Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler

7-29-2025  Program Director, Dan Granquist, introduced Nic Orbovich, Co-Founder of the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival. Nic opened his presentation with a spirited rendition of “Amazing Grace” on his violin. His forty plus years of experience was quite evident in the performance. Nic told of his childhood in a blue collar, steelworker family and the struggle to obtain classical musical instruction. It all worked out. He grew to become a highly acclaimed violinist, Grammy Nominee, and Gramophone Magazine Award Winner. Nic, with his wife, organized the first Music Festival in 2002, attracting renowned musicians from all over the world to perform in Michigan City. Artistic quality is the Priority.

The 2025 Festival OPENS SOON!

August 9 - 17

Five FREE concerts at the First Presbyterian Church

Two FREE concerts for kids one each: Lubeznik Center and MC Library.

Themes center on music from the US and European Countries

Solos and Ensembles 

Performers enjoy associating with the audience 

See www.mccmf.org for more information

The Festival is funded 70% by private donations and 30% by grants. Nic stated grant money has dried up and the future is uncertain.

June 24, 2025. Chairman for this week’s meeting Tim Mellen, introduced today’s speaker, Michele Gustin, Programs and Events Coordinator for Barker Mansion. Michele discussed recent upgrades to the Mansion. New plumbing and HVAC have been installed. Many windows have been restored to their original design. The entire first floor, and portions of other floors were sanded and coated. The three-story grand staircase was stripped and refinished. The front doors to the building were also refurbished and improved. Michele shared with the members that coming in the Summer of 2026, a 1902 Haskell and Barker Box Car will be put on permanent display.  All are welcome to come and see the renovations.

 Program Speaker: 6-03-2025. Speaker Chairman for this week’s meeting, Daniel Granquist introduced today’s speaker Richard Lidke from Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Richard provided information on cadets now being trained by the CAP. Cadets range in age from 12–18-year-old. They participate in a wide variety of activities. Last December they placed wreaths on soldiers’ graves. More recently the group went to South Bend’s Airport and received a behind the scenes tour of the facility. On the military side of things, the group also toured Grissom Air Force Base as part of their orientation. Cadets were able to ride on some of the planes at Grissom. Today there are over 60,000 members of the Civil Air Patrol, with forty local. The CAP was created in 1941, with single engine planes patrolling the East Coast of the United States, looking for German submarines or patrol boats. Today the civil air patrol is mainly involved in search and rescue missions as well as disaster relief.  Much of this work is done through a network of over five hundred small planes that can seat between 4 to 8 people. Infrared camera technology is utilized aid them in their searches. 

L to R:   Richard Lidke, CAP,  Dave Bobinski, President Elect.

The speaker for April 29th was Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. She informed the Exchange Club of recent positive steps taken by the City.

$ 5.7 million was saved by a one line audit of the budget.

An $ 8 million debt will soon be collected from the City of Gary.

A new structure was developed for departments to communicate and coordinate actions, streamlining the process and eliminating duplication.   

 A  new “Culture” was developed to replace the “reprimand and document” discipline mentality with a coaching environment to actually solve problems.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Parking Garage for the South Shore Train Station on July 18th. Everyone is invited. 

Great things are happening in the City! 

Program Chairman David Bobinski introduced today’s speakers from the Michiana Humane Society—Brianne Markos—Rescue and Social Media Director, and Katelynn Bernth Volunteer Coordinator. Brianne started off the presentation by citing that the Michiana Humane Society has been around since the 1920’s. Annually the Humane Society takes in approximately eight hundred pets including various dogs, cats, and assorted critters. At any time, the Humane Society has on average about one hundred animals in their care.

Brianne indicated that many pets are dropped of at the Humane Society because owners can no longer afford to care for them—the cost of pet food and medical care has increased significantly over the past few years. Also some landlords prohibit ownership of certain types or breeds requiring new homes be found for them. Katelynn discussed some of the opportunities available at Humane Society. Volunteers are welcome to help show animals at schools and nursing homes. Anyone interested in providing a foster home for pets would also be welcomed. 

There are also opportunities for volunteers if you would like to take an animal on a field trip, or if you would like to just spend time giving attention to an animal at the Humane Society.

The Humane Society now has a part-time Vet, and a full-time Vet Tech. This allows the staff to have animals spayed and neutered faster now it is done locally.  Previously, animals had to be transferred to South Bend for care. 

The Michigan City Exchange Club presented the Michiana Humane Society with a donation of $1,000.00.

Taki’s organization has been based in Indianapolis for 30 years promoting school choice in Indiana. This organization first lobbied in 2001 for Charter Schools to be an option for education. This was followed up in 2009 with a Tax Credit for private schools which eventually led to a statewide voucher program for K-12 students. Taki discussed the two sources of education funding, one being the state tax per student and the other source of education funding is property tax . About 90% of the state tax funding can be received if a student wants to go to a private school. 

Taki also discussed  briefly a new product –Education Scholarship (ESA) which can be potentially another source of funding for a student that wants to pay for the costs of attending a private school.

At the end of his presentation Taki  took  several questions from club members. The pro’s and con’s of the school voucher system were discussed in detail.

Daniel Granquist, Speaker Chairman for this meeting introduced today’ speaker Cynthia Davis with The North Central Community Action Agency.  The NCCAA recently celebrated its 59th anniversary serving seven counties in Indiana, including LaPorte County.

Right now, the NCCAA works with over 5,000 households offering energy assistance through its Energy Assistance Program. This program helps to heat homes of those in need.  They also  provide ramps for those who have difficulty climbing steps or require wheelchairs. Ramps are professionally built by a local contractor with volunteers assisting.

Cynthia discussed the Vision Screening service that NCCAA provides. Under the NCCAA Program, Head Start, Kindergarten, and Elementary aged children receive vision screening services. Last year over 3,333 children were assisted.

Cynthia also mentioned that the NCCAA also provides Youth Programs—examples of some of the youth programs include educational fishing trips, tours of local police departments and tours of local fire departments.