/business management training through Pro Mujer, the microfinance organization we work with. A number of community organizations in Central Indiana and in Mexico have provided financial, logistical and in-kind support and encouragement. The success of the project is especially gratifying for the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, because it is our club’s first foray into microfinance. In addition to continued support for Calnali, we have just approved funding for 2014-2015 to start a microfinance project in Sierra Leone.
One of the lessons learned from the Calnali Microfinance Project has been the importance of partnerships, because no one individual or organization can do everything. This has been particularly true in the case of Pro Mujer, which was willing to start with a small group of borrowers in 2010 and then expand its services with each annual contribution from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Pro Mujer has a proud history in the realm of microfinance, concentrating its efforts in five countries in Latin America, and was recently one of the first microfinance organizations to receive Client Protection Certification through Smart Campaign. Challenges with the project include the logistical issues with travel to Calnali, making it difficult for the staff of Pro Mujer to make regular visits to oversee the lending and repayment process and to provide training. Although Pro Mujer is converting more of its manual business processes such as loan verification to wireless/tablet technology, robust wireless service is not readily available in Calnali. Future plans include configuring training materials so that they can be delivered through tablets.
Elected as the 48th Mayor of Indianapolis in 2007, Gregory Ballard is committed to making Indy an even better place to live and work. Check out the Video! Under Mayor Ballard, Indy is promoting a culture of inclusiveness for business opportunities, economic growth and sustainability for minority, women, disabled and veteran business enterprises. The City is also being widely recognized as a national leader on issues such as energy, clean water, hunger and education innovation.
A diverse group of civic leaders, philanthropists and business executives are lending their support as Honorary Chairs of the Rotary-adopted 2014 Indy Do Day. Indy Do Day is a people-powered community day of service when the residents of Indianapolis take ownership of their neighborhoods and take care of their neighbors.
Additional 2014 Honorary Chairs include:
First Lady Winnie Ballard
Winnie Ballard volunteers as the chair and spokesperson for Indy’s Campaign for Financial Fitness (ICFF). In addition, she actively volunteers her time to other causes within Indianapolis, including arthritis, ovarian and breast cancer awareness, and minority- and women-owned business and diversity initiatives.
Frank Basile
A professional speaker, author, community volunteer, philanthropist and retired executive, Frank Basile has long been recognized for his volunteerism and support of performing arts organizations.
Tamika Catchings
Olympic Gold Medalist, WNBA All-Star and Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings launched Catch the Stars, a foundation designed to empower youth to achieve their dreams by providing goal-setting programs that promote literacy, fitness and mentoring, in 2004. She is a community leader that embraces being a positive role model by encouraging youth to be all they can be.
Molly Chavers
Molly Chavers is the executive director of IndyHub where she works with non-profits, for profit companies and community organizations to encourage young professional engagement across the city. Her civic and board involvement includes service with the United Way of Central Indiana, the Speak Easy, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Tourism Tomorrow and Indianapolis Art Center.
Michael Huber
Currently the president and CEO of the Indy Chamber, Michael Huber remains active in the community serving on the board for organizations such as the Arts Council of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Charter School and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.
Mickey Maurer
Mickey Maurer serves as chairman of the board at IBJ Corp. and The National Bank of Indianapolis and has a true passion for philanthropy. In 2001, he established “Mickey’s Camp,” a charitable endeavor that has raised more than $1 million for central Indiana charities.
Jim Walker
A true artist, Jim Walker is the founder and executive director of Big Car, a non-profit community creativity organization in Indianapolis that aims to bring art to people and people to art, sparking creativity in lives to transform communities. He works to boost urban livability using an engagement-based arts and design perspective.
“We are honored to have these prestigious individuals lending their support to this important initiative,” said Susie Harmless, executive director of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. “Because Indy Do Day is for everyone, we wanted a diverse group of people to help us reach the citizens of Indianapolis and inspire them to make a difference in our community.”
“Indianapolis is a great volunteer city and when a good idea comes along and people can get engaged, especially at a grassroots level like this, it always seems to work. We know how to put on big events and how to do big things,” said Mayor Greg Ballard at a kick-off event on May 6.
In the 2013 inaugural year, more than 15,000 individuals completed a community service project during Indy Do Day, making it the largest service mobilization in the city’s history even above Super Bowl XLVI.
It’s no secret, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis wants to ramp-up business networking exchanges! Afterall, we want to do business with other Rotarians. So, the Business Exchange Committee would like a little information from you so we can continue to move forward with building business relationships! Please fill out our survey!
Join us for a special edition of the 5:31 Club as we: Welcome new Rotarians, Kick-Off Indy Do Day and have our 1st Ever *Chili Cook-off!
ROTARY 5:31 CLUB: Wednesday, October 1st at the Triton Tap Room, 915 Broad Ripple Avenue.
* Face-Off Against the Presidents of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis! Wednesday, October 1 at the Triton Tap Room in Broadripple.
DEADLINE TO ENTER IS SEPTEMBER 23.
Join us for a special edition of the 5:31 Club as we: Welcome new Rotarians, Kick-Off Indy Do Day and have our 1st Ever Chili Cook-off!
Bring your best batch of chili and see how it stands-up to the chili made by two Indy Rotary Club Presidents (and hot tamales) Matt Burnett – current club president and Matt Will – past club president.
Yes, there are rules – download them, here. OR email galbright@indyrotary.org to enter. Download the combination rules and sign-up form with special recognition to the Presidential contestants!
If you are not participating in the contest, PLEASE STILL COME AND BRING FRIENDS! This is also a 5:31 Club get together and a new member recognition event. So, like all 5:31 get-togethers, it will be hot, spicy and fun!
Wednesday, October 1st at the Triton Tap Room, 915 Broad Ripple Avenue.
ROTARIANS UNITE FOR INDY DO DAY! On Thursday, October 2 the Rotary Club of Indianapolis will be landscaping and painting the Craine House. We are looking for Rotarians to work a few hours between the hours of 8am and 4pm. We will give you all the specifics about where to park, how to dress, etc… sign-up, today!
The Craine House is in its 36th year as a court-ordered work release program providing a secure and structured environment in which women from all counties throughout Indiana serve their sentences for non-violent offenses. It provides a positive, structured environment where preschool age children may live with their mothers, thus strengthening the mother-child bond and helping mothers learn improved parenting abilities and children to develop learning and social skills. Learn more about the Craine House in this downloadable brochure!
How can you help? Sign-up by contacting Scott Armstrong at (317) 946-3448, or emailing directly.
Thanks to all the volunteers!
Download the Thank you Before and After Flyer from the community.
The E&B Committee helped clean up the Willard Park Community Garden, and invested in the local neighborhood! They built raised bed planters, a gravel path, and laid down mulch.
Date: Saturday, September 20th
Time: 9am to Noon
Place: 43 N Randolph St, Indianapolis, IN 46201
A flash mob of more than 100 bike riders from 35 different Indianapolis companies came together today on Monument Circle to drop off nonperishable items for the Midwest Food Bank. The Orr Fellowship, Indy Hunger Network, Indy Do Day and the Elanco Enough Campaign rallied together to raise awareness that one in six Hoosiers are hungry and more than 80,000 children in the Indianapolis metro area suffer from hunger.
The group hopes to illustrate how we can all come together to make a difference and promote Indy Do Day using hashtags #circlinghunger and #indydoday. The Indy Hunger Network has registered 25 projects on the Indy Do Day website.
– See more at: http://indydoday.org/circlinghunger-with-indydoday/#sthash.l7oPlJxj.dpuf
Story Courtesy: Current in Carmel
July 11 marked a joint celebration of Lorene Burkhart’s 80th birthday and an awards ceremony in her honor.
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard and Indianapolis Mayor Gregory Ballard proclaimed the day “Lorene Burkhart Day” for each of the two cities.
Burkhart, a longtime resident of Indianapolis, recently moved to Carmel. Lorene Burkhart is a well-known philanthropist, author, publisher, radio and TV personality, civic leader and pioneer for women in the work place.
After recent heart surgery, Burkhart appeared to be recovering well and in great spirits as friends Barbara Boyd, Alpha Blackburn, Janie Hodges, Pat Wachtel, Syd Steele, Donna Martz, Peggy Sabens, Sharon Hunt, Rosie Steinmetz, Jeanne Olson, Bob Olson, Jenny Jones, Jim Jane Gradison and Winnie Ballard, to name a few, joined the celebration.
Mark Shunk, one of Lorene’s sons, flew in from Los Angeles to honor his mother at the ceremony. His wife, Suzy, joined him. Other family members enjoyed the celebration, as well. Shunk spoke briefly and noted that one of the most important lessons he learned from his mother was about giving back to the community.
Lorene Burkhart graduated from Purdue University in 1956 and has been a loyal supporter of the institution ever since. In 1994, she donated $1 million dollars to establish the Center for Families. In 1997, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters for her many leadership contributions.
In 1995, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University of Indianapolis. In 2013, she was awarded an Honorary Associate of Science Degree from Ivy Tech Community College. Her passion for teaching and learning continues with her participation to further adult literacy through the Indy Reads program.
When asked what stands out as the most important achievement to her personally, Burkhart said, “I was a pioneer for women, opening the door for achievement in the work place.”
She also said several attributes helped to contributed to her success.
“A positive attitude balanced with common sense and facts. Look at things as opportunity, then execute the tasks at hand,” she said. “Life is full of surprises. I recently survived heart surgery and drastic downsizing of my living space. It’s a time of transition. Who knows what’s next?”
She will continue organizing projects and staying active, although, the immediate task at hand is cardio therapy. Living life well, for her, is identifying things that need to be done and doing it. It’s also about having fun.
“Fun for me is being with family and friends. Funny people with good jokes make me laugh,” she said.
At 80, Lorene Burkhart continues to live life well.
***