Lawrence Central Rotary

Category: News

Local Architectural Historian Previews Quantrill’s Raid

Brenna Young discussing boarder raids on Lawrence including the 1863 Quantrill’s Raid effect of architecture.

At our 8/7 meeting local architectural historian Brenna Young spoke about the 1863 Commemorate Lawrence activities and her exploration and interesting findings of the historic buildings in downtown Lawrence. Working on her PhD at KU she’s been the project manager for the 1863 Commemorate Lawrence Project and has researched older buildings in downtown Lawrence and found that several more survived Quantrill’s Raid than originally thought. She’s quick to point out that Lawrence wasn’t burned down entirely – the main downtown district that was burned during the raid.

She also gave us a preview of the events planned for the 150th anniversary that she’s been working on including the website www.1863lawrence.com.

The date of the raid is 8/21 (check out the event we have planned that day during our normal meeting) which is on a Wednesday. So the city’s has planned a special City Band performance in historic South Park on Sunday 8/18 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

During the program, Jonathan Earle, Associate Professor of History from the University of Kansas, will provide a brief presentation of the history and significance of Quantrill’s Raid to the Lawrence Community.

A special reading of the victims’ names of Quantrill’s Raid will also occur. After the evening’s speakers, the City Band will perform specially selected works that are representative of the music of the 1860’s and have significance to the Lawrence community.

The city will provide cold refreshments to enjoy during the performance.

August 7, 2013
Visitors to Lawrence Central

Lawrence Central President Tobin Neis and visiting Rotarian Bob Haladay from the Rotary Club of Albuquerque

Last week we had a visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Albuquerque. Bob Haladay came to lunch and presented us with one of their woven banners and told us about their work they’ve done over the last 97 years! We’ll get a scan of it posted to the Banner page soon. We’ve just ordered a new batch of Lawrence Central banners so the second they appear on our stoop we’ll have one in the mail to the fine folks in Albuquerque.

Here’s a great video from their club about the club and the work they do.

July 29, 2013
Allen Belot – Board Chair – Lawrence Memorial Hospital To Speak to Lawrence Central 7/24/13

Join us Wednesday 7/24 from noon to 1pm as Allen Belot – Board Chair – Lawrence Memorial Hospital will come and speak to the club about all that is happening at LMH.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital is led by a nine-member Board of Trustees. Appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Lawrence City Commission, trustees may serve four-year terms. They volunteer their time and expertise to improving our community hospital.

The LMH Board of Trustees meets at 9 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month in the LMH Auditorium. Meetings are open to the public.

July 22, 2013
Rain Washes Out Community Bike Ride – The Story.

At dawn we woke up to flashes of lightning and quiet thunder. Then the rain started.

At 6:30 or so we arrived at the Arboretum, the Anderson Rental tent would be needed this morning, not for shade, but to keep dry.

The local radar showed the storms to the south of us but new ones were popping up just west of us and there was a discussion that with the lack of rain as of late the streets would be slick with oil that would be pushed up from the water.

Planned for since last year, event organizer and chair Steve Lane didn’t want to do it, but there was no choice. Flashes of lighting just in the distance, the potential for slick roads and while the regular riders probably would be fine, it was the novices we worry about.

So he pulled the plug. There was no choice. In his email this morning he said, “Folks – the unexpected monsoon this AM was a disappointment. A lot of great energy stayed home today (all those kids on bikes). ”

On the upside: Bill Anderson committed today (after we returned the Anderson Rental gear) that Anderson would commit to sponsor the 2014 ride. This is our largest cost for the ride – and with that already set, it provides Lawrence Central and Ride Lawrence with the confidence to put it on the 2014 calendar and to talk it up. So let’s just say it now – Mark your calendars – July 19, 2014 for the community bike ride.

New for 2014? A rain-day plan. Yup, we need one. We can plan now to do two things to reduce the chances of this occurring again:

1. Sunday, July 20, backup rain-out day.

2. Rather than setting tight ride times (this year 8AM for the 10-mile, and 8:30AM for the 3 mile….both incidentally moved up 30 min. from 2012 due to the high heat) we will have an 8AM 10-mile and and 8:30 3-mile each with a one-hour start window. Huh? Point – in great weather, both will start on time. On a day like today – folks will know that the 10-mile is between 8AM and 9AM. Same for the 3-mile. For instance, this year, if we could have delayed everything by an hour and we would have been fine (hindsight).

But, this not only helps with a flash storm…. it also makes this more accessible for families. For those who like the thrill of all starting together with a countdown may arrive and start at 8AM (or 8:30 for the 3-mile ride). But, those that just want a fun ride – can work to arrive between 8AM and 9AM (or 8:30 and 9:30 for the 3-mile) and still do the rides – with full crew support at the SAG and at street crossings. I believe both of these adjustments will boost our ability to make this event better in the future.

Let’s do it again in 2014! We’re planning already.

July 21, 2013
One of Lawrence Central’s ShelterBoxes Deployed

Lawrence Central along with the help from the Lawrence Monday Noon Rotary and District 5710 grants were able to purchase 3 ShelterBoxes last year.

Shelterbox is a Rotary-based organization that responds instantly following natural and other disasters by delivering boxes of aid to those who need it most. Each ShelterBox supplies an extended family with a tent and essential equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. ShelterBox is now firmly established at the forefront of disaster relief and our work constantly earns the respect of outside agencies.

We recently received news that one of the boxes we raised funding for was deployed to Haiti for Hurricane relief late last year.

We’ll be tracking the others and posting updates on where they went.

If you would like more information on ShelterBox check out their Website.

July 16, 2013