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MONDAYS
11:30 AM - LUNCH SERVED
12:00 - 1:00 PM MEETING
DON'T MISS THIS!
December 10
Curt Witcher
Senior Manager for Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library
An overview of library programs and the Genealogy department and its work with family history during the holidays
December 17
Holiday Program with Our Rotary Singers
DECEMBER 24 & 31
NO MEETINGS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
SPIN for December 10, 2018
GREETERS: Jonathan Busarow (Fort Wayne Children’s Choir) & John Gliot
CASHIER: Jean Hershberger (Purdue Fort Wayne)
CASHIER: Jean Hershberger (Purdue Fort Wayne)
INVOCATION: Jeff Peat (1st Source Bank)
SONG LEADER: Linda Skaggs (Hampton Inn)
SERGEANT: John Peirce (Peirce Consulting)
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: Curt Witcher, Senior Manager for Special Collections, Allen County Public Library: An overview of library programs and the Genealogy department and its work with family history during the holidays
MENU: Salad & Soup, Chipotle-Ancho Crusted Pork Loin, Rice, Steamed Vegetables & Cookies and Brownies
News from the December 3, 2018, Club Meeting
Authored by Mark Westerhausen
DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE REAL ESTATE REPORT
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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.Steve presented a market survey that showed that out of 12,878,551 square feet of total “inventory”, only 10.81% was vacant, which is a rate that more favorable than many other cities in our region. In fact, there has been a positive trend over the past five years for increased occupancy. Rental rates for downtown Class A office space are in the $18-$22 per square foot range. Given the occupancy percentage and prevailing rates, it is currently a landlord-friendly market.
You can check out the survey for yourself at https://www.zacherco.com/sites/default/files/2018-Office-Survey-FINAL.pdf.
In the past year, several new downtown tenants have contributed to the upward occupancy trend. SIRVA, Ash Brokerage, Shindigz, First Merchants Bank, and DuCharme, McMillen & Associates are but a few of the firms who now call downtown Fort Wayne their home.
Fort Wayne is part of a national trend when it comes to how internal office space is designed. Newer spaces make more use of natural light and use less space per person. Fewer hard walls and more collaboration space help to make up this modern trend.
There are many upcoming projects as well. The Electric Works is probably the most well-known, but several other projects are also under development. A parking garage west of the Metro Building is in the works, as is expanded Civic Center parking, The recent acquisition of the Aunt Millie’s property may lead to some development, and the North River property, now controlled by the City of Fort Wayne, is also a development possibility.
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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)
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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!
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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
Lynne Gilmore has been nominated to be Club President for our 2021-2022 Rotary year.
Congratulations to all on their nomination!
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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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At Rotary December 10 Meeting
We'll have an update on Ema, our current Outbounds, our plans for next year's inbound, and some thoughts around a welcome party. We need to finalize Ema's farewell (yes, it will come too soon) and also talk about how we can further relationships with the various schools in our area.
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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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Capture the Moment: Rotary International Convention
in Hamburg, Germany, June 1-5, 2019
Past District Governor Lisa Waterman shared with members that a block of rooms is now ready to be reserved for this global gathering. If you are planning to go, book now! Contact Lisa for more information on hotel arrangements. At the 2019 convention, Rotary members become insiders — the first to discover the latest news, along with the ideas and strategies that drive Rotary. Whether it’s a chance meeting at the House of Friendship that leads to a new project partner or a speaker who inspires you to take action, you’ll find plenty of excitement around you. Explore new cultures and fresh perspectives by taking part in preconvention meetings, unofficial affiliated events and Rotary- and host-ticketed activities.
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS: Invite a guest to hear…………..
December 17: Holiday Program with The Rotary Singers; Election of 2019-2022 Board and 2019 Officers
DECEMBER 24 & 31: NO MEETINGS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
January 7: Craig Fischer, Curling Club
January 14: David Nicole, United Way
January 21 Dr. Tony GiaQuinta President of the IN chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
January 28: Mayor Tom Henry, State of the City Preview
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
December 10: Local Service Committee, 11 am
December 10: RYE Meeting
ANNOUNCEMENTS…Mark Your Calendar
January 30: Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry, 9:15 am--1:15 pm
March 5: Big Easy Feast
Election of Board of Directors, 2019-2023 Term
Rena Burden
Charles Cammack
John Hoffman
Evan Hyndman
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
You can now access Rotary Files at the Library: http://www.genealogycenter.info/rotaryfortwayne/