• Help F.I.D.O. Break the World Record of 13,000lbs of Pet Food Donated in One Week!

    Help F.I.D.O. Break the World Record of 13,000lbs of Pet Food Donated in One Week!

    F.I.D.O. (Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside) Guinness Book of World Records for Most Pet Food Donated in One Week (Sept. 22-29)

    ROTARIANS! How can you help F.I.D.O. break the World Record of 13,000# of pet food donated in one week? Sign up for a shift to be a witness for this event! Or, bring a bag of Purina dog or cat food (or any brand of canned dog or cat food) to the Sept. 24 Rotary mtg. and will “retrieve” it from you after the meeting!

    Other Options for donating food. There are several sponsors throughout Indianapolis who can take your monetary or food donations. Please check out this link. NOTE: Please FIRST call the sponsor to see whether they are taking food, money or both.

    Shifts available: All activities are held at F.I.D.O headquarters, 456 N. Holmes Ave. in Haughville, 2 miles west of downtown, on the SW corner of Michigan St. and Holmes Ave. You’ll receive a volunteer packet and a cool t-shirt complete with the Rotary logo on it!

    Sunday, 9/22, from 11:30 – 1:30
    Sunday, 9/22, from 1:30 – 3
    Friday, 9/27 from 7 – 8:30 PM
    Saturday, 9/28 from 12 – 2 PM

    Contact Marie Koenig, F.I.D.O. Treasurer and Supplies Coordinator, by Sunday, Sept. 15. koenigmarie55[at]gmail.com. Phone: 509-0525 THANK YOU!

    F.I.D.O.’s Mission Statement: Improve the quality of life for outside dogs, especially those animals that are chained or neglected, by finding alternatives to continuous chaining.

    Our programs include:
    Outreach, Case Management, Humane Education, Fence Projects, Supplies Distribution, Humane Trapping, and Managing the Indianapolis Pet Food Pantry at FIDO headquarters, 456 N. Holmes Ave. in Haughville.

    To address the growing need for pet food subsidies to Indianapolis residents, FIDO established and manages a dog and cat food pantry. Proof of low-income status and spay/neuter for each pet is required. For clients who are in financial need, free or discounted spay/neuter options are provided. In addition to providing dog and cat food to clients for their own pets, we distribute cat food to feral/free-roaming cat colony caretakers each month. By year-end, we will have distributed 90 tons of pet food.

  • Rotary Conducts 4-Way Test at Christel House

    Rotary Conducts 4-Way Test at Christel House

    On September 5th, the Rotary Education Committee and 12 Rotarians volunteered to assist  Christel House Academy with the 4-Way Test for the first time!

    The 4-Way Test Middle School Program is an amazing opportunity which allows Rotarians to interact with students in the 7th grade giving them ideas/techniques and tactics for great decision making throughout their lives! And all it costs you is a couple hours of your time.

    These activities are vital to the students growth and foundation and we promise the experience is rewarding, eye-opening and fun!

    Watch a video about the 4-Way Test.

    Rotarian Michael Salemi is pictured with a group of students as they discuss this ethical way of making decisions.

    A huge thank you to everyone who helped at this event. I heard nothing but glowing comments from everyone. Please know that this kind of work is such a tremendous investment in our students. It was tremendous to have had so many Rotarians help. And, a special thank you to Dene Nidiffer for leading the charge! Rotarian, Carey Dahncke

  • Young Professionals of Rotaract and Rotary Club of Indianapolis Help Raise $11,000 for Timmy Global Health!

    Young Professionals of Rotaract and Rotary Club of Indianapolis Help Raise $11,000 for Timmy Global Health!

    On Friday, August 16, Rotarians “Thought Global,” tested their knowledge of world trivia and competed for great prizes with lots of other donors at the annual Taste of the World Timmy Trivia event. Everyone ate delicious international cuisine prepared by Second Helpings and drank locally crafted beer pairings from Flat 12.

    Rotaract’s goal was to raise $6000 and they surpassed that number by raising $11,000 to benefit lots of lives for Timmy Global Health. Way to go Rotary and Rotaract!

    The Rotary club was well represented by purchasing two tables! Please thank Rotarians Scott Armstrong, Jeff Lake, Lauren Scheldrup, Debbie Hyde, Stacey Blanton, Patrick Broccolo, and Greg Albright.

    And, a special thank you to ALL of the Rotaract participants and organizers who made this event possible, including President Tyler Droste, Chris Bean and Grant McCoy!

  • The Day of Innovation on September 12

    The Day of Innovation on September 12

    The only Indiana innovation event that brings together leaders and practitioners from all sectors and backgrounds. The convergence of minds from business, non-profits, academia and start-ups creates for an unprecedented mix of energy and creativity. Buy your tickets, or a ticket package for your organization, today! Because at the Day of Innovation, from sun-up to sun-down, it’s all about innovation. Visit dayofinnovation.com for event details, announcements and tickets. Media Contact: Brenda Jackson-Morrissey.

    Centric’s Indiana Innovation Network is proud to announce Purdue University President, Mitch Daniels as the 2013 recipient of the Excellence in Innovation Award.

    “In honor and recognition of Mitch Daniels’ innovative leadership and accomplishments as the 49th Governor of the State of Indiana and the focus on innovation he has placed as President of Purdue University, it is our distinct privilege to make this announcement,” said, Centric Board Chair, Doug McColgin.

    “Our single highest ambition in public life has been to see Indiana become a leader of change, an innovator economically and in every dimension,” Daniels said. “There is no area in which I could be more appreciative of being recognized.”

    Indiana Innovation Award winners include three time winner, Delta Faucet, and two time winners, People for Urban Progress and Vortek Surgical. First time corporate winners include Bloomington’s Studio Cypher, and Fishers-based ECO Lighting Solutions, Fish Boing Lures out of Plainfield and others. Non-profit and arts winners include the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Brackets for Good, and the Symphony’s ensemble-in-residence, Time for Three.

  • Healing Hearts Through Art

    The Healing Hearts Through Art is a program designed to provide tangible memories to organ and tissue donor families during their time of grief and sadness. Families of adult donors are provided with a poem on card stock paper with their loved ones hand print. Families of pediatric donor families are provided with the poem/hand print as well, in addition to a Model Magic hand print of their child’s hand. School-age and teenage children are provided with an opportunity to express themselves and talk about their loved one through the use of beads, in our legacy bead program. Families truly enjoy having tangible memories of their loved ones. The Rotary Club of Indianapolis Civic Entrepreneurship Grant is helping to sustain this program so that donor families continue to receive these gifts.

  • Listen to Rotarian Danny O’Malia Tuesday’s from 4 to 4:30

    Listen to Rotarian Danny O’Malia Tuesday’s from 4 to 4:30

    Ever considered buying a franchise? Rotarian Danny O’Malia will speak to his guest and local franchise expert, Jim Gleason of Fran Net. He helps people pick the right franchise and avoid potential pitfalls.

    Don’t miss this program! To listen to Danny O’Malia from 4-4:30 on Tuesday’s, just dial 317-238-3004 and hit code 279015#

    Danny O’Malia is “Indy’s Trusted Servant.” He learned Customer Service from the age of eight from the master and late father, Joe O’Malia. Danny was CEO of O’Malia Food Markets from 1986 to 2006 and has been delivering Customer Service Training and Keynote Speaking since 2007.

  • Rotary Club of Indianapolis Recognized in Forbes Online!

    Rotary Club of Indianapolis Recognized in Forbes Online!

    In a piece titled, “What is Rotary International? Your Local Rotary Club Is Doing More Than You Think,” Devin Thorpe, Contributor to Forbes Online reached out to the Rotary International community to learn about the sorts of things clubs are doing around the world. And, Indianapolis was one of the featured clubs!

    The Rotary Club of Indianapolis described it’s contribution to feeding the hungry in Indianapolis by raising 1.5 million dollars, to help fund the building of the new Gleaners Food Bank that houses more food and has the ability to serve many more hungry citizens. And, in 2012 the Gleaners Food Bank would be renamed to be the Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Rotary Club of Indianapolis Food Distribution Center. This goal of raising $1.5 million was accomplished in January 2013.

    You probably know that Rotary International is the group to which Bill Gates and his foundation turned years ago to fund the global battle on polio. In the mid-nineties Rotary helped to immunize 165 million children in China and India in a single year. Rotarians themselves have contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the fight against polio. Rotary is winning this battle: in 1988 when Rotary launched their global initiative (individual clubs had been active in the effort long before) there were 125 “polio endemic” countries in the world; today there are just three.

    Check out the article on Forbes Online!

  • The Rotary Membership Message

    The Rotary Membership Message

    RI President Ron BurtonDuring Membership and Extension Month, Rotary International has  planned a variety of activities to help you get  club members involved and share the passion for Rotary. Building strong and vibrant clubs is critical for Rotary’s future. Here are some steps we can take this month to attract new members and engage the ones we already have:

    • Join Thunderclap and share a powerful membership message with the world on the last day of August. Thunderclap is a tool that allows thousands of people to connect their social media accounts to send a single, simple, amplified message all at once. Spread a message on Facebook and Twitter that is sure to be heard. Learn more about Thunderclap and how it works.
    • Take part in our Membership Challenge and set concrete plans for increasing our club’s membership. We choose our goals — such as referring a new member, inviting a friend to our club or service project, or connecting with alumni. Once we submit our goals, we’ll get an email listing steps to take to meet our goals.
    • Watch RI President Ron Burton’s message on membership.
    • Learn more about regional membership plans with the new infographic. Regional membership plans, now in their second year, take advantage of each region’s unique needs, customs, and historic trends to greatly enhance the ability of district leaders to bring in new members and retain existing ones.
    • Look for a new publication Connect for Good (formerly known as Rotary Basics) in the September issue of The Rotarian to get insights on engaging members and keeping them involved.
  • “The Dream 50 Years Later – What Does It Mean?”

    “The Dream 50 Years Later – What Does It Mean?”

    The 50th Anniversary Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech

    Monday, August 26, 2013 at the Indiana Historical Society, 7:00 p.m. Download Flyer.

    Panel Discussion

    Moderator: Erika Smith, metro columnist, The Indianapolis Star

    Rufus Burrow, Jr., Indiana Professor of Christian Thought and Professor of Theological Social Ethics at Christian Theological Seminary,; author of God and Human Dignity: The Personalism, Theology, and Ethics of Martin Luther King, Jr. (University of Notre Dame Press, 2006) and Martin Luther King Jr. for Armchair Theologians (Westminster John Knox, 2009)

    Monroe H. Little, Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, , published in Afro-Amercian Studies and American Education; and teaches “African-American History”

    Kevin Brown, Richard S. Melvin Professor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law – Bloomington; author of over 50 writings on race, education and law including Race, Law and Education in the Post-Desegregation Era (Carolina Academic Press 2005) and Because of Our Success: The Changing Racial and Ethnic Ancestry of Blacks on Affirmative Action (Carolina Academic Press, forthcoming 2014)

    August 28 – Anniversary March. Download Poster.

    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 5:30 p.m.

    August 28 – Celebration Event Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Download Poster.

    Delivery of King speech by specially chosen IPS student, 6:00 p.m.

  • The New Membership Management Tool for Indy Rotarians!

    The New Membership Management Tool for Indy Rotarians!

    Member Profile DetailThe new Membership Management Tool is now available to ALL Rotarians. And, we have created a Video Training Series* so you can learn how to use it! The new tool will help Indy Rotarians keep track of their attendance, dues, events and will allow you to update your own profile including the ability to add your own profile photo. In addition, you will have access to view all other Indianapolis Rotarian profiles, plus our 40+ committees, Officers and Board Members.

    But it doesn’t end there…

    Because our new tool is tied to District 6560, Rotarians now have access to all other Rotarians in the District, District news and events and many, many more features. While the new tool is a wonderful addition to member benefits, it promises to be even better as DACdb Version 2 is slated for launch in late Summer / early Fall.

    In the meantime, please login today! If you need help logging-in, please feel free to call the office (317-631-3733), or view the help page, here.

    Thank you for all you do as an Indianapolis Rotarian!

    Please call the office at 317-631-3733 if you need the password to see our videos.