(EXCERPT) “Timoteo’s hands are worn thin. His calluses show years of hard work. He reeks of coffee. The coffee farmer led us up to his piece of land on a plantation. To get there we walked one hour up a steep and treacherous mountain at a 75 degree incline. His land sits atop San Miguel Escobar and up the mountain we passed families of farmers. Kids tend the farms as young as three. Guatemalans value family and community and it shows during harvest season. Red beans are for picking and under the hot sun we walked from plant to plant plucking beans. Timoteo is a farmer with As Green As It Gets.“
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.
Category: Members in the News
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Day 4 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and The Coffee Farmer
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Day 3 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – When the Pavement Ends
(EXCERPT) “You know you have arrived in San Rafael when the pavement ends. Located 45 minutes north of Antigua, San Rafael is one of the poorest communities that Common Hope serves and is completely indigenous. People here speak Kekchi instead of Spanish. It is where I met our sponsor daughter (Simon’s sister) Marisela who is 7 years old. She loves to draw. Brenda, our case worker, was my translator. She is one of three case workers in the area responsible for 80 families.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Day 2 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – Running Water
(EXCERPT) “Everyone should have an opportunity for running water and electricity but water is a luxury in San Miguel Escobar. It’s where I met a family of eleven who walk at least one mile for water. The family is affiliated through Common Hope and their small home is made of concrete slabs. They have two small rooms and no bathroom or water. A family typically works 250-300 sweat equity hours doing landscaping, cleaning or cooking at the Common Hope site to receive their home. Forty to fifty volunteers help with the build. That is what brings me back here each year.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Day 1 – Rotarian Debra Des Vignes Lands in Guatemala
(EXCERPT) “I am remembering how to find my way again. Four years ago I was terribly lost when I stumbled off an American Airlines flight close to midnight drunk on rum and coke and lost in pretentiousness. With no cell service, internet or knowledge of the native tongue, I felt conspicuously powerless. I found the van that took me away up the mountain and back down again to Antigua, Guatemala. A two-week volunteer experience would later impact every decision I make today.”
Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week. -
Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin Receives Lifetime Achievement Award!
Since 1993, Phyllis Geeslin has been leading the Harrison Site onward and upward. In that time, she has accomplished much that has enriched our shared community, enhanced the guest experience and preserved Benjamin Harrison’s legacy.
In recognition of those years of service, dedication and contributions to the field of history, Phyllis will receive the 2013 Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Indiana Historical Society (IHS).
She will receive her award during IHS’s annual Founders Day event on Monday, December 2, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.
Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin has also served as a Club Director, is a Paul Harris Fellow and the current History Committee Chairwoman.
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Follow Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – to Guatamala!
Recently, we told you about Rotarian Debra Des Vignes and her upcoming (fourth) trip to Antigua, Guatemala to serve on a Vision Team for Common Hope. Well, that time has a arrived and beginning Dec 2, you can follow her BLOG (click the link) while she is there! Debra will be there for a full week and plans to post each evening about her experiences.
Debra travels to Central America on behalf of the Common Hope that supports community schools and provides housing to families that want to participate in a process of development, improving their lives through education and health care.
Debra is deeply passionate about creating better opportunities for willing children and their families. She actively supports U.S. and international programs that address poverty through better access to education. This, along with the life-changing opportunity for international travel, is why Debra and her family have supported Common Hope, including a sponsor child, Marisella, for more than five years. -
Indy Rotarians in the News: Curish and Markoff
Born and raised as a Hoosier, Dana attended Hanover College. She studied chemistry/biology, thinking she would become a microbiologist, but fate drew her to the nonprofit world instead. She admits, “I have always had a passion for caring for those with low income.” She recalls an unforgettable moment as she was volunteering one morning with onsite registration for “Race for the Cure.” She asked a participant if she was running as a survivor, and the woman replied with tears in her eyes, “Well I thought I was, but I just found out I’m not.” She had been to the doctor the day before to learn that her cancer had metastasized. Dana felt an instant emotional letdown and gave the woman a hug, reassuring her that she would be a survivor. This incident marked a turning point in Dana’s life as she recognized the crucial timeliness for taking action, being proactive and catching the cancer before it’s too late.
Though Susan Goodman Komen fought breast cancer just as many women and even some men do, she is remembered as one who made an effort to make life better for others instead of focusing only on herself. Today Susan G. Komen represents the largest mass movement against breast cancer. Since 1982, Komen has invested $2 billion in community outreach and global research studying the causes, treatments and cures of breast cancer.
Komen Central Indiana is one of four affiliates in the state. Of the funds raised, 75 percent of proceeds stay within our community, implementing grant programs aimed in helping 30,000+ low-income Hoosiers within 21 counties. The remaining 25 percent of funds are applied to global research grants seeking specific causes, improved treatments and lifelong cures for breast cancer. Read full story.
Written by Janet Striebel, Publication: At Carmel. Janet is a Freelance Writer and has been writing for atgeist.com for five years. After graduating with an English degree, she later earned a Master’s in Instructional Design from the University of Kentucky. She is married and has three children. The best part of Janet’s experience is meeting all of the amazingly interesting people living in our community. Curish photo by Brenda Staples Photography
Member in the News: Rotarian Rick Markoff teaches students to focus on the leadership skills that make a difference in private and public companies and organizations.
Several of IUPUI’s top graduate students made their mark late last month at the Strive Together Cradle to Career Network Convening in Dallas, earning widespread praise for a presentation that was born in one of several Organizational Leadership and Supervision courses taught by School of Engineering and Technology faculty member Rick Markoff.The students involved — Ben Johnson, Brian Hansen and Shannon McCullough — focused on the leadership skills that make a difference in private and public companies and organizations. They drew plenty of praise from conference attendees but also the support of Jeff Edmondson, the managing director of Strive Together.
To prepare for their presentation, the IUPUI grad students called on several segments of their Organizational Leadership and Supervision courses, including face-to-face sessions with business entrepreneurs and civic leaders who have been happy to share their experiences in Markoff’s classes. Read full story.
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Rotarian Elaine Bedel Featured on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” (with video)
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is excited to share that Rotarian Elaine Bedel was on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” on November 11th, 2013. WATCH THE VIDEO. She participated in a live panel discussion with Tyler Mathisen, co-anchor on “Power Lunch”, and Bernie Clark, Executive Vice President of Advisor Services with Charles Schwab. The panel spoke on current investor sentiment as well as their thoughts on the current political and investment environment.
Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc. is a comprehensive, fee-only wealth management firm, dedicated to helping clients achieve financial security. Established in 1989 by Elaine Bedel in Indianapolis, Bedel Financial Consulting is one of the top 25 Women-Owned Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) in the country according to WealthManagement.com.
Life is a series of choices. Bedel Financial helps you choose what’s next.
We strive to meet your unique planning needs with a team comprised of two professionals with different disciplines, financial planning and investment management. With this rare approach, we are able to provide a thorough planning experience to ensure all aspects of your plan are considered and addressed before taking a step forward. -
Rotarian Dane Starbuck Releases New Album
Dane Starbuck has released a Holiday Premiere CD, “Give Your Heart To Me,” featuring top Nashville, TN and Indiana recording artists – all music and lyrics by Dane Starbuck. Available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, Pandora and Spotify.Author, composer and lyricist and Rotarian Dane has his roots in Indiana. Born in Winchester, he holds degrees in law and English, and he briefly studied composition at the Boston Conservatory of Music and at Huntington College.
The inspiration for much of the music on this CD is from his musical “To Love an African Violet” which is currently in pre-production. Dane lives in Carmel, Indiana, with his lovely wife, Bev, where he practices law. “Give your heart to me” is dedicated to the memory of their infant granddaughter, Isabel.
It’s no secret that Dane Starbuck is an awesome Rotarian. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis for nearly 14 years, plays piano at Tuesday functions, participates in Rotary functions and gives his time and treasure for many good causes through Rotary. He is also a James Whitcomb Riley and Paul Harris Fellow.
In 2007, Dane and his wife Bev visited the Indiana University School of Medicine-Kenya Partnership in Eldoret, Kenya. The World Community Services committee of the Indianapolis Rotary Club raised funds for the initiative and adopted it as its overseas project. It is working with the Eldoret Rotary Club to support financially the initiative.
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UPDATED – Indy Rotarians in the News!
Women of Influence – Jennifer Burk
Why would a top executive give up a job with one of the most successful businesses in Indiana to head up a not-for-profit?
Just asking that question indicates one of the challenges faced by not-for-profit leaders. Let alone a financially struggling organization.“I don’t think there’s a stigma, but there might be a curiosity about it,” said Jennifer Burk who, in 2009, left a position with Duke Realty to become president and CEO of the troubled Junior Achievement of Central Indiana.
“My role at Duke gave me the opportunity to get involved in the community, serve on some boards, and do some volunteer work. My husband at one point said, ‘It seems you come home energized by some of the volunteer work. I would support you if you wanted to consider a career change at some point.’”
Burk began work at Junior Achievement as a volunteer.
Other Members in the News (UPDATED)
Families First has elected Rotarian Mark Winzenread as Chairman of the Board. For more than 175 years, Families First has been passionately committed to its vision of a community of strong, loving and capable families. Generation after generation, Families First has touched the lives of thousands of families through a variety of programs that strengthen parents, repair relationships, maintain the independence of older and challenged adults, and remove barriers to a stable, productive life. Edie Olsen, MSW, LCSW is President of Families first and also an Indianapolis Rotarian.The Methodist Health Foundation has named Rotarian Denny Sponsel, Vice Chairman. And, Rotarians Carol Applegate and Greg Schahet have joined the Board of Methodist Health Foundation.
Senior1Care among Fastest Growing Companies in America
“This honor is truly a reflection of the countless hours our team members have contributed to get us to this point,” added Rotarian Patrick Broccolo, an owner of the Carmel area branch. “The flexibility of our Caregivers and our responsiveness to our client’s needs is a major reason for the recognition.” Senior1Care is available 24 hours a day to help service their clients’ needs. Please visit their website at Senior1Care.com to learn more about their service offering and experience the difference. Download the press release.
