• Matt Burnett regains “Chili Champ” Title at Rotary 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off

    Matt Burnett regains “Chili Champ” Title at Rotary 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off

    Back row (l-r): John Mainella, Dave Leonards, Joel Westphal, Norm Melzer. Front row (l-r): Kelly Tingle, Alice McColgin, Marie Koenig, Matt Burnett
    Click to enlarge and see names.

    The Rotary Social Committee put on the 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off at the Triton Tap Room in Broad Ripple on Wednesday, 10/5/16, as part of Rotary 5:31 Club which is usually held the First Wednesday of every month. The weather was super, all had a great time, smack was flying, and nobody has died from the chili yet (as far as we know). The seven entrants in order of signing up were John “Shimmy” Mainella, Kelly “ Hot Mamma” Tingle, Matt “Cool as a Pepper” Burnett, Norm “Reigning Champ” Melzer, Marie “Spicy” Koenig, Joel “Shorty” Westphal, and Alice “Tasteful” McColgin. There were eleven judges who wish to be nameless for fear of repercussions; we thank them all for “stepping up to serve”. Third place ended in a tie between Norm Melzer and Joel Westphal; Second went to Marie Koenig; and Matt Burnett regained the four C’s (Culinary Chef Chili Champ) Title finishing in the top spot. Matt Will was sorry he couldn’t be there claiming he would have won if he could have participated. Special thanks to our Chairperson Jenny Conder for helping keep us all cooking, Ron Baker for bringing the supplies, Greg Albright for backing us up in the office, all the fantastic entrants, Bill Bubenzer for taking all the photos, and Norm Melzer for making the awesome Silver Ladle Trophy.

  • October 4: Perry Hammock, Executive Director, Indiana Bicentennial Commission

    October 4: Perry Hammock, Executive Director, Indiana Bicentennial Commission

    Indiana at 200: Celebrating the Hoosier State
    Indiana’s Bicentennial Celebration kicked off on Statehood Day, December 11, 2015, and will continue to a grand finale weekend December 10 and 11, 2016. Indiana’s Bicentennial Commission aims to honor our state’s 200 years of history, and do so in a way that engages all 6.5 million Hoosiers and leaves lasting legacies for future generations. The Bicentennial Commission works with volunteer coordinators in every county to identify projects that are worthy of designation as “Official Bicentennial Legacy Projects.” All projects are categorized under four main themes set forth by the Commission:

    • Youth and Education
    • Historical Celebration
    • Nature Conservation
    • Community Involvement.

    To date, 914 projects have been endorsed representing all 92 counties. Perry Hammock will talk about some of the wonderful projects underway, special dates and celebrations, and ways for all to be involved in this singular moment in Indiana history.

    Hammock has served on statewide, national and international boards, including eight years on the board of directors of CFRE International, the global credentialing body for fund raising professionals.

    Perry is a farm kid and Indiana native. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Purdue University. He is married to Chris, a wonderful and talented middle school history teacher, and has an accomplished adult daughter, Emily. Son-in-Law Matt and Linus the WonderCat round out the family.

  • Rotary Packs 11,664 Meals for Indy Do Day Kickoff

    Rotary Packs 11,664 Meals for Indy Do Day Kickoff

    packaway-poster-webThe Rotary Club of Indianapolis would like to thank all Rotarians and guests who stepped up to serve at our Annual Indy Do Day kickoff project, Tuesday, September 27, 2016. The club packed 11,664 meals that will be donated to those hungry in Central Indiana.

    If you didn’t have the chance to attend the Pack Away Hunger Service project, we encourage you to take part in Indy Do Day this week.  There are still hundreds of open projects that need volunteers at www.indydoday.org. Join your club, and our community, in service and doing good in the community.

  • September 27, Official Indy Do Day – Rotary Service Project with Pack Away Hunger

    September 27, Official Indy Do Day – Rotary Service Project with Pack Away Hunger

    Online registration is required for this event by September 23.

    Join the Rotary Club of Indianapolis on Tuesday, September 27 as they perform their feature Indy Do Day project to help feed the hungry with Pack Away Hunger!

    Lunch line opens at 11:30, Program starts at 12:15

    Cost: $16.00 per person for lunch (pre-paid lunch subscribers eat for free!)
    Sign up here 

    Pack Away Hunger is a non-profit organization dedicated to greatly improving the lives of children and others who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. These meals are scientifically proven to meet the specific nutritional needs of children and other at-risk populations.

    The “packed” meals are distributed to local food banks and pantries or to community feeding programs in emerging nations. These powerful packing events are educational and fun!

  • September 20, Cliff Chapman, Executive Director, Central Indiana Land Trust

    September 20, Cliff Chapman, Executive Director, Central Indiana Land Trust

    Cliff Chapman will highlight the natural wonders that surround us in Central Indiana and what CILTI is doing to protect them. As an organization, the Central Indiana Land Trust preserves the best of our natural areas protecting plants and animals so Hoosiers can experience the wonder of the state’s natural heritage.

    Cliff Chapman is the Executive Director for the Central Indiana Land Trust and has worked in the field of land conservation since 1997.  Since graduating with a BA in Geography from Indiana University, Cliff has worked as an ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves and The Nature Conservancy in Olympia, Washington.

  • Sep 27, Indy Do Day Service Project

    Sep 27, Indy Do Day Service Project

    Sign up (REQUIRED) by September 23. 

    We hope you will attend our club’s Indy Do Day Kick Off Project on Tuesday, September 27. This is the third year we will be preparing meals for Pack Away Hunger during our Tuesday program.  During this fun and festive program, we pack nutritional meals scientifically proven to meet the needs of children and at-risk populations.  These packs are distributed to local food pantries and community feeding programs in emerging nations.  Please share the details below with your fellow colleagues, family and friends and invite them to join us- we want to kick-off Indy Do Day with a strong start!  To make sure we have enough packing stations, please sign up (REQUIRED) by September 23. 

  • Education Committee Planning Indy Do Day Project for Sat, Oct 1, 2016

    Education Committee Planning Indy Do Day Project for Sat, Oct 1, 2016

    The Education committee is excited to participate in Indy Do Day this year!  You are invited to join the Committee as we provide a Classroom Makeover for Teach for America Alumni Teacher of the Year Ms. Ella Hereth. Our education committee has provided Ms. Hereth with a $1,500 stipend to buy materials for her classroom, some of which includes furniture and supplies to help organize her space.  Ms. Hereth teaches middle school math and has requested volunteers to help put together furniture and help clean and organize the classroom. You and your families, and other Rotarians, are encouraged to join us at Guion Creek Middle School located at 4401 W 52nd St # 603, Indianapolis, IN 46254 from 9:30-11:30 a.m  on Saturday, October 1. If you plan to attend, please email ktingle@indyrotary.org to confirm.  A confirmation email will be sent as the date draws nearer.

  • Rotarian Cyclist Rides Across Country

    cris-fThe Rotary Club of Indianapolis will be hosting Rotarian Chris Figurieda from the Rotary Club of Ventura California as he makes a cross country bicycle ride to bring attention to healthy life styles and heart health. Chris has made several cross country and long rides to bring attention to his mission which you can learn about at his website at www.cycleforheart.org. He is raising funds for the American Heart Association and the Rotary Polio Plus Program on his ride. He will be in Indianapolis on Sept 25th & 26th and staying with Rotarian Joe Gaafar while in Indy. Chris is looking for opportunities to share his message with students in kindergarten through college as well as elected officials and would appreciate local Rotarians introducing or arranging meetings for him. If you have a group or person that would be interested in meeting Chris, please contact Joe at 317-294-6059 or Joe@SDGAvising.com. Also, if you’re a cyclist, fitness buff, or just interested in his trip, call Joe.

  • September 13, Indy Rotary: Brian Murphy, Holcomb Observatory

    September 13, Indy Rotary: Brian Murphy, Holcomb Observatory

    The New and Improved Holcomb Telescope

    The Holcomb Observatory at Butler University is putting the finishing touches on a $450,000 refurbishment of Indiana’s largest telescope.  These improvements were funded by a generous donation from Butler physics graduate Dr. Frank Levinson (’74).  The Holcomb Telescope is now a vastly improved version of its old self and is remotely operable and used by Butler students and faculty for research from anywhere in the world.  In this presentation Brian Murphy will give a bit of history of the observatory, explain the improvements to the telescope, and describe the outreach at Butler University and the research programs at Holcomb Observatory. In addition to the Holcomb Telescope, Butler has also been part of the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) telescope consortium. Murphy will describe the mission of SARA consortium and explain how the Holcomb Telescope dovetails with this consortium that allows the remote operation of three other 1-meter class telescopes located on three continents.

    Brian Murphy has served as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy for nearly eight years and as director of Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium throughout his 20 years at Butler. In 2012, Murphy received the University Award for Distinguished Research, Scholarship, or Creative Work which is the highest accolade a faculty member can receive that honors her or his body of substantial scholarly achievement accomplished as a faculty member of Butler University.

  • Tue, Sep. 27 – Hungry to Help?

    Pack Away Hunger Service Project hosted by Rotary Club of Indianapolis
    Date: Tue, September 27
    Time: 11:30 am to 1:15 pm

    Sign up here

    Location:
    Scottish Rite Cathedral,
    650 N Meridian St #1a,
    Indianapolis, IN 46204

    Attire: Volunteers will be in casual or work clothes (please be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will be standing) Lunch will be available

    Pack Away Hunger is a non-profit organization dedicated to greatly improving the lives of children and others who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. To achieve our mission, we have partnered with The Mathile Institute for Human Nutrition to develop the most highly nutritious pre-packaged meals available. These meals are scientifically proven to meet the specific nutritional needs of children and other at-risk populations.

    The “packed” meals are distributed to local food banks and pantries or to community feeding programs in emerging nations. These powerful packing events are educational and fun! Participants often feel a sense of purpose, knowing the meals they pack with their own hands will meet a significant need for someone in their neighborhood or in a community around the world.

    Please join Pack Away Hunger and your fellow rotarians to put an end to hunger and malnutrition and sign up today.