Speakers

Please help us welcome Elkhart Mayor Rod Roberson as he delivers his State of the City Address to our Elkhart Rotary Club.

We're also honoring the City's first responders, please don't miss this program, it will be a special day.

Dr. Marco Clark, 6th President of Holy Cross College

In July 2022, Dr. Clark was appointed President of Holy Cross College by the Members of the College upon the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Trustees. A Presidential Search Committee of the Board comprised of Trustees, Brothers of the Midwest Province, a Priest from the United States Province of Priests and Brothers, and faculty, students, and alumni of the College, undertook an extensive seven-month national search to identify and recommend Dr. Clark to the Board. The Committee was assisted by the R.H. Perry & Associates search firm under the direction of Matthew Kilcoyne and Dr. John Hutchinson.

Dr. Clark is the first president of the College who is not a Holy Cross brother or priest. Dr. Clark comes to Holy Cross College from St. Edward’s University, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, Moreau Province, located in Austin, Texas and has worked for over thirty years as a Catholic educator and leader in higher education and secondary schools sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross. He succeeded Rev. David T. Tyson, C.S.C., who retired, and was president since July 31, 2017.

Dr. Clark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the College of the Holy Cross, Massachusetts, a Master’s in Education in Guidance and Counseling from Bowie State University, Maryland, and a Doctorate in Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, Nebraska. He has spent the entirety of his 33-year career as a Catholic educator, 25 of those years serving alongside the Brothers of Holy Cross. In his current position as executive director of the Holy Cross Institute at St. Edward’s University, Austin, Texas, he provides leadership support for the 120 Holy Cross schools around the world by conducting research, publishing resources, and delivering programs to ensure their Holy Cross mission, identity, and educational charism. He also works collaboratively with the campus ministry office for mission integration at St. Edward’s University.

Previously, Clark served as the President & CEO (2010-2020) and Principal (1997-2010) at Bishop McNamara High School, a Holy Cross Brothers school located outside of Washington, DC. During his 23-year tenure the school doubled its enrollment; significantly grew the faculty and staff; established numerous new programs in science, technology, the arts, humanities, and athletics; established an inclusion program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities; started and grew the school’s endowment; led three strategic plans for the school; oversaw several capital projects to modernize and expand the school campus; and strengthened the financial viability and sustainability of the school for a thriving future.

He and his wife Peggy, a Catholic school math teacher, have three grown children and five grandchildren. As a former Division I student-athlete (Football) and coach, Marco is also an avid sports fan. He loves to bike, kayak, hike, spend time with his family, travel, relax on the beach, and play golf. Marco and Peggy are parishioners at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, a Holy Cross parish, in Austin, Texas.

Today we welcome our community Not-for-Profit Grant Recipients. Each will present a brief, 3-minute overview of their awarded project (applications were due April 1, 2023) and be presented with their funding. The Elkhart Rotary Club is proud to support the wonderful missions and efforts of local not-for-profit organizations who serve our community and region. 

Carl Dickerson - Fellow Rotarian and Founder of Dickerson Literacy Initiatives, will discuss his involvement with Rotary International Projects 

No Meeting Today, have a safe and fun celebration of our Country's Independence

The first official meeting of our new Rotary fiscal year will be packed with great stuff and we'd love everyone to be there!

First, President Todd Stone will make closing remarks on his 2022-2023 Rotary Presidential Year before handing over the gavel to this year's new Elkhart Rotary Club President for 2023-2024, Julie Cotton. 

To get the new year started, Julie will hold our club's Annual Meeting in a town hall-style and for YOUR input as club members on the direction of this upcoming year. Julie will share her exciting theme and we'll get your input on where we're headed. We'll also be having a 'special election' of an important new board member for the upcoming year.

You don't want to miss this meeting, let's make 2023-2024 a terrific year for the Elkhart Rotary Club and exemplify our Service Above Self motto.

Please welcome Jenny McGee, Founder of the Starfish Project 

Our Story
We began in 2006 as a small group of friends who could no longer simply walk by the women and girls we observed being exploited around our city in Asia. None of us had a business or jewelry design background. What we shared was a desire to restore hope and bring freedom. We never imaged that today our jewelry brand would be loved by women all around the world who share the same vision.

For more information visit: https://starfishproject.com/pages/our-history

Please welcome Andy Jones, Director of the Elkhart Municipal Airport, to give us a recap of the recent airshow!

On May 20th and 21st, the “Salute to Veterans – WWII Reenactments & Airshows,” returned to Elkhart after a long hiatus. The show honored the legacy of our Veterans and featured more than 20 different Performers and Special Aircraft. Including German Tanks, 2 Corsairs,  2 P51 Mustangs, Multiple Stunt Planes, A General George Patton impersonator, A 1942 Douglas C-53 Skytrooper with in Uniform crew, AND MORE.

As we did not meet on the first Monday in July due to the Independence Day holiday, we'll take advantage of this FIFTH MONDAY to have a little fun. Please join us at the Roosevelt Center for an offsite luncheon and meeting that will feature an update on the progress of the Tolson Center for Community Excellence by fellow Elkhart Rotarian and Executive Director at the Tolson Center, Breanna Allen.

Breanna will share news and updates of this terrific community organization and resource, now under construction.

Past, Present, and Future
The Tolson Center for Community Excellence builds off the foundation established by Herbert and Ruth Tolson and carried forward by the City of Elkhart for decades. A true community partnership—built on the feedback from residents—is creating a revitalized Tolson Center rooted in South Central Elkhart, reaching across generations and cultures to serve all of the Elkhart community and beyond.

For more information visit: https://www.tolson.org/

Rooselvelt Center is located at 215 W Indiana Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516.
PARK ON THE SOUTH SIDE of the building in the lot off of Garfield Avenue and enter through the south doors to the building where we'll have our lunch and presentation from Breanna.