IVY TECH PREPARES FOR THIRD ANNUAL O'BANNON INSTITUTE

April 26, 2006

Bloomington, IN - Ivy Tech Community College -Bloomington continued preparations for its third annual O'Bannon Institute for Community Service by announcing its panelists for the 2006 event. Panelists include nationally known experts, leaders from statewide organizations and local non-profit organizations along with higher education professionals and political leaders (a full list of panelists is included below). The event will culminate on Friday in a discussion with former Indiana Governor and First Lady, Joe and Maggie Kernan, facilitated by Bob Zaltsberg, editor of The Herald-Times.

The 2006 theme for the Institute is "If Not Government, Who?". The first panel, beginning at 9:30 a.m., is Running on Empty: The Government's Role in Providing Social Services in an Elastic Economy, which will focus on the legitimate role of government in the provision of social services. Dr. James Perry, Associate Dean and Chancellor's Professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at IUPUI will moderate the panel. Other panelists include Julio Alonso, Executive Director of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Mark Kruzan, Mayor of the City of Bloomington, Dr. Michael Twyman, Director of Grants Programs for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Dr. Thayr Richey, President of Strategic Development Group and Ellen Annala, President and CEO, United Way of Central Indiana.

At 10:45 a.m., panelists will discuss recent initiatives to urge faith-based institutions to provide government services. Pray or Pay?: The Role of Faith-Based Institutions in Providing Social Services features Dr. David Smith, Professor Emeritus, Department of Religious Studies from Indiana University-Bloomington, Dr. Leslie Lenkowsky, former CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Reverend George Purnell, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Bloomington. Paula Parker-Sawyers, Executive Director of the State of Indiana Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, will serve as moderator.

The afternoon panel, beginning at 1:00 p.m., will discuss the role non-profits now play in providing services formerly delivered solely by government and will showcase some of the best practices used by these organizations. Picking up the Ball and Running with It: The Best Practices of Non-Governmental Organizations will feature Joe Lambright, American Red Cross, Great Lakes Service Area Executive, Kelly Kleiman, Midwest US Fund for UNICEF Speakers' Bureau, and Wes Rush, Rotary International. Dr. Barry Lessow, Executive Director of the United Way of Monroe County will facilitate the panel.

At 2:15 p.m., the third annual "O'Bannon Conversation" will feature a discussion between former Indiana Governor and First Lady, Joe and Maggie Kernan, and Bob Zaltsberg of the Herald-Times. The Kernans will share with the audience their views on public service leadership, how they came to choose a career in politics, and reasons why it is important for people to dedicate themselves to service.

The O'Bannon Institute was launched in 2004 in an effort by Ivy Tech - Bloomington to bring the community together with leaders from the non-profit, higher education, and political arenas to discuss issues related to public service and to encourage students to become active in their communities. The Institute is part of Ivy Tech -Bloomington's Center for Civic Engagement that focuses on service learning, volunteerism, and institutional community involvement.

Those interested in attending the O'Bannon Institute should contact Gretchen Bass (gbass1@ivytech.edu) at 812-330-6001 or toll free at 1-866-447-0700 ext. 6001 to make a reservation. The Friday event is free and open to the public.

Running on Empty:
The Government's Role in Providing Social Services in an Elastic Economy:
9:30 Friday
Moderator - Dr. Jim Perry, Associcate Dean and Chancellor's Professor, SPEA at IUPUI
Julio Alonso, Executive Director of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank
Dr. Michael Twyman, Director of Indiana Grants Programs for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Dr. Thayer Richey, President of Strategic Development Group
Ellen Annala, President and CEO, United Way of Central Indiana

Pray or Pay?:
The Role of Faith-Based Institutions in Providing Social Services
10:45 Friday
Moderator - Paula Parker-Sawyers, Executive Director, State of Indiana
Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Dr. Les Lenkowsky, Director, Professor of Public Affairs and Philanthropic Studies at SPEA and the Center on Philanthropy (IU)
Dr. David Smith, Professor Emeritus, Department of Religious Studies (IU)
Reverend George Purnell, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Bloomington

Picking up the Ball and Running with It:
The Best Practices of Non-Governmental Organizations
1:00 Friday
Moderator - Dr. Barry Lessow, Executive Director, United Way of Monroe County
Joe Lambright, Great Lakes Service Area Executive, American Red Cross
Kelly Kleiman, Chair, Midwest US Fund for UNICEF Speakers' Bureau
Wes Rush, Rotary International

A Conversation with former Governor and First Lady, Joe and Maggie Kernan
2:15 Friday
Moderator - Bob Zaltsberg, Editor, The Herald-Times