• 2014 Rotary Club of Indianapolis Board Election Results

    2014 Rotary Club of Indianapolis Board Election Results

    Election results are in and these are the newest Board members for the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, serving a two year term from 2014 to 2016.

    Evan Bedel, Bedel Financial Consulting
    Steve Harris, PNC Bank
    Debbie Hyde, Somerset CPAs
    Marie Koenig, F.I.D.O.
    Dr. Mercy Obeime
    Michael Salemi, Colored Threads
    Lauren Scheldrup, Junior Achievement

    The officers of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis are President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Board of Directors, “Board”, consist of fifteen (15) members of the Club.

    The elective officers, who are not elected Directors, become ex officio members of the Board during tenure of office, with the right to vote. The immediate Past President is an ex officio member of the Board with the right to vote for the year following his term in office.

    Eight Directors are elected in odd numbered years and seven Directors are elected in even numbered years. Directors are elected for a term of two years and shall hold office until the adjournment of the annual meeting at which their respective terms expire, and/or until their successors are elected and qualified.

  • April 10 – JA In A Day

    April 10 – JA In A Day

    You can make a difference in a child’s life! Grab your favorite Rotarian and join us for JA in a Day.

    • Where: IPS, Joyce Kilmer Academy #69
    • When: Thursday, April 10 from 9am to 3pm

    JA In A Day

    Junior Achievement is dedicated to educating students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action, and help strengthen their communities. In central Indiana, we provide in school education program to grades K-12 as well as our experiential capstone programs such as JA BizTown® and Finance Park® Virtual, which enforces the idea that kids learn by “doing.”

  • Freedom Writer, Jacobs visits Lutherwood Residential Treatment Facility

    Right to Left: Sue Tempero from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, Tiffony Jacobs, Walt Nordstrom and Julie Handschy from Lutherwood Academy
    Right to Left: Sue Tempero from the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, Tiffony Jacobs, Walt Nordstrom and Julie Handschy from Lutherwood Academy

    Because of a grant from the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation, Lutheran Child and Family Services were able to have Tiffany Jacobs, an original Freedom Writer from Long Beach, CA visit Lutherwood Residential Treatment Facility and Academy on March 4, 2013.  Mr. Walt Nordstrom (Lutherwood Academy teacher) started teaching “Freedom Writers” after seeing the movie and later discovering the book. He had been working for a few years to make this dream a reality.  Ms. Julie Handschy is the Education Coordinator at Lutherwood Academy.

  • Phyllis Geeslin – The Five Things I Love

    Phyllis GeeslinThe Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site is celebrating 125 years since the inauguration of Harrison as the 23rd president. Rotarian Phyllis Geeslin, the site’s president and CEO, says issues that were important to Harrison were the opening of Ellis Island, a sense of history and a good diet of fish, beef and fresh vegetables. Click here to see some of Geeslin’s favorite places to eat.

  • Rotarian Erik Johnson Nominated by Indiana Sports Corp for the Prestigious ROSE Award

    Rotarian Erik Johnson Nominated by Indiana Sports Corp for the Prestigious ROSE Award

    The following article was written by Allison Melangton, President, Indiana Sports Corp

    During our Executive Committee meeting earlier this week, we had a special visit from our partners at Visit Indy. They stopped by to surprise Erik Johnson, who has been nominated by Indiana Sports Corp for a ROSE (“Recognition Of Service Excellence”) Award. He’ll be recognized at the event next month.

    The mission of the ROSE (“Recognition Of Service Excellence”) Awards is to honor hospitality employees or volunteers who provide excellent customer service. ROSE Award honorees are true goodwill ambassadors for their companies and the city. These industry champions, through one-on-one or behind-the-scenes contact, positively influence a visitor’s experience in Indianapolis. These interactions are really important touch-points with fans, and positively shape out-of-town guests’ impressions of Indy.

    I’ve mentioned Erik’s selfless contributions in the past. His volunteer leadership as the chair of the local organizing committee for the 2013 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships in the planning stages of the event was exceptional. On-site, he joined us for many early mornings to help manage the operational parts of the event, and did everything from entertaining guests from the NCAA to spreading straw throughout the Indianapolis Rowing Center to combat a week of rain.

    Erik is just one example of the volunteers, facility and hospitality workers, and ambassadors who do so much to make our guests feel at home in central Indiana. Their work, their Hoosier Hospitality, and their attention to detail provide memorable and lasting experiences for our participating athletes and fans.

    The four weeks ahead provide a significant opportunity for Indy to welcome more visitors and sports fans as we host the Big Ten Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.

    I also appreciated Mayor Ballard’s comments in the State of the City address last night – reminding us to be proud of Indy and to serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for all the things that make Indy a great place to live, work and enjoy great events–like the March line-up mentioned above!

    Thank you to everyone who volunteers in our community (whether it be for Indiana Sports Corp or other great organizations) and keep sharing positive experiences with our visitors!

    Written By Allison Melangton, President, Indiana Sports Corp

  • Who Would you Like to See at a Tuesday Program?

    It’s no secret that the Rotary Club of Indianapolis provides some of the best speakers available. Most would agree the ability to promote and program 50 weeks of programs per year is enough – but we want more! If you have an idea and would like to suggest a program, PLEASE call the Rotary office at 317-631-3733!

  • Rotarian Michael Snyder, Knows Branding

    Rotarian Michael Snyder, Knows Branding

    Any given day at The MEK Group may involve helping an international medical manufacturing services company expand and capture U.S. market share, developing a premium brand and ad campaign for a communications enterprise, organizing industry leaders and academics to advance a technology region, or helping to advocate for and support quality health care.

    As managing principal, Michael Snyder likely will find himself right in the middle of the action.

    “Being able to make a lasting impact is the most rewarding aspect of the often intense days we have at MEK,” said Snyder, who returned to his native Indiana, after working in the greater Los Angeles area for 17 years.

    Snyder has represented Fortune 100 companies and worked with a sitting queen, a First Lady and the chairman of General Motors, but he says his greatest satisfaction comes from seeing people and companies seize their potential and transform themselves into high performers.

    Check out the Full article, here (Courtesy IndyStar).

  • Rotarian Matt Burnett to Guest on WFYI, No Limits

    Rotarian Matt Burnett to Guest on WFYI, No Limits

    Rotary Club of Indianapolis President-Elect Matt Burnett will be one of three guests on WFYI’s No Limits (LIVE) program on Thursday, February 27 from 1pm to 2pm. President-Elect Matt Burnett will join Stan Soderstrom with Kiwanis International and Pat Henninger with the Lions Club to discuss Member Service Clubs.

  • Carmel Rotarian and Past District Governor Passes Away

    Carmel Rotarian and Past District Governor Passes Away

    William D. “Bill” McFadden, 76 of Indianapolis, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014.  Bill was born April 27, 1937 in Indianapolis to the late Dwight and Helen McFadden.  He was a graduate of Shortridge High School and Butler University, and served in the U. S. Army Medical Corp.

    Bill was co-owner of Circle City Embroidery.  He had been an active member of the Carmel Rotary Club since 1976 and served as President from 1991 -1992.  He was very active in Rotary Youth Exchange and hosted 6 students who are still part of his family. In 1998 he was chosen as Group Study Exchange team Leader to Norway and served as District Governor 2001-2002.  Because of his unfaltering dedication to Rotary and their youth programs, Carmel Rotary awards an annual scholarship to deserving high school student named in Bill’s honor.

    Bill’s community involvement included serving for 6 years on the Carmel Town Board – the last 2 as President of the last town board before Carmel became a city.  He served on the Carmel Plan Commission for 8 years (2 as President).  He served 6 years on the Board of Zoning Appeals (2 years as President) and 2 years on the Board of Works.  He is a Past President of the Carmel Clay Jaycees and was also on the Carmel Clay Education Foundation and the Carmel Chamber of Commerce.  Bill was also a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

    A service celebrating Bill’s life will be held at 4:00 pm on Thursday, March 6 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, where family and friends are invited to gather from 3:00 pm until the time of the service.   Everyone will be invited to a reception following the service at the Knights of Columbus 2100 E. 71st St. Indianapolis, IN 46220

    Bill is survived by Judy Ford; children, Edward D. McFadden  (Susan), Steven D. McFadden (Juli), Shannon Duckworth (Craig), Kelley Burton, (Pete), Cindy Chapek ( Bob), Rob Ford, (Lisa), Cathy Hanna ( Rick), Jeff Ford (Marcia), 15 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Sally Warwick.

    Memorial Contributions may be made to The Rotary Foundation 14280 Collections Center Dr. Chicago, IL 60693 for the Annual Fund.

    To sign the online guest book, please visit flannerbuchanan.com.  Arrangements entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan-Carmel.

  • Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Aids CICOA with $25,000 Grant

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Aids CICOA with $25,000 Grant

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to cover a portion of the delivery vehicle operating costs for CICOA’s Meals & More program. Pictured: CICOA CEO Orion Bell (left) with Dr. Matt Will, director of external relations at the University of Indianapolis and Vice President of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation.

    Read the full story at CICOA.org.

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the primary community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Annual contributions to the Foundation are added to an eternal endowment fund and allocated income from that fund is utilized to support grants for charitable and educational purposes, primarily in the Indianapolis and Central Indiana areas. Read more about the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation.