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Message from DG Stephanie Meyer
It seems hard to believe that we’re already a month into the new Rotary year!  In a few short weeks, we’ll be talking about the start of school, football, and my favorite season.  It’s an active and exciting time of year – and that’s no different here! 
 
We’ve got two great events planned in the coming months, and I’d love to see you at one of them – or both!  On August 20, we’ll once again be holding our TEAM Training session at the Cider Gallery in Lawrence.  It’s a fun – and free! – morning with fellow Rotarians, and this year’s session will focus on the one constant we’ve seen over the last two years…change.  Our district trainers, DeEtte and Ellen, have put together a terrific program, and whether you’re in leadership or a new member, I know you’ll get something out of our time to take back to your club, or enrich your own Rotary experience.  And did I mention there’s brunch and Bloody Marys? Register today
 
Registration is also now open for our other upcoming district event – our annual conference!  Join your friends and fellow Rotarians on September 22 – 24 at Lenexa Hyatt Place at City Center for a few days of fellowship, service, and inspiration, as we are “Building Champions, Changing Lives”.  We’re mixing up the schedule a bit this year, so Thursday evening’s welcome event will be entirely social – a mini-pub crawl around my hometown, downtown Shawnee!  On Friday, we’ll hear from outstanding local speakers, including Royals Announcer Ryan LeFebvre, KC World Cup Executive Director Katherine Holland, and Kansas State Football’s Joe Hall, Jr., in addition to fantastic breakout sessions. Saturday, after breakfast together, we’ll spend the morning in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style service project, which will mark our first quarter all-district service day.  It’s going to be an exciting and cup-filling weekend, and I hope you’ll join us. Register here!
 
Lastly, you’ve no doubt seen the recent news out of New York of a new case of polio, the first in nearly a decade in the United States. While seemingly isolated, it highlights the importance of continuing Rotary’s efforts to fully eradicate this horrible disease, and a reminder that our work is not yet complete.  If you haven’t signed up to join our district’s Polio Plus Society, I’d encourage you to consider it today. 
 
Have a wonderful August, and don’t forget – have fun, do good!  I hope to see you in Lawrence on the 20th!
 
Stephanie Meyer
District Governor

Club & District News and Events

District Conference
Save the Date! 
 
This year’s District Conference, “Building Champions, Changing Lives”, will be held on September 22 – 24, 2022 at Lenexa City Center’s Hyatt Place!  The event will include a Thursday evening social through downtown Shawnee’s many great local breweries and restaurants, a Friday filled with fantastic programming and opportunities for networking, brainstorming, and inspiration, and a Saturday of service. 
 
Rotary and Polio Plus
POLIO PLUS BEGINS A NEW YEAR WITH SUPPORT BY DISTRICT 5710 ROTARIANS!

First, some GREAT NEWS...The District wrapped up Polio Plus Donations for 2021-2022 with a remarkable $116,995 from Clubs, clearly beating our $100,000 Goal.  When combined with our District’s $30,000 additional Grant and matching donations by Rotary’s World Fund and by the Gates Foundation results in a total support for Polio Eradication of $486,000!  That means 5710 will have protected almost 170,000 children from this terrible disease.

And News Making Us Think: In the last month there has been an uptick in Wild Polio Cases and more Circulating Vaccine Cases so we must not give up the fight. Rotary is helping respond to this with more National Immunization Days in locations around the world. The current “Countdown to History” below highlights the progress and need for your continued support.

That's why, even if you've recently given to PolioPlus this past Rotary year, now is the time to help your club set its Polio Plus Donation Goal for 2022-2023! Past RI President John Germ has challenged every club to donate at least $1,500 – you can help your club do it!!!
 
Go to myrotary.org, click on the "Donate Button '' in the upper right of the page, and select Polio Fund...and give whatever you can...Be it $20 -  $200 or beyond, it all adds up to maximizing the benefit of the newly extended Gates Foundation $2 for $1 match.   

Also, if you have not joined the Polio Plus Society, whereby you commit to donating a minimum of $100 per year, every year until Polio is gone, you can become a Member of the District 5710 Polio Plus Society and receive a handsome Polio Plus Society Pin.  Some Rotarians choose the "recurring" option, whereby you donate a little bit each month, as little as $10 per month. The Commitment Form is on the district website.  

Thank you for your dedication to this, Rotary's #1 Priority, and the promise we made to the children the everywhere...a polio free world.
 
And “We are…This Close” as shown in our “Countdown to History”
HAS YOUR CLUB MET ITS DONATION GOAL FOR 22/23?
Call or email me for ideas or help: Jim Arnett, Polio Plus District Chair
 (913) 200-0514 ~ maajca@gmail.com
 
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Wild Poliovirus Weekly Update
COUNTDOWN TO HISTORY!
Week Ending 30 July 2022
Total number of wild cases in 2019:  176
Total number of wild cases in 2020:  140
Total # of wild poliovirus cases in 2021: 6
Total # of wild poliovirus cases in 2022: 18(July 26, 2022)       
Total # of wild poliovirus cases this week: 3(Mozambique)
      (compared with Total of 2 for the same period in 2021)
Total number of Circulating Vaccine Derived cases - 2022: 187
 (vs. totals in 2020: 1113; & 698 in 2021, with 179 by this date)
 
Please Donate @ https://www.myrotary.org 
OR CHECKS TO YOUR CLUB’S CHARITABLE ACCOUNT DIRECTED TO “POLIO PLUS”
District Training
We hope you have marked your calendars and reserved a seat for District 5710 Annual Team Training scheduled for August 20th in East Lawrence at the Cider Gallery from 8:30-1:30.  All District Rotarians are eligible to attend. (There is still time to register.) Many District Club Leaders will attend-but we encourage all Rotarians interested in sharing diverse perspectives to attend. New ideas can strengthen our Clubs and help us keep and grow membership.
 
This is a no-cost event! You can look forward to an engaging and fun ½ day event with speakers, discussions, and a complimentary brunch and beverages. As we Imagine Rotary, we will focus on Foundation, Leadership/Membership, Public Image and Training.
 
We look forward to seeing and collaborating with you on 20 August. Register here!
 
*There are still some Kansas Leadership Center Scholarships available for 2022. Check out the various dates and the virtual and/or in- person sessions in the article below. Apply now so you can secure enrollment in one of the sessions.
 
Yours in Rotary,
DeEtte Lombard and Ellen Bogdan
District 5710 Leadership Transformation Grants
District 5710 has been awarded 30 grants to participate in the programs of the Kansas Leadership Center. The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) is a non-profit organization committed to fostering leadership for stronger, healthier and more prosperous Kansas communities.
The KLC offers three programs that build on each other:

Your Leadership Edge is the introductory program that focuses on personal leadership competencies.  It helps participants stretch and grow their leadership while addressing their toughest challenges.

Lead for Change is the advanced, deep dive into individual leadership – helping leaders understand how to mobilize others to deal with tough problems and change processes.

Equip to Lead focuses on communications, integrating leadership principles into the organization, and facilitating real change.

These programs range from $399 to $799 in value.  The grant allows Rotarians to attend for free.

Who Should Attend?

Each club should consider sending up and coming leaders from their club and community.  The virtual sessions are ideal for clubs in western Kansas. Leaders who have done the first program should consider the second and third programs.

How To Register

To Sign Up for one of the three programs, we ask that you do two things:

1. Visit the KLC website at:  www.kansasleadershipcenter.orgCreate a personal account and register using the code Rotary2022 to waive the tuition fee.
2. Notify District 5710’s Trainers, Ellen Bogdan and DeEtte Lombard, of your interest in order that we might track Rotarians who are taking advantage of this grant.  Our contact data is:

ellenebogdan@gmail.com   (C: 913-683-3906)

dlombard@kc.rr.com    (H: 816-858-5759)

District Grants – Application Deadline is August 31, 2022
Now is planning time for local projects, if your club is considering applying for a District Matching Grant Funds.  A portion of your members’ contributions to The Rotary Foundation are available to fund your club’s local projects, so use them to make your community a better place.  
 
Please go to the district website (www.rotary5710.org) and download the District Grant Packet for 2022-2023, and all applicable forms you will need to apply for a grant.  The documents can be found on the website by scrolling down the left-hand side under FOUNDATION>GRANTS>DISTRICT GRANTS.
 
Remember this year’s grant application deadline is August 31, 2022 to apply for District Matching Grant Funds.
 
For additional information or questions, please contact Greg Shondell, District 5710 Grants Subcommittee Chair, greg@HeathwoodOil.com.
Upcoming Club Events
 
Each month we will share with you upcoming Club Events, that you might like to participate in.
 
Bonner Springs Tiblow Trot
August 27, 2022
 
Leawood Rotary Labor Day 5k
Monday September 5, 2022
 
Valley Falls Rotary 4th Annual Golf Tournament 
Sept 10. 2022 - 8:00 am
Contact Phil Huffman - huffmanphil@yahoo.com
 
Rotary Night at the KC Zoo
Rotary After Hours at the KC Zoo - for all KC Metro Area Clubs!
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
4:00 - 7:00 pm
$15/person
children under 3 free
Cost includes admission and picnic dinner (hot dog, chips, cookie, water/pop)
6:00 pm - dinner & program in the Tropics Tent
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Kansas City, MO
Bonner Springs Rotary
The club is preparing for an active month.  We have one youth that is participating in the youth exchange and heading for South Korea.  She no sooner leaves than we welcome another youth from Italy.  August is Tiblow Days in Bonner Springs starting the evening of August 25.  Our club hosts the annual Mayor’s Banquet where we recognize the winner of the Marion Vaughn Award for Community Service.  On Saturday the 27th, we hold our Tiblow Trot, our annual race with 5 mile, 5K and 2k distances.  This is our 44th year, making this the oldest continual race in Kansas.
Emporia Rotary
The Emporia Rotary Club initiated its board of directors in its final meeting of 2021-22.  Pictured from left to right are Jim Wayman, club secretary; Tom Mais, board member, Marshall Miller, board member; Mickey Edwards, president elect; Rachael Correll, club president; Alex Mosakowski, past president; Marc Fusaro, vice president; Richard Duncan, foundation coordinator. Not pictured are Barb Wry, program coordinator; Dan Robertson, treasurer; and Rolland Trahoon, board member.
 
Kansas Court of Appeals Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger visited the Rotary Club of Emporia in July, telling club members and guests about our Court of Appeals, weaving mini civics lessons into her talk. She spoke on the branches of government in our state - legislative, executive, and judicial - and how the system provides checks and balances within government. Club members learned about the process for selecting judges to each of the levels of courts in Kansas, noting that the process for district court judges varies depending on which one of two methods is utilized by the particular county. Judge Arnold-Burger noted that of the hundreds of cases that come to the Court of Appeals each year, the majority of the decisions are affirmed by the Court of Appeals. District Court Judge Jeff Larson and Chief Judge Merlin Wheeler were also special guests of the Club.
Leavenworth Rotary
July is always a very busy month for the Rotary Club of Leavenworth! Pictured below: Incoming President, President Derek Wohlgemuth presents outgoing President, Shari Hansen with her Presidents Gavel at one of our recent meetings; great work over the past year, President Shari! New member Bob Walters starts one of our recent meetings off with a prayer. 
Biggest Rotary Park Cleanup Crew ever per Rotarian Tony Kramer; many thanks to Tony for his service for the last several years leading this service project!
President Derek Woglgemuth is happy to welcome our District Governor, Stephanie Meyer, as they share a song book; the Rotary Club of Leavenworth is one of the singing clubs in the district. Our annual club membership picture featuring President Derek and DG Stephanie holding our club banner.
 
Upcoming for the Rotary Club of Leavenworth:
 
Semi-annual Non-Perishable Food Drive
Semi-annual OTC Med Drive
Leawood Rotary
Leawood Rotary Club Announces Annual Fundraising Event
 
Join us this Labor Day, Monday September 5, 2022 at the Leawood Rotary Labor Day 5k.  The race will start and finish at American Academy of Family Physicians, 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS 66211.  The certified 5K course is relatively flat and fast and runs along  beautifully arbored Tomahawk Creek Parkway.  Participants in the 5K will receive a great event shirt, finishers medal, post event snacks, refreshments and more.  
 
In announcing this year’s event, Leawood Rotary Club president John Meier set a goal of $50,000 and 500 runners to help fund food pantries, scholarships and children’s assistance programs.  Meier said the 2021 Leawood Rotary Labor Day 5k was a spectacular and record breaking event with over 70% of club members participating and over $41,000 raised. 
 
All are welcome and you may walk the course if you so choose.  Please go to https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Leawood/LeawoodLaborDay5K for more information and to register for this popular annual event.
 
Manhattan Rotary
New President Steven Graham took over from outgoing President Robbin Cole. Steven thanked Robbin for her excellent leadership in the past year.
 
The club had great programs as usual:
  • July 7 – Daryn Soldan, Manhattan Area Economic Development Update
  • July 14 – Michael Welsh, Cornerstone Family Counseling – expansion briefing
  • July 21 – Dr. Sharon Sullivan and Patti Mellard, CAAHT eClub Recent News
  • July 28 – Coach Chris Klieman, K-State Football Preview
The Manhattan Rotary Club welcomed new members Carson Kober, Executive Director of Sunflower Children’s Collective, and Linda Couch, transferring from the Junction City club.
 
School supplies were collected for the Konza United Way’s Stuff the Bus initiative. Cup money for the month of July was donated to Shepherd’s Crossing, an ecumenical ministry in Manhattan offering budget counseling, referrals and financial support to those in need.
Manhattan Konza Rotary
Konza Rotary Hosts Water Matters Day on August 6
 
Around the world, more than one billion people can't get clean water to drink. In Manhattan, we have so much that we can play in it.
In an effort to educate the local community on water issues and raise funds to support worthwhile water-related projects locally, regionally, and internationally, Konza Rotary initiated Water Matters Day in 2011.
 
The club’s annual signature event, Water Matters Day is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 7 at Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo. The yearly event focuses on the importance and resourceful use of water through fun and educational activities.
 
From noon to 4:30 p.m., participants can engage in experiences for the whole family featuring exhibitors, giveaways, activities and prizes. The event is open to the public and children under 12 years of age are admitted for free. Children may share their ideas about water-related issues by submitting an entry in the poster contest.
 
Local and regional financial sponsors help fund the event. Walters-Morgan Construction, Inc. has been the premier corporate sponsor of Water Matters Day since 2011, donating a combined total of more than $33,000 to the important cause.
 
Funds raised support a multitude of water-related projects including assistance to help communities rebuild their water systems, sustainable projects to bring clean water to children and families, and alleviating the suffering that arises from a lack of clean, accessible water.
 
“Since 2011, Konza Rotary has distributed $105,000 for local, regional, and international water projects as part of our signature project, '' said Andy Hutchinson, Water Matters Day chair. “Funds have been used to support clean-up projects on the Kansas River, pay water bills for neighbors in need, help residents of small cities in Kansas improve their own water systems, and support sustainable projects to bring clean water to children and families. International projects include establishing wells for an orphanage and community in Haiti, installing simple and sustainable water filters in Panama and Ecuador, and building water cisterns in Honduras.”

School Supply Drive for Local Foster Kids
 
The Manhattan Konza Rotary began its 2nd annual school supply drive to benefit local foster kids on July 11th, and will continue to collect school supplies and monetary donations through August 5th. Last year’s drive was a great success and we look forward to helping even more kids out in our second year. A huge thank you to Megan Plattner and the community service committee for organizing this project!
Overland Park Rotary
Rotary Cares, an initiative of the Overland Park Rotary Club in conjunction with Homefield KC, recently donated 10,000 children’s books to the KCKPS elementary schools.  With a handful of stalwart volunteers working in the extreme heat of July, the free books had been received from the Disney publishers by Rotary Cares who promptly found a way to get them into the hands of children.
 
This month’s distribution is a part of the on-going efforts of Rotary Cares to receive and distribute manufacturer’s donations of books, personal care items and hygiene products for Kansas City area lower-income families.
 
Further details are available from committee chairs Mike Meyer, upliftmike@gmail.com or Brad Vaughan, bvaughan52@gmail.com. Watch the video below!

Valley Falls
The Valley Falls Rotary Club took 3rd place in the Jefferson County 4-H Parade held July 27 in the Civic Organization category. This year's theme was "There's No Place Like 4-H". We took it a little farther with "There's No Place Like 4-H Until You Cross Over The Rainbow To Rotary ".
 
On July 14th we held our Annual Meeting. We had as our guest. Vern Henricks, past Dist. Governor,  Stephanie Meyer, current District Governor,  and Tamara Sevcik current Vice District Governor. It was great to have them all here at one time. President Phil Huffman of the Valley Falls Rotary Club presented Stephanie Meyer a check for $1,000.00 for Rotary International. 
 
Valley Falls Rotary 4th Annual Golf Tournament 
 
We can still use a few more teams. So sign up your team and come have a morning of fun on September 10th at 8am for a great cause. If you have any questions call or text Phil Huffman at 785-817-4767 or email him at huffmanphil@yahoo.com.
 
Western Johnson County
Our club recently partnered with the Lenexa Rotary Club to provide drink sales at the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle! Not only did we provide cold refreshments on a hot day, we also got to share the Rotary message with folks who weren’t familiar with Rotary!
 
Also, THANK YOU to District Governor Stephanie Meyer who visited our club to share her vision for the 2022-2023 Rotary year. Our club recently discussed our goals for this next Rotary year and they align perfectly with the District goals that Stephanie shared with us – attracting new members, retaining and engaging existing members, community service projects, and more!

 
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