Rotopeka - February 2009

February, 2009

Volume 65, Number 8

Also: The Topeka Rotary Club is now on the popular Facebook social network

The Editor’s Blog

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ast year, we ran our first ―Technology‖ issue of the Rotopeka. It was designed to demonstrate some of the many things we were doing in our club using technology to advance the mission of our club. Without realizing it at the time, we were traveling the same path as Rotary International.

I’ve written several times about how the internet is an extremely valuable tool and we as Rotarians need to embrace and join the efforts of those who blazed the trails for us. The term ―early adapter‖ is used to describe those people who are out in front on technology. A few weeks ago, with a group of technology minded Topekans, we conRotary on the Web cluded that we were past the time  Rotary International for early adapting. Website— The time is now for www.rotary.org us as Rotarians to become a world leader, not in just  Rotary District 5710 what we have traditionally done to serve the charity needs of the Website— world, We need to lead in a way that provides the greatest opporwww.rotary5710.org tunity for us to share our message to the world. This month, the Topeka Rotary Club launched a page on the popular and rapidly growing social networking website, Facebook. More than a dozen members have already joined us and we would like to invite you to join us too. You’ll be receiving an email invitation to create a Facebook page and to join the group. If you don’t want to join us, you certainly don’t have to. But I think it will be worth your time. My goal is to help create the most technologically advanced Rotary Club in the world. But the reason is because as we become better connected with both our club members and members around the world, we enable the mission of Rotary to spread with it. Each connection we make, we are growing the network of Rotary. I’ve been very impressed with the direction RI has taken in the past two years and I am committed to following their lead. I hope you will take the opportunity to join us.

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Rotary Club Website— www.downtowntopekar otary.org

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Rotary International Foundation— www.rotary.org/ foundation

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Twitter— www.twitter.com/ topekarotary

Topeka Rotary Club Members Connect through Facebook By Greg Hill

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y now, you probably at least have heard of Facebook. If not, or If you aren’t sure exactly what it is that has drawn hundreds of millions of users, Facebook is the popular social networking program that allows friends to connect with others online in an interactive format. In the last few months, Facebook has transformed from a tool used by the more tech savy to the mainstream. And with that, comes new ways to utilize the opportunities to connect with people.

15 members of the Topeka Rotary Club have joined the Topeka Rotary Club on its new Facebook page.

The Topeka Rotary Club has joined Facebook and uses it as a more interactive website which accompan i e s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l www.downtowntopekarotary.org webpage. Club members can not only download and view much of the same information on the current website, but can contribute their own content, including photos, comments.

―I have found that Facebook is a fun way to find old friends and discover new ones with similar interests,‖ says Roger Viola, one of the club’s online members. ―It's a great way for people with common interests, for example Rotary, Visioning, or KU basketball, to stay connected. It's a quick and easy way to communicate electronically with friends and a great way to share photographs. It's easy to use and not just for the younger generation.‖ Fifteen members have joined us on the group, but there are other club members that are using Facebook.

With the Facebook group, the Topeka Rotary Club will continue to broadcast its live video as it has been for the past eight months, offering club members an opportunity to watch the entire program live or any time after using the archive feature. With Facebook, we can also upload a much higher quality video after the program. If you are a Facebook user, please join us. Just search for Downtown Topeka Rotary Club or look for the link on the club’s website. If not consider creating a Facebook account to connect with Rotary. Once you done that, send us a message and let us know how Facebook is enhancing your Rotary experience. We’ll share other member’s thoughts and ideas and help you become more Facebook fluent so you too can take advantage of this new world of social networking and what Rotary has to offer with

Minutes from January Board of Trustees Rotary Club of Topeka Officers

January 14, 2009 Secretary’s Report—Approved as revised. A written policy regarding memorials was submitted. Treasurer’s Report—Accepted as presented

PRESIDENT—Kirk Johnson PRESIDENT-ELECT—Terry Wages VICE-PRESIDENT—Gordon Lansford TREASURER—Gary Knoll SECRETARY—John Wall SERGEANT AT ARMS—Mike Locke Board Members David Beck Alvin Dvorak Glenda DuBoise Fred Gatlin Jennifer Haller Henry McClure Joy Moser Blanche Parks Susan Mauch Past President—Joan Wagnon THE ROTOPEKA Editor—Greg Hill Published Monthly by the Downtown Rotary Club of Topeka Downtown Ramada Inn, Suite 110 Topeka, Kansas 66607 Subscription $2.00 per year Periodicals Postage Paid at Topeka, Kansas USPS 471860 POSTMASTER: Send address change to Rotopeka 420 SE 6th, Suite 110 Topeka, KS 66607 Rotopeka deadline is two weeks prior to the first Thursday of the month

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December 31, 2009 Membership—199 Attendance Privileges Request—received from Bob Caplinger, approved Resignations—Accepted from Angela Root New Member Proposal—An application was received from Eileen Casper. Golf Tournament—will be held May 7 at the Shawnee Country Club. The weekly meeting will also be held there. Fireside Chats—Jennifer reported a survey will be presented at the meeting on the 15th to get member’s thoughts on the event. Memorial Contributions Policy—was distributed by Joy. Gordon moved to approve and Henry seconded. The motion passed. Panama Medical Mission Fund—request was presented by David. It was moved by Terry, seconded by Alvin to use $500. The motion passed. Career Day—will be March 13 as reported by Fred 2008-09 Goals—Kirk asked that the board review its progress as presented in the District Governor’s booklets Next Board Meeting—will be held February 11, 2009 at the Top of the Tower. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, John Wall

Message from the President By Kirk Johnson, President Dear Fellow Rotarians:

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e are well into the second half of the Rotary year which runs from July 1st to June 30th. During the last two Board Meetings we have reviewed the clubs goals that were established at the beginning of the year, to determine if we are on task to meet those goals. I’d like to share the successes we have had so far, as well as those areas that still require work by club members. First, attendance has continued to improve throughout the year. Mike Locke, as well as our greeters have made a real effort to make certain that everyone signs in at each meeting. Gordon Lansford has arranged great programs that have made it fun to attend and easy to invite guests. We are in the final stages of a major international service project, providing an ambulance for a hospital serving an impoverished area of Bangladesh. Our club provided $1500 for the project, but with matching funds from District 5710, Rotary International, the Rotary District in Bangladesh and the IMANA a total of $25,000 was made available for the project. All that is needed to complete the project is for the money to be transferred to the hospital and the ambulance purchased. We should soon have pictures of the ambulance at work in Bangladesh! It appears that we are well on our way to fully participate in the Every Member Every Year campaign. As you will recall, this is an effort to achieve, on average, contributions of $100 each year from every Rotarian. Our club has embraced this effort in the past, and it appears that we will more than meet our commitment again this year. (Continued on page 11)

By Arnold R. Grahl Rotary International News

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he 2009-10 RI theme acknowledges the important role individual Rotary clubs will play in shaping the future of Rotary.

Kenny says 'Fu

RI President-elect John Kenny unveiled the theme, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, on Monday during the opening plenary session of the International Assembly , an annual training event in San Diego, California, USA, for incoming district governors. "The future of Rotary will not be shaped at RI headquarters -it will be shaped in each and every Rotary club," Kenny said, "because it is for each of us -- as Rotarians -- to do what is necessary to keep Rotary strong." Kenny acknowledged the foundation established by past Rotary leaders and laid the responsibility for building upon that success on every Rotarian. "Each one of us is standing on the shoulders of generations of Rotarians past, and it is our responsibility to determine Rotary’s future," Kenny said. "The goals we set, whatever our action plan, it is in our hands to accomplish or not," said Kazeem Mustapha, governorelect of District 9125 (Nigeria). "Everybody has to be involved." Chuck Cicchella, governor-elect of District 6710 (Kentucky, USA), likes the theme's emphasis on the future. "I have always had a strong desire to nurture along young people. It's vital to us." Kenny emphasized that every Rotary club is and must be autonomous. "Everything begins and ends with our clubs," he said. "Our

RI President-elect John Kenny announces the 2009Alyce Henson/Rotary Images

clubs can and do work together; they work through their own districts, in cooperation with other clubs and districts, and with the support of our Foundation. "But at the end of the day, everything that we accomplish is done through the strength of our clubs. And so each club must have autonomy to serve where and how it can serve best." At the same time, Kenny highlighted the importance of the RI Strategic Plan , adopted by the RI Board of Directors, as an es-

uture of Rotary Is in Your Hands'

-10 RI theme, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, to incoming district governors at the 2009 International Assembly. Photo by

sential tool in providing continuity. "The plan is designed to strengthen and proclaim the core values of Rotary: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership," Kenny said. The training sessions for incoming governors during the weeklong assembly are all tied to some component of the strategic plan, and a final group discussion on Saturday will seek to tie all the pieces together and show the future district leaders how to take the strategic plan to the club level. Kenny concluded his remarks by sharing a favorite saying from his homeland, Scotland: "We must look beyond our own parish pump."

Ambulance Project in Bangladesh Approved

What does Rotary Do?

The Downtown Topeka Rotary application to The Rotary Foundation for a matching grant to purchase a Hospital Ambulance for a Diabetic Hospital in Narayanganj, Bangladesh has been approved.

The next time you are asked what our club does, remember all the wonderful projects we have helped make a reality. Here are several of those projects:

The project was a result of a partnership between the Downtown Topeka Rotary, The Rotary Foundation, Bangladesh District Rotary, and the additional partner of the Islamic Medical Association of North American (IMANA).

Christmas in April

The Downtown Topeka Rotary provided a grant in the amount of $1500 for the Ambulance. An additional grant in the amount of $10,000 was provided from IMANA for the project. The Rotary Foundation provided matching funds along with contributions from the Bangladesh District Rotary.

Help with TARC Winter Wonderland Dictionaries in School Dental Screenings Scholarships for Washburn Students

Once the project is finished, an announcement letter will be sent out containing Closure Contingencies for the grant.

Florence Crittenden Services RYLA Vocational Day for Junior High

Topeka Founder Recounts Kansas’ Early Days

Sponsor Ambassadorial Scholars Christmas Bureau Sponsor East Avondale Activities Polio Reconstructive Surgery— India Cataract Surgery—Pakistan Ambulance Project—Bangladesh Medical Team—Panama Shelter Box Books for Peace Corp Volunteers And Much, Much More

Don Lambert impersonates Franklin Crane, one of the founders of Topeka at the Topeka Rotary Club, marking the anniversary of Kansas’ Statehood. Photo from UStream.tv

Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

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Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates meets with RI President-elect John Kenny, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Jonathan Majiyagbe, PolioPlus Committee Chair Bob Scott and RI President Dong Kurn Lee at the International Assembly in January shortly after announcing a new grant of US$255 million to Rotary in the fight to eradicate polio. Rotary Images

In a letter posted on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Web site this week, Bill Gates praises Rotary International's work for over two decades in fighting to eradicate polio and discusses the progress being made on ending the disease.

eradicate polio. In response to the new grant, Rotary will raise $100 million in matching funds. In November 2007, RI received a $100 million Gates Foundation grant, which Rotary committed to match by raising $100 million. The two Gates Foundation grants total $355 million. Rotary International’s matching effort in response is called Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge, which must be completed by 30 June 2012.

Gates cites the vital work of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Rotary International in the global effort to make polio the second disease to be eradicated, after smallpox. In referring to Rotary, the letter states that "we "Rotary International and other donors are dowouldn't be anywhere on this without their efing a great job so far coming up with the extra forts." resources that are needed (for polio eradicaThe letter, the first in what is planned to be an tion)," Gates states in the letter. "Just this month annual exercise, outlines the goals of the Gates I went to a Rotary meeting and helped anFoundation and the progress being made on nounce more than $600 million in new money those goals. Even though the foundation's as- from various sources that will go toward eradisets fell by 20 percent last year, Gates says it will cating polio." increase its giving to US$3.8 billion in 2009, In addition to the Gates grant and Rotary's about 7 percent of its assets. match, the governments of the United KingLast week during the 2009 International Assem- dom and Germany have committed a combly, Gates announced a new US$255 million bined $280 million to the Global Polio Eradica9 challenge grant to Rotary in the global effort to tion Initiative.

Topeka Rotary Club News

The Panama medical team as they were leaving Kansas City International Airport to depart for almost two weeks in Panama. The team will be joining Panama medical p r o f e s s i o n als providing services to native inhabitants in central and western Panama. Members of the team, pictured left to right, are Dr. Dick Meidinger, Lawrence; Dr. Bob Jacoby, Topeka; nurse practitioner Susan Andersen, Lawrence; and nurse practitioner Shirley Black, Howard. Also joining the team will be dentist, Mike Byers, from Topeka. The Topeka club has contributed funds to help pay for medicines used by the team in Panama.

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Youth Exchange: We have one host family for a foreign exchange student from France for the school year 20092010 and need one or two more. The student’s name is Pauline Vidal, and she is 16 years old. In addition to French she speaks English and Spanish and she is studying Russian. She plays the saxophone and has many other interests including drama, photography, reading, and art history. Host families do not have to be Rotarians but should live in Shawnee Heights school district or be able to transport Pauline to school there. The commitment would be for a 3 – 5 month period, depending on how many host families we can recruit. For more information see David Beck.

(Continued from page 5)

Locally, we have helped a number of organizations including schools, the Marian Clinic, The American Red Cross, Capper Foundation and many others. Within the next few weeks we will have a clothing drive for the Topeka Rescue Mission. The drive is being organized by those members who are new to the club within the last year. Please support their efforts. Having a ―new member project‖ was an idea that the board embraced with the idea that having new members work together would (1) help create immediate Rotary friendships among new members (2) help reinforce the goals of Rotary among new members (3) help provide a sense of membership and (4) provide an avenue for local or international service for all club members. What still needs to be done? We still need volunteers to help with the Group Study Exchange Team from the Philippines in April. Please sign up to help if you can or talk with Staci Williams if you have questions Volunteers are needed to help with Youth Career Day on March 13. If you have questions about what is involved, see Fred Gatlin; he’s done a wonderful job organizing this year’s event. Start thinking about putting together a team to play in our Golf Tournament on May 7th. If you don’t play golf talk with Henry McClure about how you might help with the tournament. Our first annual golf tournament is designed as a fundraiser to meet the Gates Foundation Challenge to Rotarians to raise a total of $200,000,000 worldwide to eradicate polio. Our club needs to contribute $2000 in each of the next three years, but I am confident that we will do much more than that. RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS. Our membership is down by 8 members from June 30th. We now have 198 members. This isn’t just a numbers game – more Rotarians means more people to help us achieve important local and international goals. Thanks to all for your support and encouragement.

Dennis McKinney Discusses State Treasurer’s Office Newly appointed State Treasurer spoke to the club about his new roll in state government. McKinney was selected by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to fill the unexpired term of Lynn Jenkins who was elected this past November to the United States Congress. McKinney formally represented the town of Greensburg, KS in the state legislature as the House Minority Leader

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Dr. Park, PhD in Political Science, recently spoke to the Topeka Rotary Club on the important function of the Korean Peninsula and its importance on the economic future of the United States. Dr. Park’s presentation can be viewed on the Topeka Rotary Club’s Facebook page.

Meeting Makeups Topeka West—Wednesday, 7 AM Marriott Courtyard, 2033 SW Wannamaker Topeka South—Friday, 7 AM— Kansas Room, Washburn University Memorial Union Topeka North—Wednesday, noon—Topeka North YMCA Board Room. 1936 NW Tyler.

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