About Us | Board of Directors | Mission Statement | Become a Member | Member List

About Us After Mike Downs passed away in January of 2001, a group of his friends, colleagues, and family were trying to think of an appropriate way to honor the 34+ years he had spent serving IPFW and the Fort Wayne area. The challenge was to come up with something that combined the different ways in which Mike touched people's lives. For some, Mike touched their lives as a teacher. Mike touched other lives by providing invaluable advice on political matters. Still others were touched by the fact that he treated all people with dignity and respect and expected others to do the same. The group also thought about how Mike was often on the cutting edge. He was one of the first faculty members to suggest to students that they enter the infant field of geographic information systems. He was one of the first faculty members to consistently teach courses on College Access Television. He even taught one of the first classes offered via the Internet at IPFW. What makes all of these accomplishments so humorous is that Mike was actually technologically challenged (or at least he pretended to be). A final component that had to be incorporated was Mike's love of history, reading, and the arts. Students from Mike's Indiana State Politics class can remember reading selections from Jean Shepherd (Shepherd's book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash is the basis for the movie A Christmas Story.) The only way to incorporate all of this in an appropriate way was to create a center for the study of state and local politics that was accessible to scholars, students, politicians, and people seeking to understand politics and government. Remarkably this is the first center devoted to studying the politics of a particular state and so Mike is on the cutting edge again. Board of Directors The Board of Directors has 7 members. Three are family members or their designees. One represents the Department of Political Science at IPFW. There is one representative for each political party that received at least 10 percent of the vote in the most recent race for Indiana's Secretary of State. The final member is a member of the community elected by the members of the Mike Downs Center. Below is a list of the first, and current, Board of Directors. Name Affiliation   Initial Term     Term Ending   Vicki Bandor Braun Student / Alumni    Three years    Nov, 2005 Gabe Downs Family    One year    Jan, 2005 Philip Downs Family    One year    Jan, 2005 Paul Helmke Republican Party Appointee    Three years    Nov, 2007 Sarah Hill Family    One year    Jan, 2005 Charlie Pratt Member at-large    Two years    Nov, 2005 Brian Stier Democratic Party Appointee    Three years    Nov, 2007 Mike Wolf Department of Political Science    One year    Nov, 2005 Featured Board Member: Sarah Hill What I am reading now: I'm in the middle of two books at the moment; Up in The Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell and Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. Both are great! Favorite part of an election: I love election day; the energy and anticipation of results--working together towards a common goal. It's exciting to be a part of political history, noteworthy or not. Why politics is not a 4-letter word: I've thought about this question for a while and determined that politics in and of itself isn't "dirty" or a "4-letter word." People and/or some of those involved in politics are "dirty," but the same thing could be said of any profession i.e., lawyers, doctors, social workers. That's human nature. Brief Mission Statement The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics is the first non-partisan center in Indiana devoted to helping people understand the importance of active participation in political and public processes. Become a Member Our nation is founded on the principle that all people are created equal. We are all endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The political process is how we protect these rights. Each generation has a duty to pass on to the next the beauty, strength, and transcendent principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. If we fail to do this, we will be failing to do our part to protect and preserve the basic principles that helped create our nation. The Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics is the first non-partisan center in Indiana devoted to helping people understand the importance of active participation in the free society and the ways that politics impact our daily lives. No other process allows us to effect so much potential, positive change in our community and state. The work of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics is supported through the generous donations of community-minded people like you. To become a member make out your check to "IP Foundation" and write "Mike Downs Center" on the memo line of the check. Mail the check to: Mike Downs Center 2101 East Coliseum Blvd., CM209 Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 If you would like to make your contribution with a credit card, please call (260) 481-6962. Members (as of 12/01/03) List of Downs Center Scholar members ($10,000 +) Columbus Foundation Inc. Journal-Gazette Foundation Inc Joyce M. and William E. Roberts Mark D. Ulmschneider List of Senior Seminar Club members ($5,000 to $9,999) Carol Blauvelt Premier Technologies, Inc. / Sarah and Andy Hill  Schenkel & Shultz, Inc. / Mike Gouloff List of Internship Club members ($2,500 to $4,999) Kenneth J. and Linda Balthaser Charles H. and Donna Belch Barbara Blauvelt Andrew M. and Jill Downs Mary M. Downs M. Lavon and James E. Kelley Georgia Wralstad Ulmschneider Verizon (match) List of Indiana State Politics Club members ($1,000 to $2,499) Timothy S. Borne Kathryn A. Brogan and Bob Bayer Connie and Stanley L. Campbell Louis and Laura Cantor CSH Investments, Inc / Craig S. Hartman Mary C. Downs Philip G. and Joleen Downs Pamela K. and Craig Finlayson William G. and Jackie Frederick Susan K. and Dennis H. Geisleman Jerome F. Henry, Jr. International Union of Operating Engineers/#399 Ted and Emma McNamara Winfield Moses N. John and Suman Passey Graham A. and Mary Richard Suzanne M. Runge Chris and Susan Stauffer Brian E. Stier UAW C.A.P. Council Ruth E. and Michael A. Wartell David Wright Robert P. Yehl   List of Introduction to American Political Science Club members ($100 to $999) Robert K. and Susan Alderman Jana L. and Steven J. Ankenbruck Vicki Bandor Braun and Thomas M. Braun Margaret and Donald W. Banning Joseph and Alice Barile Frederick A. Beckman Douglas and Cathy Beerbower Lowell W. and Judith Beineke Stephanie A. Belch John P. and Dora Bell Sarah E. Beutel L. Dianne Bezdon John H. Blackman Carolyn M. and Harold R. Blauvelt Theresa M. and Jack A. Blauvelt Linda V. and Gary B. Blumenshine Daniel J. Borgmann and Lisa Blosser John P. Brennan Theodore W. Bristol Martha J. and George W. M. Bullion Joan L. and Keith Bultemeier Scott Bushnell Linda L. and Ronald L. Buskirk Rebecca A. and William B. Campbell City of Fort Wayne Employees Jeanette R. Clausen Roland F. Clements John Cochren Marion M. and Evangelos Coufoudakis Elaine N. and Bruce S. Cowen David J. Cox and Tamara L. Compton John N. Crawford James F. Crounse Lorraine H. Davis Democratic Luncheon Club Michele R. DeVinney Donald D. Doxsee Benjamin A. Eisbart Suzanne E. and Glenn A. Emley Brian L. and Melissa Fife Marcia A. and Arthur A. Finco Bernd J. and Debra Fischer Vernesa and Michael D. Foster Linda Fox Tommy L. and Mark A. Franke Art W. Friedel Jane and John Gastineau GE Fund (match) Glen Gendzel and Colleen Hamilton Susyn and Mark GiaQuinta Rikki and Leonard Goldstein Heidi and Roger W. Griebel Louann and Russell Griffiths Nancy A. Grote Sharon L. and Donald J. Guffey John P. and Kelly Gulyas Judith and Thomas L. Guthrie Frank Guzik Susan B. Hannah Printha R. Harris Susan R. and Steven C. Harroff James A. Haw Michael C. Hawfield Thomas and Judith Hayhurst Paul Helmke, Jr. Dwight F. and Connie Henderson D. L. and James R. Hersberger Lucille J. and Richard C. Hess Joan M. and Gary L. Hey Thomas W. Hey Michele L. Hill and Vince Burkle Glynn A. and Pamela Hines Roger D. and Shirley Hirt Sherrill M. Hockemeyer Gerald L. and Julianna Houseman John Hrehov and Nancy McCroskey Mary Lou and Edward W. Hutter Peter Iadicola Barbara L. Jones Robert C. and Elizabeth Kendall Steven P. and Karen Kepler J. Bradley King Neil H. Kobi David J. Kiester Boris Kostoff Regina A. Kostoff William S. Latz Ivan A. Lebamoff Mary G. Leggitt Lincoln Financial Group Foundation (match) David C. Long Catherine Love-Jacobson James M. and Brenda Lutz Patricia F. and David H. Maidenberg Irwin Mallin Sylvia A. and Richard S. Manalis Toni A. McAlhany Richard H. Merren Jr. Jeanne S. and Mickey M. Miller June Moord James L. and Nancy Moore Steven D. Morgan Willie M. and Johnie L. Morgan Jr. Debora E. Morrone Jeanne L. and Kenneth W. Nicolet Norfolk Southern Foundation (match) Michael R. Nowling Michael R. Nusbaumer David Oberstar Christina M. and Frank V. Paladino Peerless Pump Betty R. and Raymond E. Pippert Mark A. and Julie Pope Charles F. and Roxanne Pratt Jane Raifsnider Yvonne A. and Richard N. Ramsey Anne S. Richard Max and Sandy Robison Patricia Roller and Pete Kelly Linda L. and Joseph D. Ruffolo Helen A. and Robert H. Runge JoEllen and Michael D. Rush Julie W. and Brian Russ Chris Sautter Kenneth R. Scheibenberger Elizabeth A. Schlueter Carey J. Shifferly John Shoaff and Julie Donnell Janet A. and Anson D. Shupe Julie I. Simpson Leigh A. Smith Sylvia Smith Mark A. and Nancy Snavely Spa Group Inc. / Greg Spahiev  Linda K. and John R. Stafford Stacey Stumpf David L. Tanner James G. and Elizabeth Toole UB Carpenters & Joiners of America Audrey Ushenko Hartsay Richard C. and Carol VerWiebe Aurele J. and Judith Violette Karen S. Wakley Sally and Robert M. Weigand Deanna J. Wilkerson William G. Williams Hannah F. and Alfred J. Zacher List of members ($20 to $99) ABIS Financial & Mgmt Accounting James O. Aschliman Associated Churches of Fort Wayne/Allen County James P. and Barb Ayers Sandra M. and Armond J. Ball Betty L. Baney Llewellyn K. and Roger D. Bartholow Mark A. and Grace Baumgartner Cheri A. and Mark D. Becker Christopher M. Becker Judith R. and Lowell W. Beineke David N. Benson Brian Bergsma Linda S. Bird Judith E. Blakemore Nancy L. Blasch Julie and Chris Blauvelt Laura and Tom Blauvelt Otto M. and Jane Bonahoom Laura M. Boyer Charles N. Braun Faye S. and David C. Brennan Mike and Jacque Brian Harold L. Broberg Barbara J. Bulmahn Steven A. Carr Eualeen and James A. Chapman Ryan P. Chasey Catherine S. Christoff Kris Cochenour-Bryant and Alan L. Bryant Frank Codispoti Ann Colone Community Harvest Food Bank Christa C. Cook Laurie L. Corbin Rebecca A. and Earl L. Cox Earlene L. and Michael W. Cunegin II Vickie E. and John C. Dahl Jr. Nancy N. Derringer Alan Diefenbach Margaret L. and Terrence E. Dougherty Emma E. Downs Christine K. Erickson Lois E. and Thomas Eubank Michael W. and Mary Farrell Lynette Felber Elsa F. and Max E. Fetters Kathie R. Fleck Lovalee and David A. Flowers Pauline T. Flynn George P. Foster Philip GiaQuinta Aline R. Gray Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce Ronnie K. and Norman Jay Greenberg Karen S. and Robert Griggs Bonnie D. and John E. Hampton Niels R. Hansen Mitchell Harper Lois Headings Patricia T. and Daniel G. Heath Sara K. Heiselmann Paula K. and Robert C. Hinga Stephen Hoffman Karen R. and Gilbert L. Holmes Bradley V. and Shannon Howell Joy B. and Philip D. Hudson Leonard P. Iaquinta Indiana Sunrooms, Inc. Mattie Irby Louise E. Jackson and David Tanner Diane M. Kallenback Mary L. and Paul M. Kattenburg Sally A. and Phillip A. Kennell Sherwin Kepes Marilyn and Randolph J. Klawiter Knight Ridder, Inc. (match) Marlyn Koons Joseph E. Lauer Mark T. Lauer George Lebamoff Eric D. Ledbetter Rita M. and John F. Linder Katheryn M. Lopshire Cameron Alexander MacKenzie Dina Mansour-Cole and David A. Cole George G. Martin Jimella Martin Phillip Marx J. Devon Mathias Lisa L. McKiernan Glenn J. Mead Juan Mendez Carol A. Miller Geralyn M. Miller Roger M. Miller Patricia E. and Gerald P. Moore Ed Moritz Anne E. Overmyer and John Laurie Susan J. and C. James Owen Joyce A. and Richard A. Pacer Geoff Paddock Florence E. Payne James M. Pose Nadyne Recht Florence Redding Virginia Ann Relph Richard N. and Sarah Reynolds Brenda and Jay Rigdon Cassie A. Ritter Carol A. and John R. Roberts Beth A. and Neal A. Rothgeb George R. Roux Diane K. Schane Kimberly A. Schieferstein Joyce and Clifford H. Scott Victure L. Scruggs Karen S. and David R. Skelton Gayle L. Skolnik Shawn A. Smith and Ingrid Widenhorn-Smith Louis S. Smock Jack D. Spindler Rosalina A. Stier Dolores Szymanski Danielle M. and Samuel J. Talarico Margaret E. Timm and John Zimmerman Allen Tio June M. and Douglas W. Townsend Cheryl B. and Walter W. Truesdell Joan D. Uebelhoer Hermine J. Van Nuis Eric N. Waltenburg Gordon E. Walter Larry A. Wardlaw Marjorie L. and Dennis H. Warnick Lorraine H. and Herbert Weier Douglas W. Westlake Daniel J. Westrick Amy Whitehouse Lazoff Charlotte A. Weybright-Rickord Kurt Whited Marcia Wiblin Gretchen F. Wiegel Roberta A. Wiener Jane R. Wilks Dorothy M. Wolfe Judith A. and Russell York Yvonne M. Zubovic Gisella Zukausky