Stories

Today we welcomed David Parkinson, volunteer and coordinator with the Electrifying Engineers robotics team and members of the team. The Electrifying Engineers are a part of FIRST®, a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. For 30 years, FIRST has combined the rigor of STEM learning with the fun and excitement of traditional sports and the inspiration that comes from community through programs that have a proven impact on learning, interest, and skill-building inside and outside of the classroom.  FIRST engages PreK-12 students in exciting, mentor-based, research and robotics programs that help them become science and technology leaders, as well as well- rounded contributors to society.

• Keith Sarber put in a plug for community theater! Murder is coming down the tracks to the Bristol Opera House... February 24 – March 5. Elkhart Civic Theatre will present Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express starting February 24 for a two weekend run at the Bristol Opera House.  The play is based on Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name. About the play: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed multiple times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again. Keith Sarber stars as Monsieur Bouc! For more info and tickets visit: https://elkhartcivictheatre.org/murder-on-the-orient-express-opens-february/
• Jim Snodgrass, on behalf of the Red Ribbon Rookies, thanked those who contributed ideas for the committee's inaugural 2023 project. The committee has chosen to partner with Tolson Center for Excellence and their literacy initiative AND Council on Aging, who will help supply volunteers for that initiative. We look forward to hearing more about this project - -great job, Red Ribbon Rookies!
• Julie Cotton announced:
  • Junior achievement volunteer training is upcoming - New Volunteer Training and Kit Pick ups are Tuesday 2/21 11:00-12:30. These  will take place at JA BizTown 1025 N Michigan St, Elkhart. Please note you only need to come to training if you are a completely new volunteer.  There will also be a virtual training on Thursday March 2 at 10am  you will need to arrange kit pick up prior to the training. Get inspired with a quick video about JA volunteer opportunities: https://youtu.be/qrj5Hu9qmpM
  • Join our upcoming wellness challenge, or "couch to 5k" as we prepare to help out as 'Sparkle Runners' in support of the Girls on the Run Michiana Elkhart 5k run scheduled for Saturday, May 13. You can walk or run to support the participants. More info to follow...
  • May 29 we'll have a fifth Monday social - no regular meeting; We'll also coordinate participation in Elkhart's Memorial Day Parade - -more info coming soon!
  • Sunday, June 11: South Bend Cubs game! Signup at https://elkhartrotary.org/event/southbend-cubs-game-1/

• Peter Norton reminded club members that this Thursday, February 16 at 5 p.m. is Thirsty Thursday at Artisan. Come as you are, enjoy a drink and fellowship with fellow Rotarians. 
• March 28 is the deadline for nominations for the J & K Kissinger Award, to be presented to District 6540's 'Rotarian of the Year' by President Todd Stone at our district event in April. For more about the award and to find the nomination form, CLICK HERE. 
• April 1 is the deadline for grant applications for not-for-profit organizations in our area. Download the application here.
• June 11: Join us for Sunday Funday with the South Bend Cubs vs. the Lansing Lugnuts! Where: Four Winds Field in the Owner's Suite
  When: Sunday June 11th, Game time is 2:05PM, (the Ballpark is open prior to the game if you and your family would like to take advantage of their many Game Day experiences.) Who: All Elkhart Rotarians, families and friends welcome! Cost: $40/person includes ticket for admission, rental of the owner's suite, hat, T-shirt, and lunch! Register online here - - don't miss your chance, this event will sell out! 
• Today, we welcome Elkhart High School senior Shea Hull, who'll be joining us weekly in February. Today, Shea introduced herself from the podium said she looks forward to returning next week to learn more about what Rotary has to offer in the community.

• Does the project address the greatest needs in Elkhart County? 
• Does the project address youth or youth-oriented needs? 
• Does the project or the proposing organization have a broad community impact? 
• Does the project empower girls and women? 

1. Economic Development
2. Community Development, and
3. Redevelopment

1. Student Engagement and Academic Success
2. Student Wellbeing,
3. Thriving Staff, and
4. Community Building

Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore Addresses the Club

On the State of the City

Justin Maust Speaks to the Club About

Momentum and Developing Community  Leaders

Sharon Risser Speaks to the Club

About the Challenges of Dementia

Donations Committee Presents Cash Awards

to Local Non Profit Groups

Greg Losasso, President of Elkhart General Hospital, Speaks to the Club

Mayor Dick Moore Makes a Proclamation Recognizing Elkhart General

Dr. Don Westerhausen Discusses Cardiac Care at Elkhart General

Pete McCown Updates the Club on the 

Elkhart County Community Foundation

Educator, Lavon Johnson, Speaks to the Club

About Martin Luther King, Jr.

Egg Farmer, Dan Krouse, Speaks to the Club

About Eggs and the Process of Egg Production

Bill Rieth Spoke to the Club About

The United Way

Denny Gill, a long-time member of the Elkhart Rotary Club, died Tuesday, December 23, 2014. A lifetime area resident, Denny graduated from Goshen High School in 1960 and served in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He married Judith Gregory in 1985 and they had two sons, Jeff and Jamie.

Denny worked for Stoutco Inc. for over 48 years.  During that time rose from his initial position as a metal fabricator, beginning in 1966, to the position of company president in 2000.  He served in that capacity for 13 years.

Denny was a very active member of Rotary since 1999. He served in many leadership roles, including membership and fellowship. He also served for several years on the advisory board for the Salvation Army, where he was involved in fundraising, fund appropriation and supporting the annual gala.

He will be deeply missed by our Rotary club and by all who were privileged to know him.

Marshall King, Elkhart Truth Food Editor,

Speaks to the Club about

Hidden Dining Gems in Our Region

Don Krabill, a long-time member of our Elkhart Rotary Club, died on Sunday, November 2, 2014.  Don received his education at Goshen College. He met and married Jurate in Paris. They had two children, Derek and Heather, who reside in New York and Oregon.

Don was chair of the Elkhart General Hospital Board of Directors; chair of the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce; served on the Elkhart Chamber Education Foundation; chair of the affiliated Elkhart General Hospital-Memorial Hospital governing body, Beacon Health Systems; and a founder and President of the Elkhart Center.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends and all Rotarians who knew him.

 Stacey Anderson and Rotarian Meghann Sullivan

Address the Club about the Purpose and Activities

of the "Young Professionals of Elkhart"

For the past ten years the Elkhart Rotary Club has sponsored the Interact Group for their annual activities and most of all, the Senior Service Project Trip to Nosara, Costa Rica. This year there were not any eligible high school seniors that could make the trip so it was decided to instead take regular Rotary members to do the much needed work. The participants this year were Tony Warning, Martha Peterson, Doug and Sharon Risser, Connie Caiceros, and Kim Clarke.

All service trips in the past have been involved with working/volunteering at the David S. Kitson Memorial Library in Nosara, Costa Rica. The library is only one of two lending libraries in the entire country of Costa Rica.  In addition to being a library to the local Tico population it is also a computer learning center, English language learning center, senior center, as well as many other uses.

Our work at the Library this year was mainly involved with compiling an inventory of all the literature in the building. This is always a huge task as the local people that use the library do not understand the concept of “lending”. Many of the books are not returned and have to be replaced. In years past the Interact Group has been involved with various projects including construction, moving, painting, book repairing, and even helping with English lessons for the local population.

The biggest contribution that we continue to do is our annual monetary donation to the Library. This year the Interact Club donated $3500 to the annual operating budget of the Library. The money comes from revenue generated by the Rotary Placemat advertising campaign. The  $3500 Interact/Rotary donation amount is 1/10 of the entire annual operating budget for the Library. They appreciate the Elkhart Rotary Club very much! Our Elkhart Rotary name is even on the Founders Plaque located on the wall of the Library.

For the 2014-15 calendar year we expect that the Interact Group will have 10-12 Seniors that will make the trip to Nosara. Angie Welter and Vince Von Der Vellen will be club sponsors and will also accompany the Interact Group to Nosara. The Interact group should have a total of 25-30 students as members for this next school year.

Over the past years several Elkhart Rotary Members have journeyed to Nosara to check out the Library. Please think about that when planning your next vacation. It is a great place to visit. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information on the library.

Kind Regards,

Tony Warning/Interact Sponsor 

We have exceeded our annual giving goal for the Rotary International Foundation.  The most recent report from RI indicates that our giving for the last Rotary year was $25,803.25.  We knew we could do it and you made it happen.  Thank you for your wonderful generosity.  The world is a better place because you give.  

-- Dick Kallenberg, Foundation Chair

Bob Stackhouse died June 4 following a brief illness.  An active member of St. John's Church, Bob was one of the first people I met when we moved to Elkhart in June of 1987.  Along with Harold Borneman and others from St. John's, Bob was one of the men who invited me to join Elkhart Rotary.  He joined this club in April of 1978 and he was faithful in his attendance up until three weeks or so ago when his health began to fail.

It is hard to measure a person's life in a few words.  Bob was a veteran of the U.S. Army, which he joined in March of 1945.  He was a graduate of Purdue University.  He spent his entire professional life working for a local company:  CTS where he was engaged in sales and management.  He was actively engaged in the life of this community, serving on the boards of the Salvation Army and the Elkhart County Council on Aging. He was on the founding board of the Elkhart Railroad Museum.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou, a marriage that lasted 67 1/2 years.  He leaves behind three daughters,  eight grand children and seven great grandchildren. 

I knew him best as a member of this Club and as a faithful member and leader of St. John's Episcopal Church where I served as Rector for 20+ years.  He was a quiet man, a family man, a gentleman, and a Christian man.  He will be missed.

--Dick Kallenberg

Robert "Bob" Pfaff, an Elkhart attorney, practicing corporate and civil law, was a Rotarian, a Paul Harris Fellow and a friend to all who knew him. His practice of law gave him opportunity to meet and to know many people of the community. Once he had met you, he remembered your name, a wonderful trait that many of us fail to master.

While serving in the U. S. Army, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Anne Moore. They had four children and five grandchildren, and they were all at his side when he died May 9, 2014.

For several years, Bob assembled fellow Rotarians, chartered a bus and traveled to Ann Arbor for the University of Michigan football games. Everyone had a grand time, even if Michigan lost the game, which didn't happen often. He was the last person to serve a full year as sergeant-at-arms for the club.  I believe that was the 1978-79 Rotary year.  He was club president in 1971-72. It was a good year. We, who knew him, feel a loss.  Rest in peace, Bob.
 

Bill joined Elkhart Rotary in April, 1970, being proposed by his father, William. With his father, Bill owned and operated Bill's Lumber, Inc. on Cassopolis street for many years. Bill served as our president, 1981-82 and as district governor, 1986-87. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and through a very generous gift to Rotary International, he and his wife Pat made it possible for other Rotarians to become Paul Harris Fellows.

Bill wore his Rotary pin with pride. Bill was a fine family man, good to his wife and generous to his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren loved to hear his made-up stories about the infamous Harry Horsethief. He was an active member of the Elkhart Municipal Band for fifty-plus years, and in the early years played in our Rotary Roaming Band during our Salvation Army bell ringing event.

Bill was a down-to-Earth kind of guy, friendly and a proud American. Sorry to report that he should be added to the list of Elkhart Rotarians who have died this Rotary year. His obituary was in the April 21st edition of the Elkhart Truth--Shan

This is a brand new section of the website to give our members an outlet for announcements that may not be appropriate from the meeting podium.  These might include things like:

• Job openings in your company you would like other Rotarians to know about
• Information about your not-for-profit organization and how to contribute
• Upcoming community events you would like to promote

All items should be submitted to Greg Anders by email through the website.

Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney Curtis Hill shares his views on crime, American freedoms, and Elkhart’s education system.

Evan Bontrager speaks about the Pumkinvine Nature Trail and the wonderful recreational opportunity it offers for Michiana's bike riders.

You’re Invited!

A summer evening at the Wellfield Gardens. Rotary fellowship. Meet our guests from Bulgaria!

Beryl E. Boss – Born July 4, 1933

A Rotarian since 1996 died on June 23, 2011. Beryl exemplified Tom Brokaw’s book “The Greatest Generation.”

About Group Study Exchange

I heard the Bells on Christmas day, 

Club meeting November 22

REPORTING ON HAITI MISSION TRIP

Elkhart Rotary presentation in Brazil.

Taste of the Gardens

                                         2010

GSE Team in Mexico