Today we welcome Bill Firstenberger, Executive Director at Ruthmere Campus, who shared exciting news and progress of the Beardsley Discovery Center, currently under construction on Main Street immediately north of Havilah Beardsley House.
The Beardsley Discovery Center project has surfaced at just the right time to fulfill the needs of our community and ripen the fruits of Ruthmere Campus as they celebrate 50 years of museum service. The Beardsley Discovery Center will Improve Visitor Experience and Increase Ruthmere Campus' Capacity. It will significantly improve visitor hospitality at Ruthmere Campus in a number of meaningful ways:
- The ease of access from parking to point of entry is shortened
- Greeting will now occur with a real person at the BDC info desk
- Increased number of parking spots and improved traffic flow
- Expanded gift shop space where guests can browse as they wait for tours
- Visitor orientation message will improve dramatically
- Immediate proximity to greatly increase the tours and usage of the Havilah Beardsley House
The project also increases Ruthmere Campus' capacity, including:
- Greatly increased ADA compliant space
- Main gathering space will be used for a variety of flexible purposes: field trips, visitor orientation, special programs, catered events
- Proximity to the Havilah Beardsley House will allow for the possibility of more large event use for both indoor and outdoor activities
- Project includes improvements to an off-site storage facility
To learn more about the project and progress or to make a donation to the Beardsley Discovery Center, visit their website.
Bill projected the target completion date for the project: Mid-summer 2025
We Inducted THREE NEW CLUB MEMBERS today!
Please welcome to the club, pictured left to right with President Andrew Harman: Nancy Miller, Patti Velluci, and Major Tim Nauta.
We're grateful for your enthusiasm to engage with our community and be active members of the Elkhart Rotary Club!
In additional member news, we're sad to report the resignation of longtime Rotarian—celebrating 60 YEARS on December 1—Shannon 'Shan' White. Shan is the club's unofficial historian, making great efforts to share the history of our club and impact within the community. While sad to lose Shan as a regular member, we're thrilled to announce that the Board of Directors bestowed HONORARY MEMBERSHIP to Shan this past Friday. Shan is welcome at our club anytime, we look forward to seeing Shan at meetings in the future.Today we also welcomed a guest and prospective member Nick Knight, recommended by South Bend Rotary Club President Amber Pulford. Nick is with Everwise out of the South Bend Corporate Office but spends a great deal of time on business in Elkhart and is seeking to engage further with our community.
Thanks to everyone who cast a ballot whether online or in person at the meeting to fill a board member vacancy beginning July 1, 2025. Congratulation to Rob LaRoy, who'll join the board at that time! The ballot count also approved recommended changes to our Bylaws by the Board of Directors in November.
Tony Warning announced the new advertising placemats are in place on our dining tables! Thanks to all who placed ads, the money supports our Elkhart High School Interact Club and their annual service trip to Costa Rica. Thanks to all who participated! Want to learn more or participate next year?... Contact Tony Warning!
Tony Warning announced the new advertising placemats are in place on our dining tables! Thanks to all who placed ads, the money supports our Elkhart High School Interact Club and their annual service trip to Costa Rica. Thanks to all who participated! Want to learn more or participate next year?... Contact Tony Warning!