Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting December 17, 2018

Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting for December 17, 2018; we welcomed speaker Captain Shawn DeBaar, Salvation Army of Elkhart, Indiana.

President Peter Norton opened the meeting and introduced Terri Rickel who provided inspirational words, led the Pledge and Four-Way Test. Guests were introduced, including visiting Rotarians Terry Bush and Ted Schmucker (South Bend).

Important announcements from December 17:

  • Reminder, NO MEETINGS on December 24 or December 31.
  • Are you interested in an Elkhart Rotary Club Board Position for 2019? Contact President Peter Norton; it's a great way to get involved and help shape the club's role in our community.
  • Julie Cotton provided updates on the Rotary Games, a fun way of keeping track of our collective volunteer hours in the months of November and December, and more importantly, promoting our efforts to the community, INSPIRING others to get involved, amplifying our efforts to make our community a better place. Keep those hours coming in!
  • Matt Lentsch provided a Salvation Army Fundraising update based on the Club's efforts: THANKS to everyone who rang bells and collected funds from the public on December 8; our efforts helped raise $4,555.45 for Salvation Army; Restaurant Fundrasing raised over $1,400 and individual gifts and fines are still being tallied; be generous, make our community a better place.
  • Ann McCuistion reminded the club of our nonprofit community grant application cycle for 2019 - - emailed grant applications are due Friday, January 11, 2019 for consideration. Share this information with those not-for-profit friends you know and make sure our pool of applicants are strong, doing good in Elkhart County. CLICK HERE for more info and application.
Today's Sergeant was Rebecca Kuiken, a rookie Sergeant who seized the opportunity to extract funds from club members through fun fines and Christmas trivia. Rotary fines are collected weekly and are pooled into a fund. In the spring approximately $10,000 is distributed as grants to not for profit organizations around our county.
 

Today's speaker was Captain Shawn DeBaar of the Salvation Army in Elkhart, Indiana (and member of our Rotary Club!) who provided a history of the Salvation Army, as well as how the Salvation Army of Elkhart makes a difference here in our community.  

  • Mission Statement - The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
  • To learn more about the Salvation Army of Elkhart, Indiana, visit: https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/Elkhart/

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 Program(s):
  • January 7: Aileac Deegan, Executive Director at Ryan's Place
  • January 14: J. Nelson Kraybill, President, Mennonite World Conference, a community of Anabaptist related churches
  • January 21: Paige Risser, Director of Communications, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
 
Join us for our next meeting:
NO MEETINGS ON December 24 and 31.
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.