Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of May 13, 2013
In this issue:
- Next meeting: May 21: Steve Russo, executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System, Frangipani Room.
- IU School of Informatics Dean Bobby Schnabel gives the club an update on the school’s accomplishments and goals.
- Lots of opportunities to demonstrate “service above self!” Including volunteering for or running/walking in Race for Literacy on June 1, buying a raffle ticket to support scholarships, and hosting a young harpist.
MAY 14 MEETING
FELLOWSHIP
Jim Santo heartily greeted Rotarians and guests.
PLEDGE AND REFLECTION
Glenda Murray led us in the Pledge. In her reflection, she read from a collection of essays by Rachel Peden, a local woman who wrote for the Indianapolis Star and Muncie Star Press for many years describing her life as a farm wife. In this piece, Peden describes “blackberry winter,” the last cold day after spring has begun, usually around May 10.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
Martha Foster introduced six guests:
Daniel Stec, Ivy Tech scholarship winner and guest of the club
Audrie Osterman, guest of Jim Bright
Marilyn Wood, guest of Sara Laughlin
Ned Baugh, guest of Sara Laughlin
Bill Cilker, visiting Rotarian, and his wife
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
There were neither birthdays nor anniversaries this week. We need to recruit to fill this gap.
PRESENTATION OF IVY TECH SCHOLARSHIP
Ivy Tech Scholarship Committee chair Kay Leach presented the final Ivy Tech scholarship to Daniel Stec. Daniel will graduate from Ivy Tech this month with an associate’s degree in nursing and plans to continue at Indiana State University. He wants to travel the world, help people, and “do good things.” He’s already begun by using his nursing skills in El Salvador to help more than 1,000 patients in a week-long visit. He is a member of Rotaract and has a passion for dancing. (Stec’s is the third and final Ivy Tech scholarship to be awarded this year. On April 30 scholarships were awarded Bridgett Pemberton and Jenny Abaunza-Jaaramillo.)
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW
Phil Meyer honored Bill Perkins with a Paul Harris Fellow Award, in recognition of his gift of $1,000 to Rotary International Foundation.
MAY 14 PROGRAM
Jim Shea introduced Dr. Bobby Schnabel, Dean of the IU School of Informatics and Computing. Schnabel holds a BA in mathematics from Dartmouth and MS and PhD in Computer Science from Cornell University. Prior to coming to IU in July 2007, Dr. Schnabel served as Chair of the Computer Science Department, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, Vice Provost for Academic and Campus Technology, and Chief Information Officer at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He described “informatics” as the study of technology innovation and application and related societal implications. Two two-word descriptions that are frequently used to define informatics are “applied computing” and “data science.”
Schnabel said the recent Boston Marathon bombing called to mind George Orwell’s book 1984: the bombers were identified and captured thanks to many small surveillance cameras and personal cameras in smart phones, a situation that he said would have been unimaginable a few years ago.
Before the July 2013 merger with the School of Library and Information Science, the School has 2,500 students in Bloomington and Indianapolis; in 2013, 400 undergraduates, 250 masters students, and 30-50 new doctoral students will enroll. Health informatics is the most rapidly growing specialization, but in all areas, the school has experienced substantial growth and graduates are much in demand, with BS graduates earning an average $58,000 starting salary, masters graduates $78,000, and PhDs $113,000, and 40% of graduates remaining in Indiana. Schnabel has an enduring interest in increasing diversity, including women, in the School and profession.
He spoke about the School’s active involvement in economic development. On May 15, he will be involved in meeting with a company considering locating in Bloomington which would bring 200-300 technology jobs to the community. The School’s Building Entrepreneurship in Software and Technology (BEST) competition for students just announced two winners, each of whom will receive $100,000 from investors to accelerate their businesses (see the article on the front page of the Herald-Times on 5/14). He closed by reflecting on where technology is taking us and cited the example self-driving cars, which he noted has been called the innovation with the most potential for “disruption,” now legal in three states – Nevada, Florida, and California. With computers guiding the car, people can use the time productively to eat, text, read, or even sleep while traveling. Reduced accidents will mean different and lighter materials in vehicles, no need for insurance or repair services.
Schnabel responded to questions:
- Aren’t women faculty an important ingredient in increasing the number of women students? Yes, he responded, and 25% of the School’s faculty are women, a percentage higher than most similar schools, but also diversity is part of the culture of the school.
- Where does the school look for faculty? Other computing departments and “I” schools, he said, but also biology, physics, journalism, and other fields.
- What percentage of students are international? A small number at the undergraduate level, but the overwhelming majority (75-80% from India) in the masters and doctoral levels.
- Is there really a symbiotic relationship between the School and industry here? Yes, he answered, and cited examples of his participation in Techpoint and the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation.
- How vulnerable is the U.S. to cyber warfare? From what he hears from those working in the field, it is worse than we hear in the media, but would more accurately be described as “attack and disruption” rather than “warfare.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jean Emery and the Fund Raising Committee urged members to pick up a packet of raffle tickets to sell to friends and colleagues. The raffle of a West Baden Springs Hotel gift certificate includes golf or spa and overnight stay for two.
Sara Laughlin reported that we need a few more volunteers for the “Race for Literacy” 5K Walk/Run on June 1, and we need to recruit runners and walkers. She distributed posters and small fliers to share around town. Our club’s co-sponsors are Bloomingfoods, Bloomington Hardware, Smith Shoes, and the Mag 7 Series. More information at mag7raceseries.com/?event=race-for-literacy-5k-run-walk. To volunteer, contact Sara Laughlin.
Sally Gaskill presented a banner from her hometown Rotary Club in Weston, Missouri.
Bob Gutmann invited club members to serve as host families for visiting contestants in their homes and/or to befriend a contestant who chooses to stay in
a hotel. Hosting a harpist and being his/her personal cheerleader is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Bloomington hospitality, to create lifetime memories and to support gifted young artists. 52 harpists, ranging in age from 17 to 31 years of age, will be arriving from 21 countries. Host families are needed for approximately two weeks from July 7-22, 2013 (Official Competition Dates: July 10-20). Please visit http://www.usaihc.org, select ‘About Us,’ and then ‘Volunteer Info’ for information about being a volunteer. For questions and/or to volunteer, you may also contact Megan Landfair, USAIHC’s Executive Director, at harpcomp@indiana.edu, or Nancy Miller, Host Family Committee Chairman, at welsh.mimi@gmail.com.
To raise money for Teachers Warehouse, the Bloomington North Rotary Club is selling $20 tickets to the Monday, June 10 showing of “October Sky” at the IU Cinema Theatre. “October Sky” is a true story of a student with aspirations to work for NASA when the space program began.
Progress in the Fight to End Polio. As of this week, 26 new cases of polio have been reported worldwide during 2013, compared with 223 in all of 2012. The new cases are in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.
Jim Bright read a letter from Folkwang University Professor Noelle Turner, who received an Ambassadorial Scholarship from our Rotary district as an IU graduate music student in 1975 and returned to Bloomington from Germany for the first time in March 2013 to say “thanks” to our members. Noelle, the first woman president of her Essen (Germany) Rotary Club, wrote:
“I didn’t think coming back to Bloomington would affect me so much. I will never forget that afternoon at the Bloomington Rotary. Such warmth and friendship, a truly moving experience. I feel so grateful to be a Rotarian. It has given so much more meaning to my life. Despite our personal and professional successes, what could be more important than the people around us? Rotary offers such a wonderful channel to bring many into one’s life is such a meaningful way.”
UPCOMING MEETINGS
May 18 event: Fish-Fry Fundraiser, Sunrise Club, 4-7 p.m., outside Carpets Plus Color Tile, Liberty Drive.
May 18 event: District Assembly, Greenwood, Ind.
May 21 meeting: Steve Russo, executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System, Frangipani Room.
May 28 meeting: Club Assembly, Frangipani.
June 1 event: 5K Race for Literacy Walk/Run.
June 4 meeting: Connie Lawson, Indiana secretary of state, Frangipani.
Sara Laughlin, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union • www.bloomingtonrotary.org
NEWS for the week of May 7, 2013
Volunteers, runners and walkers needed for June 1 Race for Literacy Walk/Run for Teachers Warehouse
Buy and sell tickets for our West Baden hotel raffle
This year’s scholarship winners
NEXT MEETING: IMU Georgian Room
Bobby Schnabel, dean of IU’s School of Informatics and Computing, will speak on the school’s merger with the School of Library and Information Science and the student business-plan competition. We meet in the IMU Georgian Room next week.
FELLOWSHIP
Logan Good led the Pledge of Allegiance and gave the reflection.
Leslie Green introduced guests — Linda Shanks, guest of Bob Shanks, and Jim Shelton, guest of Jim Bright.
This week’s anniversaries —
Glenda Murray (22 years), Jack Wentworth (15), Del Brinkman (11), Joy Harter (7), Jim Heinzen (7), Jeff Warden (2) and Linda Robbins (2).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jean Emery announced a raffle for a gift certificate at the West Baden Springs Hotel — thanks to the generosity of past club member Kim Gray. Tickets will be on sale through the June 25 social at Oliver Winery with a $3,000 goal for club projects, such as today’s scholarships. Make payments to the club.
Sara Laughlin encouraged members to support the 5K Race for Literacy Walk/Run on June 1 for Teachers Warehouse. Our club’s co-sponsors are Bloomingfoods, Bloomington Hardware and the Mag 7 Series. We need volunteers between 8 and 10:30 a.m., but we also need runners and walkers to boost income for Teachers Warehouse. More information at mag7raceseries.com/?event=race-for-literacy-5k-run-walk. To volunteer, contact Sara Laughlin.
Join the Sunrise Club for its fish-fry fundraiser from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in the parking lot for Carpets Plus Color Tile, on Liberty Drive, across from Menard’s. A $10 ticket gets you plenty of fried fish, sides and dessert. Proceeds will benefit local and international projects.
Starting at 6:30 p.m. EST Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 12, Rotary International’s site and phone system will be shut down for maintenance.
OUR MAY 7 MEETING: Scholarship winners
Scholarship chairman Byron Bangert introduced this year’s winners (from left) —
Max Irwin, Bloomington High School North; Chuyue Zhou, BHSN;
Katherine Head, BHS South; and Hannah Alani, BHSS.
Max is a top student, star swimmer and Eagle Scout who plans to study math and physics and swim at IU. His Eagle Scout project was building a stairway at a local park. He mentors fellow scouts and swim teammates as their team captain.
Chuyue spoke no English at age 10 when her family arrived in Bloomington from western China, but she has scored a perfect 800 on her SAT verbal test. She is president of North’s award-winning Habitat for Humanity chapter. She plans to attend Harvard.
Katie, a Rotary Youth Leadership winner and National Merit Scholar, helped launch South’s first environmental club in 2009. The club’s Project Green collects and sells gently used prom dresses, shoes and accessories. She plans to attend Southern Methodist University.
Hannah is student council president and newspaper editor at South. She visited our club this spring to deliver her Four-Way Test speech for the district competition. She has been named an Ernie Pyle Scholar in the IU journalism school.
Parents and lunch guests of the scholarship recipients —
Xing Zhou (Chuyue’s father), counselor Sarah Franklin and librarian Kathy Loser.
Elizabeth Irwin, swim coaches Dave Tanner and Jeff LeBeau and counselor Adrien Himm.
Julie and Bill Head and counselor Patty Krise.
David Alani and counselor Janet Stake.
Byron thanked club members for funding the scholarships through rose purchases and other contributions. He also thanked committee members Jo Daron, Peggy Frisbie, Nancy Krueger, Marsha McCarty, Bob Shanks, Tina Swanson and Charlotte Zietlow.
UPCOMING
May 10-12: Rotary International’s site and phone system will be shut down for maintenance, starting at 6:30 p.m. EST Friday through Sunday.
May 14 meeting: Bobby Schnabel, dean of IU’s School of Informatics and Computing, Georgian Room.
May 18 event: Fish-Fry Fundraiser, Sunrise Club, 4-7 p.m., outside Carpets Plus Color Tile, Liberty Drive.
May 18 event: District Assembly, Greenwood, Ind.
May 21 meeting: Steve Russo, executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System, Frangipani Room.
May 28 meeting: Club Assembly, Frangipani.
June 1 event: 5K Race for Literacy Walk/Run.
June 4 meeting: Connie Lawson, Indiana secretary of state, Frangipani.
Ron Johnson, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of April 30, 2013
In this issue:
- Rotarian Beth Rodriguez briefs club on Centerstone
- Club and President honored as ‘Best in District’!
- Scholarships to be presented as one year closes/another begins
NEXT MEETING
Four graduating high school seniors will receive scholarship awards when we meet at noon on May 7 in the Frangipani Room of the IMU.
FELLOWSHIP
Bob Zaltsberg led Rotarians and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced six guests:
- Bridgett Pemberton, Ivy Tech scholarship winner
- Jillianne McMinds, Bridgett’s sister
- Jenny Abaunza, Ivy Tech scholarship winner
- Hugh St. Leger, guest of Steve Moberly
- Jim Ferguson, guest of Elsa Harik
- Susie Graham of the Ivy Tech Foundation
Birthdays occurring in the next week: Art Lotz (3), Marc Kellams (4), Judy Schroeder (5), Joy Harter and Bob Trussell (6).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Jim Bright thanked those who have sold roses, bought raffle tickets, and delivered election equipment. They made it possible to present scholarships.
Incoming President Lance Eberle encouraged members to sign up for committees for 2013-14 club year, which begins July 1. Particular help is needed in vocational service, resource development, and new generations, but many other openings could fit the talents and likes of every member.
Kay Leach, chairman of the scholarship committee, thanked committee members Jinnie Rose, Judy Witt, and Tina Swanson for their support and help in identifying deserving winners. Two recipients of $500 scholarships with us today are:
- Jenny Abaunza, from Colombia. She came to Bloomington with her husband. He is finishing his PhD in chemical geology at IU. Jenny already has established an online sales company. She would like to study for an MBA to further her entrepreneurial interests. She is well on her way with a 3.8 GPA.
- Bridgett Pemberton, from Bedford. She is a nursing student who expects to receive her degree in spring 2014. She has a 3.5 GPA, has worked as a nursing assistant, and holds a BS in health education from IU. After graduation she hopes to become a military nurse, earn a master’s in nursing, and work in emergency room and nursing management.
Jenny and Bridgett flank (and thank) Kay Leach.
Also receiving a $500 scholarship is Daniel Stec, who becomes the first Ivy Tech student to receive a Bloomington Rotary scholarship in consecutive years.
OUR APRIL 30 MEETING
Del Brinkman introduced fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez. Beth grew up on a farm in northern Monroe County when her parents relocated from the Washington, D.C., area. After graduating from IU with a degree in journalism, she held several jobs, traveled the world and pondered her career options. Turning down an offer at ABC World News, she chose instead to work for a small community nonprofit in Queens, N.Y. After working in the arts and higher education for the past 20 years, she believes she has found a professional home in social and human services and devoting her energy to creating a better world. She received a master’s in philanthropic studies at IU three years ago. Returning to her childhood home with her family last summer, Beth is director of development for Centerstone of Indiana, working to secure the funds to serve the 25,000 individuals who seek help at the growing not-for-profit each year.
Centerstone serves clients in 17 Indiana counties with a goal of preventing and curing mental illness and addiction. The three areas of focus are 1) assuring access to care, 2) providing opportunities for recovery and returning to productive lives, and 3) advancing and using the latest in scientific research on mental illness and additions.
Mental illness is not selective. It strikes all ages and all income levels. One in four people has had some type of mental health disorder at some point, but less than 30 percent receive proper assistance in overcoming the issue. Every 90 seconds someone attempts suicide, and every 15 minutes someone ends his or her life. Of these people, 90 percent have a diagnosable mental health problem. Suicide is the third most frequent cause of death in the age group from 10 to 24 and second most frequent in the age group of 25 to 34. It is nearly 100 percent preventable.
Suicide can be prevented by:
- access to services;
- outreach to those in danger and advocating for destigmatizing mental illness;
- immediate access to crisis services (Centerstone has walk-in hours in each community they serve);
- improved school-based services, working in partnership with teachers, nurses, social workers, parents, and administrators;
- tele- and e-medicine, where those in need can get help by logging in to a site;
- turning no one away for lack of access or money.
Recovery is based on personalized interventions based on harnessing the strengths of the individuals to unlock the keys to mental health. Strategies include:
1) Integrated health services delivery. We cannot treat the body as separate from the mind. Physical issues can cause mental challenges. Those with serious mental health issues will die on average 25 years earlier than those without.
2) A zero-suicide culture. Such a culture requires extensive gatekeeper training, a 24/7, 365-days-a year crisis line, and a goal of prevention by working with children and parents.
Beth said having a stable job prevents homelessness and creates self-esteem and financial stability. A can-do attitude supports individuals in recovery phases. She read a touching letter from J.D. Lawson, who wrote of the importance of re-joining society after incarceration caused by addictions that resulted in crime and imprisonments.
She commented that it takes 17 years for the newest advancements in mental health to reach providers and patients. This time must be reduced. Personalized medicines in neuropsychiatry may be the best hope as we unlock genetic secrets that affect behaviors.
Beth urged Rotarians to Advocate, Donate, and Share Your Story of experiences you, your family or friends have had. No one is untouched in some way by mental illness.
In answer to questions, Beth stated that one-third of the homeless are mentally ill. Centerstone hopes to expand its services by continuing to meet that population on the streets and at homeless service centers, but it takes funding and training. Providing help to those in prisons or jails is a huge unmet need, which would require increased capacity and improved relationships with the drug court systems and professionals working with the incarcerated or recently released.
CELEBRATING ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
Jim Bright concluded the meeting with a report on the outstanding District Rotary Conference in Columbus last week. About 200 people participated in different phases of the weekend. DG Joe Hagedorn praised our club for successes in:
- collaborating with other local clubs,
- launching and strengthening Rotaract,
- launching Interact at North High School, with plans to launch at Bloomington South,
- supporting RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange,
- collecting food for Hoosier Hills,
- supporting the Salvation Army and Teachers’ Warehouse,
- adding more than a dozen new members in 2012-13,
- raising money for scholarships,
- helping fund the study on homelessness, and
- volunteering at the Hoosier Half Marathon.
Our club, along with Bloomington North, was named Large Club of the Year. Past DG Judy Witt rose to interrupt Jim with Very Important News he was unlikely to mention: Winner of the “Service Above Self” award, for service to the club, the district, and our community, was Jim Bright. A spontaneous standing ovation and thunderous applause followed Judy’s announcement.Congratulations to Jim and to all who helped us receive recognition. As Jim concluded, “Rotarians are people who, when asked to help, say YES!” (It’s easy. We just try to follow our leader’s enthusiastic example.)
UPCOMING
May 14: Bobby Schnabel, dean of School of Informatics and Computing, about the school’s merger with the School of Library and Information Science and on the BEST student business plan competition, Georgian
Saturday, May 18, from 4 to 7 p.m.:Bloomington Sunrise Rotary Fish Fry Fundraiser
(benefiting local and international projects), in parking lot of Carpets Plus Color Tile on Liberty Drive (west side of Bloomington, across from Menards
Larry Taylor, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of April 23, 2013
In this issue:
- IU Sportscaster Don Fischer recaps 40 years at IU
- German GSE team to arrive next week
- Rotarian Beth Rodriguez to brief club on Centerstone
NEXT MEETING
On April 30 at noon in the Frangipani Room, fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development for Centerstone, will discuss the work of the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of community-based behavioral health care.
Outstanding Ivy Tech students will be awarded scholarships.
FELLOWSHIP
Shelli Yoder led Rotarians and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance and read a passage from Marion Jackson’s Natural Heritage of Indiana in honor of Earth Day. Indiana’s 36,000 square miles have changed from a primeval wilderness in an ‘avalanche’ of environmental changes from the early 1800s to today. Now only 1 percent of the Hoosier lands are in their natural state. Choices about land and environmental use are made daily that proponents believe constitute ‘progress.’ It is up to us to manage the change.
Michael Shermis was overwhelmed with 35 guests and led a group recognition. He hoped guests would return or become new Rotarians and receive a more personal welcome. Mike Baker, Lee Caulfield, and Wain Martin celebrate birthdays before our next meeting, and Joyce Poling was applauded for a quarter century in Rotary.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Group Study Exchange visitors from Germany will arrive in eight days. To meet them and hear them speak, go to the Bloomington North Club’s noon meeting Thurs., May 2, at the Coronation Room adjacent to the Tudor Room in the IMU.
- This was the last meeting to make donations to the Sunbrella replacement project at Mills Pool for Bloomington Parks and Recreation. We hope gifts will receive a 1:1 match from the district.
OUR APRIL 23 PROGRAM
The program began with an energetic recording of the final seconds that led to the Indiana Hoosiers’ victory over Michigan this spring to win the Big Ten Championship. In case a guest from another planet didn’t recognize the voice, Del Brinkman quickly recounted the long relationship between sportscaster Don Fischer and IU basketball and football. Completing his 40th year as the ‘Radio Voice’ for the broadcasts and host of the weekly Coaches Show, Fischer was born in the West (Rochelle, Ill.) and found his way to the Bloomington campus.
Fischer lives in Greenwood and is the father of four adult sons and the grandfather of 10. He serves as an independent contractor for Learfield Communications of Missouri and has broadcast more than 1,700 IU games. He has been named Sportscaster of the Year 27 times and was inducted into the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association in 2004.
Fisch began his remarks noting that he makes very few speeches but loves to talk ‘as long as there are no people in front of me!’ He recognized Rotary for keeping the tradition of beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance and commented that the Pledge and National Anthem always move him. After introducing his colleague Joe Smith, Fisch quickly moved into a spirited question and answer exchange with the audience.
A few of Don’s answers and reflections:
- He is the pre-season television voice of the Indianapolis Colts, as long as it doesn’t interfere with IU football (which it will on Aug. 29).
- His opinion: Remy Abel is leaving IU to get more playing time as point guard.
- After 9/11 he changed his ‘sign-off’ to “be vigilant and God bless America.” Events in Boston show a reminder is necessary.
- Before he kicked the smoking habit 20 years ago, his sport coat caught on fire during the broadcast of an exciting IU/Michigan football game.
- He spends 20 to 25 hours in preparation for a football game and then forgets it all the following week as he moves toward the next contest. (The sad part is that 85 percent of what he studies is never used.)
- He became a Pittsburgh Pirates fan because of watching Roberto Clemente at a Little League outing and was influenced by the work of Bob Prince, announcer for the team on KDKA. He admired the late hockey sportscaster Dan Kelly of the St. Louis Blues for painting word stories. He was impressed by Harry Carey during his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals and by Jack Quinlan with the Cubs in the mid-1950s.
- Fisch concluded that it has been a luxury and privilege to be the voice that brings the Indiana Hoosiers into homes, businesses, and cars. As one guest noted, he has been “part of our families for 40 years.”
President Jim Bright suggested that people search for “Ol Fisch,” to hear the song, a YouTube sensation, about Don Fischer. Jim recognized the author, who was part of the audience.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 26-27: District Conference, Clarion Inn, Columbus
May 7: Scholarship presentations, Frangipani
May 14: Bobby Schnabel, dean of School of Informatics and Computing, about the school’s merger with the School of Library and Information Science and on the BEST student business plan competition, Georgian
May 21: Steve Russo, executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System, will speak about the state of public pensions funds in Indiana, Frangipani
May 28: Faiz Rahman on Morgan-Monroe Forest, Frangipani
Larry Taylor, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of April 16, 2013
In this issue:
- IMU Director Bruce Jacobs gives Rotarians the history, ins and outs of running a 500,000-square-foot multipurpose facility
- Hear (and see!) Don Fischer, radio voice of your Indiana Hoooooooosiers, in person!
NEXT MEETING
Meet at noon in the Frangipani Room of the IMU. Speaker will be Don Fischer, who is completing his 40th year as the radio voice of Indiana University football and basketball games. Fischer has been named Indiana Sportscaster of the Year 27 times by two different organizations. He has broadcast almost 1,700 IU games, including seven Bowl games and five NCAA basketball Final Fours and four NCAA Championship games. E-mail Pam Martindale immediately to let her know whether you will be attending. Seating will be limited to 160 Rotarians and guests.
FELLOWSHIP
Leslie Green was our greeter. Ron Jensen led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and provided a look at Bloomington Rotary at its 95th birthday on April 13, 1913. The club has always been at the core of discussions and solutions for improving the community and expanding the mission of Rotary by sponsoring additional local clubs. B’town Rotary has provided many leaders for district positions over the decades and, beginning in the mid-1980s, strengthened its effectiveness and inclusiveness with the admittance of women members. As we close in on eliminating polio from the earth, Jensen encouraged us to dream as we charge toward our 100th anniversary.
Tony Stonger introduced our guest, Katie Mettler, an IU journalism student who helped the Indiana Daily Student cover the issues of international students at IU in a four part series. To read this thought-provoking series on studying far from home, go to https://www.idsnews.com/news/SPub/Interactive/index.aspx
Tony also recognized Peggy Frisbie on the celebration of her birthday (4-21) and Hal Turner for the second anniversary of becoming a Rotarian (4-19).
Past President Bryan Price presented Tim Thrasher with a Paul Harris pin for continuing his generous contributions to the Rotary International Foundation. A multi-Harris designee, former club treasurer and president Thrasher has a long-standing tradition of loyal and effective service to Bloomington Rotary.
Price went on to make a pitch for donations for the Mills Pool Sunbrellas with the Rotary logo/name prominently featured. Tax-deductible donations from Rotarians can be matched by the Rotary Foundation’s district fund but only if received by next week’s meeting. Please give to this worthy cause as the heat of summer approaches.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Group Study Exchange with visitors from Germany will be in Bloomington from May 1-4, and help is needed with transportation and other logistical needs of our special guests. Kate Lee is coordinating guest transportation if you can volunteer for a day or half a day. E-mail her at lee87@indiana.edu
OUR APRIL 16 PROGRAM
Steve Moberly introduced Dr. Bruce Jacobs, executive director of the Indiana Memorial Union, who has a long IU history in many aspects of campus life, culminating in overseeing the operations while creating new visions for the IMU.
Jacobs started out his remarks by quoting Herman B Wells: “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” Jacobs went on to detail how IU’s student union concept began as a proposal by John Whittenberger, IU Class of 1911, who saw a way to bring together the sometimes ‘warring’ factions of greek organizations, independent living units, and classes (i.e. mature sophomores vs. green freshmen!). Whittenberger proposed to President Bryan a ‘union of students’ modeled on the University of Michigan Student Union. The movement had its roots in 19th-century England, where unions were established for debating, housing, fellowship, and shared interests in athletics or extracurricular endeavors. The first union in America was at Harvard, but the first to build a facility to house such a movement was at the University of Pennsylvania.
The IU student union has its local roots in 1909 with the formation of a Men’s Union. It was quickly followed by a Women’s Auxiliary that met in the Student Building, with the clock tower. The organization put on shows, and created support for campus activities. At the height of the Great Depression, students joined with donors to raise $1.1 million to create the beginnings of the present building, which was dedicated in June of 1932 in memory of veterans of the wars of the republic.
The original Golden Book contained names of those soldiers through WWII. A digital version has been created, with the goal of remembering those who have served the nation through current conflicts. Additions to area of the IMU continued through 1960, when the Ward G. Biddle Continuation Center was completed in honor of the first IMU Director. Renovations like the Alumni Hall and Solarium projects continue to this day.
Director Jacobs detailed the art collection of the IMU, which has grown to 1,200 pieces following the original acquisition of six T.C. Steele paintings in 1923. The collection is believed to represent the most pieces of art in any one location outside a museum. The latest installation is truly a work of art: the Opus 91 Organ for Alumni Hall.
IMU Trivia: There are 14 miles of piping, and 155 miles of electrical wire serving the 12,000 students who visit, eat, nap, study, meet, and shop in the 500,000-square-foot facility with 1,150 doors. Sixty-six thousand hotel guests rest their heads each year at the Biddle Continuation Center (hotel), and 17,000 people dine in just the Tudor Room facility annually. The programming of the union is overseen by a large professional staff in a partnership with the Union Board (meeting weekly on Thursdays at 6 p.m.) to further ‘this spirit of unity and cooperation while developing leadership skills for IU students.’
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 26-27: District Conference, Clarion Inn, Columbus
April 30: Fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development, Centerstone. Frangipani
May 7: Scholarship presentations, Frangipani
May 14: Bobby Schnabel, dean of School of Informatics and Computing, about the school’s merger with the School of Library and Information Science and on the BEST student business plan competition, Georgian
May 21: Steve Russo, executive director of the Indiana Public Retirement System, will speak about the state of public pensions funds in Indiana, Frangipani
May 28: Faiz Rahman on Morgan-Monroe Forest, Frangipani
Larry Taylor, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of April 9, 2013
In this issue:
- Bloomington Rotarian Dick Rose speaks about twin research
- Marshall Goss recognized for work on Hoosier Half Marathon
- Reserve your place for Don Fischer’s appearance
NEXT MEETING
We will meet Tuesday noon, April 16, in the Frangipani Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. Bruce Jacobs of the Indiana Memorial Union will speak about changes in the massive complex where we meet, including Alumni Hall (where a new organ is being installed) and the Solarium.
FELLOWSHIP
Glenda Murray led Rotarians in the Pledge of Allegiance and provided a thoughtful reflection as we experience spring days on the influence of President Theodore Roosevelt in preserving the great outdoors for future generations. During his administration (1901-1909), the U.S. Forestry Service was created and five national parks were established. “The best prize is to work hard at something worth doing,” the 26th president observed.
Jean Emery introduced guests Darren Patterson from the Jasper Rotary Club, who exchanged club banners with President Jim Bright and reminded us of the Rotary Group Study Exchange and its upcoming trip to Germany. Also attending was Kathy Baumgardner, guest of Joy Harter.
Rotarians with birthdays include Martha Foster on Thursday and Kay Leach on Tax Day!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- President Jim encouraged members to sign up for at least one committee for the 2013-14 club year beginning July 1.
- Please respond to the Survey Monkey request to signify your intentions for attending the April 23 meeting with the voice of IU Sports, Don Fischer.
- Thanks to the 19 members, significant others, and volunteers from our club who assisted in the Hoosier Half Marathon April 6. Special thanks to Marshall Goss for organizing the Rotary effort.
OUR APRIL 9 PROGRAM
Del Brinkman introduced Professor Emeritus in Psychology and Rotarian Dick Rose, who presented research on “What Do Studies of Twins Teach Us about Ourselves.” Five types of twin pairs exist: MZ twin brothers or MZ twin sisters (“identical”); DZ twin brothers or DZ twin sisters (fraternal); and DZ brother and sister twin pairs. Each of the three types is almost equally represented in births of twins.
Twins show that “an expression of our genetic dispositions increases as we develop.” Identical twins remain about the same in measures of development of height, IQ, and mental acuity where fraternal twins grow less alike. In spite of life circumstances, identical twins remain remarkably alike as time passes, which is not the case with fraternal twins.
“In conclusion, we do not passively/mechanically mirror our experience. We selectively seek environments in which to express our genetic dispositions. What we inherit are dispositions, not destinies. Life trajectories reflect continuing interplay of our dispositional differences and our shared and unique experiences: this makes us what we are,” Professor Rose observed.
(As time was running short, Dick provided the reporter the following references for those interested in short but informative videos on epigenetics found at PBS/NOVA. Go to www.pbs.org and then click on NOVA and enter “epigenetics” in the search line. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance is demonstrated in experimental studies of mice and plants; a 3-generation observational study from Sweden suggests similar effects may occur in humans; see the NOVA program titled “Ghost in Your Genes.”
The report of telemere erosion in MZ twin children exposed to violence appeared in Molecular Psychiatry in 2012. A short, readable summary of that technical report can be found under the title “Violence puts wear and tear on kids’ DNA” at this popular science website: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120424095946.htm)
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 23: Don Fischer, veteran radio voice of the Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network. Frangipani
April 26-27: District Conference, Clarion Inn, Columbus
April 30: Fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development, Centerstone. Frangipani
May 7: Scholarship presentations, Frangipani
May 14: Bobby Schnabel, School of Informatics and Computing, Georgian Room
Larry Taylor, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of April 2, 2013
In this issue:
- Bloomington Rotarian Martha Foster speaks about documentaries that earned her five Emmy Awards
- CHANGE IN THE APRIL 9 MEETING LOCATION! The meeting will be held in the Frangipani Room, rather than the previously announced Georgian Room.
NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, April 9, in the Frangipani Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. Fellow Bloomington Rotarian Richard Rose, I.U. Professor Emeritus, psychology, will discuss “what studies of human twins teach us about ourselves.”
FELLOWSHIP
Marshall Goss was our greeter. Sally Gaskill led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and provided a reflection about the role baseball has played in her life, including the thought that the final score is only part of the story.
Glenda Murray welcomed the following guests:
Michelle Davenport, guest of Leslie Green, Stone Belt
Glen Steenberger, guest of Jim Bright, Boy Scouts of America
Corinna Preston, guest of Daniel Preston, SPEA
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hoosier Half Marathon. We still need Rotarians to volunteer to help with the Hoosier Half Marathon on Saturday, April 6. Some proceeds from the race will go to Stonebelt, Teachers Warehouse, and GOAL (Get Onboard Active Living). If you are interested and able to help, please contact Marshall Goss.
Rotary District Conference. The Rotary District 6580 Conference will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27. The conference will be held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Indiana. The District is waiving the $35 registration fee for members who joined after May 1, 2012. Overnight rooms at the Clarion are being offered at a discounted $89 rate, which you can get by calling Clarion between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. M-F. The District also is waiving the $35 registration fee for Rotaractors, Interactors and Rotary spouses. Register online at http://www.rotary6580.org/.
Stone Belt Playback Theatre. Bloomington Rotaract member Michelle Davenport announced Stone Belt is starting a playback theatre troupe in which audience and troupe members tell stories from their lives and watch the stories enacted. The troupe will be composed of actors from among Stone Belt’s clientele and actors without disabilities from the Bloomington area. Michelle is a drama therapist and will conduct the troupe, the first of its kind in Indiana, and the only troupe in the U.S. with individuals with disabilities. Stone Belt is looking for creative, supportive, caring and spontaneous community members who are able to make a one-year commitment to the troupe. The culmination of the troupe’s work will be a troupe performance in the 2014 I Am You to be held at the Bloomington Playwrights Project in the spring. Auditions will be held on April 22, 2013, from 5-7 pm at Stone Belt, 2815 E. 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47408. Interested Rotarians may contact Michelle for additional information at mdavenport@stonebelt.org or may call 812-332-2168 ext 229.
Interactor Service Project. Interactor and Bloomington High School North student Morgan Scherer has pledged to hike 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail this summer to raise funds for Giving Back to Africa. To make a pledge, contact Morgan at morgan.d.scherer@gmail.com or at (812) 325-7229.
Group Study Exchange. The inbound GSE team from Germany will be in Bloomington on May 1-5. There is a need for volunteers to transport team members on those days. The schedule is still being finalized, so the times and destinations are unknown at this time. Those who are willing and able to sign up for such an uncertain experience may email Kate Lee or Yolanda Trevino to let them know your availability. Your assistance is very much needed and will be greatly appreciated.
MEMBER BIRTHDAYS
April 2–Sara Laughlin
April 4–Lynn Schwartzberg
OUR APRIL 2 PROGRAM
Leslie Green introduced Bloomington Rotarian Martha Foster to discuss her career working with documentary films. Martha founded Living Earth Television (LETV) in 2005 and serves as President/CEO. LETV is a nonprofit dedicated to cultural exchange through film. The organization’s goal is to provide the general public free access to documentaries from around the world, translated into many languages. LETV identifies, licenses, translates and broadcasts documentary television programs that are created in local communities, by local producers located all over the world.
Martha has focused on Asia for the past 15 years. She believes seeing people in their own environment and hearing them speak of their culture in their own words is a much more profound experience than reading about other cultures in a book. She believes the values her work promotes are consistent with Rotary’s goals to work in non-political ways to promote world peace and understanding and to build goodwill and better friendships.
Martha describes herself as a “visual anthropologist” and her work with documentary films as “documentary diplomacy.” She has organized documentary film festivals at museums and colleges and served as an expert for the American Documentary Showcase, an initiative funded by the U.S. State Department designed to share American documentaries with audiences around the world. Martha presented programs in Singapore and Myanmar in September 2009 and China in December 2010. She received five Emmy Awards for her work on a documentary series for Chicago Public Television about the history of Chicago.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 16: Bruce Jacobs, director of the Indiana Memorial Union. “The IMU, the ongoing renovation of Alumni Hall, and the installation of the new organ.” Frangipani.
April 23: Don Fischer, veteran radio voice of the Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network. Frangipani
April 30: Fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development, Centerstone. Frangipani
Tim Thrasher, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of March 26, 2013
In this issue:
- Emmy-winning documentarian to speak next week.
- Introducing… three new Rotarians!
- Jack Peterson discusses school vouchers.
NEXT MEETING: Noon, IMU Frangipani Room. Speaking about her documentary work, which has earned her five Emmy Awards, will be fellow Bloomington Rotarian Martha Foster.
MARCH 19 MEETING
Beth Rodriguez greeted Rotarians and guests. Hal Turner led us in the Pledge and offered a reflection of quotations from famous individuals about the role of education and its importance in society.
Steve Ingle introduced the guests:
- Gerardo González, Dean, IU School of Education
- Steve Kain, Superintendent, Richland-Bean Blossom School District
- Olgun Sadik, Ph.D. student in the IU School of Education
- Martha Wailes, visa services (retired)
- Mike Walsh, MCCSC (retired)
- Will Murphy, WFIU operations station manager
- Terri Porter, visiting Rotarian from Kansas City
- Teresa Lehr, guest of Terri Porter
- Anne Bright, wife of Jim Bright
Birthdays:
John Zody, March 31
Steve Moberly, April 1
Anniversaries:
Monika Kroener, April 1 (23 years)
Tina Swanson, April 1 (24 years)
Charlotte Zietlow, April 1 (25 years)
Committee Sign-up Time! For the next four meetings, committee sign up sheets will be circulated. Please sign up for one at least one committee for next year. President Jim Bright suggested that you might even want to join three or four!
New Members. Ann Wrenn and Drew Bratton inducted three new members: Heather Allen (middle), Tim Jessen, and Shelli Yoder. Their biographies are below. Ann reminded us that our Club’s induction ceremony comes from a Rotary Club in New Zealand.
Farewell. Good luck to Chris Molloy, who will start his new position in Indianapolis next week. We will miss you, Chris, but we’re happy you have this opportunity.
Hoosier Half Marathon. We still need about 15 Rotarians to volunteer to help with the Hoosier Half Marathon on Sat., April 6. Some proceeds from the race will go to Stonebelt, Teachers Warehouse, and GOAL (Get Onboard Active Living). If you are interested, please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q5ZCRWF to sign up.
Rotary District Conference. Sign up today for the Friday and Saturday, April 26-27, District Conference at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Ind. The District is waiving the $35 registration fee for members who joined after May 1, 2012. Overnight rooms at the Clarion are being offered at a discounted $89 rate, which you can get by calling Clarion between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. M-F. The District also is waiving the $35 registration fee for Rotaractors, Interactors and Rotary spouses. Register online at http://www.rotary6580.org/.
Interactor Service Project. Interactor and Bloomington High School North student Morgan Scherer has pledged to hike 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail this summer in to raise funds for Giving Back to Africa. To make a pledge, contact Morgan at morgan.d.scherer@gmail.com or at (812) 325-7229.
PROGRAM
Ron Jensen introduced Jack Peterson, who spent 13 years at the Indiana School Board Association and seven years at the Arizona School Board Association.
Jack talked about the value that public education gave to his own life. As a coalminer’s son in Linton, he was inspired to do more because of a high school coach. Jack talked about the history of the voucher program, which he described as politically motivated. He argued that voucher program or school choice programs have no Constitutional basis, drain resources from the public education system, have insufficient oversight mechanisms and do not allow for any taxpayer oversight.
He said the biggest problem with school choice is that private schools can deny entry to children they believe are “undesirable.” Specifically, he said that while he was in Arizona, only 2 percent of students in charter schools were special needs, while 14 percent of the students in public school were special needs. Jack argued that our education system, which has to take every student and provide an equal level of education, is like no other system in the world. It is a system worth working to preserve.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 9: Fellow Rotarian Dick Rose, IU professor emeritus of psychology, on his study of twins. IMU Georgian
April 16: Bruce Jacobs, director of the Indiana Memorial Union. “The IMU, the ongoing renovation of Alumni Hall, and the installation of the new organ.” Frangipani.
April 23: Don Fischer, veteran radio voice of the Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network. Frangipani
April 30: Fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development, Centerstone. Frangipani
NEW MEMBERS
Heather Allen is the director of development for the Bloomington Hospital Foundation. She has held leadership positions in philanthropy organizations for the previous 11 years. She is a native of Bloomington and a graduate of the IU Kelley School of Business. Heather is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration. She is an avid community volunteer. She likes to spend time with her family. Heather is married to Brian Allen. They have three children: 9-year-old son Mitch, and 8-year-old twin daughters, Ruby and Lily. Heather is returning to the Bloomington Rotary Club. She was a member from 2002 to 2007.
The Rev. Timothy Jessen is an ordained Presbyterian minister who served churches in Kentucky and Indiana for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Elma, moved to Bloomington nine years ago. Tim sings with the Bloomington Chamber Singers, where he is also president of the board, and is the convener of the Monroe County Religious Leaders, an interfaith group. He has served on the board of the Shalom Community Centerand helped found the Bloomington branch of “Us TOO,” a prostate cancer support group. Tim’s wife works at IU. Since 2010, Tim has been teaching philosophy and ethics at Ivy Tech Community College. In addition to other church and social service activities, Tim and Elma have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Shelli Yoder became Miss Indiana in 1992 and finished as second runner-up to Miss America in the 1993 pageant. Shelli enjoyed a brief run in children’s theater and performed in playhouses such as The Body Politic in Chicago and the Firehouse Theatre in South Bend, Ind. In 1996, Shelli received a master’s in counseling and human services from Indiana University South Bend. She studied theology and pastoral counseling at Vanderbilt University, where she earned her Master’s of Divinity degree in 2002. She served as associate director of a national program, GirlForce, working alongside other programs such as Girl Scouts and Girls Inc. and the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee (EDCT). In 2005, Shelli became the executive director of EDCT. In 2011, she joined the Kelley School of Business as an associate director of professional development. In 2012, she was the Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana’s 9th District, losing to the incumbent. Mayor Mark Kruzan and the City of Bloomington honored her with the 2012 Emerging Leader award. She is a lecturer for the Kelley School of Business for the Department of Communication, Professional and Computer Skills. She was recently appointed to the Monroe County Council, representing District 1. Shelli is a member of the First United Church. She and her husband, Josh Perry, have three children, Ivy, 8; Eden, 6; and Oakley, 4. Shelli enjoys running, cycling, competing in triathlons, hiking, camping, and yoga.
Kate Lee, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of March 19, 2013
In this issue:
- Next meeting in Georgian Room will feature induction of three new members.
- You can help with Hoosier Half Marathon.
- Noelle Turner captivates club with her story.
NEXT MEETING: Noon, IMU Georgian Room. Speaking about the school voucher program will be Jack Peterson, retired State of Indiana school official.
MARCH 19 MEETING
Phil Meyer greeted Rotarians and guests.
Hal Turner brought the flags to our alternative location.
Dan Preston led us in the Pledge. Freshly returned from a development conference in Panama, Dan reflected on the devaluation of the teaching profession in our society. Dan challenged all Rotarians to answer a key question: how do we get the best students to choose to become teachers?
Soon-to-be member Shelli Yoder introduced the guests:
- Rotary District Gov.-Elect Tim Lee (Greenwood/White River Rotary Club)
- Shimon Maroz, husband of our speaker, Noelle Turner
- George Pinney, Professor and Head of Musical Theatre, Department of Theatre and Drama, Indiana University
- Ray Fellman, Associate Professor, Voice Instruction for Musical Theater
- Kim Stephans, guest of Jim Bright (trumpet player and teacher)
- Bill Bartley, Hoosier Half Marathon
- James McNamara
- Susan Swaney
- Anne Bright, wife of Jim Bright
Birthdays:
Dick Rose, March 19
Monika Kroener, March 20
Anniversaries:
Keith Brown, 41 years (March 20)
Steve Moberly, 6 years (March 20)
Faiz Rahman, 6 years (March 20)
Logan Good, 1 year (March 20)
New Members. March 26 will be another special day for our Bloomington Rotary as we will induct three new members: Heather Allen, Tim Jessen, and Shelli Yoder.
Future Leadership. President-Elect Training was held in Effingham, Ill., last weekend. President Jim Bright, President-Elect Lance Eberle, and Joy Harter attended, along with guest and District Gov.-Elect Tim Lee.
Hoosier Half Marathon. Bill Bartley of the Hoosier Half Marathon spoke to the club about our efforts to support the Hoosier Half Marathon on Sat., April 6. Some proceeds from the race will go to Stonebelt, Teachers Warehouse, and GOAL (Get Onboard Active Living). Of the 275 volunteers needed, only 50 spots remain to be filled. These spots mostly consist of traffic control (keeping cars off the raceway) in low-traffic areas. If you are interested, please go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q5ZCRWF to sign up. A sheet will be available at Rotary on March 26 and April 2 where you can select your specific location and time slot. Start times range from 7:50 a.m. to 8:55 a.m., and end times range from 10:10 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.
PROGRAM
Ron Jensen introduced Noelle Turner, Professor in Voice in the Department of Musical Theater at the Folkwang University of Arts in Essen, Germany. This IU Music School alumna won a Bloomington Rotary scholarship for post-graduate study in Germany in 1975 and hasn’t been back to Bloomington since. Noelle was the first female member of the Essen Rotary Club in Germany and the first female president of that club.
Noelle started by announcing that she was settling a 30-year debt to our club. A condition of her $7,000 scholarship (fully funding one year of study abroad) was that she return to Bloomington and give a talk to the club about her experience.
After completing her master’s at IU, Noelle applied to study opera in Cologne, Germany, her first experience outside the U.S. One year quickly turned into much longer: Noelle married her husband, Shimon, had twins, and began working as a professional opera singer and teacher of voice.
When long-run musicals first began being produced in Germany, singers who were classically trained needed help in musical theater style. While not formally trained in musical theater, Noelle said her cultural background as well as some limited professional experience allowed her to pioneer the field. She went on to teach at the first state-run school for musical theater, was a vocal coach for many musicals, and became the first professor of musical theater in Germany. Her graduates have a 100 percent placement rate; they all make their living from their performances.
In 2007, Noelle became the first female member of the Rotary Club of Essen, the oldest and most prominent club of the six Rotary clubs in the city. For the first year, she was the only female of 81 total members. Today, her club has five women. As the first female president, with all male board members, Noelle has had some struggles, but she jokes that having only one woman for so many men is simply exhausting. The club’s projects include a postal stamp fundraiser for Polio Plus, supporting an orphanage in Romania, and supporting a shelter for teen mothers where they can live while completing their schooling or job training.
Noelle ended by thanking the club again, and explaining our return on investment: for the small cost of only $7,000, we helped her become a professor at a leading European music school, training hundreds of performers and teachers; and we helped her become the first female Rotarian and first female president of her Rotary club. One of her students in Germany is now an Ambassadorial Scholar at NYU. What goes around has come around.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 2: Martha Foster, winner of five Emmy Awards for documentaries. Frangipani
April 9: Fellow Rotarian Dick Rose, IU professor emeritus of psychology, on his study of twins. IMU Georgian
April 16: Bruce Jacobs, director of the Indiana Memorial Union. “The IMU, the ongoing renovation of Alumni Hall, and the installation of the new organ.” Frangipani.
April 23: Don Fischer, veteran radio voice of the Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network. Frangipani
April 30: Fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development, Centerstone. Frangipani
Kate Lee, Roundabout Reporter
Bloomington Rotary Club #3430
Noon Tuesdays in the Indiana Memorial Union
NEWS for the week of March 12, 2013
In this issue:
- Next meeting back at St. Paul Catholic Center. DON’T FORGET to make a reservation!
- Lots of upcoming events!
- Larry Barker, Monroe County Solid Waste District, working to reduce the waste stream.
- Hannah Alani, on the Four-Way Test.
NEXT MEETING: Noon, MARCH 19, ST. PAUL CATHOLIC CENTER, 1413 E. 17th St.
Let Pam Martindale know if you’re joining us and if you’re bringing guests. Our speaker will be Noelle Turner, who traveled to Germany as a Rotary Exchange student. She lives and teaches music in Essen, Germany. She was the first female member of her Rotary Club and the first female president.
MARCH 12 MEETING
FELLOWSHIP
Dick Rose heartily greeted Rotarians and guests.
PLEDGE AND REFLECTION
Kyla Cox led us in the Pledge. Her reflection, in honor of Women’s History Month, focused on the Girl Scouts, founded 101 years ago today, and its pledge. Kyla said the values of Girl Scouts were good preparation for the “service above self” ideals of Rotary.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
Earon Davis introduced guests:
- Morgan Scherer, guest of Ann Marie Thomson, and VP of BHSN Interact
- Kim Scherer, guest of Ann Marie Thompson and Morgan’s mother
- David Young, guest of Scott Walters
- Nick Warden, guest (and son) of Jeff Warden
- Jon Blau, guest of Jim Bright (see Jon’s front-page report on our meeting in the March 13 Herald-Times)
BIRTHDAYS
Rex Hillery, March 13
Elsa Marston Harik, March 18
And belated birthday wishes to Sam Bell, Bob Zaltsberg, and Francie Hill, who celebrated last week.
ANNIVERSARIES
Dick Rose, 11 years (March 12)
Beth Rodriguez, 1 year (March 13)
Ann Marie Thomson, 1 year (March 13)
And a belated happy anniversary to Liz Feitl, who celebrated her nine-year club anniversary last week.
BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL NORTH INTERACT UPDATE
VP Morgan Scherer gave an update on what’s happening with Bloomington North Interact. They have requested permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to collect compost, which will go to gardens planted by Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard; they did “deep cleaning” at the Cupboard. They are asking businesses to donate to Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. They will volunteer doing trail maintenance this Saturday at the Sycamore Land Trust. They gathered donations at the winter band concert at North for Giving Back to Africa and raised $100.05 to support teacher training and fund student projects. Morgan is seeking pledges for his summer plans to hike the Appalachian Trail. Proceeds will go to Giving Back to Africa. Morgan thanked Joy Harter for being at every 7 a.m. Friday meeting of the club.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bloomington Rotaractwill hold a “dine and donate” night at Bucceto’s Pizza at Third Street and the Bypass Tuesday, March 19. Next week, Rotaract members will have certificates at the welcome table. Present your certificate to your Bucceto’s server, and Bucceto’s will make a contribution to Bloomington Rotaract. It’s that easy!
New Members. March 26 will be another special day for our Bloomington Rotary as we will induct three new members: Heather Allen, Tim Jessen, and Shelli Yoder.
Hoosier Half Marathon. The three Greater Bloomington Rotary Clubs and Rotaract are teaming up to provide volunteers for the Saturday, April 6 Hoosier Half Marathon. Our club has been asked to provide 25+ volunteers to work along the 13K race route. Our roles and responsibilities will be similar to what we do at the annual “Eastside Merchants 5K Race for Literacy” in June.
Leading up to Saturday, April 6, we will have a sign-up sheet for volunteers at our Tuesday luncheon welcome desk. Also, people can volunteer by going to the Hoosier Half website (http://hoosierhalf.com).
There will be two orientation sessions for volunteers the week of April 1. In most cases, volunteers will go straight to their stations along the race route.
Some proceeds from the race will go to Stonebelt, Teachers Warehouse, and GOAL (Get Onboard Active Living).
Rotary District Conference. I hope you can join me – and other Rotarians across Southern Indiana – at the Friday and Saturday April 26-27 District Conference at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Columbus, Indiana.
The District is waiving the $35 registration fee for members who joined after May 1, 2012, and for Rotaractors, Interactors and Rotary spouses. So, if you go, you’ll pay only for meals and, if you elect to stay overnight, $89 for a room at the Clarion. The conference is a great way to meet Rotarians from other clubs and to learn more about our wonderful organization.
Register online at http://www.rotary6580.org/. Also, you can check out the agenda at http://www.rotary6580.org/images/pdf/2013dcagenda.pdf.
Congratulations to John Zody, who has been named State Democratic Party chair.
Progress in the Fight to End Polio. As of the end of February, 9 new cases of polio have been reported worldwide – 5 in Pakistan, 3 in Nigeria, and 1 in Afghanistan.
SPEAKER: LARRY BARKER, MONROE COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Elsa Marston Harik introduced club member Larry Barker, director of the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District and vice president of the Association of Indiana Solid Waste Management Districts. Larry grew up “all over the U.S,” and retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years of service.
Solid waste management districts were created by the Indiana General Assembly in 1990, in response to trash haulers from all over the eastern U.S. dumping trash in Indiana, where there were no regulations. The mission of the District is to “reduce the waste stream.”
The Monroe County Council approves the District’s budget. The board consists of the three County Commissioners, the Mayor, a City Council member, a County Council member, and an Ellettsville Town Council representative.
Larry listed the reasons why the District’s activities are important, including cost savings, energy and resource conservation, and pollution prevention. He described how commodities markets are developing for recyclable materials from glass and plastic to fiber (paper) and oil and grease. During his tenure, he has shifted from paying haulers to take trash to selling recyclables to commodities companies. In 2012, the District sold 3,220 tons of recyclables for $300,179. He described how a materials recovery center could help further “reduce the waste stream” in Monroe County. Currently, the closest one is in Plainfield, which requires hauling.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
March 26: Jack Peterson (retired State of Indiana School official), school vouchers. IMU Georgian
April 2: Tentative: Martha Foster, winner of five Emmy Awards for documentaries. Frangipani
April 9: Tentative: Fellow Rotarian Dick Rose, IU professor emeritus, Psychology, on his study of twins. IMU Georgian
April 16: Bruce Jacobs, Director of the Indiana Memorial Union. “The IMU, the ongoing renovation of Alumni Hall, and the installation of the new organ.” Frangipani
April 23: Don Fischer, veteran radio voice of the Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network. Frangipani
April 30: Fellow Rotarian Beth Rodriguez, director of development, Centerstone. Frangipani
Sara Laughlin, Roundabout Reporter