Columbus Rotary Club

10/16/2026

🥃 BOURBON, FRIENDS & A GREAT CAUSE! 🥃

🎟️ TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!

Join us for the 3rd Annual Columbus Rotary Bourbon Tasting & Fundraiser on Thursday, November 19, at Helen Haddad Hall!

We're excited to welcome back Rick and Ricky Johnson of 15 Stars Distilling for their second year! They'll be sharing some of their newest bourbon expressions for guests to sample and enjoy.

And there's more!

🥃 Exceptional Bourbon Tastings – Discover some of the newest offerings from 15 Stars Distilling.

🍴 Delicious Bites – Enjoy food provided by John Fairbanks and the wonderful folks at ChampionZone!

🎁 Silent Auction – Bid on incredible bourbon selections and other exciting items. More details coming soon!

❤️ Two Great Causes! – Proceeds from this year's event will help support:

🎶 Columbus Indiana Philharmonic's Adventure Concerts – Inspiring young people through music.

🌎 Abby's House Hillside Health Clinic in Belize – Supporting access to healthcare and making a difference beyond our community.

📅 Thursday, November 19
📍 Helen Haddad Hall – Columbus, Indiana

💙💛 You don't have to be a Rotarian to attend! Invite your friends, enjoy a wonderful evening, and help us make a difference locally and globally!

🎟️ GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
https://thecip.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/instances/a0FRQ00000IcauY2AR

Great bourbon. Great company. Greater impact.

Must be 21 or older to attend. Please drink responsibly.

10/15/2026

🏀🔴 FROM COLUMBUS NORTH TO THE INDIANA HOOSIERS! 🔴🏀

Columbus Rotary is excited to welcome hometown basketball standout Ali Patberg as our guest speaker on Monday, October 19!

Ali's journey is one that Columbus can certainly be proud of!

🏆 A 2015 Columbus North graduate, Ali led the Bull Dogs to the Class 4A State Championship and was named Indiana Miss Basketball and a McDonald's All-American.

🏀 After beginning her college career at Notre Dame, Ali transferred to Indiana University, where she became one of the Hoosiers' most accomplished women's basketball players, earning four All-Big Ten honors and scoring 1,752 career points.

⭐ In 2022, she was selected by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA Draft.

❤️ Today, Ali is back at Indiana University, serving as an Assistant Coach for the IU Women's Basketball team, helping develop the next generation of student-athletes.

But Ali's story goes beyond basketball. During her time at Columbus North, she received the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award, recognizing character, leadership, scholarship, and athletic achievement. She has also demonstrated a heart for giving back to her community.

From hometown courts to collegiate success and coaching, Ali's journey is a wonderful example of hard work, perseverance, leadership, and the importance of giving back.

💙💛 We look forward to welcoming Ali to Columbus Rotary on Monday, October 19, and hearing more about her journey!

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

🍁💙💛 WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COLUMBUS ROTARY? 💛💙🍁

We've got some exciting weeks ahead! From inspiring speakers and beautiful music to community service and a little friendly competition, there's something for everyone!

📅 Mark your calendars!

🏀 October 19 – Ali Patberg, Assistant Coach and former Indiana Hoosiers Women's Basketball player

🎶 October 26 – Celebrating the Philharmonic's 40th Anniversary Season with Isaac Selya

🤝 November 2 – Reach Columbus

🎻 November 9 – Youth Philharmonic Orchestra at Helen Haddad Hall

❤️ November 16 – Hospice Stocking Stuffers at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana. A wonderful opportunity to put Service Above Self into action!

🥃 November 19 – Rotary Bourbon Tasting Fundraiser! More details coming soon!

🎄 December 7 – Columbus North Choir at Helen Haddad Hall

🏆 December 14 – Rivalry Week! Let the friendly competition begin!

✨ Great programs. Meaningful service. Lasting friendships.

That's what Columbus Rotary is all about! We look forward to seeing our fellow Rotarians and guests in the weeks ahead.

10/07/2026

🏙️ Design Excellence. Civic Leadership. Stronger Communities.

Columbus is once again helping lead an important conversation about how thoughtful design can shape the places we call home.

Tomorrow, Thursday, October 8, the inaugural Prove It: A National Summit on Design Excellence as Civic Practice kicks off at The Commons. The summit brings together civic leaders, designers, researchers, thinkers, and funders around one big idea:

Design excellence is a civic discipline that any community willing to do the work can define, measure, and practice.

Delegations led by the mayors of Michigan City, Muncie, Rushville, and Terre Haute will join Columbus to work on active civic projects and explore what “quality of place” can look like in communities across Indiana.

The evening’s keynote conversation will feature Maurice Cox of the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Courtney Spearman of Building Common Ground. U.S. Senator Todd Young will offer remarks, with Daniel Luis Martinez of Indiana University moderating.

Mayor Mary Ferdon and Landmark Columbus Foundation Board Chair Tracy Haddad will kick off the evening.

📅 Thursday, October 8
🥂 Reception: 5:30 PM
🎤 Program: 6:00–7:30 PM
📍 The Commons | 300 Washington Street

The event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is requested.

👉 Register here: http://proveitkeynote.eventbrite.com/

We love seeing Columbus bring people together to imagine, learn, and build stronger communities! 🌎✨

What does design excellence look like in cities and in rural towns? A free keynote with national experts opens the first Prove It Summit.

10/06/2026

💙💛 Celebrating Commitment to The Rotary Foundation! 💛💙

Columbus Rotary is proud to recognize Luann Welmer and Patrick Andrews for joining the Paul Harris Society!

Paul Harris Society members demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to Rotary’s mission through annual giving to The Rotary Foundation. Their generosity helps Rotary continue making a difference in communities here at home and around the world. 🌎

As cumulative giving reaches each $1,000 level, members receive additional Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

👏 Patrick Andrews received a Paul Harris Fellow pin with one sapphire, along with his Paul Harris Society certificate and chevron.

👏 Luann Welmer received her Paul Harris Society certificate and chevron, recognizing her commitment as a new member of the Society.

Please join us in congratulating Patrick and Luann and thanking them for investing in the work of Rotary! Your generosity is another wonderful example of Service Above Self.

🌟🌟Awards presented by Barb Stamper.

10/05/2026

🍎📚 Happy World Teachers’ Day!

Today, Columbus Rotary celebrates the incredible teachers who educate, encourage, inspire, and invest in the next generation every single day.

Teachers do so much more than teach lessons from a textbook. They help students discover their strengths, build confidence, dream bigger, and become the future leaders of our community.

To the teachers in our community — thank you for your patience, your dedication, and the countless ways you make a difference, often in ways you may never fully see. 💙💛

We are grateful for you and the important role you play in making our community stronger!

10/04/2026

📣 WHAT’S HAPPENING AT COLUMBUS ROTARY?

We have some great speakers, programs, and events coming up! Mark your calendars and join us! 💙💛

📚 TOMORROW - October 5 — Lessons Learned from a Former Superintendent
Dr. John Quick shares lessons and leadership insights from his years in education.

🍂 October 12 — Fall Break | No Meeting
Enjoy the week off, Rotarians!

🏀 October 19 — Ali Patberg
Assistant Coach and former Indiana Hoosiers Women’s Basketball player. We’re excited to welcome Ali and hear about her journey on and off the court!

🎶 October 26 — Celebrating the 40th Anniversary Philharmonic Season
Isaac Selya joins us as we celebrate this exciting milestone.

🤝 November 2 — Reach Columbus
Learn more about this organization and its work in our community.

🥃 November 19 — Bourbon Tasting Fundraiser
Save the date! More information is coming soon!

There’s always something happening at Columbus Rotary — great conversations, community connections, and opportunities to live out Service Above Self.

We’d love to have you join us!

10/02/2026

📚 Join us Monday, October 5!

The Columbus Rotary Club is looking forward to welcoming Dr. John Quick for a special presentation:

“Lessons Learned from a Former Superintendent”

Leadership brings challenges, opportunities, tough decisions — and plenty of lessons along the way. Dr. Quick will share insights gained throughout his years in education and leadership and the experiences that helped shape his perspective.

We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be an interesting and insightful conversation!

📅 Monday, October 5
🎤 Dr. John Quick
⏰Noon
🏨 Hotel Indigo
📚 Lessons Learned from a Former Superintendent