Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting August 5, 2019

Welcome to the Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting on August 5, 2019; Today we welcomed Debra Treesh, Executive Director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry

President Candy Yoder opened the meeting and introduced Susan Ginther who offered thoughtful words, reminding everyone to look up and appreciate the blue sky above us, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Four Way Test. What will you do with the first day of the rest of your life?

Today we welcomed several guests, introduced by Dave Neeser, including visiting Rotarian Coy Martin from the Goshen Club. Guests of club members included: Claudio Stohler (Don Stohler), Tammy Higginbotham (Fran Conner), Palmer Garton (Eric Garton), and Christy Hann (Nick Corpe). Welcome to ALL, we hope you can all join us again some other time!

Announcements for August 5:

  • Julie Cotton announced a meeting of the Caring Committee, next Monday before the regular club meeting at 11 a.m.
  • Stan Cohen reminded club members of the Elkhart Civic Theater's new season, coming to the Bristol Opera House.
  • Erin Wagler, on behalf of the Marketing Committee, asked club members to continue to update their contact information in Clubrunner.
  • Candy Yoder reminded the board there is a Board Meeting on Friday morning at 7 a.m., Perkins Restaurant.
Today's Sergeant was Dave Neeser, who offered a Family Feud-style gameshow program that club members failed at miserably! But it's all in fun, and a great way to raise funds for community organizations -  great job, Dave! Rotary fines are collected weekly and are pooled into a fund throughout the year. In the spring more than $10,000 is distributed as grants to not for profit organizations around our county. Thanks, All, for your contributions!
 
Today's speaker, Debra Treesh, Executive Director of Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry was introduced by Eric Garton.
Deb has been building extensive nonprofit experience since 2005. She previously worked for a national nonprofit and the chapter that she ran became the fastest growing chapter in the United States. Debra and a number of volunteers started Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in 2011 and she is using her knowledge to grow this organization. She served on the Community Harvest Food Bank Board of Directors as Secretary from 2010 to 2017.
 
Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is making a positive impact on the quality of life for all Hoosiers by providing nutritious meat to hunger relief agencies within Indiana...one pound at a time
  • Over 5.2 million meals served to date. Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry was established with a purpose of reducing hunger issues within Indiana and a mission to improve the quality of life of Hoosiers by providing nutritious meat to hunger relief agencies within Indiana
  • Partners with 87 participating meat processors statewide, serving 85 Indiana counties.
  • The philanthropic outreach from this program includes all of the volunteers, meat processing shops, hunters and farmers, and community agencies and organizations – that donate their time, skills, and money to help provide this nutritious meat to food banks and hunger relief agencies in their communities.
  • Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry also partners with Feeding America food banks (who aid us in tracking and distribution), along with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIsH), and many other pantries and hunger ministries. There are many generous donors/partners, including the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Walmart, United Way, community foundations, REMCs, and many other local and state agencies and organizations that help us serve Indiana.
To learn more about Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry, visit their website: https://www.hoosiersfeedingthehungry.org/
 
About Rotary:
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, community leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and act to create lasting change – across the globe, in our local communities, and in ourselves. The Elkhart Rotary Club was founded in 1917 and serves its community through volunteerism, providing grants to not-for-profit organizations, sponsoring, and participating in service projects such as ringing bells for the Salvation Army, roadside trash collection, and are the originators and sustainers of Wellfield Botanic Gardens. Elkhart Rotary Club’s membership consists of approximately 150 dedicated individuals from various professional backgrounds and diverse interests. Membership in the Elkhart Rotary Club is by invitation. We welcome guests to attend any of our meetings and hear from our great lineup of weekly presenters.
For more information on the Elkhart Rotary Club, visit elkhartrotary.org or email elkhartnoonrotary@gmail.com. Like and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook/ElkhartRotaryClub to stay current on meetings, upcoming events or speakers, and initiatives in the community.
 
Upcoming Meetings and Programs:
Join us for our next meeting:
All meetings are at noon on Mondays at the Matterhorn Banquet and Conference Center, 2041 Cassopolis St. in Elkhart IN, 46514. In months that include a FIFTH Monday, the Elkhart Rotary Club holds an alternative meeting or activity.