Hoping you are well and enJOYing “leftover” turkey sandwiches after a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with friends & family and of course reflecting on the many things you are thankful for. I personally am thankful for so many things; I am especially thankful for each of you and what you do in your communities and around the world to make things better for so many. You each are a blessing in your own way, and I appreciate you all so much!
As we move into the next holiday stretch, I ask you continue to be generous with your time and talents. Perhaps you ring the Salvation Army Bell, supply holiday meals to the less fortunate, purchase gifts for children who might not get gifts otherwise, act as Santa’s helper with letters to Santa, or some other service project. With our approximately 1885 members I represent across Eastern Kansas, I know each of you continues to do amazing work and this work is, again, deeply appreciated by me and so many others and once again, I thank you.
With November complete, we wrap up Foundation month. Thanks to our great district Foundation team for visiting clubs this month and to our club Foundation teams as well. It is always difficult to ask for monetary donations to support the facets of the Rotary Foundation, but it is so important that we give and always remember we get a portion of what we donate back in the form of district grants which can support the costs of some of our important service projects. I cannot think of very many Foundation groups that give back to their donors; what a wonderful thing that we get money back from the Rotary Foundation each year – YAY!
In December, Rotary focuses on disease prevention and treatment. Fighting disease is something Rotarians have been doing around the world for decades, and we continue to do so supporting clean water efforts and of course continuing our fight to end polio. I appreciate everyone’s efforts in both areas. In District 5710 we also continue to work on the issue of mental health. Leadership so appreciates you taking time to complete our mental health survey. We hope that with the results of this survey we can move forward in our quest to identify actions we can take to do better with mental health initiatives/care in Kansas. Let’s keep up the excellent work!
As we are near the halfway point in our Rotary year, it is important to look at where we have been, and more importantly, where we can go to close out the year on a stronger note. We have been remarkably successful with many ventures to include our district conference, our World Polio Day awareness campaign, support to the Rotary Foundation, support to our Veteran communities, and district grant funding (the district grant committee approved over $77,000 in grants for many of our clubs). I cannot wait to see the impact of these district grants throughout our communities in Eastern Kansas and once again, I am so grateful for your work!
Finally, our membership teams (district and club) are hard at work growing our numbers…and would love your help. Do you know someone who would make a fantastic Rotarian? Do not hesitate to reach out – or better yet, invite potential members to your next meeting or to work on a service project! I appreciate your efforts and work in growing the number of Rotarians in our district.
In closing, do you see a pattern here --- thankful, grateful, and blessed --- all because of what you have done and will continue to do in 2025. Let’s keep making magic together!
Wishing you the happiest of holidays filled with good cheer, much family/friend time and lots of laughter, joy, and happiness.
We are looking for people to serve on an Auction Committee, to help us gather donations for the Silent Auction. Please contactMandyif you would like to know more!
END 2024 BY DONATING TO SUPPORT ERADICATION EFFORTS IN PAKISTAN
Hello Polio Eradication Warriors,
Sad News: Six new Wild Polio cases reported this week with the total for this year reaching 78 cases. We are now 3 weeks since the Onset of Paralysis of the most recent reported Wild Polio Case in Pakistan.
As the first half of our Rotary Year ends, Clubs around our District are encouraging their members to consider taking advantage of year-end-tax-deductions by making a Polio Plus donation. Also now is a perfect time for Clubs to designate funds and be sure to start planning Polio fundraising events to exceed their Planned Annual Polio Goal.
Feel free to email, call or text your District 5710 Polio Plus Co-Chairs if you have any questions, need to schedule a status presentation for your club or want fundraising ideas.
The purpose of the PHS is to identify, engage, and thank members who have the ability and desire to make substantial annual gifts to help communities close to home and around the world.
Did you know?
A member of the Paul Harris Society contributes at least $1,000 annually to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund or approved global grants.
We have 130 Paul Harris Society members in our district. These individuals have indicated their intent to repeat such a gift annually by joining the society using one of the methods below.
$1 Million Dollar Challenge accepted! The effort to raise $1 million for the Rotary International Endowment Share Fund is off to a great start. We have already confirmed four gifts totaling over $60,000. Thanks to our four donors for setting the pace for this marathon. The formal asking campaign will begin in January and run through 2025. We are on our way to increase the Rotary International Endowment Fund to $2.025 Billion by the end of 2025 and District 5710 is going to do its part.
We need a volunteer from every club to serve on this Million Dollar Challenge campaign. The actual work includes one Zoom/telephone meeting a month, one half-day training session in early January, and then talking to your club members about any possible support they would consider for the endowment effort.
There are great income producing and/or income tax savings techniques for Rotary gifting. Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, charitable distributions from an IRA, and gifting of appreciated stocks or art or real estate all can work to your benefit, if you have a heart for the cause.
Rotary International professional Lizzy King (1-847-866-3017 or Elizabeth.King@rotary.org) is eager to visit with anyone about making a major gift or funding the Rotary endowment. As am I.
I want to speak to your club about endowment and major gifts and the $1 million challenge. Call me at 785-267-8782 (daytime work) or raeschliman@corefirstbank.com (same) to connect and get energized about the Rotary International Foundation.
As we enter the season of giving, I hope all of you have considered making Rotary one of your choices. Roger Aeschliman and I have delivered several Foundation related presentations over the last couple of months. It was great to get around our district and meet some of you again! Giving Tuesday is almost here. I hope you will make Our Rotary Foundation one of your choices this year. Remember you have until the end of this month to make it count for tax year 2024. You can learn more about Our Rotary Foundation in the Learning Center at https://learn.rotary.org/members/learn/catalog/view/69. I encourage you to take at least the basics course to enhance your knowledge of our wonderful foundation that helps us fund our various projects throughout the district.
So far this year, we have, as a district, given 27% of what we contributed last year to TRF Annual fund and 31% to Polio Plus. Our funding levels are tracking very close to last year at this time. Thank you to all of you who have made your Rotary contributions already this year. Rotary Direct is a great and easy way to make your donations to TRF. We have several members who signed up for this opportunity this year. Through Rotary Direct, you can set up an automatic transaction going to TRF once a month, quarter, or year at the level you feel is appropriate for you. By choosing this option, you can make sure that your contribution is made timely without having to remember it.
We have two new Global Grants that your Global Grants committee decided to support last month. One of those grants will fund 75 heart surgeries for children who have congenital heart disease in Mumbai, India. This grant has been submitted and is waiting for approval now. The other grant is another Global Grant from Peace Fellow Jennifer Montgomery which will provide menstrual hygiene and management through the making and distribution of reusable sanitary pads to underprivileged girls and women in Mengo Kisenyi in Kampala, Uganda and Kisii in Kenya. This grant, once approved, will help 400 women and girls and 800 community members in these two countries. We expect this grant to be submitted soon.
It is time to start the planning for this year’s Gathering For Good that we will hold again in the Spring of 2024. Please save the date March 29th, 2025 for a wonderful and fun time with your fellow Rotary members. Our location this year will be at the Doubletree by Hilton in Lawrence, KS once again. You can expect to see more information on this year’s event very soon. For the last four years, we have raised over $85,000 for the Annual fund SHARE while having a great and entertaining evening.
I hope all of you enjoy your holiday season! I know many of you have community projects scheduled with your club members this time of year. I hope they are all very successful and would love to hear about them in the near future. I look forward to what this next year will bring and working with you to enhance the lives of others.
We are continuing working on the PETS/PELS 2025 curriculum design this month. Our Rotary friends in District 5680 are collaborating with us as we continue linking the PETS/PELS learning sessions to Rotary’s Action Plan priorities.
RLI
Remember to let us know if your club is interested in hosting (providing a conference room/site) for an RLI (Rotary Learning Institute) in the New Year! We intend to keep a hybrid design: Friday a Zoom mtg from 5:30-8:30 PM, and the in-person session on Saturday from approximately 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
KLC 2025
As we mentioned last month, Districts 5710 and 5680 will share the 50 Center scholarships for 2025. Attached below you will find the descriptions of the KLC program sequence of courses and the virtual and in person options and dates. To register for a class, follow the instructions using the link and passcode on the attached pages below.
2025 District 5710 Leadership Transformation Grants
District 5710 and 5680 have each been awarded 25 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:
•When Everyone Leadsis the introductory one-day program that focuses on personal leadership competencies. It focuses on leadership as an activity – recognizing that every individual has the capacity to lead. It helps participants stretch and grow their leadership while addressing their toughest challenges.
•Your Leadership Edgeis the seminal, two-day deep dive into individual leadership for those who have completed When Everyone Leads. It focuses on helping leaders understand how to move out of their comfort zone and engage in meaningful leadership. It centers on the KLC’s leadership framework based on Five Guiding Principles and Four Profound Competencies.
•Lead For Changeis reserved for teams who have already completed the other two KLC courses. It is an immersive, three-day training that must be experienced in a team.
Who Should Attend?
Each club should consider sending up and coming leaders from their club and community. The virtual sessions are an ideal option. Leaders who have done the first program should consider the second program.
How To Register To Sign Up for When Everyone Leads or Your Leadership Edge, we ask that you do two things:
1.Visit the KLC website at: www.kansasleadershipcenter.org. Create a personal account and register using the passcode Rotary2025 to waive the tuition fee.
2.Notify District Learning Facilitators, of your interest in order that we might track Rotarians who are taking advantage of this grant. * If you have a team to enroll in Lead For Change, please contact us before doing so.
WELCOME and Congrats to Zach Aherns as the new Membership Co-Chair!
Congratulations to Top Clubs for New Members:
+4 Atchison
+4 Jayhawk Breakfast Club
+4 Lawrence
+4 Lawrence Central
+4 Manhattan
+4 Marysville
District Membership is 1,884 (-1 for the year)
3 Ways to Engage Members and Increase Fun!
1. Interactive Meetings and Events
Theme-Based Meetings: Organize meetings around fun themes (e.g., Hawaiian Luau, Decade Nights, or Superheroes). Encourage members to dress up or participate in themed activities.
Rotary Trivia: Include a quick trivia segment about Rotary history, projects, or notable achievements to educate members while keeping it light-hearted.
Guest Speakers and Demos: Invite engaging speakers or host interactive demonstrations (e.g., mixology, cooking, or art classes).
2. Hands-On Service Projects
Pop-Up Service Projects: Plan quick and easy projects like park clean-ups, assembling care kits, or community chalk art to spread kindness.
Family-Friendly Events: Host projects that include member families, such as tree planting or helping at local shelters.
"Service with a Twist": Add an element of fun to service projects, like pairing them with scavenger hunts or friendly team competitions.
3. Social Gatherings and Fellowship
Rotary Social Hours: Host happy hours, potlucks, or coffee meetups where members can relax and connect outside of formal meetings.
Fun Challenges: Run fun competitions, like chili cook-offs, mini-golf tournaments, or photo contests where members showcase their personalities.
"Member Spotlight" Activities: Feature a different member each month to share a fun skill, hobby, or story. It builds connections and gives everyone a chance to shine.
By blending service, fellowship, and creativity, these activities will help strengthen member engagement while creating lasting memories!
District 5710 Global Grant Scholarship Process for 2025!
District 5710 funds a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship every two years. We started the process this fall to identify and interview scholarship candidates, one of whom will be selected to study abroad, starting after July 1, 2025. Candidates should be interviewed during Christmas break, either this month of December or early January 2025.
To learn more about our District 5710 scholarship selection process, please go to our District home page Home Page | Rotary District 5710 (rotary5710.org), then click on the Foundation tab, and under that, click on the Global Grant Scholarships tab. You will see lots of information about what Global Grant Scholarships are, how to apply, the process for our clubs and district, the process for students, etc.
Let’s identify and select some excellent candidates to interview for our 2025-2027 Global Grant Scholarship. If you do identify a potential candidate, please make sure none of their parents or grandparents have been Rotarians in the past three years. Also, tell them not to fill out the scholarship application online but to fill it out on their own computer in Word.
Our current District 5710 Global Grant Scholar, Mattie Vandel, is working on a unique Global Studies master’s program through Humboldt University in Berlin. Mattie was in KC this summer, doing an internship at Global Ties KC, plus she attended and/or spoke to some local Rotary Club meetings. Mattie is now back in Berlin finishing her degree.
Thanks to our Scholarship committee, to District 5710 leadership for funding and restarting the Global Grant Scholarship, and for those clubs who help find good candidates to apply. It is exciting to have an excellent scholar studying abroad and representing District 5710.
It's the season of giving for the Gardner Rotary. For Veteran's Day, the club assembled Hygiene Kits for the Veterans Community Project as well as donated food and other items for the Veterans to use. Veterans Community Project is dedicated to serving every man and woman who took the oath for our country, regardless of discharge status or type of service. Our solution to fix Veteran homelessness is simple: provide Veterans a home with dignity and wrap-around support services that not only get them back on their feet, and ensure they continue standing.
At the last meeting before Thanksgiving, club members brought toys and stuffed animals to donate. The toys will go to Secret Santa's Community Outreach, an organization bringing Christmas joy to local children in need. The stuffed animals will go to Sunflower House, a children's advocacy center, where each child receives a stuffed animal.
Experience the Future of Our Community: Join the KCK Rotary Club for the State of the Government Address!
Step into Memorial Hall on December 10 as the KCK Rotary Club proudly welcomes Mayor Tyrone Garner for this year's State of the Government Presentation.
Since the 1960s, Rotary has hosted this annual event, providing an exclusive opportunity to hear firsthand from our city’s leader. Mayor Garner will reflect on the achievements of the past year and share an inspiring vision for Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.
Event Details: 📍 Memorial Hall – 600 North 7th Street Trafficway, Kansas City, KS 66101 🕚 Doors Open: 11:15 AM 🍴Lunch Served: 11:30 AM (Full catered meal) 🎤 Program Begins: 12:00 PM
Don't miss this engaging afternoon of community insights, updates on the Unified Government, and a chance to connect with local leaders and neighbors.
🎟️ General Admission: $60 🔗 Register by December 2
Reserve your spot today and be part of the conversation shaping our city’s future!
Several Rotarians worked on our semi-annual non-perishable food drive in support of the Catholic Charities Food Pantry; over 1700 pounds of food items were collected and delivered. Many thanks to our service chair, Gary Cordes, our community members, Dillon's Grocery Store, and our club members who came out to help.
Over 665 3rd-grade dictionaries were sorted and labeled; dictionary deliveries were completed last week! Many thanks to service chair Brian Wepking and our club members who supported this effort.
First annual chili cook off and Halloween social was a success and a lot of fun, too; Rotarian Brian Voorhees was our chili cook off winner!
Pancake Feed on Veterans' Day! Many thanks to Rotarians Maria Minchew and Marge Barker for taking the lead on this annual service project with special thanks to Terry Booker of The Cafe for covering the cost of our disabled veterans' breakfast!
Our Main Street Veteran honoree this year is CPT Shari Hansen; she is the third female Veteran in our club to be recognized...congrats Shari and thank you for your service!
Participating in the Veterans' Day Parade is always a great deal of fun. This year our club was one of almost 300 parade entries (it is said that the Leavenworth Veterans' Day Parade is the 2nd largest West of the Mississippi). Of course, our infamous Rotary Wheel is always parade ready!
This year Lenexa Rotary along with the City of Lenexa conducted their second Peace Pole Project. Lenexa area residents, community groups, businesses and artists submitted designs to be considered for the Peace Pole exhibit in January 2024. The sketches then went before a jury review process and applicants whose designs were approved had six weeks to complete their poles.
A judging panel, including art professionals, recognized the top designs in July and announced award winners.
A public auction took place on November 15th with total proceeds of $7,030 benefiting Project 1020, Johnson County's cold-weather shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
President Randy Peterson recognized November anniversaries of long-time Manhattan Rotarians: C. Clyde Jones (66 years), Bob Haines (61 years), Mitzi Richards (36 years) and Ron Janasek (35 years). C.Clyde is the longest serving Rotarian in the district.
Chris Culbertson presented the 'Big Check' from cup money to Beth Klug, Executive Director of Shepherd's Crossing. The Club honored two Paul Harris +4 members: Karen Cole, a Rotarian of 35 years and Vernon Turner, a member for 19 years and Past President.
The Community Cares Chest was active providing books and vitamins to nonprofits. Rotarians spent a Saturday morning disassembling shelves and moving spaces, in the same building, for the Community Cares Chest. On the same Saturday, the Club worked in conjunction with the Konza Club to beautify the Homestead Ministry exterior.
Past District Governor and current Director of the District Foundation Faron Barr shared a summary of the service projects completed during his eighth trip to Panatatic and San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala.
In honor of Veteran’s Day, President Randy recognized Club members who were veterans. Phil Mattox presented Rotarian Paul Bullock, a Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, with a special recognition. Christian Bishop, Military Relations Manager, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce explained the role of her office in connecting businesses, communities and service members. Phil Mattox, guest “Elf” and Mrs. Claus gave an update on Operation Santa, opening on post Dec 4. This all volunteer program provides families of Fort Riley soldiers (E5 and below) toys, a Christmas stocking, a board game and stocking stuffers. Last year 1800 children received gifts from Operation Santa.
On November 14, we welcomed three new club members: Jack Ryan, Patrick O'Hara and Dr. Selena Fu. We look forward to getting to know them and serve the community with them!
We also had the privilege of listening to Dan Mayer, Executive Director of Medical Missions Foundation that morning. Established in 1996, this organization was founded to address the desperate need for medical services around the world. They provide surgical and medical care to underserved communities throughout the world and here in the KC metro area.
On November 20, we enjoyed one of club highlights of the year by giving grants from our Future of Hope Fund to local charitable organizations! We awarded 29k to the following organizations: Inclusion Connections, Love Fund for Children, Cristo Rey Kansas City, Giving the Basics, Band of Angels, Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Growing Futures Early Education Center, Renewed Hope Food Pantry and SOAR Special Needs. We’re proud to partner with all these organizations that help serve the children families in our community.
Wild Poliovirus Weekly Update
WELCOME and Congrats to Zach Aherns as the new Membership Co-Chair!
Several Rotarians worked on our semi-annual non-perishable food drive in support of the Catholic Charities Food Pantry; over 1700 pounds of food items were collected and delivered. Many thanks to our service chair, Gary Cordes, our community members, Dillon's Grocery Store, and our club members who came out to help.
Lenexa Rotary Peace Pole Project and Auction
Past District Governor and current Director of the District Foundation Faron Barr shared a summary of the service projects completed during his eighth trip to Panatatic and San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala.
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