Category: News

Rachel Bell, Business Services and Customer Relations for the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA), previewed cashless tolling which is coming in July. The KTA conducts regular customer satisfaction surveys which have revealed strong interest in cashless tolling. Such a system eliminates toll booths and relies on technology that records K-Tag information or images of license plates and bills vehicles later through a KTA account. Drivers may register a credit card for toll payment. Conversion will be automatic for present K-Tag users and KTA will continue to work with the states with which they presently have reciprocal agreements. The reasons for the change include safety, convenience and efficiency. Keeping traffic moving is to everyones advantage and the timing for the change is good as 70 per cent of the KTA workforce will be retiring in the next couple years. Rachel indicated that the toll rate for the new system will be the lowest cashless toll in the nation. She also noted that Lawrence is home to one of three KTA Customer Service Centers. The KTA website has more information on how cashless tolling will work.

Meg Pearson, Director of Donor Engagement for United Way of Kaw Valley, reported on the work of the well known community organization. The recent merger of the United Way organizations of Greater Topeka and Douglas County, along with Jackson and Jefferson Counties, have created efficiencies of operation to better serve the people of North East Kansas. United Way of Kaw Valley is the primary funding and volunteer recruiter for local nonprofits. Meg stressed that funds raised in Douglas County stay in the county. The organization engages in a variety of support tasks, including planning, training, professional development and advocacy. Community impact grants are awarded to collaborating partner organizations to help achieve these goals. Meg also spoke of the work of the Roger Hill Volunteer Center that recruits and creates an individual volunteer skills profile to match with the needs of over 122 organizations. United Way of Kaw Valley also works with the national 211 emergency hotline for people in need of services.

Leticia Cole is Lawrence Central Rotary Club’s point person for recruiting young people to participate in the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. Most Rotary Clubs participate in RYLA, which typically consists of a week long summer camp for students 14 years and older. Students learn a variety of leadership skills and the value of civic involvement. Rotary District 5710 sponsors RYLA on the Kansas University campus the first week in June. District Rotary Clubs select and cover the costs of student participants who learn leadership and communication skills, form new friendships and have fun. Community leaders are utilized as presenters and mentor figures, and students may engage in community service projects. Typically, our selected student will visit the club to report on their RYLA experience. Leticia states that her work with RYLA is very satisfying.

Lawrence Central Rotary’s own Sam Camp presented an update on his work as an Economic Development Analyst for the City of Lawrence. The City received a grant for ecosystem analysis and Sam has been working on creating a resource map for entities that can assist local entrepreneurs in the development of small businesses. Sam explained that prosperity and economic security are important outcomes in the Strategic Plan for the City. Part of the plan focuses on diversity and assisting minorities and women entrepreneurs. Accordingly the City has worked with various groups and organizations including CORE and Black:30. These efforts have made a new loan fund, training opportunities and coaching available for entrepreneurs. Sam moved to Lawrence from Florida and is very enthusiastic about his work and the community.

Children’s Mercy of Kansas City is a premiere health care provider for children in the region. Mathew Briggs and Liz Wolfe, Philanthropic Giving Officers, talked about the array of medical and health services provided by Children’s Mercy of Kansas City. The institution boasts some 800 pediatric specialists on staff and last year served over 600,000 patients from the region, including 47 states and 14 foreign countries. Children’s Mercy is a nonprofit organization with various locations and partners in the area and maintains a productive Research Institute.

Mathew and Liz spoke about Illuminate, a new program designed to address the growing crisis in mental health disorders in children. Nationally, one in five children have a serious mental health disorder and treatment resources are particularly inadequate in our region. Children’s Mercy has experienced a 67 per cent increase in referrals of children with mental health problems. Gifts to support the work of Illuminate will provide early intervention, increased specialty services, expanded hospital care, and new research and innovations. Some 82.3 million dollars of the 150 million dollar goal has been raised to date. A show of hands from the group showed a majority present had some family member who had received services from Children’s Mercy.