Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting July 22, 2019

Welcome to the Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting on July 22, 2019; Today we welcomed Irwin Larrier, Executive Director, Center for Community Justice (and fellow Elkhart Rotarian!)

Immediate Past President Peter Norton opened the meeting today for President Candy Yoder who is out of town. Peter introduced Fran Conner who shared meaningful words, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Four Way Test.

Thanks to our greeters today, including Lizzie Sheets who introduced our guests, including visiting Rotarian Doug Grant from Wawasee. Guests of club members included: Anne Lehman, Lon Zimmerle, Kathy Rupin, and Stephanie Krol (guests of Irwin Larrier), Doug Moore (Fran Conner), and Allie Canniff (Brad Canniff). Welcome to ALL, we hope you can all join us again some other time!

Today we welcomed two new Rotarians to our Club!

  • David Damerow from The Elkhart Truth, and
  • Paul Gardner from RSM US LLP
Today's Sergeant was Bill Rieth, who raised some money using trivia from the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, in progress! Great job FUNdraising today, Bill. 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 was introduced: Irwin Larrier, Executive Director from Center for Community Justice (CCJ)
 
The Center for Community Justice empowers Elkhart County by using Restorative Justice to heal the harm caused by crime, strengthen conflict resolution skills, and engage a stronger community. The Center for Community Justice is rooted in the principles of Restorative Justice, assisting Elkhart County through Restorative Mediation and Facilitation, Restorative Reentry work and Restorative Training.
 
Did you know...
  • Within CCJ's victim reconciliation program, 40% of participants are juveniles and 60% adults 
  • CCJ receives referrals from courts, and connect with victims; they also receive referrals from law enforcement
  • The social return on investment is $1 million in our community
  • The average success rate is 80%
  • The program focuses on: mediation, training and coaching
The basic principles of Restorative Justice are:
  • Wrong doing/misconduct is in reality a violation of people and interpersonal relationships.
  • Violating relationships results in obligations to repair the harm created.
  • These obligations need to be met in order for people to move forward in a healthy way.

Mission Statement
The Center for Community Justice is transforming communities of Elkhart County through Restorative Justice.

CCJ's Vision
Vibrant communities – Safe, just, and engaged.

The Center for Community Justice serves Elkhart County by providing programs, based on the principles of Restorative Justice, which strengthen community safety, provide support and compensation for victims, aid in the restoration of offenders, and promote reconciliation among victims, offenders, and the community.

CCJ offers seven quality programs and one class all rooted in principles of restorative justice.   These include not only victim-offender reconciliation, but mediation in civil, criminal, family, divorce, landlord-tenant, and other matters; community service opportunities for offenders and victim impact panels to make the consequences of drunk driving “real” to offenders.  CCJ served 4,200 people last year and will continue to grow with your support.

CCJ's programs give offenders the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions, and give the victims a voice in our criminal justice system.  CCJ originated with Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) in 1977 by an Elkhart County juvenile probation officer who discovered the program operating in Canada.  VORP quickly outgrew the resources of the probation department and joined a regional organization called Prisoners and Community Together (PACT) in 1979, and Elkhart County PACT was born.  Following this, Community Service Restitution Program (CSRP) began.

Thanks, Irwin, for an informative program! To learn more about Center for Community Justice, visit their website: https://centerforcommunityjustice.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.