CONCORD ROTARY CLUB

Guests at the Oct. 10 meeting included Dan White of Tampa Bay, Fla., Interbay club; Bob Richardson; Wesley Jansen and exchange student James Suvanam.

The annual Concord School Christmas shop will be at the Meijer store in Dunlap on Nov. 1. The shop will begin at 6 p.m. and will end at Colombo’s for a pizza celebration afterward. This effort is one of the club’s main yearly projects and provides clothing for 45 to 50 students. The fellowship for this event is great, and there is always a good sign-up of Concord Rotarians. The club thanks all the people who help to raise funds for this annual event. Cooperation with Elkhart Civic Theatre has been a very good source of funding for this event in the past…so buy those Bristol Opera House tickets.

Mike Jansen, past president, gave a presentation on his family trip to Wyoming with a PowerPoint presentation of pictures, while he and his wife, Wesley, made comments. The Jansen family was not passively visiting historical places, but instead camped in a tent close to the wild bears, the land, the waters and the adventure. Tent camping in an area without running water is a common practice for the Jansens. They saw several different species of animals and a lot of beautiful scenery.

ELKHART LIONS CLUB

Ryon Wheeler, Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart associate executive director, described the club’s formula for impact at the Oct. 10 meeting. By matching young people most needing the club with outcome-driven experiences, priority incomes are achieved. These include academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. Clubs currently operate in Beardsley, Bristol and Osolo elementary schools and North Side middle school. Wheeler announced plans for a scholarship to be presented in honor of Mark Mow, a founding member of the Elkhart Boys & Girls Club and an Elkhart Lion. Deb Hogan, newspaper committee chair, gave an update on ad sales. All ads are due by Oct. 29.

There will be no meetings Nov. 21, Dec. 26 and Jan 2.

Upcoming: Saturday, cabinet meeting, New Paris; Nov. 1, board meeting; Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to noon, Eyeglass Wash-a-Thon, Concord Township fire station on C.R. 18; Nov. 5, Lions Club International board reception, Auburn

Upcoming: Wednesday, Joe Hart, South Bend Silver Hawks; Oct. 31, Craig Johnson, RV Tech Source; Nov. 14, Bart Fore, Work One of Northern Indiana

Meetings are at noon Wednesdays at Christiana Creek Country Club and are open to the public. There will not be a meeting Nov. 21.

Website: www.elkhartlions.org

ELKHART MORNING ROTARY CLUB

Members welcomed Central students Rebecca Hasler, Madison McArt, Rebecca Yeakey and Matt Eppers to the Oct. 11 meeting.

Ryon Wheeler spoke about the Boys & Girls Club. They are re-branding to the Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County and are expanding into North Side middle school.

Meetings are at 7 a.m. Thursdays at McCarthy’s on the Riverwalk and are open to guests.

Information: Kristi Bly, 312-0822 or outdoorkristi@gmail.com

ELKHART NOON EXCHANGE CLUB

Kathy Nobles was the fickle phantom of fellowship at the Oct. 9 meeting. She gave the handshake dollar to Lisa Faltynski because she was the prettiest new member, then fined the members who did not know who the composer of the “Star Wars” is. Jim O’Brien and several others knew the composer to be John Williams, but the rest had to pay a fine.

The remainder of the program was dedicated to the club’s presentation of the Firefighter of the Year award. Chief Mike Compton introduced the recipient, Charles “Chas” Taylor, especially commending him for his work following the Henryville tornado. Taylor is also involved in the HazMat program, which will benefit the city of Elkhart in those circumstances in which hazardous materials are involved. Taylor’s wife, Jodi, also joined the luncheon for the presentation.

ELKHART ROTARY CLUB

Visiting Rotarians Doug Grant and Roger Benko were in attendance at the Oct. 15 meeting.

Stan Cohen, sergeant-at-arms, turned the podium over to his “mouthpiece,” Laura Ezzell. In one minute Ezzell relieved every Rotarian in the room, except Purdue graduates or those who attended Purdue and almost graduated, of $5 each. The Sergeant’s Committee raises over $18,000 a year in “fines,” which are then donated to local charities.

Brendan Mullen, Democratic candidate for 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, spoke of his Rotarian student-exchange stay in Germany when he was 16 years old. He spoke of his extensive military service, including several tours in Iraq. When asked about his three homes in Washington, D.C., Mullen explained they were small rental properties rented to teachers and State Department employees. Mullin resides in Granger with his wife and two daughters. He has founded two businesses, the latter of which helps Indiana National Guard and Reserve troops find jobs. When Mullen was asked if he would repeal Obamacare if he had the opportunity, he replied that there are parts of Obamacare he does not like and there are parts of he does like. He would vote to repeal the parts he does not like. Mullen ended his speech by saying he would be bipartisan, working with members on both sides of the aisle. For more information visit: www.mullenforindiana.com.

To “Like” on Facebook, search for Elkhart Rotary Club.

Upcoming: Monday, Hannah Bergeman, “Lessons I learned as a High School Teacher in the South Bronx.”

Meetings are at noon Mondays at the Matterhorn Banquet and Conference Center.

Information: Visit www.elkhartrotary.org, call Tom Shoff at 293-5530 or email at tom@shoff.com

ELKHART WOMEN’S CONNECTION

Brett Bachert will be the auctioneer at the club’s annual auction on Nov. 6. The theme is “It’s in the Bag,” and guests are asked to bring items in a bag to be auctioned off. Items can be baked goods, books, gifts for Christmas, etc. Money raised will be used for local projects and Stonecroft Ministries. Lori Kempton of Cincinnati, Ohio, will speak about “Change Happens.” She is a real estate agent and just published a book.

The salad bar will begin at 11:30 a.m. and a plate lunch will be served at 11:45. Cost: $10 inclusive. Complementary childcare is available. All ladies are welcome, and there are no dues. RSVP to Esther at 875-1955, or Linda at 522-3660 or at ElkhartWomensConnection@gmail.com.

Officers for 2012-13 are Linda Troyer, chair; Faith Axman, vice chair; Jane Wrathell, administrative assistant; Lynda VanScoik, financial coordinator; Linda Peterson, prayer coordinator; Vicki Barrett, hospitality; Linda Shaffer, hospitality assistant; Ester Huhta, reservations; Evelyn Miller, reservations assistant; Darlene Anderson, program coordinator; Brittany Clark, childcare; and Jean Joldersma, decorations.

Upcoming: Dec. 4, Concord High School Music Department will present a Christmas concert

FORGET ME NOT RED HAT CLUB

Members met Oct. 10 for their Halloween party at the Elkhart Moose Family Center. Becky Callan hosted the meeting while members decorated cupcakes for an exchange with members, ate an Italian carry-in dinner and played the Halloween Game Show, emceed by Jenny Green. All of the prizes were Halloween-themed. Callan also won the monthly hatbox gift.

Upcoming: Nov. 8, next meeting at Cheddars; Dec. 6, Christmas party at Papa Vino’s. In lieu of a gift exchange, the club will donate items to the Elkhart County Women’s Shelter.

GOSHEN NOON KIWANIS CLUB

Dzung Nguyen and Chris Smith were greeters at the Oct. 9 meeting. Rudy Stegelmann introduced guests Brendan Mullen, Dana Vagg, Cheryl Davis and Don Riegsecker.

John Huber announced that Salvation Army pancake day is approaching. Tickets are available, and advanced sales are at a discounted price.

David Cripe announced that Cripe Bike Ride No. 24 will be raising funds for the family of Logan Leatherman, a recent heart transplant recipient who is under the age of 2.

Mullen, candidate for Congress in the 2nd District of South Bend, spoke. He went to high school in South Bend, played football and graduated from West Point. He served in the U.S. Army, which included being stationed in Washington D.C., and several overseas deployments. He, his wife and two daughters live in Granger. Since becoming a veteran himself, he has started two small businesses that employ wounded veterans.

Mullen said he feels the skills he developed while in the Army provide him with the ability, knowledge and experience of working together, and it is those “working together” skills and his experience as a small-business owner that will enable him to be a strong voice in Congress.

Meetings are at noon Tuesdays at Maplecrest Country Club and are open to the public.

Information: Ben Williams, 596-4062

GOSHEN ROTARY CLUB

Bruce Stahly introduced the Oct. 5 program, noting that speaker Brian Wiebe has “unmatched enthusiasm” for the Horizon Education Alliance he now heads. Wiebe came to Goshen in 2001 as Goshen College Music Center executive director and recently began his job as Horizon executive director. Wiebe said the vision of Horizon is big--nothing short of making Elkhart County a world-class place to live, learn, work and play. Horizon’s goal, he said, is to transform Elkhart County through education. With high unemployment, increasing child poverty and a high school graduation rate of just 84 percent, it is clear Elkhart County will continue to lag behind much of the nation in personal income and other measures unless something is done to improve educational opportunity and accomplishment.

For 20 years, Wiebe said, community leaders have worked to improve life in Elkhart County. In 2002 a 262-page plan was written, but not much was accomplished. In 2009 Horizon 2.0 was launched, but it was also very broad and general. So the Horizon Education Alliance has narrowed the focus to education, arguing improved educational opportunity and attainment will give the community the best return on its investment. “An educated workforce will mean higher wages for all and greater job opportunities,” Wiebe said. “It’s an investment we can make that will alter our future.”

The board of directors of the Horizon Alliance consists of the superintendents of all five school districts in the county as well as eight business CEOs. Wiebe said a strategic plan and operating plan have been written with six major goals: a creative, educated workforce; engaged parents; all children kindergarten-ready; all students high school-ready; post-secondary attainment; and a culture of lifelong learning. Wiebe said the program’s official launch will be Jan. 1.

Kent Oyer introduced guests at the Oct. 12 meeting, which included visiting Rotarians Doug Risser, Susan Bartush and Roger Neumann.

Dave Birkey, president, reported on the recent Foundation dinner and the stirring presentation by Rotarian Deepa Willingham of California. Willingham has founded the PACE program to try to bring education to the poorest people of the world, especially young girls. Her goal is to eradicate poverty through education. The Rotary Foundation has been a big contributor to her cause.

Mike Crabill, past district governor, explained the Foundation’s new grant-making policies. Crabill’s responsibilities as past district governor are to serve as district trainer and coordinator of the Future Vision Plan, the Rotary Foundation’s grant-funding process. The purpose of Rotary Foundation’s grants is to support projects that promote world understanding, goodwill and peace, and Crabill said changes have been made to streamline the process, sharpen the focus and increase impact. Grants are given for projects both international and local in scope.

Crabill said the six main areas of focus are peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention, clean water and sanitation, mother and child health, education and literacy, and economic and community development.

He explained the three types of grants are global, district and packaged, and said up to $15,000 could be granted for a global project. For individual club projects, the district is given a block grant by the foundation and distributes the money to local clubs whose projects meet the criteria. Crabill also said ambassadorial scholarship and group study exchanges will now be funded from the district block grant money, not the foundation.

He encouraged as many club members as possible to attend one of two grant management seminars. The first is in Merrillville in October and the second is in Fort Wayne in December.

Upcoming: Nov. 16, Salvation Army pancake day

INDIANA ETA DELTA THETA CHI SORORITY

Carol Larson, president, called the Oct. 9 business meeting to order. Thelah Mosier read an opening, “Words to Warm.” Noreen Penney read correspondence from Maryland Alpha and Oklahoma Lambda, a letter and information from Celaeno Province President Barbara Parker, invitations for Hobo Holiday April 20, Sterope fall board, an Alpha bus trip and a flyer selling AOX handmade bags from Sigma. Members were also reminded of Province deadlines for constitution and bylaws changes, rules for awards and national constitution and bylaw change deadlines. April 1 is the deadline for National History Book Pages, as well.

Larson read the rules for website submissions from Deb Hood. Mary Morgan has agreed to send chapter pictures and information this year.

Other national correspondence included information submitted on behalf of Susan Yoder for the position of Celaeno Province trustee and forms for nominating national president and vice president.

Mary Ellen Turner, 2012 National Convention chair, updated those present with preparation progress.

Birthday and anniversary wishes were extended to Karen Wyres, Sandy Pixey and Sharon McDowell, and congratulations were extended to Thelah Mosier, Indiana Eta sister and new Celaeno Province treasurer.

PARROT HEADS IN MICHIANA

Parrot Heads in Michiana, the community-minded group with a tropical twist, is hosting the seventh annual Empty Bowls Project soup and bread dinner to benefit REAL Services’ senior nutrition programs. Their programs provide low-cost nutritious meals and critically important emotional support for the senior members of the community.

Open to the public, the Empty Bowls Project dinner will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Upper Deck at Coveleski Stadium in downtown South Bend. The festive night will include food, drinks, music by a local DJ and a silent/live auction of many different items. All proceeds go to REAL Services. Admission is $15, with a reduced admission of $10 for guests over age 60. Tickets are available at Alzheimer’s Services, 922 E. Colfax and REAL Services, 1151 S. Michigan, both in South Bend, and online at www.parrotheadsinmichiana.org, with a limited number available at the door that night.

“The idea of the Empty Bowl Project is that we serve a soup and bread dinner in handmade, food-safe ceramic bowls,” explained Jan Caudell, Parrot Heads founder. “When people leave for the evening, they take their bowls with them as a reminder that there are folks in our community who don’t always have food to fill their bowls.”

Numerous people and companies throughout Michiana are providing donations in support of the project. Ceramics students and teachers from Penn High School will donate over 200 handmade bowls. Local businesses are donating items for a silent and live auction that will be held during the dinner. The Upper Deck is providing the facilities and kitchen help. Many local restaurants, individuals and businesses will be providing delicious soups and breads.

“REAL Services is an incredibly important resource in our community for our senior citizens,” said Carey Bert, Parrot Heads president. “Not only are their programs critical from a nutrition standpoint, but also for some people it’s the only healthy meal they eat all day. And from a fellowship standpoint, many seniors feel isolated and lonely, so REAL Services addresses these issues as well.”

While the cause is serious, knowing the Parrot Heads are involved means there will be serious fun as well. The night includes a cash bar set up by Upper Deck Catering, and tropical music from a popular Parrot Head DJ will keep the party moving throughout the evening. For more information on the nationwide Empty Bowls Project, visit www.emptybowls.net.

Parrot Heads in Michiana began in October 2004. Under the motto “Party with a Purpose” they perform charitable actions and raise money or supplies for local organizations. Members come from a variety of backgrounds, but they’re all people who, through their attraction to Jimmy Buffett’s music, also have a number of other interests in common, the most important of which is the desire to give something back to the community in which they live. Parrot Heads in Michiana belongs to the national organization known as Parrot Heads in Paradise, which was founded in 1989 and has grown to over 220 clubs worldwide.

Information: Carey Bert, 320-2957, Bubba Swihart, 276-603, or email parrotheadsinmichiana@yahoo.com. Also visit www.parrotheadsinmichiana.org.





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