Notes from Rotary Meeting of January 07, 2013
President Deb Varnak called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test of Rotary. Mike Sutton offered the prayer. Leigh Morris led us in singing “Auld Lang Syne”.
Happy Birthday – Tyler Smith, Mike Rosenbaum, Judian Breitenbach, Mitch Feikes, Mike Seitz, Mike Arnett, Beth Ingram, Jon Salisbury, and Christina Dougherty.
Rotary District Governor Elect Christina Dougherty spoke about the week of training she and her husband Doug Busby will be receiving in San Diego. She mentioned that the comprehensive and intensive training is provided for the 500+ district governors-elect worldwide and for their spouses or partners as well.
Sergeant-at-Arms Dale Parkison raised money for the club (assisted by Marv Goad with the basket) by asking questions about the football championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama. We learned that Notre Dame has won 11 national championships, the last in 1988, and has had seven Heisman Trophy winners.
President Varnak thanked Mitch and Dale Parkison who shared Sergeant duties for the past quarter and asked for volunteers for the first quarter of 2013.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Bill Hedge thanked those Rotarians who volunteered to ring the bell in December. Dec 1 – Cindy Waelbroeck, Stacy Moody, Judian Breitenbach, Ron Gigliotti, Bill Hedge, and Marv Goad. December 8 – Neil Mangus, Mike Seitz, Glade Montgomery, Christina Dougherty, Joanie Allamon, Vern Sikora, and Kregg Van Meter. December 15 – Ted Taylor, Mitch Feikes, Beth Ingram, Marv Goad, Thor Thordarson.
Ice Fishing Derby/Chili Fundraiser – Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Cummings Lodge
Mike Sutton will coordinate the fishing derby and Mitch Feikes will chair the chili fundraiser. The fishing derby begins at 5:30am and runs until 4:00pm on that day. The chili dinner runs from 11am to 5pm. Rotarians will have 10 adult and 5 children’s tickets to sell. See Mitch Feikes for tickets. Indiana University La Porte Hospital will match the amount of ticket sales.
Announcements – Rotary District 6540 has announced its application process for a $7000 grant for college summer study abroad. Immediate family members of Rotarians are not eligible. President Varnak also announced that the Rotary Board of Directors has approved a sponsorship for a La Porte High School student to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA).
Program – Jennifer Cress-Castillo, Junior Achievement of La Porte County
Ms. Cress-Castillo, in her second year with JA, thanked La Porte Rotary for its financial support and for its many members who volunteer. She stated that it is the world’s largest organization dedicated to helping young people succeed in the global economy. The program reaches more than 5400 students from Kindergarten through 10th grades in the La Porte, Michigan City, and Westville schools. Local businesses benefit from young people in the job market who understand work ethics and readiness for work; young people benefit from being fiscally literate and better prepared for success; volunteers from the business community who provide this classroom training benefit through giving their time and expertise.
Rotarians in attendance were: Mike Arnett, Judian Breitenbach, Bert Cook, Christina Dougherty, Mitch Feikes, Ron Gigliotti, Marv Goad, Judy Hamilton, Bill Hedge, Beth Ingram, Norm Juday, Neil Mangus, Glade Montgomery, Leigh Morris, Dale Parkison, Mike Rosenbaum, Jon Salisbury, Vern Sikora, Tyler Smith, Mike Sutton, Thor Thordarson, Kregg Van Meter, Deb Varnak. Visiting Rotarians: Jeremy Efroymson (Indy Sunrise), Mick Faloon (Elkhart), Rick Schwietzer (Crown Point). Guests: Dave Dykstra of J&L Dimensional (guest of Mike Arnett), Beverly Neiland (guest of Judian Breitenbach), and Nicole Ford, Jenna Diehl, and Johnna Belkewitz from La Porte High School.