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MONDAYS
11:30 AM - LUNCH SERVED
12:00 - 1:00 PM MEETING
DON'T MISS THIS!
December 17
Holiday Program with Our Rotary Singers
DECEMBER 24 & 31
NO MEETINGS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
SPIN for December 17, 2018
GREETERS: Greg Allen (First Federal Bank of Midwest) & Carrie Minnich (DWD)
CASHIER: Tony Patrick (Old National Bank)
INVOCATION: Dick Sievers (Allen County Jail Chaplain)
SONG LEADER:
SERGEANT:
HOUSE: John Gliot (Boy Scouts of America) & Roger Reece (Associated Churches)
SPIN EDITOR: Mark Westerhausen (DWD)
Web Master & AV Guru: James Cress (retired Lutheran pastor)
PIANO: Masson Robertson (retired from IPFW and The Philharmonic)
PROGRAM: Holiday Program with The Rotary Singers; Election of 2019-2022 Board and 2019 Officers
MENU: Salad & Soup, Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Sugar Snap Peas, German Chocolate Cakes
News from the December 10, 2018, Club Meeting
Authored by Mark Westerhausen
A Library Christmas Carol
Curt Witcher, manager of special collections at the Allen County Public Library (ACPL), called upon ghosts borrowed from A Christmas Carol to update the downtown Rotary Club on the library’s genealogy department and ACPL programming.The Ghost of Library Past updated us on the national genealogy conference held in Fort Wayne this summer. More than 1,200 attendees enjoyed their time in Fort Wayne. Of particular note was the keynote event which provided genealogical research on four news anchors from Fort Wayne television stations. The “cry factor” was in full force when at least one of the anchors was moved to tears by the research on their family.
This summer also featured the summer reading program with over 19,000 participants, including one 14-year-old girl who commented that it was a good excuse to bring her mom to the library!
The Ghost of Library Present told us about the ongoing Family History Holiday Challenge, a contest that anyone can enter this December – see the details on the library website. Also highlighted was this week’s used book sale put on by Friends of the ACPL.
Finally, the Ghost of Library Future let us know that this April the ACPL will host a state-wide genealogy conference. Also, there will be three presentations this year highlighting the library’s Lincoln collection, including one on the Underground Railroad.
An interesting question was raised during the Q&A time: how do the current popular sites such as Ancestry.com and 23Andme compare to using the ACPL genealogy department? While allowing that these sites are very good, Curt said the library provides many things these sites can’t, including 250 years of experienced staff ready to help patrons and access to many of the best licensed databases.
Thanks to Curt for updating us on a tremendous community resource!
Year End Giving to the Rotary Foundation
All Rotarians should consider taking the opportunity during this giving season to include The Rotary Foundation in their giving plans. And do we have a deal for you! Our district has announced a point match, up to 500, toward Paul Harris status for all contributions made through January 2019. This is in addition to our local club match.
For contributions to count for this program, they must be given directly to Jeff Peat, who can provide you with further details. But you need to hurry – the district match is good only while supplies last (i.e., they have only 50,000 points available)! Also, if you want your gift to count for 2018, see Jeff no later than Dec. 17!
Dues Are Due
If you haven’t yet paid your semi-annual Rotary dues for the period starting Jan. 1, 2019, please help us get these collected by the end of December. You can pay with credit card directly from the invoice emailed to you or pay by mail or at the Dec. 17 meeting. Thank you!
Membership Survey
If you haven’t yet taken the membership survey, this is your last chance! Your input is very important in shaping the future of our Club. You can find the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RotaryFW. There are also paper copies available at the December club meetings. We really want to hear from you!
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NOMINATIONS
The following Rotarians were nominated to serve in Club Leadership. A formal vote will be taken at our December 17 meeting.
Nominated to a three-year term on our Board of Directors starting in July 2019 are:
Evan Hyndman
Rena Burden
Charles Cammack, Jr.
John Hoffman
Nick Shah
Election of Officers, 2019-2020
President: Holli Seabury
President Elect: Jeff Peat
President Elect nominee: Lynne Gilmore
Treasurer: Mark Westerhausen
Secretary: Jane Wilks
Past President: Dave Bennett
Lynne Gilmore has been nominated to be Club President for our 2021-2022 Rotary year.
Congratulations to all on their nomination!
Riverfront Donations
We are still accepting pledges and donations to the club’s Riverfront project. Did you know that in addition to accepting cash, our local foundation also accepts donations of appreciated stock? Check with Treasurer Mark Westerhausen for the details for this tax-advantaged way of giving.
If you are age 70-1/2, you can also make the Fort Wayne Rotary Foundation a charitable recipient of your IRA distribution. This is a great way to give and not pay income tax on your distribution. Your IRA custodian can make this happen for you if you are interested.
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Rotary presented jerseys to the basketball team at Washington School.
We will be cheering on the team in January when the season starts. The team members were so overjoyed and appreciated to have the jerseys. They feel like a real team! Maybe matching shorts will be next. More jersey sizes are being ordered to keep on hand. The smiles on their faces says it all!
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YEAR END GIVING TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
All Rotarians should consider taking the opportunity during this giving season to include The Rotary Foundation in their giving plans. And do we have a deal for you! Our District has announced a point match, up to 500, toward Paul Harris status for all contributions made through January 2019. This is in addition to our local club match.
For contributions to count for this program, they must be given directly to Jeff Peat, who can provide you with further details. But you need to hurry – the District match is good only “while supplies last”! (i.e. they have only 50,000 points available)
# # #
MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
If you haven’t yet taken the membership survey, please do so today! Your input is very important in shaping the future of our Club. You can find the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RotaryFW. There are also paper copies available at the December club meetings. We really want to hear from you!
# # #
RIVERFRONT DONATIONS
We are still accepting pledges and donations to the Club’s Riverfront project. Did you know that in addition to accepting cash, our local foundation also accepts donations of appreciated stock? Check with Treasurer Mark Westerhausen for the details for this tax-advantaged way of giving.
If you are 70-1/2, you can also make the Fort Wayne Rotary Foundation a charitable recipient of your IRA distribution. This is a great way to give and not pay income tax on your distribution. Your IRA custodian can make this happen for you if you are interested.
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Past Rotary Governor Lisa Is On The Air!
Recent District Governor (and Club Rotarian) Lisa Waterman is hosting Financially Speaking with Lisa on Saturday mornings at 10 am on WOWO.
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The Foundation Million Dollar Dinner will be held next February at Notre Dame. This is an inaugural event recognizing members who have given $10,000 or have committed to putting in their will a gift of $10,000 or more. Arch Klumpf, the founder of the Rotary Foundation, once said, “No one can tell us what Rotary will be tomorrow, but one thing is certain: What Rotary will be tomorrow depends upon what we Rotarians do today.” You are encouraged to consider the foundation for your annual giving and/or in your will. Together, we make the foundation work!
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Our program last Monday was presented by Steve Zacher of The Zacher Company, which is a Fort Wayne commercial real estate firm. Steve is the president and managing broker of the company, which has been in business since the early 1960’s. Steve provided a market overview of the downtown Fort Wayne office market, and here are some of the highlights.