Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting June 10, 2019

Welcome to the Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting on June 10, 2019; Today we welcomed Lisa Guedea Carreño, Director of the Elkhart Public Library

Incoming club Vice President Eric Garton opened the meeting in the absence of President Pete Norton. Eric introduced Aileac Deegan who shared meaningful words, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Four Way Test.

Thanks to today's Fellowship Table volunteers Howard Edwards, Steve Thalheimer, and Rob LaRoy, who introduced today's guests including: David Damerow (Tom Shoff), Lizzie Sheets (Sheila Sieradzki), Rod Roberson (Tom Pletcher), Paul Gardner (Tony Warning), and Allison Canniff (Brad Canniff). Welcome to ALL guests, we hope you can all join us again some other time!

Announcements for June 10:

  • ***PLAY BALL!!*** Rotarians, for the first time in 30 years, the Midwest League's Summer Classic will be held in South Bend, Indiana. The 2019 Midwest League All-Star Game takes place Tuesday, June 18, and will feature some of the most promising players in professional baseball today. The Elkhart Rotary Club has up to 44 tickets available for Tuesday June 18th, first pitch scheduled for 7:35 p.m. Cost per ticket is a special group rate of just $12 per ticket! Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis via email to Susan Ginther at slginther9@aol.com. If there are still tickets available at Monday, June 17th’s meeting, you will be able to speak for them. All tickets will be billed to your Elkhart Rotary account.
  • Howard Edwards reminded all Rotarians to consider their Paul Harris Fellowship eligibility; if you have questions where you stand, Howard will have account balances, see him for more information.
  • Tony Warning reminded the club that the Interact Club's service trip is funded, in part, by the sales of advertisements on our placemats: still a tremendous bargain at just $295 per ad, the same price it's been for years. If you'd like to get your add on the placemat, give Tony a call or email.
  • Dave Dygert asked for more Sergeant Volunteers for the upcoming year beginning in July. Even if you'd prefer to Sergeant on a 'guest basis', the committee would love to have you; contact Dave for more information. It's a great way of raising funds for our club to help service organizations around Elkhart County to do the good work they do!
Today's Sergeant was Brad Canniff, whose knowledge of fine booze and skills in unicycling provided an entertaining session of FUNdraising as Rotary fines are collected weekly and are pooled into a fund. In the spring more than $10,000 is distributed as grants to not for profit organizations around our county. Thanks, All, for your contributions!
 
Sherm Hansen introduced today's speaker: Lisa Guedea-Carreño, Director at the Elkhart Public Library.
A fellow Rotarian, Lisa discussed the recent program accomplishments of the library, including the impact numbers of their numerous programs and collaborations this past year, including:
  • Nearly 340,000 combined visits to EPL's five locations,
  • Over 33,000 guests at all EPL programs and events, and
  • Over half a million checkouts of physical items at all locations!
 
 
 
Lisa highlighted the Library's popular Summer Reading Program and this year's theme: Stories in the Stars.
Here is some information from the EPL's website: 
 
Let’s face it. You want to take off this summer.

What if you could explore new worlds – or even the great beyond? Summer is the time to dream big, without the worries of homework and buzzing alarm clocks. Elkhart Public Library is here to help you find your Stories in the Stars and make you a winner this summer. How about a great weekend in Chicago, with hotel, great tickets to attractions, and $200 spending cash? How about hoverboards and telescopes and fair tickets with ride wristbands and … well, we have lots of prizes to giveaway.

And that’s just the beginning. 
A visit by an astronaut. A party in the moonlight at Wellfield Botanic Gardens. Bubbly science demonstrations. Menacing raptors. Space camps. They’re all on the schedule for an exciting summer at Elkhart Public Library. Find your favorites and share them around on Facebook.

With Stories in the Stars and outer space as our theme, kids will be encouraged every day to know their education and dreams have no limit.

To get your child or grandchild started in the program, visit the EPL's website, or visit the Stories in the Stars page directly by clicking here.

 
 
Thanks, Lisa, for the terrific program! To learn more about the Elkhart Public Library, visit their website or Facebook page.
 
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:
  • June 17: Deb Alwine - Southgate Crossing
  • June 24: Lisa Koop - Associate Director of Legal Services, National Immigrant Justice Center
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 a dinner meeting (no presenter) at the same location.