Roseland Rotary Meeting March 19, 2015
Posted by Jennifer Price
on Mar 24, 2015
.Rotary Newsletter 3.19.15
The Roseland Rotary Club had a small change in venue this past Thursday and met in the Pub at the Waterford. We began the meeting as usual, although we said the Pledge of Allegiance without a flag. An absence of a physical flag will not deter this clubs patriotism! We were once again without our songmaster. Apparently, he will be unable to join us for several more weeks. Bob Sones suggested we give Bob Eberhart a call to check in on him if we get a chance. Our honorable president then presented our new member, Dave, with his pin and certificate. He also presented Robin with a little gift of appreciation on behalf of the club. Several reports came in about club projects. The Kennedy basketball court is moving along with the help of our club and the downtown club. Joe Maloney spoke about the speech contest. Many Clay students participated and it was a success. Our club’s board meetings have been moved to the 3rd Thursday of each month before the usual meeting.
Reminder!!!!! The Roseland Rotary will be meeting offsite on April 2. Our regular meeting will be held at the Harper Cancer Institute offices, 1234 Notre Dame Avenue, 46617. Maps were passed out at the meeting. Lunch will be served as well. This will be a very special opportunity for our club, so please make sure to attend!!!
Our club was fortunate to have Sergeant Ray Wolfenbarger of the SBPD as our guest speaker. As many of us remember, Sgt Wolfenbarger was shot and nearly killed during a traffic stop in 2001. Sgt. Wolfenbarger shared his story of that evening and the 11 seconds that would change his life forever. After a high speed pursuit following what he thought would be a simple “warning” traffic stop, Ray rushed the vehicle after the driver crashed. After initially showing his hands, the suspect retrieved a gun and shot Ray 3 times. Able to communicate on his radio that an officer was shot; Ray attributes his survival to his ability to stay coherent, the quick response of his fellow officers, and the doctors that would not give up on him during surgery. Ray endured years of intense physical therapy to reach his current physical condition. Nothing this writer could pen could ever do justice to Ray’s courage, humility, willpower, and strength (physical/mental/spiritual). Truly, it was an honor to hear him tell his story. If you missed it, you missed an inspiring message.If ever given the opportunity, Sgt. Wolfenbarger would love to feed his adrenalin-loving spirit and return to patrolling the streets of South Bend. 
However, he has accepted the challenges that this experience has delivered him by directing his career in a slightly different path. Sgt Wolfenbarger is currently assigned to the crime lab and is the first officer of the South Bend Police Department to become a firearms and tool mark examiner. Sergeant Wolfenbarger attended the national firearm examiners Academy – NFEA, which was sponsored by the ATF. The NFEA is an intense 13 month training program where Sergeant Wolfenbarger was instructed by some of the best firearm and tool mark examiners in the country. Sergeant Wolfenbarger is responsible for working all of the firearm and tool mark cases for the South Bend Police Department and surrounding agencies. Sgt Wolfenbarger also oversees the test-firing of every recovered firearm. This testing allows the investigator to compare handguns to determine if they have also been used in other crimes, by matching and comparing data from the test sample to evidence recovered at actual crime scenes.
However, he has accepted the challenges that this experience has delivered him by directing his career in a slightly different path. Sgt Wolfenbarger is currently assigned to the crime lab and is the first officer of the South Bend Police Department to become a firearms and tool mark examiner. Sergeant Wolfenbarger attended the national firearm examiners Academy – NFEA, which was sponsored by the ATF. The NFEA is an intense 13 month training program where Sergeant Wolfenbarger was instructed by some of the best firearm and tool mark examiners in the country. Sergeant Wolfenbarger is responsible for working all of the firearm and tool mark cases for the South Bend Police Department and surrounding agencies. Sgt Wolfenbarger also oversees the test-firing of every recovered firearm. This testing allows the investigator to compare handguns to determine if they have also been used in other crimes, by matching and comparing data from the test sample to evidence recovered at actual crime scenes. 
Sgt. Wolfenbarger delivered his presentation on fake versus real guns. He brought in several guns, both real and fake to illustrate the challenge in quickly identifying the guns. Several of the fake guns he showed the club were called Airsoft guns and are available at Walmart. Children are playing with these “toy”guns and not understanding how they appear to officers. When faced with these guns, an officer must make a split second decision to determine whether or not they are in danger. I and most of the club members were amazed at how similar, quite frankly identical, these guns appear. Not only are children playing with these guns, but criminals are also using the fake guns while committing crimes. Sgt. Wolfenbarger’s presentation very poignantly illustrated the great challenge our officers face on the streets. Several club members wondered why it is even legal to create such real looking guns. One thing is for certain, no person has the right to judge any officer for using their weapon when faced with anyone brandishing a weapon, real or fake.Sgt. Wolfenbarger delivered such an interesting and thought provoking presentation that most members did not leave the Waterford until after 2pm. I know I regret having to leave at 1:30pm. Thanks Dave for bringing him in to speak to us!!!!!is
Note From Your Little Old Editor. I think a big THANK YOU is in order! Thanks Jennifer for a great Weekly Bulletin, you do an outstanding job.
Joe Maloney reported that the World Affairs Conference was held Wednesday March 18 on the IUSB Campus. There were 100 students from local high schools in attendance. Roseland Rotary sponsored 25 students from Clay High School. Bill Brennen and Joe were in attendance representing the Roseland
Rotary Club. Program speakers included, in person presentations and video presentations. After the presentations students were broken down into small groups to discuss the subject of Human Trafficking.
Rotary Club. Program speakers included, in person presentations and video presentations. After the presentations students were broken down into small groups to discuss the subject of Human Trafficking.Cliff Witkowski talked to Shelley Marker at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana about helping out this year on the food drive. They are not needing any help at the Food Bank on Chapin street this year.
But they need a lot of help at the Post Office branches putting food into mail trucks who will then take the food to the Food Bank on Chapin street.
This is how it works… We would unload the food from cars & mail carriers trucks that bring food to the Post Office branches ... Then we would load the U.S. Postal trucks with the food that would take the food to the Food Bank on Chapin Street.
The Granger Branch needs help on Saturday May 9 , 2 - 4 p.m. & 4 - 6 p.m. I thought the Granger Branch location would be a good one for us. It's located at Bittersweet & 23. We would need 6 people for each time segment. The Branch locations fill up pretty fast... So please send this information to all of our board members and let me know if we want to do this ASAP.
Thanks Cliff, sorry I can't be there to help. Please take a few pictures for me.
Don't forget Auction Items
Have a great week Rotarians