SPIN FOR SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

 

 

Jonah Crismore, executive director of Fort Wayne Cinema Center, invited Rotarians to discover new worlds through art films at Cinema Center. 

 

“I want Cinema Center to be that gateway arch that shows moments from other worlds and cultures and provides new perspectives,” he said. “Whether subtitled international films or independent American movies, I want people to immerse themselves in the cinema experience.” 

 

Crismore addressed members of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne at the noon Monday, August 29, meeting at Parkview Field.

 

He reported the Cinema Center’s recent “Hobnobben Film Festival” was profitable – an unusual outcome for many festivals, especially in the first year. Hobnobben occurred in late June and was the first of its kind for the city, with 50 movies offered over multiple days and at several downtown Fort Wayne venues. 

 

Other highlights of Crismore’s presentation follow.

 

About Crismore: He was hired as Cinema Center executive director in 2012 and won a 2016 Community Builders Award by Evergreen Leadership, which recognizes emerging leaders ages 25 to 40. He worked in the film industry for several years before returning to Fort Wayne.

 

About Cinema Center: Founded in 1976, Cinema Center moved to its current location at 437 E. Berry in 1991. The non-profit organization receives funding from Arts United, various foundations and grants, ticket fees, memberships and its annual Oscar Night fundraiser. Mainstream theaters make approximately 40% of their funds from concessions, whereas Cinema Center makes about 25%. However, recent additions of wine and beer to Cinema Center concessions have boosted sales somewhat.

 

What distinguishes Cinema Center: “We try to show films that normally would not come to Northeast Indiana, and we occasionally show foreign films that provide new perspectives from other cultures. … Some of these movies can be difficult to promote in a ‘sound bite’ culture.”

 

Recent improvements: Cinema Center switched to a digital film format in 2013, thanks to various grants.  The theater recently installed new seats with funds from the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.

 

Challenges: The demise of the studio system means there are more independent films today – formerly the heart of the art house films repertoire. This increase means more mainline movie houses are showing independent films, “putting us in direct competition for films normally just shown exclusively at Cinema Center.”  Cinema Center also would like to expand from one to two or three screens to provide a wider variety of films. 

 

The Cinema Center Experience:  Because of video streaming services such as Netflix, Cinema Center strives to provide the “cinema experience” to its patrons. “We want your experience at Cinema Center to be something you could not find anywhere else. “ 

 

Yet again, the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne snagged both trophies -- for men and women -- at the August 20 5K walk/run to Stop Polio Now!   

 

Bill Harris, run coordinator with Barrie Peterson of Anthony Wayne Rotary, proudly displayed the two trophies and said both were earned in full compliance of the Rotary Four-Way Test!  Harris will report soon on the total amount contributed to the Rotary Foundation’s Stop Polio Now! effort.

 

Floyd Lancia of Anthony Wayne Club and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator reminded Rotarians that there have been only 21 cases of polio so far in 2016. He emphasized that funds from the 5K event will be tripled as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing a two-to-one match for all donations.    

 

On a beautiful August afternoon, 40 people gathered at Auburn Ridge Golf Club to put a little white ball in a ridiculously small hole at the annual Rotary Club of Fort Wayne Golf Tournament.  When the games ended, the event had raised $2,600 for the club’s Cleo Fox Fund, named after a former club secretary who loved music. Cleo Fox Scholarships help defray summer music camp costs for area high school students.

 

Congratulations to the first place team: Tom Wooding, Woodie Klepfer, Tim Shambaugh and Scott Miller.  Second place honors went to Frank Weaver, Joey Hendricks, Nate Horn and Tony Bear. 

 

Tim Shambaugh won the Closest to the Pin Award, and Laura Nicolet and Tony Bear shared honors for longest putt. 

 

Thank you and congratulations, golfers!

 

 

 

 

The newest member of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne, Laura Nicolet, has a mean short game in golf! (See Closest to the Pin winners above.)  She also has a heart for service, as she was a Rotarian in Lafayette before coming to Fort Wayne.  Kim Wagner, left, introduced Nicolet, who is a faculty member in the College of Business for Western Governors University and serves as an adjunct faculty member for Indiana Wesleyan. Welcome, Laura!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several Rotarians recently aided the Rotary Foundation in Doing Good in the World.

 

Club Foundation Chair Randy Rider, right, congratulated Club Vice President David Bennett for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. The eponymous award of the founder of Rotary International honors a Rotarian who contributes $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Floyd Lancia presented Barb Wachtman with an award for becoming a member of the foundation’s Bequest Club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome Venla! 

The Club has a regular young guest for the year. Venla Laurinseppa of Finland is this
year’s Rotary Youth Exchange student.  She attends North Side High School.

 

Please contact Rotary Youth Exchange Committee members to see how you can become involved in hosting Venla this year to show her Hoosier Hospitality and the sights of
ndiana and the Midwest. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitors to Monday’s meeting included: