SPIN JUNE 12, 2017

DON'T MISS THIS!

June 12

Vicki Heckman

Canine Companions

June 19

David Maynard

Life Lessons Growing up at NASA

June 26

Bruce Kingsbury PhD

Wetlands: Jewels of the Forest

MEMORIAL FOR ED AND DEE KLOCKE (Location update)

Sunday, June 11, 2017, 1 - 4 PM

Cerutt's, 6601 Innovation Road

(Ludwig Road and Innovation Blvd)

Program at 2:30 PM

The Spin Information and Speakers were provided Jane Wilks, fwrotarysecretary@gmail.com.

The Spin was organized and posted by James Cress, rotaryclubfwspin@gmail.com.

Information from the Meeting of June 5, 2017, Kelly Updike, SPIN editor

Can’t Get Any Better Than This

“My mom says I smile a lot more and my dad says I’m more confident, especially in speaking English,” said Venla Laurinseppa, the club’s Rotary Youth Exchange student from Kajaani, Finland, when asked how her year in the U.S. has changed her.

Venla, who speaks five languages, spent the past year as a junior at North Side High School. She participated in soccer, swimming and track & field, lettering in each of the three sports. She also was named MVP in soccer.

In Venla’s hometown school, there are 400 students and no sports. She will be a junior in her school next year and will wear the traditional white cap when she graduates there. Kajaani has a population of almost 40,000.

Finnish and Swedish are the two official languages of Finland, which was part of Sweden for 500 years, Venla reported. She said that Finland is 100 years old this year. She explained the country’s primary holidays – at Easter, children dress as witches, decorate sticks and recite a rhyme to receive money or chocolates – and described her family of mother, stepdad, dad and two younger brothers.

When she was in the eighth grade, Venla’s guidance counselor described exchange programs to her. She enjoyed reading other students’ blogs of their travels but didn’t think she could do it. When she saw a Rotary application for RYE, she learned she had to be sponsored by a local club – and her town has two clubs! So, she approached them and received a sponsorship. The rest is Fort Wayne Rotary Club history.

Venla has had many experiences in her year here, including many firsts, including first caramel apple (at the Johnny Appleseed Festival), first baseball game (TinCaps) and first jack-o-lantern, as Halloween is not a Finnish holiday. She also thanked her host families, the Johnsons and Rizzos, for their care.

Mayor Tom Henry proclaimed June 5 to be Venla Laurinseppa Rotary Exchange Student Day, and Venla tearfully told the club, “Thank you, you’ve been amazing.”

Not One but TWO New Members

Please be sure to welcome two new club members:

Jim Ham grew up in South Bend and moved to Fort Wayne in 1990, joining Navistar. He currently is with Stoops Freightliner as a sales manager. He and his wife Barbara have two children. Jim’s current job allows him time for community involvement, so he looked us up on the Internet and decided to join!

Jessica Butler is vice president at Diskey Signs. She graduated from IPFW, has been in Miss Indiana pageants and was named a 40 Under 40 award winner. Megan has a strong singing and acting background and still performs locally.

We’re This Close

Participate in the Ninth Annual 5K Run/Walk to Eradicate Polio on August 19th at Shoaff Park. Registration is at 7 a.m. with the kid's mile fun run at 8 a.m. The 5K is at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $25 for registrations by July 29th ($22 if you are a Fort Wayne Running Club member.) and $30 afterward. Free T-shirt is included. Register at www.getmeregister.com and click on the like to this race. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Rotary Happy Hour

June 20

5:30 to 7 p.m.

Rudy's

409 W. Brackenridge St.

Cost is $11 for a drink ticket and appetizers

Dues Notice!

To better manage the annual dues increases set by Rotary International, the board will be implementing a dues increase from $180 to $185 each half year starting July 1. This is the first increase in five years. The Rotary Foundation contribution remains at $50 and lunch is still $10. FYI that dues can now be paid monthly via automatic debit; see Jane Wilks for information. Dues statements will be emailed this week.

Peace, Love and the Power of Rotary

Honor our own flower child, outgoing president Candace Schuler,

by attending the June 27 annual meeting at Bergstaff Place, beginning at 6 p.m. RSVP by June 19 (invitations are being distributed now) to Jane Wilks. Cost is $40.

Meeting Location Change!

There is a daytime TinCaps game on July 10,

so the club meeting will take place at the

University of Saint Francis Business Center

826 Ewing St.

This is the former Woman’s Club.

Join us for a day trip to see the

Cincinnati Reds take on the Chicago Cubs!!

When: Saturday, July 1, Bus Leaves at 11:00 AM | First Pitch 4:05 PM

Where: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH

Prices: $80 per person – includes, ticket, bus fair, sandwich, chips, drinks, and PRICELESS memories with Rotarians, friends and family!

Want to Buy a Ticket? Reach out to Allie Braun, alliebraun1025@gmail.com or

Justin Libey, justin.libey@oldnational.com.