I just have a few quick updates to share this month as we enter the eleventh month of the year. There are lots of great things to talk about, but we need to finish the year strong to call them successful. When I began the year, I established four simple goals for the 2021-2022 year; 1) To educate and inspire, 2) To encourage impacts in 7 focus areas: locally, statewide, internationally, 3) To value motto; Service Above Self and 4) To reflect on Four Way Test.
Additionally, we established several initiatives to help our clubs and District be as strong and impactful as possible. They were:
Kansas Beats the Virus Part 2 educational video – completed and available on website and Facebook page.
Rotary Club of the Week Profiles – We completed interviews with presidents and have relied on the weekly newsletter reports from clubs.
Rotary Podcasts – The Rotary Talk 5710 podcast series has launched with two podcasts airing weekly wherever you get your podcast. Be sure to check them out for Club, District and Rotary International current events.
District Conference – I was very happy with the results of the District Conference and all the efforts put in from the planning committee. It was truly an educational and inspiring few days for all attending and viewing online.
Polio Plus & Annual Fund Fundraising Efforts – We are nearing our goal of $100,000 in donations towards Polio Plus efforts and look forward to sharing successful results to you in July.
Club Goals in MyRotary – At this time only about half our District Clubs have their goals in Club Runner. For Clubs to be eligible to receive year-end Governor awards, this is a requirement.
Service is a foundation of what we do as Rotarians. I have been pleased with the service projects from our clubs and hope that continues the last few months. As a reminder, my request was for clubs to complete a project with the ability to share an impact in each of the seven areas of Rotary’s focus: 1) Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, 2) Disease Prevention and Treatment, 3) Water and Sanitation, 4) Maternal and Child Health, 5) Basic Education and Literacy, 6) Economic and Community Development, 7) The Environment
And once again, we know humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues. The District leadership as decided to use $10,000 of our remaining DDF allocation in support of Rotary’s efforts. We are also working with our neighbors in District 5680 in the application of $25,000 in grant funds from the Disaster Response Fund. And lastly, any Rotarians who are interested in individually providing support, we suggest contacting the Rotary Support Center at rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org.
Thanks again for all your support this year and I look forward to continuing Serving to Change Lives in my remaining months as District Governor. Blessings to you all.
We are sorry to report that after nearly 15 months without any reported cases of wild polio in Pakistan, a 15-month-old boy in North Waziristan was paralyzed by the wild poliovirus on April 19th. And so the effort for Eradication continues. Now, more than ever, the support of every Rotarian is urgently needed. We can still make a difference with only a few weeks left this Rotary Year, our District is within striking distance of completing another amazing record year of donations in support of Rotary’s #1 priority, working to END POLIO NOW!
To help your club set, meet and hopefully exceed its Polio Plus Goal for 2021-2022, we are pleased to announce the introduction of this newly created member’s donation opportunity:
NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY BY COMPLETING THE PLEDGE LETTER (Click here to download), SENDING IT IN & MAKING YOUR FIRST $100 DONATION THIS YEAR:
And “We are…This Close” as shown in our “Countdown to History”
HAS YOUR CLUB MET ITS DONATION GOAL?
STILL NEEDING IDEAS FOR YOUR POLIO PLUS FUNDRAISER?
Call or email me for ideas or help: Jim Arnett, Polio Plus District Chair
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills and learn about the world through service projects and activities. Curious to learn more about Interact Clubs? Click here for more info!
RYLA is a leadership development program for young people who want to learn new skills, build their confidence, and have fun. Events range from one-day seminars to weeklong camps.
Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
We want to remind you of a great Rotary training resource: Our District 5710 website. Check out www.rotary5710.org . You will recall that last month we highlighted PETS 2022. Under the District Club Resource tab there is a menu of links you will find useful. One of the links is PETS 2022. This link allows you to see PETS 2022 in action--from start to finish. You will see the General and Facilitated Sessions, Key Note Speakers-and hear from our Rotary International President Elect, Jennifer Jones. Jennifer will become the first female Rotary International President in Rotary year 2022-2023. (As you look at the PETS 2022 link, you might very well discover a speaker video you would like to share at one of your club meetings!)
Remember that District 5710 has been awarded 30 Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) scholarships. The KLC Leadership Path will change the way you manage yourself and others in both your professional and personal lives. Check out the various dates and the virtual and/or in- person sessions on the attached flyer. Apply now so you can secure enrollment in one of the sessions.
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 Changeis 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.org. Create 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:
Our District 5710 Rotary project is a finalist for a State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant. The project called Intersection to Care After Incarceration needs your vote!
Grant awards of $25,000 will be awarded to the top 100 causes through public voting. Please rally behind Rotary's cause to reintegrate women leaving incarceration in Topeka and cast your votes to make an impact!
On this site, at the top of your browser, click 'text me voting reminders" to ensure you get your vote in every day - and you can vote up to 10 times each day
Voting is open beginning April 27 through May 6. Remember you can vote 10 times per day. Winners will be announced on June 7.
Please forward this to your colleagues, friends, and family to vote and help spread the word.
The upcoming year’s slate is set with 6 outbound students from District 5710 from the Atchison, Lenexa, Bonner Springs, De Soto and Council Groves clubs. We will have 8 inbound students this year being hosted by Atchison, Bonner Springs, Council Grove, De Soto, Lenexa, Overland Park, Overland Park South and Ottawa. The students will be from South Korea, Belgium, Germany, Ecuador, Chile, Denmark and two from Italy. We look forward to being back hosting students after a two year hiatus. We also look forward to getting the students involved in activities around the district. If your club would like more information about getting involved with our program please contact Stephen Wheatley at wheatleydc@sbcglobal.net.
The Rotary Talk 5710 Podcast About the Rotary Peace Fellowship Program is NOW Available!
The Rotary Talk 5710 pod cast about the Rotary Peace Fellow is packed with information and opportunities for individuals to apply to become one. Facilitator Dave Lewis did an amazing job facilitating as well as introducing three guest to discuss the 2023 Peace Fellowship. They are: Chuck Udell, Leawood Rotary Club and District World Peace Programs Committee Chair; Bill Richter, Manhattan Rotary Club, long time committee chair, and former committee chair; and Summer Lewis, a Peace Fellow alum from Manhattan, Kansas now living in Oaxaca, Mexico working for Rotary International.
Thank yous go to Chuck, Bill, and Summer for their participation; Dave for his awesome facilitating; and DG Vern Henricks for enabling this tool to be available.
Click here for the link to the Peace Fellowship podcast.
Please listen to this 17 minute podcast and think about non Rotarians who you know in your community who could be interested. And, then send their names along with any questions you may have to Chuck Udell at chuckudell@msn.com.
Thanks so much for support of this awesome Rotary program!
We’re excited to announce our Changeover Training Series for 2022! To help better prepare you for this upcoming year, we're holding a series of free webinars to help you brush up on your ClubRunner skills and knowledge.
Join us for these in-depth webinars starting on May 5th and continuing until May 21st 2022. New this year, we’re offering both beginner and advanced level webinars for certain modules. These training sessions are open to all ClubRunner users at no cost.
Hosted by our expert Product Specialists, we will be presenting webinars based on roles, club or district versions, and in-depth module deep dives. There will even be live Q&A available during and after the webinar!
Registration Details
Click below to view our schedule and to register for individual sessions, or visit www.clubrunner.com/training. Can't attend live? Not to worry, all sessions will be recorded and shared on our Community site after the series is complete.
The Burlington Rotary Club celebrated its 85th anniversary during the March 31 meeting. Burlington Rotary Club was chartered on April 2, 1937. President Brenda Klubek recognized Anne Brown, Bobby Skipper and Matthew Harmon as some of the newest members of the club (pictured below). Dan Allen, a 32-year member of the club, helped cut a cake decorated for the occasion. Frank Brush helped arrange the festivities.
Members discussed how to participate in a circus coming to Burlington in September.
Burlington USD 244 Superintendent Craig Marshall updated members about school personnel changes for the 2022-23 school year, including the hiring of a new high school principal and an assistant principal/athletic director.
Ardie Lauxman visited the club. Lauxman is a past president of Burlington Rotary Club and past assistant governor for District 5710. He is now a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Fort Mohave, Ariz.
The club sponsored cash awards for the Coffey County 4-H Club Days.
Members wrapped up its “Rotary Readers” commitment for the school year. Once a month, two Rotarians read to first-grade classes at Burlington Elementary School.
Members agreed to send two Burlington High School students to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy.
During Past President Stan Rasmussen’s term, Jayhawk Rotary received a $5,000 Rotary International Grant for an environmental project. Stan checked with Irene Unger, Baker Wetlands director, and discovered that an anonymous donor was interested in matching a donation of this size.
The result is a boardwalk, scheduled to open in the spring, that will be approximately 1,200 feet long and pass through the Night Heron Shallows on the east side of the wetlands. The boardwalk will be wheelchair-accessible, with five-wide turnarounds, through a densely wooded area. Information panels about the surrounding habitats will be installed, and visitors will be able to observe birds that aren’t found in other parts of the area.
Obtaining permits from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Douglas County were necessary for the project to proceed. Jayhawk Rotary volunteers have spent more than 250 hours to date on the project. The Baker Wetlands are located at 1365 North 1250 Road, south of Lawrence.
The Jayhawk Rotary Community Service Committee, which coordinates the boardwalk volunteers, is co-chaired by Chuck Blaser and Doug Paul. Other Jayhawk Rotarians, not shown in photos, who volunteered, include Doug Paul and Daniel Smith.
Rotary Club of Leavenworth Inducts Two New Members — happy to have two new members in the Rotary Club of Leavenworth; shown below are Cassie Blakley with her sponsor Greg Nash (left) and Suzie Lawson with her stand-in sponsor, Marcia Irvine (left) as they light our traditional candles of commitment. Club president, Shari Hansen is Suzie's sponsor.
Our club celebrating 106 years young this month! Service with a smile…our club participates in our city-wide clean up twice a year!
Our club is happy to support a new reading program (the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program) at the Lansing Community Library! Pictured here are President Shari and Librarian (Rotarian) Terri.
President Shari ending one of our April meetings in her new Rotary apparel; thanks to our local Brown Bear Printing Company. Some of our Meals on Wheels volunteers are recognized at the Council on Aging MOSs volunteer appreciation luncheon. Our newest Paul Harris Fellow, John Robinson with Rotarian Larry Turgeon and President Shari Hansen.
Things are really picking up in April. Our presentations never disappoint.
April 7- Marsha Ericson, Native Stone Scenic Byway: Art and Architecture
April 14-Carson Kober, Sunflower CASA/Steppingstones/Sunflower Bridge
April 21-Jennifer Montgomery-Rotary Peace Fellow
April 28-Carley Phelps and Cohen Lyle, Engineers Without Borders
A book was donated each week to a different elementary school in Manhattan in each speaker's honor. The club donated weekly cup money to YES! (Youth Empowerment for Success) One new member transferred to the club. A Paul Harris plus 6 was awarded to one member. The board spent a retreat day in strategic planning, using the input from the member survey conducted in the month of March. Members of the club collected 2 tons of debris from the Kansas River as a part of the 5th Annual River Clean Up.
Seven AFS FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) Program Students from Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa and their chaperone from South Africa met with five members, including District Governor Henricks to learn about Rotary International. The same group attended a club meeting to hear from Rotary Peace Fellow Jennifer Montgomery who is doing work in Uganda. The students were invited to prom. The five young women were able to borrow prom dresses from the local high school prom closet. Two members of the club purchased prom attire for the two young men so they could attend. (pictured) District GovernorVern Henricks talked about the work of Rotary international with AFS FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) students from South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique.
The club participated in Grow Green Match Day at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. All contributions were matched $.050 on the dollar.
The club promoted World Immunization Week by promoting Polio Plus at each meeting during the month.
The club plants three large chokecherry trees on the K State campus between Calvin and McCain Hall from District Grant Funds.
Members volunteered at the Konza United Way's Community Investment Day.
Members went bowling at the KSU Union with Interactors and Rotaractors.
Members joined the Konza Club in celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Our Manhattan Konza Rotary Club celebrated its 25th year on Thursday night April 28th with over 100 members and guests. 6 of our charter members were able to attend along with Mr. C. Clyde Jones who provided us with our start and continues to mentor. Our club started with 25 women & men and has grown to 112. We are deeply involved with our community and help those in need while having fun! It is my honor to currently serve as Club President. The foundation laid out 25 years ago remains solid. Service above Self is ingrained in our membership.
Picture below left to right: Original charter Flag, Program from May 7th, 1997, Our original officers and directors, Commemorative glassware, Mr. C. Clyde Jones and President Rich.
Ottawa is excited to be able to get out and do some service work again! In April, we moved engineered wood fiber mulch into the largest playground in town! With a steady stream of wheelbarrows, we filled up about half of the playground in our time. The mulch was a full semi-truck load, and while we didn’t finish, the parks staff was very appreciative of our efforts at getting more than half of that distributed. Also in April, we got our corner in downtown Ottawa ready with weed pulling, new plants and putting down regular mulch to get it looking great! The tulips planted last fall are blooming as well. Our club has inducted one new member, Kiel Lasswell, and is preparing to welcome another, Jessica Flory. We are excited about new members with a few more in the works. This is also the month we select our scholarship winner for the $1500 we give to an Ottawa High School student.
The Club volunteered last month the Homefield Cares Book Project. On Friday, April 22, they went to the former KC Star building to separate pallets of books and supplies. There, volunteers matched appropriate books with the correct age groups (K-2nd) (3rd - 5th) (6th-8th) (HS).
Working with Shawnee Town 1929 and the Aztec Theatre, The Rotary Club of Shawnee is helping to bring local history to life. A documentary based on the Kansas State song, Home on the Range, is being presented on Sunday, May 1st. The matinee and 6pm evening showing will be followed by a brief presentation by El Dean Holthus and Mitch Holthus, descendants of the original songwriter and cabin owner near Smith Center, Kansas.
Speakers from KC Current and the City Market have kept our membership in the know for all things Kansas City. And local author, Tom Waggoner presented the backdrop of his book about Kansas City’s part in developing and promoting sports architecture and its impact of fans and city’s around the world.
On Thursday, April 7th, we hosted a virtual Music Bingo fundraiser to raise money for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties and Veterans Community Project! We had almost 30 people participate via Zoom. Congratulations to club member Marla Williams and Past District Governor Faron Barr for being our bingo winners!
Two days later on Saturday, April 9th, over a dozen club members and friends/family joined the Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) bed build event in Gardner. SHP organizes bed builds for kids in our community that don’t have a bed of their own. Their motto: No kid sleeps on the floor in our town! Our club recently donated money to help with the bed build and some club members are planning to help with delivery of the beds in the near future!
On Saturday, April 23rd, many club members and family members joined club member Dave Huston for a Learn to Curl event at the new Kansas City Curling Club in Blue Springs! Dave, an avid curler, recently presented the sport of curling at a club meeting. Have you ever watched curling on TV and thought “That’s looks easy!”? Many of us can promise you it’s not! Regardless, we still had a great time and the new facility in Blue Springs is amazing! If you’re interested in learning more about curling, give them a call and ask about a Learn to Curl event!
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
Last week we presented four $1,000 scholarships in the name of past club members to students at the Bonner Springs High School:
The Burlington Rotary Club celebrated its 85th anniversary during the March 31 meeting. Burlington Rotary Club was chartered on April 2, 1937.
Members discussed how to participate in a circus coming to Burlington in September.
During Past President Stan Rasmussen’s term, Jayhawk Rotary received a $5,000 Rotary International Grant for an environmental project. Stan checked with Irene Unger, Baker Wetlands director, and discovered that an anonymous donor was interested in matching a donation of this size. 
Obtaining permits from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Douglas County were necessary for the project to proceed. Jayhawk Rotary volunteers have spent more than 250 hours to date on the project. The Baker Wetlands are located at 1365 North 1250 Road, south of Lawrence. 
Our club is happy to support a new reading program (the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program) at the Lansing Community Library! Pictured here are President Shari and Librarian (Rotarian) Terri.
Ottawa is excited to be able to get out and do some service work again! In April, we moved engineered wood fiber mulch into the largest playground in town! With a steady stream of wheelbarrows, we filled up about half of the playground in our time. The mulch was a full semi-truck load, and while we didn’t finish, the parks staff was very appreciative of our efforts at getting more than half of that distributed. Also in April, we got our corner in downtown Ottawa ready with weed pulling, new plants and putting down regular mulch to get it looking great! The tulips planted last fall are blooming as well. Our club has inducted one new member, Kiel Lasswell, and is preparing to welcome another, Jessica Flory. We are excited about new members with a few more in the works. This is also the month we select our scholarship winner for the $1500 we give to an Ottawa High School student. 
Working with Shawnee Town 1929 and the Aztec Theatre, The Rotary Club of Shawnee is helping to bring local history to life. A documentary based on the Kansas State song, Home on the Range, is being presented on Sunday, May 1st. The matinee and 6pm evening showing will be followed by a brief presentation by El Dean Holthus and Mitch Holthus, descendants of the original songwriter and cabin owner near Smith Center, Kansas. 
