Author: Fred Atchison

Steve Nowak, Director of Watkins Museum, is a story teller with thirty years of experience in museum work. Nowak has a background in art, history and material culture and is a Washington University, St. Louis graduate. Nowak took the job in 2011 and was asked to do a major upgrade of the collection. The Watkins is a 126 year old bank building that was built to be a showplace. However, in the decade prior to Nowak’s arrival the collection had grown static. Nowak began to fundraise and set out to tell the story of the community in a fresh and appealing manner. He began to remodel and update the collection one floor at a time. The Watkins won a prestigious Museums for America Grant which greatly assisted the remodel work.

The community’s story is one of Border War legacy, city growth, and the unique personalities that shaped it. The second floor exhibits are dedicated to the struggles for equality. The third floor focusses on different themes in Douglas County life, including business, leisure, activism, sports and more. Efforts have been made to reflect and honor all of the groups that are a part of the history of the area. The remodeled museum includes interactive displays, temporary exhibits that change every three to six months, a family research room and increased archive storage. Nowak emphasizes the importance of collaboration, especially with educators. Admission to the museum is free.

Polio has been a scourge of humanity for thousands of years. It is a highly contagious disease that attacks the nervous system and can result in crippling paralysis and even death. However, the development of an effective vaccine in the 1950’s and a monumental effort to inoculate the world’s children has reduced polio to a handful of cases in three countries. “We are this close to eradicating polio” was the message from sixty year Rotarian Robert “Bob” Schwartz and Lawrence Central Rotary’s Janice Bunker. Bob spoke of Rotary’s long standing commitment to the eradication effort and of his own personal experience. The year Bob went off to college he lost his father to polio. Bob has spent much of his Rotary life working to eradicate the disease.

The impact of the polio outbreak of the last century is a living memory for many adults. Thousands were impacted, public gatherings were canceled, swimming pools were closed and children were kept inside. Janice described the development of an effective vaccine in the 1950’s by Jonas Salk. The vaccine was a game changer. A public-private partnership was developed to educate and fund the massive inoculation effort. Rotary International partnered with the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the Vaccine Alliance. And yet there is still work to do as the remaining cases are in countries with active insurgencies, extreme poverty and rugged and remote geography. The virus is only an airplane ride away as long as there is an active case. Bob and Janet predicted an epic celebration when the virus is eradicated forever. Donations to Rotary Polio Plus can make that happen.

Kim Anspach wants visitors to come to Lawrence and have fun. Anspach is Director 0f the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, an organization that assists leisure travelers, meetings and events planners, groups, the media and Lawrence residents. Visitor spending has a significant impact on the local economy, bringing in some 41.7 million dollars in tax revenues in 2019. Visitors to Lawrence spend money for lodging, food and beverages, transportation, recreation and shopping. Bureau sales targets include meetings, groups, conferences, reunions and sporting events.

“Unmistakably Lawrence” is the brand that has been adopted to show off the resources and appeal of the community. The brand name speaks to the quirky, unexpected, proud, energetic and friendly nature of the community. People come to Lawrence for many reasons and all are encouraged to partake of local culture, including the arts, food, history, recreation and fun. Accordingly, Lawrence ranks at the top of a number of different community ranking lists.

Anspach notes the importance of collaboration and community partners in the work of the bureau. The utilization of social media is also important in promoting Unmistakably Lawrence. The Bureau has a distinguished seven member board and is primarily supported by a lodging tax.

Child abuse is truly horrifying and yet it happens to one in ten children in our community. The abuser is often a known and trusted individual. Bev Turner, Director of the Douglas County Advocacy Center (CAC), trained to be a teacher and found herself interested in dealing with kids with special needs and problems. She sought an advanced degree and went to work at the CDC. The mission of the CDC is to insure children and families affected by child abuse receive compassionate community based intervention through a multi-disciplinary team approach. Staff work to prevent, identify, investigate, prosecute and treat child mistreatment.

Trained forensic interviewers are utilized and referrals are made to other support agencies. Families and children are guided through the entire process. Turner noted that there have been big improvements on information sharing among agencies in the last decade. The CDC has an annual case load of approximately 120. Funding is primarily from the State, County and various foundations. Staff members who work with these cases also may need counselling and support. The CDC has a distinguished board of local citizens and is one of seventeen such agencies in the State. The CDC welcomes volunteers and financial gifts.