What a successful time for polio eradication efforts in District 5710! Across northeast Kansas, October has been filled with so many terrific fundraising events and activities, and I’m certain they will help us once again exceed our annual goal. We had BBQ for polio, pints for polio, and even purple pinkie doughnuts for polio! A special shout-out to the latter, organized by the Manhattan Konza Club, which raised more than $10,000, and will receive a district match prior to submission to RI for the official matches, greatly increasing our ability to combat this disease. In fact, this doughnut fundraiser has proven so successful, and with the recent addition of a Dunkin’ Doughnuts franchisee (and Rotarian) in the Kansas City area, we’re optimistic about the opportunity to expand in future years! Thanks again to everyone involved in all of our polio awareness and fundraising efforts.
As we turn the calendar to November and the start of the holiday season, it also marks the start of Rotary’s Foundation Month. This is the perfect time to think about your Rotary legacy, and all of the ways in which the Foundation is making the world a better place through our seven areas of focus. Every dollar contributed towards these efforts goes directly to those in need – one of the best deals around in terms of bang for your buck, no doubt!
This time of year also always reminds me of family and friends, and I hope in the weeks ahead, each of you has the opportunity to break bread with those you care about…including your Rotary family.
On October 24th Rotarians from 100’s of countries joined our partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to celebrate World Polio Day by viewing the official “WORLD POLIO DAY 2022 GLOBAL UPDATE” video which you can still view if you Click here: https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day. You can then also download it if you wish by clicking on the download button immediately below the video.
And many Rotarians watched and shared awareness of an important look ahead by watching “WORLD POLIO DAY AND BEYOND - A HEALTY FUTURE FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN”. This is the name of another video (actually a 3-video series) that was sponsored by WHO and live streamed on October 21st and 22nd, perhaps giving us a peek into Rotary’s future after polio? ...(speculation on my part). You can access them by clicking here: World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond. RI President Jennifer plays a prevalent role in the Day 1 video and is well worth watching. Although I think all of it is worth watching, If you are crunched for time, advance the video to 19 minutes 30 seconds, where she is introduced by Aiden O’Leary, WHO’s Director of Polio Eradication, and has a dialog with Jeffrey Kluger, Editor-at-Large for Time Magazine and author of Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio (2005).
And finally, many Rotarians had the opportunity to view and hear this special World Polio Day message from our International President, Jennifer Jones: 2022_JonesWPDMessage
ROTARY IN DISTRICT 5710:
Here in Kansas many of our District Clubs also celebrated World Polio Day with terrific and supportive Polio Plus Fundraising Events and focused efforts to spread awareness of the importance of Rotary’s promise of a Polio Free world for children everywhere. The leadup to World Polio Day got off to a great start when Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly, issued a proclamation declaring “October 24, 2022, as World Polio Day in Kansas”. Within a short time, a number of our clubs joined in by successfully arranging for their local cities and counties to issue similar proclamations which helped enhance community awareness of all Rotary has done and is doing to eradicate Polio. Clubs planned and successfully carried out fundraisers for Polio Plus ranging from Pints4Polio to Purple Pinkie Donut Days to Pumpkin Runs. And now the District’s Polio Plus Society has attracted many new members making that commitment to support Polio Plus each year until polio is defeated. It’s still not too late to join 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. Many 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 children 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
In an attempt to let you know more about our district’s involvement with Global Grants (GG) internationally, I will showcase one project a month until we have showcased all of our current approved global grants. In another article, Patti Mellard informed you of a GG benefiting people in District 5710. Our international partner on that GG was District 3522 and the Taipei Leadership Village club. We reciprocated by helping D3522 with two GGs that benefited people in Taiwan. I have listed one of those GGs below and will list the other one in the next newsletter.
In this project, we aim to resolve a fast growing challenge of the Yunlin county. As Yunlin is one of the oldest districts in Taiwan and aging very fast as we speak, many younger generations have been called back to the hometown to take care of their sick family 24-7. This poses tremendous economic burden on the families as the younger generation usually have to quit their career to be the care taker. This mainly is due to the lack of certified nursing assistants in Yunlin, plus the severe shortage makes it almost unaffordable to hire someone professional to help.
Yunlin is populated with one of the largest senior citizen communities where 1 in every 4 residents is over 60 and it is the fastest aging community in Taiwan. That means there are 170,000 elders over 60 currently in Yunlin and it's rapidly growing. Dementia is growing very fast within Yunlin given it's citizen makeup, plus it is largely marginalized and often overlooked. While the general awareness is growing, severe shortage in certified nursing assistants more or less confine the younger generation of Yunlin families in their own homes, unable to pursue a career or even make a proper living. This in turn poses great burden on the district's economy as almost every Dementia family resorts to asking for financial support.
In this project we aim to set up a certification training program in Yunlin. It will take place in Huwei, the busiest part of Yunlin with highest population density.
The training program aims to admit 100 trainees. It will consist of 36 hours of lectures and 18 hours of on-the-job training. This program will take priority in admitting Yunlin citizens who have family members diagnosed with dementia or marginalized minority members who aspire to join the dementia professional care force to not only abridge the shortage of helpers but also to make a prosperous living to support their family and therefore to help the local economy grow.
At the end of the program, with 85% attendance rate or higher, the trainees will become Certified Nursing Assistants and be able to participate in the job placement administered by St. Joseph's Hospital in which the trainees may be assigned in either the day care center or the Montessori School, both are appendices of the hospital.
Key beneficiaries of this project will be the local unemployed citizens. The main objective is to train the unemployed and place them into the fast growing high demand job market of dementia patient care where they will earn a good salary in order to support their family and help turn the local economy around. Each trainee is expected to earn up to USD$1200 per month, which is luxurious compared to other jobs locally. This program aims to see 100 families collectively generate USD$1.4 million dollars annually which is expected to boost the local economy by a tremendous leap.
As you can see, our partnership with D3522 has the potential to benefit thousands of lives in both districts. This is an example of why The Rotary Foundation through GGs is such an important part of our organization. Your generous donations are what make these projects happen. Thank you for your contributions to The Rotary Foundation.
November is Rotary Foundation Month, an opportunity to say thanks to all who do good in the world and in our communities through The Rotary Foundation (TRF).
We can designate our donations to TRF to go to one or more of three major funds: Polio Plus, The Annual Fund, and The Endowment. All three are important but they have different objectives and different time perspectives.
• Polio Plus money is used immediately in the fight to eliminate polio from the globe.
• Gifts to The Annual Fund are held three years by Rotary International, during which time the income from that money is used for RI operations. After that, the original donated money is returned to the districts and clubs for their projects.
• The Endowment, formerly called the Permanent Fund, is an investment in the long-term future of Rotary and its work in the world. The income from funds donated to The Endowment will continue to support peace, development, environmental, health, and other programs for decades to come.
The Endowment is the least known of these three funds but it can have the longest-lasting impact. Gifts totaling $1000 to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or a designated global grant can establish a Paul Harris Fellowship for the donor or a designee. Similarly, gifts totaling $1000 to the Endowment can earn the donor recognition as a Benefactor. A total of $10,000 or more to any combination of these funds earns recognition as a Major Donor. For more information on donor recognition, visit https://www.rotary.org/en/donate/recognition.
Rotarians who make a commitment of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation in their wills or other planned-giving instruments are recognized as Bequest Society members. I think most Rotarians are not aware that these planned-gift arrangements can include life-income gifts, such as charitable gift annuities (CGAs) and charitable remainder trusts (CRTs). Our family has found both CGAs and CRTs to be valuable – not only as part of our charitable giving to TRF, but also to our retirement and estate planning. Anyone interested in knowing more about these options is welcome to contact me at wrichter@ksu.edu or 785-539-6202. Or contact Eric Thompson, Major Gifts Officer at The Rotary Foundation, at eric.thompson@rotary.org or 847-866-3190. TRF has a handy “Pocket Guide to Planning a Legacy” that I would be happy to forward to you by email attachment.
Thanks again for supporting The Rotary Foundation!
Rotarians, we are currently accepting nominations for our 2025-26 District Governor. We value your input and ask for your nominations for our next District Governor. If you have questions, I would be happy to visit with you. You may call or text me at 785.564.32121 or email me at vernh@mcfks.org. We are looking for a true leader for our District.
The candidate needs to have been a club president. The candidate will need to be nominated by their club. The deadline for nominations is November 30.
Please send your nominations to the Nomination Committee Chair, Vern Henricks (vernh@mcfks.org). The nominating committee will conduct interviews in January. The announcement of the next District Governor selected will be by January 15th.
Four months into our current Rotary year, our clubs have added 81 new members while loosing 55 Rotarians – for a net gain of 26. Eighteen of our clubs have gained one or more new members In addition to a net membership gain; another important measurement is how well our clubs retain their members – both existing and new Our district retention rate is 97.7% for current members and 98.6% for Rotarians during their first year. These retention numbers are ahead of last Rotary year. Thank you all for all your work to grow Rotary!
During this month our District New Member Welcome Package launched. It was sent to the club presidents of all new Rotarians who joined during July. This package supplements what clubs give to new members. The package is presented three months after they have joined Rotary – thus those joined in July received their packets in October. Thank you Mandy Sheldon, Greta Bauer and Mary McKenzie for making this happen.
As we continue to track new members, do not forget Rotary Alumni who may be living in your community. Alumni are non Rotarians who have participated in Rotary sponsored events such as Peace Fellow Candidates, Scholarship recipients, Youth Exchange. Recently, Andrea Norris sent to club presidents lists of Rotary Alumni who are in their communities and ask them to reach out.
As I travel around our district and elsewhere; I often hear about successful ideas that clubs are doing to grow their clubs. Here are a couple:
Invite whenever possible non-Rotarians to club service projects and social events. This lets them see first hand what your club is all about – the fun of making new friends and serving others in your community
When you are inducting new members – some clubs ask the new inductee to say a few words about themselves. Instead, consider asking the new member sponsor to introduce share a few things about their new member. Besides being an effective way to introduce – this makes the new member feel more comfortable.
Our next Quarterly Membership Conversationsis on Monday, November 14th from 5:30 to 6:27 pm. These conversations are targeted to club presidents, president-elects, and membership chairs. However, they are open to any Rotarian. If interested in attending – please email chuckudell@msn.com and we will add you to our list.
District Human Trafficking Committee – Join us for our next committee meeting on November 16 at 8:00 am. This meeting is a great way to network and learn from others across the District who are fighting human trafficking and helping survivors. The link for this Zoom meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89931072196?pwd=SDdRK2hwS1ZuOGt1TDE5dVUwWmliQT09. Contact patti@keystaffing.com.
Six Rotary Clubs unite to provide assistance to victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The Rotary Clubs of Lenexa, Leawood, Topeka South, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Community Action Against Human Trafficking are collaborating on a District Grant to put together 114 or more “Rotary Cares Kits.” The completed kits will be distributed to agencies serving victims across District 5710. Steve Nettles, RC of Lenexa is Chair of the committee. If you are interested in helping or donating, please contact Steve at nettles.steven@gmail.com.
Intersection to Care (ITC) Rotary Global Grant – The ITC grant is busy helping prevent vulnerable women leaving incarceration from falling prey to traffickers by providing resources and services to reintegrate them into the community. The grant provides salary for a Resource Liaison on-site at the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center to meet with women and provide resources to assist them in planning for their release.
We are excited to share September results of Resource Liaison Christie Brown’s first 2 weeks work in the jail:
# of women accepting referral service - 35
# of women who met with Resource Liaison - 82
# of groups assisting in the project - 12
# of Resource packets provided - 38
# of Journal notebooks provided - 82
Help Needed!
We need volunteer mentors to be matched with a woman in the program to provide support and assist them in accessing resources. All mentors must complete a 4 hour training at the jail and 4 hours of trauma informed training. I have completed both and the knowledge you gain is invaluable! We are also looking for employers willing to hire women completing the program. Statistics show that there is much less chance of recidivism if a person leaving incarceration can find viable employment.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or employer in the ITC program, please contact Patti Mellard, patti@keystaffing.com.
Rotary Satellite Club to End Forced Organ Harvesting – The new EFOH Club received a District grant to educate communities about forced organ harvesting through movie screenings in various communities. Members are planning an event at Washburn University in 2023. More information will be coming when a date is confirmed.
Yes; we are planning the 2023 PETS. President-elects mark your calendars. PETS 2023 will be in Salina
March 30th – April 1st.
REMINDER!
We still have some Kansas Leadership seats available for this year.
These KLC Leadership Path scholarships will change the way you manage yourself and others in both your professional and personal lives. Check out the various available dates and the virtual and/or in-person sessions on the attached flyer.
In today’s world, we all share responsibility for assuring that children and youth are safe from those who prey on them. Whether your Rotary Club is involved with Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, Interact, or any of the many service projects that bring members into contact with those who are vulnerable, knowledge of Rotary’s policy regarding youth protection should be of highest priority. Some Rotary volunteers are required to submit to background checks while most are only required to be aware of their own actions and those of others around them. Most abuse and harassment is carried out by individuals known to the victims. Inappropriate behaviors go beyond in-person contact through cyberbullying and efforts to lure young people into harmful relationships. As the Youth Protection Officer for Rotary District 5710, I urge you to review the Rotary International policy found at this link. The Rotary Youth Protection Policy and Guide can be found here as well as a number of helpful tools, including an online course helpful for training any Rotarian. For more information, contact Harold Frye hfrye@bakeru.edu
From small beginnings come huge results. I live on a farm. Standing on the deck, looking out over the small hanging-falls creek and up to the small pasture on the knoll beyond, you can see a huge oak. A majestic tree with a magnificent wide canopy, on one of the highest spots in Leavenworth County. You can see to the Missouri river from its branches. The Forestry Service tells us it is over 300 years old.
All from a wee acorn.
This month is November, Foundation month for Rotary. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International got it’s start in 1917. From the fiscal equivalent of an acorn. And one from a tree, er, club, in our region, though not our District.
In 1917 RI held their convention in Atlanta, under the shadow of war. A war that had pulled a lot of Rotarians into it as soldiers. Then-President Arch Klumph told the delegates to the Atlanta Convention that "it seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world." Everybody present thought that was a capital idea, but…ventured no capital.
In 1918 the Convention was held in Kansas City. At the conclusion (or soon thereafter) of the convention, the "Rotary Endowment Fund” received its first contribution. $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA, the 13th Club founded in our organization. The funds were the balance of the Kansas City Convention account following the 1918 convention. Funds trickled in over the years, but by 1924 the Rotary Endowment Fund amassed an anemic $700. A decade later, The Rotary Foundation as we know it today was formally established at the 1928 Minneapolis Convention, which, combined with the growth in Rotary as an organization, allowed the balance to reach US$50,000 by 1936, even as the world was in the throes of the Great Depression. In 1937 Evanston made a call to get to $2 million. Then WWII broke out and the goal was abandoned with the outbreak of World War II.
In 1947, upon the death of Paul Harris, The Rotary Foundation grew rapidly as memorial gifts poured in to honor the founder of Rotary. From that time, The Rotary Foundation has been achieving its noble objective of furthering "understanding and friendly relations between peoples of different nations." By 1954 the Foundation received its first large year with a half million dollars in contributions in a single year, and in 1965 a million dollars was received.
This past year, the Rotary Foundation spent $31.1 million in the form of 467 District Grants, returning our funds back to us to spend as we wish (well, there are *some* rules). There were 55 Disaster Response Grants worth $3.1 million and 2066 Global Grants totaling $130 million, including support to persons displaced by the war in Ukraine.
We do good in the world and our imagination knows no bounds. And the Trustees are good stewards of our money and our reputation, overseeing one of the highest-rated charities in the world, according to Charity Navigator.
On September 25, the Rotary Club of Emporia sponsored a Pickelball Tournament. Fourteen teams of two competed in two divisions (dill and sweet). Proceeds from this event amounted to $710 which were donated to Corky’s Cupboard, a food panty for Emporia State University students. This event was timely as the donation was given on September 30, the last day of the “Can the Bods” competition. Can the Bods is an annual competition between Emporia State University and Washburn University to see who can raise the most money/food for its respective food pantries. The competition was close this year with this check being the difference-maker allowing the Hornets to take the title back from Washburn. Stingers Up!
Pictured in the pantry from left to right are Corky’s Cupboard coordinator Cale Bolen, coordinator of Corky’s Cupboard, Rotary Club of Emporia president Rachael Correl, and Corky.
On Saturday, October 29, the Shawnee Rotary and Gardner Rotary members joined with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to deliver and assemble beds throughout the South KC Metro. We were able to get 25 kids off the floor in about 2 hours! Both of these clubs have supported Sleep in Heavenly Peace for years with donations and building beds. It’s exciting to be a part of the final step in the process; delivering a bed to a family in need! It was a wonderful day of service!
Food: You are welcome to bring your own food/snack for yourself and/or your team. Plates, napkins, cups and utensils will be provided.
Wine, beer, and water will be DONATED by Arterra!!! They request that you do not bring your own alcohol.
Trivia Night Winners: $25 Downtown Lawrence Gift Card per team member
Best Team Name Prize: Baked Goods provided by the club.
Optional: $20 per Opportunity Point (historically a Mulligan). Each team may purchase up to 10 Mulligans, one per round.
Bring cash for the "Extra Games" played between rounds. Minimum $1 per game (you may give more to join, this is a benefit, afterall).
Tickets for Raffle Baskets will still be available to purchase, $5 per basket.
Money raised will benefit: Literacy Programs * Polio Plus * High School Scholarships * Rotary Youth Exchange * New School Building in Gonve, Uganda * Veterans Without Orders * Rise Against Hunger * Family Promise * Teacher of the Year * Lawrence Habitat for Humanity * MLK Breakfast * Read 2 Grow * The Rotary Arboretum * Willow Domestic Violence Center * The Salvation Army * Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County * Cottonwood Swamp Boardwalk at Baker Wetlands * Benches at Rock Chalk Sports Park * ... and more!
October was a busy month for the Rotary Club of Leavenworth!
We started with our semi-annual Non-Perishable Food Drive for our local Catholic Charities Food Pantry.
Then, we had a little fun at our annual picnic (Oktoberfest Style) which included a mini Volks March (this is in preparation for next year's Oktoberfest 5K which our club will host to raise money for our local Foundation). Please save the date: 14 October 2023).
Rotary Park & 20th Street Trafficway Clean Up happened next; several Rotarians helped pick up trash & mulch our memorial trees.
Next up was Relay for Life; this year our club had five Rotary members (thanks, Stan Cherrie, Tom Dials, Tamara Sevcik, Ellen Bogdan & DeEtte Lombard) participate in raising funds for cancer research. Overall, Leavenworth County raised $54,900.82 (the Rotary Team raised $34,899.13 of the total amount raised).
We finished out the month with our semi-annual Over-the-Counter Medicine Drive, partnering with the Lansing Lions Club, to collect OTC Meds and monetary donations in support of our local Saint Vincent Clinic; over nine tubs of medicines were collected along with $480.00 in cash donations.
World Polio Day Proclamation with the Mayor of Leavenworth, Camalla Leonhard, and our very own DG Stephanie Meyer; pictured with Stephanie and Camalla below are Club President Derek Wohglemuth and Club Foundation Chair, DeEtte Lombard.
Upcoming for Leavenworth ---
Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast & Parade (see flyer for details)
2nd Annual Rotary Day of Service
OISS Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
The Rotary Club of Leavenworth wishes everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!
The fall Kansas River Cleanup occurred on October 8. Rotarians, Interactors, Rotaractors, Students for Environmental Action and Friends of the Kaw kayaked, removing three tons of old battery casings and trash from the Kansas River. Following the cleanup, students were treated to a picnic near the Ogden River Boat Ramp.
Also on October 8, Rotarians joined with the Konza Club members in cleanup around Homestead Ministry, a facility housing women exiting sex trafficking and prostitution.
Past District Governor Vern Henricks presented Dr. William 'Bill' Richter with the Rotary International Distinguished Service Award. Out of 1.4 million Rotarians/Rotaractors worldwide, only 50 or fewer Rotarians are awarded the DSA each year. Bill was also honored at the District Conference in September.
Throughout the month, Rotarians have been distributing books and 1,300 boxes of Clorox wipes to libraries, schools, and nonprofits throughout a 12-county region. The Club received a shipment of about 10,000 published by Disney and made available by Feed the Children (a nonprofit) to a Rotarian in Overland Park, KS.
Rotarian C. Clyde Jones, a Rotarian of 64 years and Past District Governor, participated in an Honor Flight on October 22. Jones joined the Navy in 1943; serving until the summer of 1946. He was a station tanker in the Pacific and the Philippines.
Manhattan Konza Rotary hosted its third annual Purple Pinky Donuts fundraiser on Friday, October 14th. 475 boxes of donuts were sold and the club was able to donate a total of $10,335 to Polio Plus, including cash donations.
A special thanks to The Bluemont Group LLC, a Dunkin Donuts franchise. Without the support of the two generous locations in Kansas City that baked, frosted, and boxed the donuts for us, we could not have made such a significant impact.
The Overland Park South Rotary had our first build day with Geek for Kids on October 1st. This year our Rotary Club select Geeks for Kids as our charity partner. Geeks for Kids builds custom, electric cars and other assistive devices for kids with movement limitations; we empower kids to explore their world independently - often for the first time in their lives. With this freedom, they are no longer sitting on life’s sidelines, passive observers from strollers and wheelchairs.
We will be doing a crowdfund raising in November and have further build days on November 5th and February 4th. The children will receive their cars in June of 2023 and we can’t wait to see their smiles!
Overland Park South celebrated the start of the Fall season by gathering at the home of Paul Welcome on Lake Quivira. In addition to food and beverages, members and guests enjoyed evening excursions on the Lake.
Our club enjoyed 2 great speakers in the month of October!
On Tuesday 10/11, Theresa Reyes-Cummings, Deputy Director at the Community Mental Health Fund, talked about how our own mental health affects each of us, every minute of every day. She shared that our mental health "affects how we think, feel, and act, and also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices." Theresa also talked about the new 988 mental health line now available in our area!
On Tuesday 10/25, our guest speaker was Nancy Williams from Unexpected Blooms. Nancy shared that their organization collects leftover flowers from weddings and other events, and then they re-arrange them into bouquets that are handed out in hospitals, senior homes, and more! Why flowers? Nancy shared that flowers have been shown to reduce stress, agitation, anxiety, and depression, while increasing happiness, peace, and life satisfaction!
Lastly, our club is coordinating a canned/non-perishable food drive for Shawnee Community Services. Their supplies are low and needs are expected to be high this holiday season. Club members are encouraged to bring their donations to our next meeting on Tuesday 11/8. If you want to donate, please send us a text at (913) 382-8970 and we can coordinate a time to meet or, better yet, feel free to bring your donation to our next club meeting on Tuesday 11/8 5:15p at the Blue Moose in Lenexa!
ROTARY AROUND THE WORLD:
ROTARY IN DISTRICT 5710:
Wild Poliovirus Weekly Update
November is Rotary Foundation Month, an opportunity to say thanks to all who do good in the world and in our communities through The Rotary Foundation (TRF).
Rotarians, we are currently accepting nominations for our 2025-26 District Governor. We value your input and ask for your nominations for our next District Governor. If you have questions, I would be happy to visit with you. You may call or text me at 785.564.32121 or email me at 
SAVE THE DATE!
In today’s world, we all share responsibility for assuring that children and youth are safe from those who prey on them. Whether your Rotary Club is involved with Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, Interact, or any of the many service projects that bring members into contact with those who are vulnerable, knowledge of Rotary’s policy regarding youth protection should be of highest priority. Some Rotary volunteers are required to submit to background checks while most are only required to be aware of their own actions and those of others around them. Most abuse and harassment is carried out by individuals known to the victims. Inappropriate behaviors go beyond in-person contact through cyberbullying and efforts to lure young people into harmful relationships. As the Youth Protection Officer for Rotary District 5710, I urge you to review the Rotary International policy found at 
In 1918 the Convention was held in Kansas City. At the conclusion (or soon thereafter) of the convention, the "Rotary Endowment Fund” received its first contribution. $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA, the 13th Club founded in our organization. The funds were the balance of the Kansas City Convention account following the 1918 convention. Funds trickled in over the years, but by 1924 the Rotary Endowment Fund amassed an anemic $700. A decade later, The Rotary Foundation as we know it today was formally established at the 1928 Minneapolis Convention, which, combined with the growth in Rotary as an organization, allowed the balance to reach US$50,000 by 1936, even as the world was in the throes of the Great Depression. In 1937 Evanston made a call to get to $2 million. Then WWII broke out and the goal was abandoned with the outbreak of World War II.
On September 25, the Rotary Club of Emporia sponsored a Pickelball Tournament. Fourteen teams of two competed in two divisions (dill and sweet). Proceeds from this event amounted to $710 which were donated to Corky’s Cupboard, a food panty for Emporia State University students. This event was timely as the donation was given on September 30, the last day of the “Can the Bods” competition. Can the Bods is an annual competition between Emporia State University and Washburn University to see who can raise the most money/food for its respective food pantries. The competition was close this year with this check being the difference-maker allowing the Hornets to take the title back from Washburn. Stingers Up!
Past District Governor Vern Henricks presented Dr. William 'Bill' Richter with the Rotary International Distinguished Service Award. Out of 1.4 million Rotarians/Rotaractors worldwide, only 50 or fewer Rotarians are awarded the DSA each year. Bill was also honored at the District Conference in September.
Our club enjoyed 2 great speakers in the month of October!
On Tuesday 10/25, our guest speaker was Nancy Williams from Unexpected Blooms. Nancy shared that their organization collects leftover flowers from weddings and other events, and then they re-arrange them into bouquets that are handed out in hospitals, senior homes, and more! Why flowers? Nancy shared that flowers have been shown to reduce stress, agitation, anxiety, and depression, while increasing happiness, peace, and life satisfaction! .png)
