Lawrence Central Rotary

Category: News

Lawrence Central Sponsors Tour of Lawrence Kids Zone

Tour of Lawrence Crit racers turning the corner past flowers planted by Lawrence Central Rotary! Photo by John Young – LJ World

For the fifth year members of the Lawrence Central Rotary sponsored and staffed the Kids Zone for the downtown events of the Tour of Lawrence.

Friday night inflatables from Lawrence’s own Jump for Joy we were set up on 8th Street between Mass and New Hampshire during the sprint races. There were loads of people out because it was also Final Friday so all the people downtown to see artists latest works were also treated to a lot of activity. It was certainly bustling!

Sunday we were set up on 9th Street between Mass and Vermont right by the start and finish lines.. Local families as well as families of the riders all took advantage of the free kids activities.

We’re proud to be an ongoing sponsor of such a great event in Lawrence. Thanks to everyone who stopped down!

June 30, 2013
Central Lawrence Rotary Unveils Another Bike Rack!

As a part of our biking initiative Lawrence Central Rotary identified bicycling as an avenue to a healthy lifestyle. To that end we sponsor the yearly Community Bike Ride, but we also have raised thousands of dollars to fabricate and install bike racks around Lawrence.

We’re happy to share that the latest creation was unveiled recently at the new Theatre Lawrence building on Lawrence’s west side.

Even the bicycle racks for the new Theatre Lawrence have a theatrical theme. The city requires bike racks to be installed for new construction. and rather than purchase generic racks for a very un-generic building. the theatre sought out Lawrence blacksmith artist Kate Dinneen to design something more appropriate for the theatre’s beautiful new building.

Kate Dinneen admiring her vision installed.

Kate, an artist both in a blacksmith forge and also in a symphony orchestra, graciously donated her time and talent to design and fabricate two metal bike racks for Theatre Lawrence.

One suggests actors holding hands and bending forward in a company bow at the end of a performance, and the other is a representation of theatrical spotlights on poles.

The Lawrence Central Rotary Club generously donated the materials, powder coating and installation for the project. Thanks to the interest and participation of Kate Dinneen and Lawrence Central Rotary, the theatre has pieces that not only are fully functional bicycle racks, but also are pieces of sculpture that add to the exterior beauty of the new building .

The backstage rack suggests actors holding
hands and bending downward in a company bow at the end of a performance.

Lawrence Central Rotary members (R-L) Lynn O’Neal, Eva Wagner, Scott Wagner, Carolyn DeSalvo, Steve Lane and his son Grant.

Scanned page from the event’s program talking about the building and the bike racks.

June 19, 2013
Elvis Will Be in the Building & Lawrence to Help End Polio the Weekend of June 21!

No Elvis has not resurfaced, but one of his devotees Joseph Hall who has a show in Branson, will be coming to town the weekend of June 21 to help host a series of events, all of the proceeds of which will go to Rotary International’s End Polio Now fund.

Ten local rotary clubs (including Lawrence Central) have joined together to put this event together.

For more information and links you can go to the Elvis Ends Polio website at http://www.elvisendspolio.org

Here’s the weekend’s schedule:

Friday, June 21, 2013

7:00 p.m. Polio Survivors Panel, Open Mic, Worship Service in historic 9th Street Baptist Church at 847 Ohio, Lawrence, KS. Public is invited.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Elvis 5k Walk & Run to End Polio Now (you can just do the run or you and your group could add a little fun and dress up like the King!)

11:00 a.m. Joseph Hall Media Conference

10:30 – 1:30 p.m. Community Lunch with King and report on worldwide PolioPlus campaign

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Guided Tours of Quantrill’s Raid historic sites in downtown Lawrence. Tours begin at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.

7:30 pm Joseph Hall Concert

Sunday, June 23, 2013

9:00 a.m. – Noon Joseph Hall visits Lawrence churches to sing gospel

12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Donor/Sponsor Lunch with Joseph Hall

June 16, 2013
Lawrence Community Bike Ride Set for July 20th!

Ride Lawrence and our partners are excited to present our third FREE community bike ride Saturday, July 20th 2013 to promote cycling as a part of a healthy lifestyle at the The Rotary Arboretum at Clinton Park (by the YSC Soccer fields).

There are three rides to choose from and they all travel along the South Lawrence Trafficway bike path, a paved surface that is a “car-free” environment:

• Ten-mile ride. It begins at 8 a.m. and travels near I-70 and back.

• Three-mile family ride. It begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes to the Clinton Lake Overlook and back.

• One-mile easy loop. It’s available anytime between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and circles around the arboretum.

Other activities from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. include:

• A Training Wheel Takeoff. Experts will help children who are ready to take off their training wheels in a safe and fun environment.

• Safety Zone. Safe Kids Douglas County will help outfit children with helmets and other safety gear while supplies last along with providing cycling safety tips for kids of all ages.

Lawrence Central Rotary organizes and sponsors the event. Last year’s event drew about 200 participants.

We’re really excited and want to thank all those who are helping us to do the ride this year. Our 2013 Sponsors include: Anderson Rentals and Lawrence Central Rotary

The 2013 partners include: The Merc, TeamGP Velotek, Bev West Creative, McDonalds, and the Lawrence Bicycle Club.

And the 2013 Friends of the ride include: Booster Print, Sunflower Outdoor & Bike, Lawrence Memorial Hospital, EconoLodge Lawrence, Ortho Kansas and Safe Kids of Douglas County.

We’ll have them there, but if you want to pre-print a release to be a part of the ride you can download this form, print and fill it out and bring it to the event. It’s that easy!

Here’s more information and Ride Maps. We look forward to seeing you!

June 12, 2013
Lawrence Central Rotary to Help Support Willow Domestic Violence Center

Support for Willow Domestic Violence Center was identified by the Community Service Committee as a project for 2013 to be recommended to the Lawrence Central Rotary Board. The proposal was discussed and approved at the March 20 board meeting.

The Willow Domestic Violence Center provides safe-shelter, peer counseling, advocacy and other services to survivors of domestic violence in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson counties. The Willow Domestic Violence Center works towards the elimination of violence in our communities. Therefore, The Willow Domestic Violence Center is dedicated to the empowerment of women and children, providing a safe environment; the promotion of equality and respect for all people; the appreciation of difference; and the social action necessary to achieve these goals.

Lawrence Central Rotary sponsored Willow for the month of May 2013. Items like soap, tooth paste and cleaning supplies were collected at each of the May meetings. The board also voted to make a $100 cash donation in addition to any funds raised to Willow to be delivered with the supplies. Rotarian Fred Atchison was the coordinator for the project.

Over the course of the month hundreds of pounds of personal care items were collected as well a cash donation.

We recently received a thank you from them along with this certificate of appreciation. We’re honored to be able to help!

Willow is truly a great cause and for more information about how to help the Willow Domestic Violence Center contact one of us here at Lawrence Central Rotary or go to Willow’s Website.

May 30, 2013