As Rotary Club thrives, people reap benefits
The economy is in its deepest recession in 75 years. Unemployment is approaching 10 percent. Groups that rely on endowments and charitable donations have seen their coffers dry up, and apparently no one can survive without a government bailout.
However, someone forgot to tell all of this to the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. According to the monthly “dashboard report” that President Denny Sponsel provides to the membership, Indy Rotary is running a budget surplus, membership has increased substantially, dozens of service projects are in the works, and the club has a two-year winning streak against the Kiwanians in their annual softball grudge match.
On Tuesday, the club officially completes its $1 million pledge to Riley Hospital for Children, on time and with money to spare. This was not the result of one large donor or any government intervention. Rather, this money was raised through membership raffles and good old-fashioned fundraising.
The club also will donate well over $50,000 to the Rotary International “End Polio Now” campaign. For decades, Rotary International has led the worldwide effort to eradicate polio. With that goal within reach, each local club was asked to contribute $2,000 for the final push. The donation from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis represents the largest club donation in the world.
In an era when many service clubs are struggling, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis sees its best days ahead. The club started the year with 400 members and is close to its goal of 450. The average age of members is declining, and everyone is represented, from young professionals to retired executives. The membership reflects the diversity of our community, with a healthy mix of business and not-for-profit members and a solid “who’s who” of community leaders on the roster.
The true success of Indy Rotary, however, is not who they are, but what they do. Besides raising money, the club runs a clean-water and AIDS prevention program in Africa and education and health initiatives in Jamaica, and locally supports literacy, crime prevention and neighborhood beautification, just to name a few worthy causes. To borrow a phrase from Oldsmobile, this is not your father’s service club.
This success is not by accident. Sponsel, owner of RJE Business Interiors, is one part taskmaster and two parts cheerleader, with a heavy dose of eternal optimist. For him, the glass is never half empty or half full, but always has room for more.
As the club approaches its 100th anniversary, it doesn’t look a day older than 29. The economy may be in a recession, but the Rotary Club of Indianapolis refuses to participate. For this club, it’s all about building good will and better friendships.
