Lawrence Central Rotary

Author: Kate Campbell

Focus on Rotary Foundation

LCR member Janis Bunker is a passionate advocate for PolioPlus, Rotary Foundation’s drive to eradicate polio in the world. When she attended the 2017 Rotary International conference in Atlanta last June, she joined roundtable discussions about the effort. Beginning in 1979. Rotary International began its fight against polio with a multi-year project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Over the past decades, Rotary has partnered with the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fund and implement the project.

Today, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic. Although there were only 17 cases reported during 2017, work to ensure that the virus does not emerge once again will continue for ten years after the last case is reported. Even as monitoring for new cases continues, the infrastructure of laboratories and immunization clinics works to manage outbreaks of new diseases in the world.

Michael Steinle, chair of the Foundation Committee for Lawrence Central Rotary, outlined the six areas of focus that define the work of Rotary Foundation. They are (1) promoting peace; (2) fighting disease; (3) providing clean water, sanitation, and hygience; (4) saving mothers and children, (5) supporting education; and (6) growing local economies. Contributions to the Foundation support projects aimed at these initiatives. The Foundation is proud to be known for delivering 91% of each contribution dollar to help these efforts.

December 26, 2017
Kressig and LaClair Welcomed into LCR

Kevin Kressig and Chip LaClair are new members of Lawrence Central Rotary. President Fred Atchison inducted the two during the November 30 club meeting. Sponsors Steve Lane and Jim Evers participated in the ceremony.

Standing left to right in the photograph: Atchison, Lane, Kressig, LaClair, and Evers

November 30, 2017
Ramsdell and Meyer Inducted into LCR

Bob Ramsdell (left) and Kade Meyer (right) were inducted into Lawrence Central Rotary on Wednesday, November 15. After the brief ceremony, President Fred Atchison asked both men to tell the group more about themselves.

Bob Ramsdel l said that before earning a law degree at KU, he spent 21 years as an artillery officer in the Army. He then worked eighteen years in a local law partnership. In July 2017, Bob set up a solo law practice in Lawrence focusing on estate planning, probate, trusts, wills, and elder law. He and his wife are originally from Maryland; they have two adult children who live in the area. Bob was drawn to Rotary because he has many friends who have been involved in the organization. He selected Lawrence Central Rotary Club because it is small enough for friendships and big enough to get things done. In his free time Bob likes to read history and biography and enjoys photography.

After a six-year stint in the Army Reserves, Kade Meyer returned to Topeka where he and his two siblings had grown up. He followed his father’s lead into the insurance industry and currently works as an insurance account representative in Lawrence, specializing in life insurance. As Kade launches himself professionally, he knows he needs to connect to the community. Joining a Rotary club has been an ideal way to do so, but he has also gotten involved with a number of other groups and initiatives in both Lawrence and Topeka. Kade chuckles as he acknowledges he chose Lawrence Central Rotary because of our reputation as “the fun group.” In his free time, Kade enjoys listening to podcasts and to a variety of other media.

November 18, 2017
What’s Up at Watkins Museum of History?

In addition to the core exhibits about Douglas County history on display at Watkins Museum, such as this 1870s playhouse, there is always something new to see, according to Steve Nowak, Executive Director.

Sometimes the “new” is an addition to an existing exhibit. For example, the story of Lawrence’s efforts to establish a Fair Housing Ordinance in the 1960’s has been added to the “Enduring Struggles—Lawrence Fights for Change.” Documents, music, photographs, artifacts, and oral histories combine in an interactive display highlighting Lawrence’s spirit of activism and community spirit in various decades.

Changing exhibits can focus attention on a particular aspect of local history. For example, “Community and Culture: the Lawrence Turnverein” tells the story of the Germans who were among the earliest settlers in Lawrence.

“Hidden Treasures: Staff Favorites from the Watkins Collection” showcases artifacts in new ways. Find a cowboy hat signed by John Wayne and a sculpture made of the soles of shoes, as well as other treasures.

“Mass St. Magic—Weaver’s Window Displays” celebrates the 160th anniversary of the local department store by recreating some of the window displays it featured over the years. Founded in 1857, Weaver’s is one of the longest running department stores in the United States. Even in 1850’s, it was known to bring NYC fashion to Lawrence.

On Saturday, December 2, the museum will host “Tails and Traditions Holiday Festival.” Stop by between 9 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. for prime horse parade-viewing spots, snacks, kids’ crafts and games, and live holiday music. The Watkins Museum of History hosted 17,500 visitors in 2017, up from 6,000 seven years ago when Nowak began his tenure.

November 13, 2017
Rotary Cares about Environmental Change

Rick Randolph, M.D., knows first-hand about the impacts that changes in the environment are having on people around the world. As a long-time volunteer and now a staff member of Heart to Heart International, he has worked in developing countries for 25 years. Randolph recently returned from assisting with Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria.

Environmental events profoundly effect the way people live. Floods are caused by hurricanes. Mud-covered roads are caused by trees uprooted or swept away in storms. Mosquito-born illnesses occur more frequent in warming regions of the world. Infectious disease rises, the cause of 90% of deaths during draught and food shortages. Diseases such as Ebola arise when humans use slash-and-burn agriculture and move to live on formerly-forested land that exposes them to fruitbats and monkeys. Increases in asthma, emphysema, heart disease, and bronchitis are linked to air pollution. Thermal expansion of the oceans is predicted to cause sea levels to rise three feet by the year 2100, threatening military installations located on the coasts of the United States. Even civil war often has roots in the environments as draught and famine force people to migrate from farms to cities that become over-crowded and poverty-stricken.

Rotary Interantional President Ian H.S. Riseley envisions Rotarians “Making a Difference” during the coming year. He urges that each club plant a tree for every Rotarian during the next twelve months and to include sustainability objectives in each project proposal.

October 25, 2017