Michiana MEDA has one investment club that has been meeting since January 2001 under the banner of “Michiana MEDA Investment Club.” That name was chosen from the choices:  “Moneybags Club” and “Mennonite Mutual Money Makers.”

In that first meeting 27 persons (four couples, two women, and 17 men) each brought $100 to put into the investment pool plus $35 each to enroll the club and each member with the National Association of Investors Corp. (NAIC). This entitled the club to be part of a large investment club organization and receive the monthly magazine, Better Investing, which was hoped would help the club do exactly that. NAIC accounting software was also obtained.

Individuals that helped organize the club included Gordon Dyck, president; Steve Plenert, secretary; and Don Stauffer, legal counsel in acquiring a federal ID. Merrit Lehman set up a TD Waterhouse online broker account. Current officers include Clay Shetler, president; George Smucker, secretary; Ora Troyer, treasurer; and Susan Gingerich, assistant treasurer.

The monthly expected investment from each member after the initial $100 was $25 and could go to $300. While the club started out with 27 members, there are currently 17 members. The club wasn’t sure if 27 was the optimum size as the advice of NAIC would have been for half that size. There was discussion about splitting the club at some time, but was never done. And bigger numbers make for better cash flow.

The club meets from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00. the first Friday of each month at the Habitat For Humanity headquarters at Peddlers Village, Goshen. Meeting agendas include education moments, stock studies, portfolio reviews, and consideration for buying and selling stocks. The club has probably bought and/or sold 40 different stocks, now having about 18 in its portfolio. Stocks are listed on Yahoo’s finance page which members can access with an ID and password to see the portfolio’s status and value at any time. The value of the club’s holdings is now around $100,000.

Persons interested in learning more about the club or joining the club can contact Larry Yoder at .