Notes from Rotary Meeting of April 22, 2013
President Deb Varnak called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test of Rotary. Marv Goad offered the invocation for the meeting.
Happy $$’s – Mitch Feikes, Mike Rosenbaum, Vern Sikora, Deb Varnak, Tyler Smith, Fran Milo, Judy Hamilton, Mike Sutton, Kregg Van Meter, Keith Schwingendorf.
Sergeant-at-Arms – Mitch Feikes (assisted by Keith Schwingendorf with the basket) raised money for the club with trivia questions about U.S. Presidents.
Scholarships – Scott West announced that the scholarship committee had determined the 2013 winners. In addition to two La Porte High School seniors (who will be announced at the school’s awards event on May 2), scholarship winners were Stuart West (Rose Hulmann) and Jared Dyjak, a LaCrosse High School graduate who will be attending Butler University. Scott thanked the members of his committee for their work – Mike Arnett, Ron Gigliotti, Bill Hedge, and Norm Juday. Winners will be honored at the annual picnic on June 17.
Volunteer Needed – A Rotarian is needed for the month of May to greet Rotarians and guests and collect lunch fees. Contact Deb to volunteer.
Executive Spelling Bee – May 2 – Silver Palace – 6:30 PM
Stacey Moody, Rotary’s liaison to the La Porte County Literacy Council, is seeking one additional volunteer for the team. Team members to date are Yvonne Lindborg, Captain, Leigh Morris and Christina Dougherty.
June 17 – Annual Picnic – 5:30 PM at the picnic shelter at Legacy Hills Golf Club – catering by Spire Restaurant. $15.00 per adult and $10.00 per child. The evening will include the
Family Picnic; Installation of officers and board for 2013/2014; Scholarship Awards; as well as the Installation of La Porte Rotary’s Christina Dougherty as District Governor and installation of the District Board.
District 6540 annual conference – Today is the deadline to register for the District Conference on April 26 and 27 at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville. Visit the District 6540 website online to register. Leigh Morris and Christina Dougherty will be performing with the District singers at the Friday evening dinner.
Rotary District request – The“I Need a Hug/Reading Buddies” project invites you to donate your favorite children’s book for ages 6-8 and a new, 12-14 inch stuffed animal to be distributed as reading buddies for 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in Northwest Indiana as motivation to read. Take them with you to the district conference.
Speaker – Tera Grinnell, Human Resources Director for ALCOA/Howmet
Thanks to Kregg VanMeter for arranging for this speaker and introducing her. Ms. Grinnell, with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University, moved to La Porte in 2009. I n addition to her personnel responsibilities, she is in charge of community involvement for ALCOA/Howmet. In 2012 the company contributed $135,000 in grants to various community organizations including the YMCA, Luhr Park, Kesling Park, etc. Because of the high level of manufacturing involved in producing turbines for jet engines for Department of Defense contracts, ALCOA/Howmet needs a highly skilled workforce. F acing a “talent shortage” in the La Porte area, the company will hire about 75 employees this year. For many positions, potential employees need certifications or advanced training but not 4-year degrees. For lower level positions (with starting wages of $15.00 or more per hour), employees need a high school diploma or GED, National Career Readiness Certificate (an ACT level exam for adults) and an excellent work ethic.
Rotarians in attendance were: Mike Arnett, Mitch Feikes, Marv Goad, Judy Hamilton, Brad Hinsley, Norm Juday, Fran Milo, Glade Montgomery, Dale Parkison, Mike Rosenbaum, Keith Schwingendorf, Vern Sikora, Tyler Smith, Mike Sutton, Ted Taylor, Kregg Van Meter, Deb Varnak, Scott West. Visiting Rotarians: Rich Schweitzer (Crown Point) and Assistant District Governor GeneNovello (Valparaiso). Guests: Austin Wells and Trenton Tambor, La Porte High School Slicers golf team.