VEX Robotics Team 1024

The Scientech Foundation awarded $4,195 to Lawrence Township School's McKenzie Center for Innovation & Technology for the third year in 2024. McKenzie's VEX Robotics Team 1024 helps middle school and high school students throughout the year to design, construct, program and operate remote-controlled and autonomous robots in the worldwide VEX Robotics program. Mentors, Tom Wilson and Andy Ratermann work with students in after school workshops and summer camps. The Foundation's grant helps purchase equipment for the robots' tasks that change every year and supports the summer camps. This winter one of Team 1024's teams won an award in a local competition for effective communication skills, teamwork, professionalism and a student-centered ethos.

After the Finance Committee’s meeting with investment advisors from Planned Investment, Chairman Victor Wenning declaring there was a quorum for the quarterly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Scientech Foundation of Indiana. The meeting was held at Broadmoor Country Club on January 24, 2024, President Jeff Rasley presiding.

Vice President Benny Ko presented the recommendations of the Nominating Committee for officer and board membership during calendar year 2024. The recommendations were that all current officers and Board members continue to serve, and Helmi Banta and Andy Ratermann be voted on to the Board. The recommendations were approved by unanimous vote.

      Treasurer Doug Gettelfinger presented a financial report for 2023, which was approved by acclamation. Doug also advised that the total amount of funds allocated for 2024 grants should be about $148,042, based on the Board’s financial plan. A record number of grant applications for 2024 were received, so, after discussion, it was agreed that, no matter the amount of the request, no grant would be issued greater than $10,000.

The following grants were approved:

a. U of I Outreach $10,000

b. Girls Inc STEM Eureka $10,000

c. Grand Universe $10,000

d. Riley Child Ped Research $6,450

e. Mini Med School $3,000

f. Girl Scouts $250

g. Starbase Indiana $6,000

h. Marian Univ Engineering Summer $10,000

i. Jordan YMCA Preschool STEM $10,000

j. Stout Field Elementary $6,170

k. STEM Connection $10,000

l. Art Center STEAM $10,000

m. Cold Spring School Summer STEM Camp $10,000

n. VEX Team 1024 Robotics $4,150

o. Fall Creek Jr High Science Fieldwork $5,240

p. Earlham STEM Summer Camp $10,000

q. Ophthalmology Student Interest Group $5,000

r. Science of Light & Sound $5,000

s. NXG Motor Sports Ed. $10,000

      Jeff Rasley advised the next quarterly meeting will be held in mid April, and the meeting was adjourned.

Doug Gettelfinger, Treasurer of the Scientech Foundation, presents a grant check to Richard Gunderman to help fund the work of the IU Medical School as they introduce medical career options to studies in urban and rural areas.

Architects from Butler, Fairman & Seufert work with preschool students at the Jordan YMCA.

Jeff Rasley, President of the Scientech Foundation, presented a grant check for $10,000 to Alli Badgero, Vice President of Development, Indianapolis Arts Center for the purchase of a Glowforge laser engraver, a Shark CNC router, and Sony digital cameras for the IAC's STEAM education programs.

Doug Gettelfinger, Treasurer of the Scientech Foundation, is presenting the grant check of $3,000 to Richard Gunderman for support of the IU Mini Med School.

This is a program that gives high school students in both urban and rural areas the chance to see possible medical careers.

Presenters were architects from Butler, Fairman & Seufert. They represented the American Council of Engineering Companies.

The Cold Spring School is a K-8, STEM certified school and ran a Summer STEM Camp enrichment program. It was a two-week camp that concentrates on STEM principles as it pertains to a myriad of activities. The camp runs from 8:30-4:30 daily.  It provides two meals and snacks for students. The grant is used to supplement the loss of revenue from discounted and free registration/tuition fees. The McKinney Vento students and other homeless students in situation of transient living situations attend for free. The grant allows students to attend the camp who otherwise could not have attended. It also allowed the caliber of the activities that were offered to be greatly elevated.

Some examples of the curriculum include building rockets, using leaves to make windchimes as they learn about Indiana trees and a lesson on weight distribution and buoyancy. Students discussed how boats stayed afloat and how water flow affected that. Surface areas and weight were discussed. Ultimately the students made rafts that had to hold their own body weight as it floated down a creek.

Jeff Rasley, President of the Foundation, introduced well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Mickey Maurer and Julia Whitehead, founder and CEO of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, to speak to the Scientech Club on October 23, 2023. Rasley described Mr. Maurer's wide ranging business interests and philanthropic endeavors. Maurer was a co-owner of The Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ), Court and Commercial Record, and The Indiana Lawyer. Maurer also is the founder of The National Bank of Indianapolis, the largest locally owned financial institution in central Indiana. In 2005 and 2006 Maurer was named Indiana Secretary of Commerce by Governor Mitch Daniels, while working for an agreed upon salary of $1 per year. In 2008, in recognition of Maurer’s longtime service and generosity to his alma mater, Indiana University School of Law — Bloomington was renamed Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Maurer created the philanthropic adult “summer camp” experience called Mickey’s Camp, which is held in Indiana each August at Bradford Woods, uniting business and civic leaders for a networking and educational setting outside of the workplace that also features a charitable component. Since its creation in 2001, Mickey’s Camp has raised more than $2 million for local charities.   

Rasley then turned the program over to Julia Whitehead, who interviewed Mr. Maurer about his recent literary efforts, which range from writing books about history, sports, and science fiction. A major theme which emerged from the talk was Maurer's conviction that to live a good and long life, one must engage in charitable activities. And that can be financial contributions to nonprofits doing good work like the Scientech Foundation. Or, it can be through volunteerism.  

President Jeff Rasley and Chair Vic Wenning opened the meeting at the Broadmoor Country Club on October 11, 2023. All members of the Board of Directors were present, including Vice President Benny Ko, Treasurer Doug Gettelfinger, Secretary Bob Yee, Joe Abella, Teresa Trieweiler, Douglas Sherow, Rick Whitener, Nancy Halsema, and Bill Halsema.

Treasurer Doug Gettelfinger provided a financial report and statement of activities, assisted by Chris Rohn, representing the Planned Investment Company, the Board’s financial advisor. Hearing recommendations from Chris and Doug, the Board voted to approve several investment changes to better align the Foundation’s investments with its five-year goal of final approval by the IRS of its public charity status.

Members who were the overseers of 2023 grants provided reports on the success of each of the grants. All 2023 grantees reported positive results, and will be considered for 2024 grants, except the Indiana Audubon Society, because its grant was for the one-time project of constructing a motis tower for tracking bird migrations.

Vice President Benny Ko reported on the status of the Foundation’s website and plans for increasing donations in 2023-24.

The next quarterly meeting will be held on January 24, 2024 at Broadmoor Country Club.