SPIN FOR APRIL 17, 2017

 
DON'T MISS THIS!
 
April 17
Scott Hinderman, Fort Wayne Airport Authority
 
April 24
Jeff Tyler, The Value of Home Inspections
 
May 1
Glenn Hile
Keeping Bees Alive in 2017 & How to Manage the Stressors
 
May 8

Rotary Youth Programs Day

Presentations by EarlyAct Students and RYLA Award Winners.

Meeting led by New Tech Interact Students.

 
May 15
Rotary Foundation Community Service Awards
 
May 22
Steve Prater: Thoughts of a Retired Army Veteran and Wounded Warrior
 
May 29
NO MEETING IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
The Spin Information and Speakers were provided by Jane Wilks, fwrotarysecretary@gmail.com.
The Spin was organized and posted by James Cress, rotaryclubfwspin@gmail.com.
 
 
News from the April 10, 2017 Club Meeting was written by Barb Wachtman.
 
Tips, lessons and wisdom from a software entrepreneur
 
In 2009, Josh Mahler and two colleagues launched a company that focused on software for the healthcare industry. Starting with nine employees, Extension Healthcare expanded to 165 employees with $20 million in revenue last year. Along the way, Mahler and his partners learned some key lessons, which Mahler shared at the Monday noon meeting of the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne at Parkview Field.
 
Extension Healthcare built software that alerts medical workers of events in patients’ stay at the hospital, making communications and response easier and faster. For example, if the patient pushes the “help needed” button, his or her team receives alerts.
 
Early on, Mahler and his two partners made key decisions that would guide their company and their lives:
  • Develop software solutions specific to health care, realizing that technology often aids efficiencies
  • Stay in Fort Wayne. All the partners were Fort Wayne natives and wanted to raise their families here.
 
Mahler explained these discoveries the team made while building a multi-million-dollar company.
  • Have patience: It takes a long time to start a company. Mahler recalled they only had two clients for their first nine months. However, their “hockey stick moment” came, and that large and rapid growth curve meant major expansions in operational areas such as human resources and accounting.
  • Developing software is hard work:  Nobody thought it would be easy to develop software; however, dealing mainly in the “middle ware” area posed challenges, not to mention the exacting quality standards of hospitals and health care regulations.
  • Find your own experts: Eventually, Mahler and his partners decided to hire clinicians to help them translate “hospital speak” and better understand their clients’ environments.  
  • Train once: The team found it worked better to hire college grads who were not yet set in their ways and did not require retraining -- as often happened with seasoned engineers. Today, the team recruits heavily at local universities, hiring some 30 grads from IPFW.
  • Culture crucial: Mahler emphasized the role culture plays in the workplace and in hiring. For example, in seeking that “Silicon Valley feel,” the company has foosball tables and ping pong tournaments, popcorn machines and other amenities. “When you consider these perks only cost two to three dollars per employee a month, you realize the great return on this investment.” He said they ensure all hires are a cultural fit for the company. 
 
Recently, Mahler and his partners faced another change: selling their company to Vocera Communications (https://www.vocera.com) of San Jose, California. Today, Mahler is vice president of professional services at Vocera and sees an exciting future that includes greater international opportunities and fine-tuning the many lessons learned from starting and running a successful software company.
 
Full calendar of opportunities
Take a look at the wide range of social and volunteer options awaiting Fort Wayne Rotarians.
 
April 20 – A Sweet Happy Hour: This month’s Happy Hour travels to Sweetwater, 5501 U.S. Highway 30 East, in the Crescendo Room. The guided tour starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person for appetizers. As membership co-chair Rick Zolman explained, “We are touring one of the coolest places to work in Fort Wayne! In addition to the tour, you will have the opportunity to embrace your inner kid and slide down the giant slide! Great photo opportunity for your social media account.” RSVPs are required and may be made by contacting Zolman at rzolman@gmail.com or 437-7330.
 
May 8 - Rotary Night at the TinCaps: The Rotary Club of Fort Wayne will be the featured community organization at this game, with the Rotary Singers leading the National Anthem. Please plan to attend and help spread the word about Rotary! Details follow.
  • Time: 7:05 p.m.  
  • Tickets:  $7.50 each and must be prepaid  
  • Show your colors: Rotarians are encouraged to “show your colors” by wearing the Rotary blue golf shirt bearing our club logo. For those who did not order the shirt last year, you have another opportunity! Shirt costs are:
    • Women: $25.99 each; $2 extra for size 2XL
    • Men: $25.99 each; $2 extra for size 2XL  
    • All orders must be pre-paid and made by April 24. 
  • Volunteer! You are encouraged to volunteer for an hour at the Rotary Club of Fort Wayne exhibit. Please help us tell our club’s great story while you play Rotary Trivia and award TinCash to our visitors.
  • Thanks: To Dan Copeland who contributed Cookie Cottage gift certificates for giveaway prizes.
  • For more information: Stop by the TinCaps table this Monday at Rotary or contact Barb Wachtman or Ruth Koontz.
 
May 21 – Riding to end polio: The 56 Rotary Clubs of District 6540 are going on a bicycle ride to end polio. On May 21, riders will travel the 130 miles from Schererville to Fort Wayne o US 30, with support and refreshment tents every10 miles. Club member Roger Reece announced he is riding the last 10 miles in honor of his mother, who had polio. He encouraged others to support the race, which ends at Headwaters Park. Expect more details soon.
 
 
 
Roger Sipe honored as Paul Harris Fellow
Club Foundation Chair Randy Rider honored Roger Sipe for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. The eponymous award for Rotary’s founder honors those making a $1,000 donation to the Rotary Foundation.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
YouStep Testing
For the meeting’s sergeant’s program the ever-witty Tom Wooding devised his own test for Rotarians called YouStep. Among the questions:
  • What is the ratio of an igloo’s circumference to its diameter? Answer: Eskimo Pi
  • What is the shortest distance between two jokes? Answer: A straight line
  • What do you get when you cut an intestine in half? Answer: A semi colon
The outcome was a near equal ratio of laughs and groans…
 
 
 
 
 
District thanks
Assistant District Governor Lynette Johnson presented Club President Candace Schuler a certificate of thanks from Rotary District 6540 for the club’s $1,500 donation to the End Polio Now: Make History Now campaign.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rest in peace ...
 
 
 
 
Long-time Rotary Club of Fort Wayne Secretary and beloved Rotarian Ed Klocke died Tuesday, April 11.  There will be a memorial service later this spring for both Ed and his wife De, who passed away last week. 
 
 
 
SPIN      April 17 2017 
 
GREETERS: Ken Lizer (EASIHR) & Tony Patrick (Old National Bank)
CASHIER:  Linda Skaggs (Hampton Inn)
INVOCATION: Dave Bennett (Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne)
SONG LEADER: Elise Alabbas (Allen County Public Library)
SERGEANT:  Allie Braun (DuCharme McMillen)
SOCIAL MEDIA: Allie Braun (DuCharme McMillen)
HOUSE:  Roger Reece (Associated Churches) & Evan Hyndman (Home Nursing Services)
SPIN EDITOR: Barb Wachtman (District PR Chair)
Web Master & AV Guru: Jim Cress (retired Lutheran pastor)
PROGRAM: Scott Hinderman, Fort Wayne Airport Authority
Menu: Soup & Salad, Mini Phillies, Loaded Potato Skins, Steamed Vegetables & Cookies
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS: Invite a guest to hear…………..
April 24: Jeff Tyler: The Value of Home Inspections
May 1: Glenn Hile: Keeping Bees Alive in 2017 & How to Manage the Stressors
May 8: Jeremy Redding: 2017 RYLA Experiences (Meeting led by New Tech Interact Students)
May 15: Rotary Foundation Community Service Awards
May 22: Steve Prater: Thoughts of a Retired Army Veteran and Wounded Warrior
May 29: NO MEETING IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY
 
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
April 24: PR, 11 am
April 25: Board Meeting, 8 am
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS…Mark Your Calendar
April 20: Happy Hour at Sweetwater, 5:30 pm
April 27: BBB of Northern Indiana Torch Awards, Noon, Mirror Center
May 8: Rotary Day at the Tin Caps
May 21: District 6540 Bike Ride to End Polio Now
June 6: Old-New Committee Chair Meeting, 11:30 am, Trinity English Lutheran Church
July 1: Cincinnati Reds  vs Chicago Cubs Bus Trip
August 19: Polio Plus 5K
August 21: Rotary Golf Outing, Orchard Ridge Country Club
 
THE ROTARACT CLUB MEETS ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE MAIN LIBRARY AT 6:30 PM.  ROTARIANS WELCOME.