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Welcome to our club

People of Action

We meet In Person & Online

Thursdays at 11:45 AM

Patrick's Grille

4125 Franklin St,
Michigan City, IN 46360
United States of America

Online Meeting URL: https://bit.ly/rotary3376mtg Online Meeting Number: 126 188 3153 Due to Covid-19 the meeting location may change. Check back here or on our Facebook page for the latest information.

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Jim Welborne

As we begin a new Rotary year I would first like to thank Jessica O'Brien for her leadership during here presidency last Rotary year.

I also want to thank outgoing board members David Gately and Abby May for there outstanding service to the club. And then there is Sandy Smith our club treasurer for many years. Thank you Sandy for keeping the books and volunteering to continue until this coronavirus allows you to train Deb Varnak as our new treasurer. Lastly I cannot thank Tom Keene enough for the long time he has been boss Sarge. He always ensured that the program was staffed, enjoyable, and lucrative.

Welcome to our new board members Matt Kubik, Adam Vidoni, Rev. Dennis Carrol, Jenilee Hanyes and Katelyn Wisser. And thanks to our continuing board members Tom Cipares, Lance Werner and Marty Corley. New officers are Cara Jones as President Elect, Jennifer Wright as Secretary and Deb Varnak as Treasurer.

I look forward to working with the directors and officers to bring a vibrant club experience to all our members.

On July 16th we will be back at Patrick's Grille in the main dining room. We will be practicing social distancing. Please wear a mask until you are served.

Interested in joining our club? Click here for more information.

Our July 16th speaker is

Ed Merrion

Vice president of the Interfaith Community PADS board of directors

Ed will share the status of the new year-round emergency homeless shelter in Michigan City at Sacred Heart Church, set to open in July.

Join us in person (face masks required) or online at https://bit.ly/rotary3376mtg. Lunch costs for guests is $12.00.

In order to reserve the correct amount of food, please take less than a minute to RSVP by filling out the form located here.

Great Time, Great Speaker at the Annual Garden Party

On July 9th we had a wonderful time enjoying the Friendship Botanic Gardens and listening to a very dynamic talk by Dion Campbell the Michigan City Police Chief. The weather was hot but a beautiful breeze kept us all cool inside the pavilion overlooking the Rotary garden and the fountain in Lake Lucerne.

Tom Cipares ran a fun Sarge program asking questions about the origins of the Friendship Gardens. Suzy Vance stole the show by answering most of Tom's questions.

Chief Dion talked about his background and path to becoming the Chief of Police. Dion enjoyed is 20 years as School Resource Officer Just when he was ready to retire circumstances in Michigan City changed and he was summoned to take on the position of Police Chief. Initially his wife and family were not in favor of him taking on that position but eventually after praying over it and discussing it they said it was time for him to take on the leadership of the department.

In establishing the goals and directions of the MCPD Dion referenced Sir Robert Peel's Policing Principles from 1829 which in part were "The key to preventing crime is earning public support. Every community member must share the responsibility of preventing crime, as if they were all volunteer members of the force. They will only accept this responsibility if the community supports and trusts the police." and "The police earn public support by respecting community principles. Winning public approval requires hard work to build reputation: enforcing the laws impartially, hiring officers who represent and understand the community, and using force only as a last resort."

Dion demonstrated the value of these principles during the demonstrations held recently in Michigan City.

The demonstrations were initially reported as a gathering of 600 people between the hours of 6:30 and 8:30. Message wishing evolved into a gathering over 1000 people lasting almost done till midnight. The turning point of the demonstrations began when Chief Dion went to the lighthouse place and defused aggressive actions by young people by explaining he didn't take sides he only wanted what was good.

The result of Chief Dion's actions were that Michigan City only suffered a few broken windows and some minor damage do some businesses As opposed to major damage, fires and looting that other cities encountered during these types of demonstrations. The chief thanked all of his officers who worked tirelessly and professionally during the demonstrations as well as the Indiana State police, the La Porte County Sheriff's Department and other law enforcement departments from around the area.

All members of the Rotary Club thanked Chief Dion for protecting the city of Michigan City and its inhabitants.

Unfortunately the recording of this meeting got lost due to lack of Internet capabilities.

Our July 2nd speaker was

Tony Rodriguez, director
La Porte County Office of Community and Economic Development.

Tony spoke on the development of La Porte County including the Northwest Indiana Alliance.

During Jim Welborne's first meeting as president he presented outgoing president Jessica O'Brien with a plaque and a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Matt Kubik conducted the Sarge program during his first meeting as Boss Sarge. Matt had a quiz on US Independence and read the preamble to the Declaration of Independence.

Due to technical issues this meeting's recording is not available.

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