Speakers

Speaker	Date	Topic
Dan Ryan, DG	Sep 20, 2018	District Governor 6540 A member of the DeMotte-Kankakee Valley Rotary Club since 1988, Dan has served on the Board of Directors for several years and as Club President twice, 1994-1995 and 2000-2001. Since 1988 he has served as Scholarship Chair. He has received the Distinguished Service Award from his club. 2002-2003 to 2005-2006 Assistant Governor (eight Clubs year one, five Clubs thereafter) 2002-2003 to 2005-2006 Polio Area Coordinator (Ten Clubs) 2003-2004 Co-chair District Foundation 2004-2005 to 2012-2013 District Foundation Chair 2013-2014 to 2015-2016 District Membership Chair 2013-Present District New Club Chair: New clubs in Lowell; Summit City South of Fort Wayne; Portage (restart) and Frontier. 2016-2017 District Conference Co-Chair 2013-2017 Zone 30 PHS Coordinator Dan is a Major Donor, Level 2, and along with his wife, both Bequest Society Members, Level 2, and Paul Harris Society Members. Dan and Kathy have been married for 46 years, have three daughters and ten grandchildren. He has been at DeMotte State Bank for 34 years and serves as Executive Vice-President and Loan Administrator. Dan has been honored by District 6540 with the District Foundation Service Award and by The Rotary Foundation with The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, and the Distinguished Service Award. He has also been honored within District 6540 with the Rich Angle Lifetime Achievement Award, the Cable Award, and the Jack and Kay Kissinger Award.
Service Above Self Award	Sep 27, 2018	Michigan City Police Department The Rotary Club of Michigan City will present its annual Service Above Self Award to a member of the Michigan City Police Department, recognizing this officer for going above and beyond in service to the community.
Matt Wells	Oct 04, 2018	Partnership Opportunities with the PNW College of Business We have seen a number of exciting developments in the College of Business at Purdue Northwest over the past two years, and we’re looking to strengthen our partnerships with the business community of La Porte County. Matt Wells, Executive Director of Career Management & College of Business Partnerships, will be speaking about the variety of industry engagement opportunities afforded by the College, including student internships, faculty-led consulting services, alumni mentoring, and more.
Clarence Hulse	Oct 11, 2018	Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City 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.
Career Cafe	Oct 25, 2018	The Rotary Club will meet at the Career Cafe at the AK Smith Career Center for lunch The address for Career Cafe is 317 Detroit St. This is the entrance for Elston High School. Members may park on the street, or in parking lot across from the entrance. Career Cafe is the only student run restaurant in the area. These culinary arts students are learning all parts of the profession, with the majority of them hoping to attain a degree in Culinary Arts. Many of our students also aspire to owning their own restaurant some day. Career Cafe is open to the public for breakfast and lunch (days of the week may vary next year based on our schedule). Our students also cater events, parties and meetings. Students in the Culinary Arts program at AK Smith Career and Tech Center work to earn 3 industry certifications - ServSafe, Prostart 1 and Prostart 2. All of these are National Restaurant Association certifications and are considered college level or professional level certifications. Our students may also receive Dual Credits from Ivy Tech, meaning the curriculum for our program is strict and meets the requirements of college level programs. Our students are passionate about cooking and dedicated to learning what it takes to succeed in the culinary industry. Finally, we are very happy to start a new project during the 2018/19 school year- we will be installing and maintaining our own garden. AK Smith was awarded a garden grant by the Whole Kids Foundation. This grant will allow 4 different programs to come together and create a new tool for teachers to use in their curriculum. We are very excited to begin this new adventure into better understanding where our food comes from and the intense work and knowledge it takes to grow healthy food for our customers and guests.
John Cary	Nov 01, 2018	The New Boy Scouts of America Scout Executive of LaSalle Council John brings more than 18 years of relevant experience to LaSalle Council. He most recently served as Assistant Scout Executive for the Baltimore Area Council for the past three years. John will be presenting: Scouting in the area by the numbers Family Scouting Scouting BSA in 2019 Centennial Celebration Building relationships in the area John began his professional Scouting career in Louisville, Kentucky in 2000. He subsequently served as the CEO of the Builders Exchange of Kentucky, the state’s largest commercial construction trade association, from 2011 thru 2013. Recognizing his passion for Scouting, in 2013 John returned to Scouting as an Assistant Scout Executive in the Pine Tree Council in Portland, Maine, before his move to Baltimore in 2015. John is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications & Political Science, and a Master of Public Administration.
Mariah Pol - MCAS	Nov 08, 2018	Oleander Initiative Mariah Pol, MCAS middle school teacher, will speak about her participation in the Oleander Initiative, which is a gathering of educators from around the world to focus on international peace. It was held in Japan this summer and Mariah was selected to participate. She was one of only two chosen from the United States. We look forward to hearing what she learned and is implementing in her classroom as a result!
Special Holiday Luncheon	Nov 29, 2018	Tour of Barker Mansion experience the splendor of a Barker Christmas! Lunch will be held at Barker Mansion 631 Washington Street -- Michigan City, Indiana optional Guided tour after meeting Barker Mansion is the former residence of local millionaire-industrialist, John H. Barker, who built the Haskell & Barker Railroad Car Company, which later became Pullman-Standard. The mansion was built in 1857, and shortly after the elaborate 38 room structure was finished, both Mr. and Mrs. Barker passed away, leaving the mansion and the Barker fortune to their only child, Catherine, who later donated the structure to Michigan City. The building is now a lasting tribute to Barker's philanthropy and is open to the public for tours. A tour of the mansion and grounds makes for a fascinating study in "gracious living." It is typical of turn-of-the-century opulence and features rare woods and marble, beautiful one-of-a-kind tapestries, impressive collections of books and paintings, and a third-story ballroom where the Barkers entertained in royal fashion. The architecture is modeled after the stately English manors of the Victorian Era. The rich furnishings, almost all original, were imported from Europe and the rest of the world. The drawing room features a hand carved marble fireplace and ceiling of molded plaster in baroque design. Silver-plated bronze torches and a white limestone fireplace invite one into the foyer of the mansion. The walnut table in the formal dining room has a beautifully carved pedestal base ornamented with cherubs, each one a unique "winged child." Throughout the mansion, the discerning visitor is intrigued by the repetition of lions, winged women, cherubs, and garlands worked in various mediums. Much of the decor consists of authentic Barker family artifacts, including furnishings and art objects, family portraits, library collections, and personal belongings. Outside, an elaborate sunken garden hosts a bronze equatorial sun dial, a tea house complete with leaded-glass globes, and a 19th Century Italian statue of "The Three Graces"; these delightful elements combine to make the courtyard and perennial garden an especially unique setting for weddings. If the visitor is lucky enough to be in LaPorte County around the holiday season, he or she can experience the splendor of a Barker Christmas! In December, all three floors are bedecked with Christmas decor of the Victorian period. It is a magical sight for children and adults. Barker Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Barker Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.