Columbia City Rotary Club

Centennial Celebration

May 11, 2019

Steering Committee: Tom Bar trom, Mike Rush, Jacie Worr ick, Austin Fergusson, John

Meier, June Keiser, Kent Turnbow and Rick Kreps

Invitation / Reservation Committee

Co-Chairs: Deb Roy & Todd Lybarger

Members: Lee Baatz, Dick Buchanan, Dennis Norris, Francis Bundy, Todd Fleetwood,

Nick Brewer Pam Hoyt and Gene Heckman.

Welcoming our guest were (l-r) Deb Roy, Kent Turnbow,

Jacie Worrick and Gene Smith.

Pam

Hoyt

Venue / Food / Decoration Committee

Co-Chairs

Committee Members: Gary Dillon, Scott Garbiel, Zach Grant, Steve Linvill, Bill Tucker,

Al Anderson, Don Sexton, Taylor Hartsock, Tara Smith and Jeff Hinen.

This committee was responsible for selecting the location, planning the meal, choosing the

caterer, decorating the facility, tables and displaying the Rotary banners, U.S. Flag, and Indi-

ana State flag. They were also responsible for the sound system and podium.

The location selected was the Eagles Nest Event Center at Eagle Glen Golf Course. The se-

lected caterer was Cerutti’s out of Ft. Wayne. The Rotary banners were displayed, as was the

U.S. Flag. The tables were all covered in white linen and beautiful center pieces, made by the

Passages corporation, rounded out the atmosphere.

June Keiser Kent Turnbow

Guests enjoying the well orchestrated evening

beautifully arranged by this committee. Center pieces custom designed and

arranged by Passages personnel.

This Agenda card for the evening was placed at each person’s plate.

The Huntington Rotary Club sponsored the formation of the Columbia City

club in 1919. Seated above are representatives from the Huntington Rotary

club: Mel Ring, Rose Wall, Nichole Johnson, Jim Hoffman and Dawn and

David Harvey joining in on our celebration.

Highlights of the evening

Rev. Nancy Fergusson, wife of club presi-

dent Austin Fergusson, gives the invocation. Columbia City Rotary President Austin Fergus-

son welcomes everyone to the Celebration.

Keynote speaker was Rotary Interna-

tional President-Elect Mark Maloney.

Current District Governor Dan Ryan ad-

dresses the club on its historical signifi-

cance in District 6540, and as a great ex-

ample of what an active club should be.

RI President-Elect (RIPE)Mark Maloney

congratulates Past District Governor Lisa

Waterman for her vocal presentation of

songs typical of the year of our club’s

founding in 1919, Lisa was accompanied by

Master of Ceremonies Mike Rush.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening was

the Honorable Michael Rush, who did an

outstanding job of guiding our group

through the evening’s agenda. Mike also

provided a light air to the proceedings, and

generally kept us on track.

President-Elect Maloney presents

a 100th Anniversary plaque to

club president Austin Fergusson.

RI President-Elect Maloney presents a Paul

Harris Fellowship Award to club president

Austin Fergusson.

Kent Turnbow is also presented a Paul Harris

Fellowship Award by the Keynote speaker

President-Elect Maloney

Club President Austin Fergusson is presented the 100th Anniversary plaque by RI Pres-

ident-Elect Maloney while current Dist. Gov. Dan Ryan lends support.

President-Elect Maloney displays our

100th Anniversary Rotary banner

Current District Governor Daniel Ryan

also displays our Centennial Banner.

Past District Governor (PDG) and soon-to-be a RI Director, Floyd Lancia, is

welcomed to the celebration by club president Austin Fergusson, while honored

member and PDG Dale Pence watches from the background.

Columbia City Mayor Ryan Daniel reads his

proclamation praising the local Rotary club for

its involvement in the community and for mak-

ing our city better by its many projects over the

last one-hundred years.

Mike Rush did a masterful job as the Mas-

ter of Ceremony for our centennial cele-

bration.

Past club president Tom Bartrom meets the

incoming RI president Mark Maloney during

the social hour before dinner.

Current exchange student “James” from Tai-

wan, plus former exchange student Carmen

Jagger, as well as Rachael Rosfeld from the

local newspaper, joining club member Matt

Boyd and his wife Dawn.

A wall of posters depicting the Rotary club’s participation in International projects, the 4-H

Fair, Youth Exchange, Highway Clean-Up, Bell ringing at Christmas, Scholarship program,

Community Thanksgiving, Community Easter Egg Hunt and Golf Tournament fundraiser.

Presentation Centennial Plaque

Centennial medallion presented to club

members by Smith & Sons funeral home

and by Walker Hughes Insurance.

Rotarians (L-R) Lindsey Grossnickle and hus-

band Andrew, Bill Tucker and wife Cheryl, Al An-

derson and wife Mary Ann and Matt Rentschler

and wife Leslie enjoying conversation just before

Talking about Rotary in days gone by,

was PDG Dale Pence and Francie Gall

Thompson, daughter of PDG Cotton

Gall (1978-79)

Active conversations are taking place with PDG Ranjani, and his wife Nivi,

along with District Governor-Elect Al Brothers and his wife Sandi. Also

engaged in conversation are Churubusco Rotarians Jack Green and Chuck

Jones, speaking with Dick Buchanan. And enjoying it all are Dr. Gary Dil-

lon and his wife Ann.

Unusual coincidence - Our current Rotary District Governor and local

mayor share reversed names. Our District Governor’s name is Daniel

Ryan, and our Mayor’s name is Ryan Daniel.

Exchange Student Chen-Yu Hsiao (“James”)

with YE club Chairman Lee Baatz and RIPE

Mark Maloney.

Youth Exchange Chairman Lee Baatz with

RIPE Mark Maloney and former youth ex-

change student Carolina Moya (Brazil 1987

-88)

(L-R) Mike Rush, John Meier, Rotary International President-Elect Mark Maloney, Cub

President Austin Fergusson Honorary club member and Past District Governor Dale Pence,

Current District Governor Dan Ryan, and Past District Governor and soon-to-be Rotary In-

ternational Director Floyd Lancia.

President-Elect Maloney visits with one of

the newer Rotarians, Lindsay Grossnickel,

and Carmen Jagger, former youth exchange

student to Peru S.A., (2015-2016).

Aid to the President-Elect John Meier and

Master of Ceremonies Mike Rush, watch

PDG Floyd Lancia greet President-Elect

Maloney. RIPE Maloney and RI Dir. Lancia

will be working together at Rotary headquar-

ters in Evanston, IL beginning July 1, 2019

Club member Rick Kreps joins President-Elect Maloney, PDG Lisa

Waterman and Master of Ceremonies Mike Rush.

Booklet commemorating our centennial containing the club history

from 1919 to 1962, written by Jim Adams. The next segment, from

1962 to1994, was written by Dale Pence. And finally, our history

from 1994 to the present was written by Mike Rush.

Congratulations to the entire club for a job well done for 100 years.