• Riley Plea Tree November 29-December 13

    Riley Plea Tree November 29-December 13

    Beginning November 29 and for 2 consecutive Tuesdays afterwards, our “Riley Plea Tree” event will take place at regular Rotary meetings.

    The Riley Plea Tree is a tabletop holiday tree with “ornamental tags” that are wish list items designated by our Riley Hospital contact person. Rotarians are encouraged to pull a tag, buy that item, and return it UNWRAPPED to a Rotary meeting. These items are delivered to Riley where they are used to replenish the “Child Life Development Cart” that is circulated in the hospital. (Cash is also accepted at Rotary meetings and wish list items will be purchased.)

    Thanks to Rotarian Suzanne Marshall for leading this event!

  • November 2, Rotary 5:31 Club at Broken Beaker Distillery on Mass Ave.!

    November’s 5:31 Club will be at Broken Beaker Distillery, 643 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204

    Reservations and punctuality not required! 5:31 meet-and-greets are our most popular event get-togethers. Just “show-up! Or, for more details contact the Rotary at 317-631-3733! 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!

     

  • November 1 : Roger Billings, Author, “Abraham Lincoln Esq.: The Legal Career of America’s Greatest President”

    What Abraham Lincoln Took from Indiana

    In the midst of a presidential election year that has been contentious at best and down right ugly at worst, our Club is excited to welcome a speaker to talk about a president almost any of us can get behind- Abraham Lincoln!

    Roger Billings is a retired law professor from Cincinnati, OH with a personal passion for President Lincoln.  His unique path of study includes how Lincoln’s profession as a lawyer helped shape his presidency.  His presentation on Tuesday will focus on the Indiana connections that Lincoln had.  By the time he left the Little Pigeon Creek community in Indiana at age 20, his personal traits were fully formed, so we’ll learn about how his Hoosier roots and values impacted his Presidency. The audience will learn more about Indiana’s role as Lincoln’s boyhood home and how all he was, or ever hoped to be, he took from his Indiana home.

    Roger Billings received a degree in History and German from Wabash College and received his JD from The University of Akron.  He has taught at at Northern Kentucky University as well as the University of Salzburg. His most recent book published in 2010 is, “Abraham Lincoln, Esq., the Legal Career of America’s Greatest President.”

  • November 10, Networking Dinner Event- RUCKUS Marketplace

    November 10, Networking Dinner Event- RUCKUS Marketplace

    You’re invited to join your fellow Rotarians at a special Networking Roundtable dinner, featuring a “sneak preview” of the Riley Area Development Corporation’s new project, the RUCKUS Makerspace!

    When: Thursday, November 10, 5:30-7:30 PM
    Where: RUCKUS Makerspace, Circle City Industrial Complex, corner of Massachusetts Avenue and 12th Street, Entrance G10
    What: Each Rotarian is asked to bring a covered dish, side dish, dessert, or beverage, so it is a true potluck! Following initial time for mingling and informal networking, as well as a chance to preview the facility, we’ll share an informal meal. Following the meal, we’ll break into groups of 10-12; each participant has a 3-minute time to tell others in their group about their business, what type of clients/opportunities would be helpful to them, their challenges, etc. Our goal is that each participant leaves with one new potential client or follow-up networking meeting.

    About RUCKUS:
    Developed by Riley Area Development Corporation and PATTERN, RUCKUS is a place where inventors, designers, artisans, photographers, craftspeople, and engineers can share equipment, technology, and ideas to help launch their next creation. Launching now, RUCKUS offers a limited range of access levels geared toward entrepreneurs and small businesses startups. The space will provide equipment and resources for Makers who want to scale beyond a start-up shop or “DIY” home-based location. Fundamentally, RUCKUS will foster a community for creative stimulation, collaboration, education, and entrepreneurship. RUCKUS is for everyone. Join us and get dirty!

    Need to know more? Contact Tim Clinch at tclinch@talktotucker.com

  • October 25: Matt Gutwein, Health & Hospital Corp. Marion County

    October 25: Matt Gutwein, Health & Hospital Corp. Marion County

    Population Health: Rather than Treating People After They Are Sick, How Can Hospitals Better Prevent People from Becoming Sick in the First Place?

    The United States’ health care system is the greatest in the world at treating illness and disease.  But the overall health of the United States’ population lags behind most industrialized nations.  Hospitals historically have not been effective at keeping people from becoming sick in the first place.   Gutwein will discuss why this is the case and will offer simple examples of how hospitals and doctors can prevent illness, improve the health of patients and lower the overall cost of healthcare for everyone.

    Matthew R. Gutwein is the president and chief executive officer of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County (“HHC”), a position he has held since 2003.  HHC is comprised of Eskenazi Health, Eskenazi Health Foundation, Marion County Public Health Department, Indianapolis Emergency Medical Service, HHC Division of Long Term Care, Eskenazi Medical Group, Lions Insurance Company and MDWise Insurance Company.

  • October 18, Indy Rotary: Mike Terry, CEO, IndyGo

    October 18, Indy Rotary: Mike Terry, CEO, IndyGo

    Join us next week as we welcome Mike Terry, President/CEO of IndyGo. Mike joined IndyGo in January of 2009 and has since focused on operational efficiencies and has leveraged creative strategies to build a strong foundation for growth. Before joining IndyGo, Mike was Vice President for a human capital management firm and served as Deputy Commissioner for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. He graduated from DePauw University and earned his MBA from Butler University.

    There is a transit referendum on the ballot in Marion County for this November. Just as the Rotary Club of Indianapolis does not endorse any candidate, bill or public policy, in his role as CEO of IndyGo, Mike Terry may not advocate for any policy or issue.  Instead,  Mike’s presentation will be educational and include general information about IndyGo and it’s incredible service in the City.  No matter what, it’s always a great time to learn more about our community!

    One item of note- be sure to check out the battery-powered bus, that will be parked outside the Scottish Rite Cathedral! The bus is part of the largest electric fleet in the nation.

  • From the Archives

    Click to Enlarge

    The first known letterhead for the Indianapolis Rotary Club circa 1913. Some members of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis can trace their heritage to these founders. Current member, Janet Harris has a great uncle (Lucien King) listed on this early letterhead.

  • 2016-21 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Legacy Grant Awarded

    2016-21 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Legacy Grant Awarded

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awarded their Legacy Grant, a renewable five year grant of $50,000 per year, to the Chin Community of Indiana. Previous recipients of Legacy Grant funding have included the Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and the Riley Hospital for Children.

    The Chin Community of Indiana is a nonprofit organization based in a community center located at 2524 E. Stop 11 Road. The center serves as a hub for Chin families and hosts opportunities for English classes, job fairs and also celebrations to honor their rich culture. The Legacy Grant will be used to fund operations for increased programming and also provide upgrades to the community center to create a more welcoming, professional experience for Chin residents, community partners and employers. Additional support will come from individual Rotarians who have offered to provide advisory guidance and support as requested by the Chin Community of Indiana.

    “We are excited to partner with an organization that is playing such a vital role in the community,” says Matt Will, President of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation. “During our extensive search for the right grant partner, we were impressed by how many connections the Chin have made in the City and the way they are committed to improve their education and job skills, while preserving and honoring the Chin culture.”

    “We are honored to receive this grant, but even more excited about working with the Rotary Club to expand our resources, networks and influence in Indianapolis,” says Kjack Williams, President of the Chin Community of Indiana. “The comprehensive attention they have provided will enable more Chin to not just “settle” in Indianapolis, but to “succeed” in Indianapolis with increased language and job skills.”

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the primary community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Each year, the Foundation generously donates almost $200,000 annually to projects and organizations in the Central Indiana Area that promote the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self.”

  • Rotary Club of Indianapolis Original Letterhead- Banner Quilt Project

    Rotary Club of Indianapolis Original Letterhead- Banner Quilt Project

    The attached image is a copy of the first known letterhead for the Indianapolis Rotary Club circa 1913. Some members of our club can trace their heritage to these founders. Janet Harris has a great uncle listed on this early letterhead.

    Club banners soon followed the start of Indianapolis Rotary. Resources at Rotary International sent us information concerning banners and facts about Rotary graphic memorabilia.
    Our History Committee would like to adopt this letterhead image for our committee publications.

    The History Committee is also creating two banner quilts. Suggested themes for banner quilts include banners from clubs throughout Indiana and banners across the United States.

    Our club has over a 1000 banners in storage that seldom see the light of day. The banner project will allow us to better display these rich tapestries of Rotary History.

    We wish to publicly thank Phyllis Geeslin and Thomas Mason for their generous contribution of time and skill implementing the banner project.

  • October 11: Michelle Study-Campbell, CEO, Ronald McDonald House of Indiana

    October 11: Michelle Study-Campbell, CEO, Ronald McDonald House of Indiana

    Providing Comfort and Care for Families in Crisis, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana

    Join Rotary next week as we welcome Michelle Study-Campbell. She will give a brief history of the Ronald McDonald House and provide insight into the impact they have had locally and globally. She will also share how you can volunteer and how families in our community can access the House when they need a home away from home.

    A native Hoosier, Michelle is a graduate of Marian University and has her Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University. In addition to her executive leadership at the House, Michelle also serves as President of the Junior League of Indianapolis for the 2015-2017 term.