Speakers

Since 1992, Unity Foundation of La Porte County has served donors, nonprofits and local communities. As La Porte County’s community foundation, it manages approximately $31 million in assets, administers more than 325 charitable funds, and has distributed approximately $16 million through direct grants and scholarships. Unity’s mission is to strengthen La Porte County now and forever by building permanent endowments; providing leadership; offering philanthropic vehicles for everyone; and, being a catalyst for social and economic vitality

The Social and Learning Institute has been serving the La Porte County area since 1976 as a privately funded non-profit organization providing a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Institute’s mission is rooted in the idea that all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are defined by their own strengths and abilities--not by their disability--and that each person deserves every opportunity to thrive and participate fully in society. Programming is designed to expand minds, teach essential life skills, and help individuals recognize their worth through a structured balance of socialization and learning activities. Learn more.

Leigh’s presentation will be about La Porte University, which was founded in 1840 and included Indiana’s first medical and law schools as well as a literary department..  He’ll tell us about the rise and fall of the university, including  an interesting connection to Michigan City.  The La Porte University site was recently designated by an Indiana State Historical Marker.  Leigh’s book about he university was published with the support of the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte and is on sale at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum.

The Scholarship Committee will introduce the 2018 winners of the Rotary Club of Michigan City Foundation Scholarship.   Each year two graduating high school seniors, who exemplify ‘Service Above Self,’ are awarded $2,000 each.  The student applicants are asked to submit a short biography, letters of recommendation, and an essay on how they were  impacted by involvement in service activities, and how these activities touched and enriched the lives of others, especially those in need.  Please join our fellow Rotarians to welcome these thoughtful and accomplished students, hear about their service experiences, and their plans for the future.  Let’s also congratulate the parents for a job well-done!

Learn about the exciting speakers at the upcoming Sinai Forum to be held at the Student Activities Center, Purdue Northwest, North Central Campus

Since 1953, The Sinai Forum has provided exceptional, affordable programming on important issues of the day in a town hall setting for the residents of the greater Michigan City area. Over the years, the Forum has featured Nobel Prize recipients, former heads of state, Pulitzer Prize winners, recognized media personalities, and famous performing artists. Season after season, Forum audiences have been inspired, educated, enlightened, and entertained. www.sinaiforum.org 

The Office of the Indiana Attorney General helps protect the rights, freedoms, and safety you enjoy as a citizen of the Hoosier state.

Denise joined the Attorney General's office in January 2017 as Senior Deputy Attorney General. In October 2017, she was promoted to Chief Counsel of Investigations. She served in the Marion Prosecutor's office starting in April 2006 in various roles including Deputy Prosecuting Attorney-Homicide Unit, Supervisor Homicide Unit and Supervisor Special Crimes Unit/Homicide Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a law degree and a bachelor's degree from Indiana University.

Enjoy a picnic at the Barker Mansion garden. Invite your family and friends!

In 1968, the Mansion, also known as Barker Civic Center, was presented to the City of Michigan City under terms of a legal agreement between the City and the donor, Catherine Barker Hickox. Her wish was that the Mansion, her childhood home, should be used as a cultural and civic center in memory of her father, John H. Barker. A commission was established to direct the Center’s activities which would include restoration, preservation and documentation of the Mansion and its artifacts. These activities are for the purpose of education, research, and interpretation of the life-style of a wealthy industrialist of the late 19th century for a broad public audience.

Such is the background for the evolution of the Barker Civic Center whose specific mission is as follows:

• Present a historically accurate portrayal of Barker family life, especially that of John H. Barker - family man, citizen, entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist; and also that of his daughter Catherine Barker Hickox - orphan at age 14, heiress, businesswoman, and founder of the Barker Welfare Foundation.
• Offer tours, programs and exhibits portraying the cultural, social and economic activities of the period, thereby fostering the public’s appreciation of the mansion’s original furnishings, architecture and gardens.
• Serve area schools with specially focused tours, games and programs.
• Create a gracious and hospitable atmosphere for usage by non-profit civic and cultural groups and for lectures, recitals, and weddings.
• Welcome the public to the Mansion and to our many programs as a volunteer.
• Preserve and maintain the Mansion and its contents in order to ensure its place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Recognized as a visionary leader in the community and economic development profession, Clarence Hulse is known for his passion and talent in implementing and executing a community’s vision. His diverse background includes achievements in performance management, affordable housing, strategic planning, redevelopment, business recruitment, project financing and building community partnerships. In his current role as the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City IN, he is spearheading the revitalization in the area.  Working with the current Mayor of Michigan City, Ron Meer, over $1billion in public and private investments have been completed and/or initiated in Michigan City.

As the former Director of Economic Development in Jeffersonville IN, he was instrumental in creating 3,500 new jobs and $300 million in capital investment. In creating the Jeffersonville Neighborhood Leadership Institute, he improved the city’s neighborhoods and won recognition by the Indiana Planning Association winning the 2011 Outstanding Community Initiative Award. He also served as the Executive Director of the Jeffersonville Urban Enterprise Association implementing strategies to assist small businesses on Mainstreet, promote tourism and augment historic preservation in the downtown.

Clarence earned his BS at Harding University, AR in Public Administration, magna cum laude and an MS in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. In his spare time, the native of Belize keeps up with current events-global and national, travel, art and music festivals, Roman and Greek history, biographies, golf and fishing.

Since 2015, Brandi Lewis has served as Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City. Prior to joining the Boys & Girls Club movement, she worked for Dunebrook for over 14 years developing her passion for empowering others and serving the community. Under her leadership, Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City has benefited from an array of innovative programs, expanded partnerships and increased involvement in the greater Michigan City community. 

Brandi studied for 3 years at Indiana University Bloomington before receiving both her undergraduate degree in Communications and MBA from Purdue North Central.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a graduate of Leadership Northwest Indiana. Born and raised in Michigan City, she is married to her high school sweetheart with 3 children.

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Dr. Sue Ellspermann has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, economic and workforce development, and public service. In January 2018, under Ellspermann’s leadership, Ivy Tech launched its new five-year Strategic Plan, “Our Communities. Your College. Pathways for Student Success and a Stronger Indiana.” The plan’s vision is for Ivy Tech students to earn 50,000 high-quality certifications, certificates, and degrees per year aligned with workforce needs. The plan aligns with Indiana’s goal to equip 60 percent of the workforce with a high-value, post-secondary degree or credential by 2025. Through achievement of this goal, the College will help increase Hoosier per capita income and support the transformation of the state’s advanced industries economy. The plan development covered 18 months, including a restructure of the College, comprehensive fact finding conducted internally and externally, including thousands of faculty, staff, students and statewide stakeholders. In May 2016, she was selected to serve as President of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. She is the ninth individual to hold the position and first female president for the college. She replaced Thomas J. Snyder who announced his retirement in September of 2015 after serving as President since 2007. Ellspermann assumed the role of President on July 1, 2016. Prior to officially assuming the role as President, Ellspermann visited all 14 regions and 22 different locations in June of 2016 as President-elect. She convened 52 small groups meeting with an estimated 750+ faculty and staff on a listening tour prior to July 1. She most recently served as Indiana’s 50th Lieutenant Governor from 2013 until March of this year. As the vice chair of the Indiana Career Council she led efforts to align Indiana’s education and workforce development system to meet the needs of employers which is her continued focus at Ivy Tech. Her public service began in 2010 when she was elected as the State Representative for District 74. Ellspermann formerly served as the founding Director of the Center of Applied Research and Economic Development at the University of Southern Indiana and also owned and operated Ellspermann and Associates, Inc, an independent consulting firm licensed in the training and facilitation of Simplex Creative Problem Solving. Early in her career she spent time with Frito-Lay and Michelin Tire Corporation. Ellspermann holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Louisville in Industrial Engineering and a B.S. from Purdue University also in Industrial Engineering. She is married to James Mehling, a recently retired high school principal. She has a blended family of four daughters, three sons-in-law, two grandsons and two granddaughters.