May is a month full of milestones and meaningful moments, and the Konza Rotary Club celebrates them all. From the joy and pride of college and high school graduations to honoring the incredible women in our lives on Mother’s Day, this month reminds us of the importance of family, community, and reflection. On Memorial Day, we remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. With the unofficial start of summer upon us, May also brings warmer days, outdoor gatherings, and renewed energy for service and connection in our community.
May Cup Collection was for Sunflower Children's Collective. Sunflower Children’s Collective is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect in the Riley County region. Through a multidisciplinary approach, they work to ensure each child’s physical, emotional, and legal needs are met with compassion and care.
Mark Rose & Ben Kohl greet visiting Rotarian, Kevin Corprew, on May 9.
Each month, the Konza Rotary Board of Directors convenes to advance ongoing projects. During a recent meeting, Sue Maes of the Manhattan Rotary Club presented an opportunity for a Rotary Friendship Exchange between South Africa’s Rotary District 9350 and Kansas District 5710.The 2nd Annual Little Apple Big Blue Riverbank Clean-up, organized by Friends of the Kaw, took place on Saturday, May 10. This clean-up is a community-driven event focused on removing trash and battery cases from the Kansas River. The initiative promotes environmental stewardship and waterway health while engaging volunteers in hands-on conservation efforts. Ben Kohl & Andy Hutchinson, along with Manhattan Rotary Club member Chris Bailey, helped pick up a lot of trash on the land.
Konza Rotary proudly supported Manhattan-Ogden students by awarding scholarships to two Manhattan High School seniors. Kirk Crabtree and Chris Brandt presented the students with a $1,500 scholarship to assist with their post-secondary education.
On Saturday, May 24, our club members volunteered their time and energy to support the local organizers of the Bill Snyder Highway Half. Their efforts contributed to the smooth execution of this annual running event, demonstrating our commitment to community engagement and support. Our president, Ben Kohl, and his wife completed the race, completing their collection of KSU medals.
On May 30, Riley May was inducted into the Konza Rotary Club. Welcome, Riley!This month, we heard from a variety of speakers:
May 2
Tracy Anderson, from Anderson Knight Architects, talked about how he became an architect and the growth of his architecture firm.
May 9
Gene Taylor, K-State Athletic Director
Future of K-State Sports regarding NIL, Transfer Portal, and Revenue Sharing.
May 16
Allyn Weddle, Owner of Weddle & Sons, Inc. Roofing
History and growth of Weddle & Sons, Inc. Roofing
May 30
Aaron Wall, Executive Director at First Tee
First Tee Program
June will bring the following guest speakers for our Friday morning meetings.
June 13
Chris Klieman, Head Coach K-State Football
June 20
Brett Jones, Manko Window Systems Inc.
June 27
Ben Kohl & Di Hinrichs, President & President-Elect
Konza Rotary Club Year in Review and Future Plans
This will be the transition of presidency for the Konza Rotary Club. Thank you to Ben Kohl for leading us this year. We appreciate all you have done to make our club even better!