Membership
The April board meeting set a new record in growth of the club. Nine new members were approved showing the diversity of our club, and the wide range of interest and talents of our members.
Robert Beck received his BSME and MSME from Newark College of engineering. Bob was plant general manager, and chief refinery engineer for the Chevron Corporation. Bob enjoys community service organizations and is past present of the Lyons Club. Golf, boating, and the Contemporary Club are additional activities that keep Bob busy.
Rhoda Israelov received her BS degree from the University of Missouri at KC, and her MS degree from the College for Financial Planning of Denver. Rhoda has been very active in financial planning as First VP with Smith Barney. She now is an executive in residency with the Butler College of Business, and an instructor for Ivy Tech Community College. She enjoys all types of dancing.
Malcolm and
Joyce Mallette bring another husband and wife team to our club. Malcolm received his BS degree from Purdue University, and then received his JD degree from the Indiana School of Law - Bloomington campus. Malcolm is very active in his hobbies of amateur radio and radio and optical astronomy. Malcolm has received the American Red Cross "Lynn Award" and received a Sagamore of the Wabash award in 2004. Malcolm has recently retired from being a partner with Krieg DeVault. Joyce received her BA degree from Indiana University and a BS degree from the IU School of Medical Technology. Joyce also has retired from her co-ownership of the Golden Thimble. Joyce and Malcolm both enjoy sailing, and traveling.
Karl L. Manders, MD received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and his MD degree from the University of Buffalo, with additional training at the University of Virginia and Henry Ford hospital. Karl retired from an active neurosurgery practice on the East side of Indianapolis. Karl has received the Distinguished Physician Award from Community Hospital, and the America's Top Surgeon Award from the Consumers Research Council of America. Along with his active medical practice, Karl was Coroner of Marion County 1976-1984 and 1992-1996. He enjoys music, literature, golf and his grand children.
Paul McLear holds both a BS and MS degree from Purdue. Paul's undergraduate time at General Motor Institute has sparked his interest in computers and a patent in telephone answering systems. A hobby of collecting light houses matches his interest in boating.
Nancy Schuman and her older sister
Mary Schuman brought two more women to our club. Mary Schuman graduated from Purdue and Colorado State. She is active in travel, baking and reading and retired from the Purdue Cooperative Extension service as did her sister Nancy. Nancy Schman also graduated from Purdue, and enjoys photography, reading, baking and traveling. It would be interesting to see a joint baking project from Mary and Nancy.
Willis Stogsdill, MD received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and then obtained his MD degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Stogsdill is well respected by his peers, and was president of the Indianapolis Medical Society and chair of the St. Vincent department of anesthesia. Like many physicians, Dr. Stogsdill enjoys flying and golf.
Financial
As of now, membership dues have been received from 189 members, which is within two of the Club's record high in 1994. Dues from eight more members are still outstanding.
At the end of March, the Club balance totaled nearly $17, 600, more than $1,300 greater than at this time last year.
Club Web Site
The Club web site continues to evolve. New additions include these monthly "State of the Club" reports and a slide show covering previous post-Science Fair boat trips. A more comprehensive Club History page will be added to the web site in the near future and the possibility of adding additional videos or slide shows is being considered. Also, a new Quick Start page has been added to provide all club members with a quick way to reach the Internet.
Regional Science Fair
By all reports, the Regional Science Fair in March went well. There were a decent number of judges, composed of Scientech members and their friends, although more judges are always helpful. Much of the financial support of the Fair was provided by the Foundation. A CD with pictures from the Fair is available for interested members. A very nice thank-you note has been received from a 4th-grade girl and her parents.
The annual boat trip for science fair participants will be held in June. Invitations have been sent out to 27 participants with responses requested by May 3. There should be room on the bus for additional Scientech members.
Holding the Fair at the State Fair Grounds for the first time resulted in a few issues, including how best to take advantage of the video and other facilities that are available. The best way of handling exhibits prepared by teams of students is being reviewed.
Presentations
With a few exceptions, presentations have now been scheduled through June. The possibility of field trips to Eagle Creek Park and to the Studebaker Museum in South Bend are being considered. Complete lists of all scheduled presentations and all suggested presentations as well as the near-term calendar of presentations are available on the Club web site.
Long-Range Planning
Our club is blessed with a large number of active volunteers. At our recent board meeting we covered items that demonstrated that our programs are being well-received, our membership is growing, our web site is expanding, our finances are sound, and we had excellent support for the recent Science Fair. We are continuing to explore tour opportunities--both as a part of our regular Monday schedule and those at other times. Our board is continuing our strategic planning emphasis and is currently identifying the populations we serve and how we can best serve them. The board will be pilot testing a membership survey before it is distributed to our full membership for response. Member input is always welcome and can be directed to any of our twenty-three board members during our meetings or through email
Congratulations to Nelson Crooks and to Dick Judkins who have
been elected Emeritus Members of The
Scientech Club.This honor is reserved for a very limited
number of club members in recognition of their long membership and
service to the club.
Nelson Crooks joined the Club in 1986 and served as Vice-President in
1988 and as President in 1989. For many years he has contributed weekly
puzzles to the club newsletter.
Dick Judkins joined Scientech in 1977. He served as Vice=President in
2002 and President in 2003 and has been on the Scientech Board since
2005.
Congratulations to Scientech members Bob Armstrong and Dee Slater and
to the Lost River Conservation Organization that Bob is the Chairman
of. The Lost River was recently selected to represent Indiana in the
Sierra Club's list of the Top 52 Places to Save in 10 Years. The award
describes the Lost River as an "underground Grand Canyon" and
"three-dimensional river delta." It is considered "one of the most
complex hydrological systems in the world." The Lost River Conservation
Organization,with Bob and Dee, arrange field trips to the Lost River
each year and is working to educate the public about the Lost River and
its "wonders and wonderfulness." Many Scientech members have had a
chance to participate on these tours.
Our "Shuffling Octogenarian"
Our Secretary, Bill Stanley, was featured in an Indianapolis Star article on 25 April 2008 regarding his audacious goal of completing 13 miles in this year's Indy Mini Marathon. He was identified as one of the few octogenarians in the race. Last year he was first in his age group! He'll be one of 35,000 runners, who range in age from nine years old to over eighty.
Bill is no stranger to running and marathons as one might suspect. He began his jogging career 40 years ago while living in a Chicago suburb. Star reporter Barb Berggoetz tells us that he joined a running club and that "he had to be at work at 7 a.m. as a chemical engineer in a petroleum refinery, so he'd get up at 4 a.m. and run four miles in the dark."
He goes on to relate that "when I was working, that was about the only exercise I got. And it gives you a feeling of accomplishment." Now he runs or shuffles a few 5K's or 10K's a year, in addition to the Mini. He runs three times a week in good weather and trains on the treadmill in the winter ("pretty boring," says Bill.)
Bill is a hiker, too. We have enjoyed his lectures at Scientech Club about his various treks. Indeed, one wonders where he finds the time to contribute to Scientech. Good luck in the Mini, Bill.
(Note that the forgoing was composed and paid for by Dr. William H. Dick. It does not necessarily represent the opinion of the management and is placed here under severe duress!)
