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

    ja-in-a-day-2Rotary 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 is National Donate Life Month

    Please consider attending the Linking Hands for Life event next Friday, April 11th. Limited quantities of t-shirts and sub sandwiches will be provided to those who are registered donors or choose to register on site. Everyone is welcome! For additional information please download this information sheet. RSVP online by visiting our event website at Eventbrite: Linking Hands for Life.

    If you cannot make the event, I’m asking my friends to support in a different way. The employees at IOPO (Rotarian, Kim McClain) have been presented with a fundraising goal tied to this event! With your help, we can reach our goal of $2,500 before next Friday, April 11th. If you would like to contribute to this goal, donations can be made online at www.iopoevent.org. All proceeds will go to the Angel Fund. The Angel Fund provides assistance to Hoosier transplant patients in need of help paying for their prescription medications. Our goal is 500 attendees!

  • Rotarian, Betty Tonsing Releases Book

    Rotarian, Betty Tonsing Releases Book

    tonsing-bookStand 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.

  • 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
    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!

  • New Rotarian, NaShara Mitchell Finding Her Space

    New Rotarian, NaShara Mitchell Finding Her Space

    Women Entrepreneurs: Finding Their Space

    mitchell

    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

  • 2014 Rotary Club of Indianapolis Board Election Results

    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.

  • April 10 – JA In A Day

    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

    JA In A Day

    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.”

  • Freedom Writer, Jacobs visits Lutherwood Residential Treatment Facility

    Right to Left: Sue Tempero from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, Tiffony Jacobs, Walt Nordstrom and Julie Handschy from Lutherwood Academy
    Right to Left: Sue Tempero from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, Tiffony Jacobs, Walt Nordstrom and Julie Handschy from Lutherwood Academy

    Because of a grant from the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation, Lutheran Child and Family Services were able to have Tiffany Jacobs, an original Freedom Writer from Long Beach, CA visit Lutherwood Residential Treatment Facility and Academy on March 4, 2013.  Mr. Walt Nordstrom (Lutherwood Academy teacher) started teaching “Freedom Writers” after seeing the movie and later discovering the book. He had been working for a few years to make this dream a reality.  Ms. Julie Handschy is the Education Coordinator at Lutherwood Academy.

  • Phyllis Geeslin – The Five Things I Love

    Phyllis GeeslinThe 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.

  • Rotarian Erik Johnson Nominated by Indiana Sports Corp for the Prestigious ROSE Award

    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