Happy Thanksgiving Week!
Just a reminder we are not meeting this Wednesday, November 21st, 2018.
Below is the link for our annual wreath sale! Please forward to family and friends, 20% of sales come back to our club to help fund the community projects we do as a club.
The link to order this year is: http://bit.ly/lcrholiday18
Dan Skinner, Director of Kansas Public Radio (KPR), sees a bright future for the station, even though funding has changed significantly in the last few years. The effects of State and University budget cuts have trickled down to KPR, with the University defunding the Audio-Reader Network and cutting $200,000 in direct funding to the station.
Since coming on the air as KANU in 1952, the station has received 17 “Station of the Year” awards and now operates across eight different frequencies. 72% of KPR’s current funding comes from individual donors and underwriters. Skinner shared that “sound fiscal management has given a sound operating reserve.” This is especially important as the station may need to “pull on reserves over the next couple of years to raise more money.”
KPR is part of the Kansas News Service, which is a collaboration between multiple news resources, ensuring that efforts and resources aren’t duplicated across the state. Skinner projects that over 100,000 listeners tune into KPR per week.
Skinner addressed the fact that some people think of public radio as being one sided. “It really depends where you are on the political spectrum.” He says he hears people say that the station is to conservative and others say it’s too liberal. That’s perfect, he joked. “We want to be a source of civil conversation where you can hear divergent ideas.”
With the changes in funding, Skinner is most concerned about the Audio-Reader Network, which has been giving the “gift of sight through sound” since 1971. The program has over 400 volunteers who read newspapers, magazines and books, as well as over 1,600 hours of specifically requested materials each year. The program is the second oldest in the nation, and one of the largest programs of its kind. The program is free to clients, who receive a radio receiver for the subcarrier frequency. Clients can also access programming through the telephone reader service.
Lawrence Central Rotary recently launched or 2018 fall and holiday decoration campaign. The money raised helps to do the service work of our club both locally and globally.
Supporting our fundraiser is easy… Simply order decorations for your home or to send to a friend or client and 20% of your purchase comes back to Lawrence Central. This year’s link is http://bit.ly/lcrholiday18
Fall decorations are available now and you can even pre-order your holiday wreaths and evergreen centerpieces or garland!
Thank you for helping us to continue to do the work we do!
On behalf of all of us at Lawrence Central Rotary, a big thank you!
On Saturday we hosted the 2nd ride of our “Community Bike Ride” initiative. In spite of warm weather, overlap with the KU football game, and a variety of other options, we were able to total 79 participants (by counting the waivers). We had another successful helmet giveaway – as well as providing neon safety vests and shirts.
For the year (both rides), we had 247 participants, we gave away 107 helmets, 98 vests, and 105 shirts (with shirt and vest totals only limited by our inventory). And, importantly, we had another successful year without injuries. We heard multiple people share that it was “…my first time on this trail!” and more than one family share that they were back with kids who had graduated from our training-wheel takeoff clinic (that Jane Huesemann leads).
Speaking for the group – each time we help fit a child (or adult) with a helmet – provide them with a bright (neon) vest or bright shirt – we know we are proactively promoting well being (safety). It means a lot to us – and we could not pull this off without your help.
Below is a gallery of pictures (thank you Lynn O’Neal, Tobin Neis, and the folks at Friends of Lawrence Area Trails). Our fall ride that started at the Haskell Stadium parking lot and went up along the Burroughs Creek trail and back.
We are looking forward to coming back in 2019 and we hope you choose to be along for the ride!
Steve
Rideperson,
Community Bike Rides
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2035921043105850&type=1&l=5fea98b6c6
Lawrence Central Rotary celebrated the club’s new members on September 5. The following new members were inducted: Karena Schmitendorf, Gena Dellett, Julia Gaughan, Janis Bunker, Lee Ann Thompson, and Margaret Brumberg.
The three newest members, Julia Gaughan, Karena Schmitendorf, and Margaret Brumberg shared more about their background and interests during the now traditional new member panel.
Julia Gaughan studied law and works at Bert Nash. Her most recent read was There There by Tommy Orange. Audrey Coleman invited Julia to Rotary. The two have been friends since college. Volunteering has always been important to Julia. She shared that she’s excited to be around people who find service important. For fun, Julia reads, writes, is involved in several book clubs, and attends a lot of soccer games, cheering on her 10 year old son.
Margaret Brumberg studied law and administers federal grants at KU. Her most recent read was Amateur by Thomas Page McBee. Kate Campbell invited Margaret to Rotary. She was immediately inspired by the service mission. For fun Margaret enjoys being outside, taking walks, and drinking wine.
Karena Schmitendorf is a retired art instructor and now works combining three of her passions: art, elderly care, and transitional housing. She has recently been reading books on death and dying, integrating her learning into her daily work. While living in California, Karena regularly presented to Rotary clubs about her work with a homeless and housing group. She is especially drawn to Rotary’s international focus. For fun Karena enjoys gardening, cooking, and her work renovating a house. She also is enjoying the many art galleries and events in Lawrence.
