Committees & Programs

PUBLIC FORUM

Chair: Ashley Vezzoso Schaefer (ashleyvezzoso@gmail.com)

With an average attendance of around 100, the Rotary Club of Evansville has a speaker at each weekly meeting, making it the ideal public forum in our community. Rotarians are encouraged to suggest topics and submit contact information for speakers they would like scheduled.

EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT

Chair: Christy Walker (cwalker@youthfirstinc.org)

Each school year, we grant over $20,000 to public, parochial and private schools to fund many teachers’ innovative classroom programs that wouldn’t otherwise be funded. Our members also provide one-on-one mentoring support to students each year; providing guidance and practical knowledge in vocations and areas of mutual interest. In 2022, we partnered with Liberty Federal Credit Union, making it possible to grant more funding than ever before.

ROTARY AMBASSADORS

The Ambassador Program assigns one Rotarian to each school (public, private and parochial) within the community to serve as a liaison between the club and the schools and to assist the schools and the students within the schools with their individual needs.  

ROTARACT

Chair: Patrick C. Thomas (pthomas@kddk.com)

Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and women aged 18-32 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace.

INTERACT

Chair: Dr. Ross Halvorsen (ross.halvorsen@signature.edu)

Interact club brings together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Rotary Club of Evansville sponsors the Signature Interact Club encouraging students to take action in their school, community and the world.

ROTARY CIVIC AWARD

Chair: Philip R Hooper (hooper@PRHooper.com)

The Evansville Rotary Club Civic Award, one of the community’s most prestigious awards, has been awarded annually since 1927. The award recognizes the person or persons who, in the opinion of the club, made the greatest contribution of service to the community in the current year or who has made an outstanding contribution of service over a period of years.

BAIRD BERGER WEALTH SERVICES READING ROTARIANS

Chair: Taylor Gogel (tjgogel@usi.edu)

The Rotary Club of Evansville and Berger Wealth Services have joined together to read to every 1st grade class in the public and parochial schools in our community. Evansville Rotary provides the volunteers and Berger Wealth Services provides the funding for the books that are then left in the classroom for future enjoyment.

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE MENTORING AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE

Chair: Andrew Alexander (Andrew.Alexander@DignityMemorial.com)

The Rotary Club of Evansville pairs international students with Rotary professionals for monthly contact throughout the school year. Rotarians are encouraged to invite mentees into their professional settings, to cultural events, and to even include them in family activities. A meet and greet reception is held at the beginning of the program.

ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS (RYLA)

Chair: Dr. Ross Halvorsen (ross.halvorsen@signature.edu)

Leadership is an essential aspect of Rotary. We offer programs to help emerging leaders develop their skills. Our Club sponsors students participating in the annual RYLA program at Bradford Woods, owned and operated by IU and in rural Morgan County. The RYLA program takes full advantage of the beautiful wooded setting. Under the guidance of trained facilitators, RYLA participants gain valuable leadership skills through a variety of “learn by doing” opportunities.

ROTARY SANTA RUN

Chair: Cathy Renner (rennercathy70@gmail.com)

Beginning in 2014, the Rotary Club of Evansville has held the annual Rotary 5k run and 1 mile walk in December, beginning at the Buffalo Trace Council, Eykamp Boy Scout Center. Runners of all ages and abilities participate. It is an event that is fun for spectators and participants alike. Each participant receives a complete Santa suit that is worn during the event. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Foundation of Evansville.

ROTARY FOUNDATION OF EVANSVILLE 

The Rotary Foundation of Evansville, formed in 1990, is the focal point of our community and international service activities. Some of the Club’s projects and programs that have been funded over the last several years include the Rotary Canoe Kayak Launch, North Woods Trails, YMCA Fitness Center, Howell Wetlands Education Center, $100,000.00 Centennial Gift to the City for Mickey’s Kingdom, Easterseals, United Methodist Youth Home, Millie’s Downtown Dino Trail, and most recently, WNIN Teaching Service Above Self to children.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT COMMITTEE 

Chair: Jeffrey Berger (jberger@rwbaird.com)

Rotary Club of Tizimin is our sister club and together we have supported various projects in the Yucatan which include computers and desks for schools, medical supplies, ambulances, and a fully equipped kitchen to help special needs children create a sustainable business. In August, 2022 a campaign started to provide Chromebook computers for children. We are proud to have met our goal, raising $15,000.00 from the members of the club. This amount will be matched by the club’s foundation for a total of $30,000.00.

GREETERS

Chair: Steve Keck (skeck@mulberrycapitalmgmt.com)

Rotarians are scheduled every week to greet guests and Rotarians as they arrive for the luncheon. The greeter that day introduces the guests and visiting Rotarians in attendance that day.

INVOKERS

Chair: Steve Keck (skeck@mulberrycapitalmgmt.com)

Members are asked to volunteer to give the invocation at one of the weekly luncheons and asked to follow the international guidelines set forth by Rotary International.

MARKETING COMMITTEE

Chair: Kim Spence (kspence@isbdc.org)

Formed to develop brand and marketing strategies to increase awareness of Rotary in the community along with potential members and potential speakers.

ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Formed to develop, provide and encourage multiple path-ways of engagement for existing members and within the extended Rotary family.

REVENUE COMMITTEE

Formed to develop multiple revenue streams to support Rotary and its programs and projects.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Chair: Taylor Gogel (tjgogel@usi.edu)

Formed to establish annual membership and retention goals with supporting strategies that reflects the diversity of our community. Develop and implement plans for membership recruitment.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Chair: Steve Keck (skeck@mulberrycapitalmgmt.com)

Formed to regularly evaluate and report back to the Board of Directors on the performance of the Rotary Foundation of Evansville investments including decisions to buy, sell, or hold individual securities, and to alter allocation within the guidelines established in the investment policy statement.

DEI COMMITTEE

Chair: Ryan Rigg (ryanrigg@unitedcaringservices.org)

We believe that exemplifying and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) should be a part of everything we do at Rotary. To ensure we live up to that ideal, we formed a DEI Committee in 2023. Some of our goals include making recommendations for future speakers at club meetings, attending various cultural events in our community, and making sure our meetings are welcoming to all.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

Chair: Dan Carwile (dancarwile54@gmail.com)

The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.