Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting May 6, 2019

Welcome to the Elkhart Rotary Club Meeting on May 6, 2019; Today we welcomed speaker Bryan Ritchie, Ph.D., M.B.A. and vice president and associate provost for innovation at the University of Notre Dame. In this role, Ritchie leads the University’s new IDEA Center initiative and coordinates the University’s innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship programs. 

President Peter Norton opened the meeting and introduced Terri Rickel who shared some thoughtful words of thanks for springtime, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Four Way Test.

Guests were introduced by Bill Rieth and included: Visiting Rotarian Doug Grant (Wawasee) and Rotarian guests: Jared Rhinehart (Merritt Dilts), Steven Thalheimer (Jim Story), Christy Pham, Jaycee Rossi, Tom Labuziewski (Anthony Hunt), Adam Trisler (Nick Corpe), Kathryn Main (Tom Eisele), Diane Lucchese and Sharon Sarber (Ashley Bowen), and Michele Soka (Donna Belusar).  Welcome to all, come join us again sometime.

Announcements for May 6:

  • REMINDER there is a great volunteer opportunity on Saturday May 11th, from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m (or until you're able to stay) to help package and distribute food to 200 needy families at Church Community Services. This food represents the $3,780.00 food donation to CCS from Elkhart Rotary to help assist needy families. Meet at the Church Community Services Parking lot of church community services. As a special incentive (other than doing a great thing for our community), Rotarian Volunteers will receive a "DOUBLE" make-up for their efforts.
  • Erin Wagler, chair of the Marketing Committee reminded other committee chairs that when you have events you'd like to share, get them to the marketing committee! They'll help you spread the word!
  • Terri Rickel proposed that club members help support the Concord Rotary Club's fundraising efforts to purchase a Well-Drilling Truck for their international project - -they're trying to raise $31,000. $10 from each Elkhart Rotary Club member would add $1500 to those efforts; bring your cash or check book next week to help support. Contact Terri for specifics if you'd like to contribute more.
Grant recipient ADEC, represented by Michele Soka thanked the club for its grant support. This year, the Elkhart Rotary Club gave a grant to ADEC to support swimming lessons for ADEC's summer camp participants. DID YOU KNOW that drowning is the leading cause of death (91%) for young children with autism? This grant will pay for swim lessons for campers AND help support an additional lifeguard for summer camp activities. 
 
Today's Sergeant was Doug Thorne, who 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.   
 

Today's program featured Bryan Ritchie, VP and Associate Provost at University of Notre Dame's IDEA Center. Standing for Innovation, De-Risking and Enterprise Acceleration, the IDEA Center is the fundamental resource for all commercialization and entrepreneurial activities at the University of Notre Dame. It provides the necessary space, services and expertise for idea development, commercialization, business formation, prototyping, entrepreneurial education and student entrepreneurial efforts. It is designed to bring the best Notre Dame faculty, staff and student ideas and innovations to market.

MISSION: Unlock Discoveries. Fuel Genius. Advance the Common Good. 

VISION: Become a Best-In-Class Player in the Commercialization and Innovation Space While Making the World a Better Place

VALUES: The IDEA Center incorporates the following values into every facet of its operations:

  • Transparency
  • Integrity
  • Relationships
  • Creativity
  • Fun
  • Failing-Forward
  • Thoroughness

Thanks for the great presentation, Bryan! For more information about the Notre Dame IDEA Center visit: https://ideacenter.nd.edu/

 

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:
  • May 13: Brooke Ammerman - University of Notre Dame; Suicide Prevention in Our Community – What You Can Do
  • May 20: Iris Hammel - Regional Innovation & Startup Education; Act Learn Build - A Phrase that Embodies both Innovation + Entrepreneurship
  • May 27: Memorial Day - NO MEETING; We remember and honor those persons who have died while serving in the US Armed Forces
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.