District Governor Dougherty Visits Kentland Club

The Kentland Rotary club's weekly meeting on July 22 was another fun and rewarding experience for those in attendance. After lunch, which is catered by Devon's, the club celebrated four members that were recognized for their continued generosity to the Rotary Foundation, Jim Schoen, John Cook, Steve Portteus, and John Frischie who each received Paul Harris fellow pins.  Next the club welcomed and accepted new member, Henry Senefelder III. 

John Frischie, Assistant Governor for District 6540 introduced Christina Dougherty the new Rotary District Governor of District 6540 (Northern Indiana), who spoke about the focus for this Rotary year: "Engage Rotary, Change Lives." She stressed that District leadership is there to support local Rotary Clubs and that they want to be a sounding board for the ideas generated by individual clubs. She complimented the Kentland club on their continued fun and engaged involvement in the greater Kentland community especially by the club's Scholarship Program that is funded by the club's annual Truck Raffle.  Christina also acknowledged Kentland Rotary as one of the top clubs in supporting the Rotary Foundation.  It is always exciting to meet the new Governor and learn of her experience. Christina R. Dougherty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.  After graduation from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a Bachelor of Music degree, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, to begin her career as a Junior High general music teacher in La Grange Park, Illinois.  Christina has enjoyed a career as an educator, performer and arts administrator, which led her to receive a Master in Management degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.  Currently she is a Holistic Practitioner at the Indiana University Health La Porte Hospital and the Namaste Center for Holistic Health in La Porte, Indiana.  She has been the Coordinator of Development for the St. Louis Arts Council, Director of Sales for Urban Gateways: The Center for Art in Education in Chicago, Executive Director to the Chicago Youth Symphony, Business Manager of the Chicago Old Town School of Folk Music, and Conference and Training Seminar Consultant for the International Network of Performing Arts.  She has also been an instructor in the graduate education departments of St. Xavier University and Aurora University in Chicago, and a voice instructor at St. Louis university in St. Louis, Missouri and the American College in Chicago.

Christina has performed with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis for ten years and as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony and Kansas City Lyric Opera.  She has been a section leader of the Chicago Symphony chorus.  The Missouri State Council of the Arts awarded her a grant to perform a two-year statewide solo concert series.  She was awarded a scholarship by the American Business Women's Association and has been entered into the International Who's Who of Musicians and Who's Who in Education.

Christina and Douglas E. Busby, a physician and minister, have been married for 21 years, and their combined families consist of six adult children and their families of 10 grandchildren. Christina is Past President of the Rotary Club of La Porte and Past Chair of the La Porte Rotary foundation, Assistant District Governor, a Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Benefactor.  She is past Chair of Musical Arts Indiana in South Bend, a member of the Board of Directors of the La Porte Symphony and a member of the International Fellowship of Rotary Musicians.Christina has had an exciting career as a classical singer and continues to perform.  She enjoys gardening, sailing and loves to cook but for the next year, her husband Doug, will be the family cook.  She will spend the next year in the leadership role for District 6540 and will attend all 55 Clubs during the year. 

Guests are always welcome at the club's Monday noon meetings. Upcoming programs include:

July 29 - a brainstorm session about membership and service.

August 5 - Morgan Ulyat - performing artist, who will share about her voice studies at Ball State University and her recent internship in Italy.

John Frischie

Kentland Rotary Membership Chair