Lawrence Central Rotary

Category: News

Lawrence Central’s Newest Members – Megan Richardson and Dan Schenkein

Megan Richardson and Dan Schenkein being welcomed to our club by President Kate Campbell.

Two new members were inducted into Lawrence Central Rotary last Wednesday. Dan Schenkein and Megan Richardson. Later in the meeting Dan, Megan and Jason Walker, another recent addition to the club, shared a little about their backgrounds, past community service and something special they enjoy.

Dan has been associated with Rotary for 50 years. His father was a long time Rotarian and community service was a part of his life from childhood. As a student, he participated in a Rotary Exchange Study program. Dan has been a member of Rotary in several states and transferred to our club from the Dodge City Rotary Club. He recently retired from a long career in Chamber of Commerce management and has opened a consulting firm here in Lawrence. Dan is the youngest of four children and told us about an adventure with his oldest brother where they scaled the George Washington monument at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. This became the first of many items Dan has crossed off his bucket list. Dan has a collection of antique pencils dating from 1820 to 1900.

Megan Richardson receiving her induction pin from Rotarian Vicki Randall

Megan has been involved in a number of community activities including Habitat for Humanity and support for educational initiatives in Lawrence. She was active in the push to keep and improve neighborhood schools in Lawrence, in volunteering at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School and is working on the CI3T program at usd497. CI3T is a school-wide program to foster a positive learning environment for all students aimed at supporting academic, behavioral, and social success. Megan met and married her husband in England were two of her four children were born. A family favorite activity is a drive through the scenic Peak District in Central England with its exciting views, challenging bends, steep climbs and heartbeat-raising descents.

Jason is a Trust Officer & Relationship Manager at The Trust Company here in Lawrence. His volunteer efforts have been focused on coaching youth sports leagues where he has had the opportunity to help prepare young people for the future. Spring ski trips to Colorado are family favorites. Jason is a passionate NASCAR fan. He has frequently driven all night with friends to attend NASCAR events like Bristol under the lights in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northeast Tennessee. He cautioned we might not recognize him in his official NASCAR apparel.

We are pleased to welcome Dan, Megan, and Jason to Lawrence Central Rotary

February 4, 2016
Douglas County Commissioner Nancy Thellman Discusses Mental Health and Jail Expansion

As a Douglas County Commissioner for the second district, Nancy Thellman has been working with people studying the problems of gaps in mental health services for almost two years.

But she said it was a “jaw dropping moment” when she realized that many in the community don’t realize that jail reorganization and expansion are part of the solutions to these gaps and that issues of mental health and jail improvement are interwoven.

Six thousand people pass through the jail every year and it is estimated that 25%, one fourth of them, have mental health problems. With female prisoners the percentage is 31%.

“While we can’t control decreasing state and federal funding for mental health issues, Douglas County does provide more and better services than many counties,” she said. “But because of the size of the jail we spend $90,000 a month to house prisoners elsewhere. And that’s in places where they don’t get Lawrence’s good services which include counseling and training.”

In Lawrence, she said, the jail design needs more natural light, more beds, and different living spaces because, occasionally, people arrested for lighter violations have to share space with murderers.

Thellman said the community also needs a Crisis Stabilization Center, where people in crisis can go, be safe, get evaluated and receive care. She said this is necessary by itself and should not be part of the jail. “We need to create a special court within the court system, overseen by a judge to deal with mental health issues.”

“Mental health seems to be a more popular issue in the county than jail expansion,” she said “but improvement cannot succeed for one without the other.”

February 3, 2016
Lawrence Central Rotary and Shelterbox

One of the great things about Rotary is the ability to help people both locally and globally. One of the global causes that the members of our club very much rally behind is ShelterBox.

ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. When families are in need of emergency shelter, they will do everything we can to help them. Click Here earn more about shelterbox’s work.

Since ShelterBox was founded, they have responded to over 240 disasters and humanitarian crises in more than 90 different countries and provided emergency aid for well over one million people. The ShelterBox solution in disaster response is as simple as it is effective, delivering the essentials people need to survive and begin to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a disaster.

ShelterBox aid is tailored to a disaster and typically includes a disaster relief tent for a family, thermal blankets and groundsheets, water storage and purification equipment, solar lamps, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, mosquito nets and children’s activity pack.

To date Lawrence Central has been worked to donate 9 ShelterBoxes that have provided disaster relief in Korea, Myanmar, Haiti and Kurdistan.

If being a part of a service organization that helps people both locally and globally is interesting to you contact us or come to one of our weekly meetings on Wednesdays and noon in the Eldridge Hotel’s All American Room.

January 27, 2016
Christie Scanlin Dobson, The Ballard Center, and Their Mission of Service

Christie Scanlin Dobson, the new Director of Ballard Center, spoke about the center and her new responsibilities. The Ballard Center has performed a mission of service in Douglas County since 1964 for individuals and families in need of emergency assistance.

The Ballard Center is a nonprofit located in North Lawrence in a 100 year old brick building. It is governed by a volunteer board of community members. The responsibility for Penn House and its programs was added in 2005. The combined program of services offered includes emergency assistance with food, clothing, rent, employment, diapers, senior commodities, school kits and income tax. Case managers work with individuals and families to become self-sufficient. An educational program is provided for some 58 lively 1-5 year-olds. This program also supports employment opportunities for parents and operates on a sliding fee scale. There is also a substantial waiting list. Over 8,000 people in need receive unduplicated Services from Ballard each year. Christie Scanlin Dobson explained that the actual need is twice the number they are able to serve.

Unfortunately, the center is facing a major funding crisis and it is not clear how their programs will be impacted. Ballard Center welcomes visitors and contact information is available on the web site at Ballardcenter.org.

January 25, 2016
Finding Hope With Pregnancy Care Center of Lawrence

The Pregnancy Care Center of Lawrence (PCC) is a 501C3 organization that has operated in Lawrence since 2003 offering nonjudgmental counseling and support for parents experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Bridgit Smith spoke on behalf of PCC explaining the organization’s mission and range of services. Free pregnancy testing is offered, as well as sonograms, parenting classes, counseling and support. PCC maintains that women have a right to be informed about their choices regarding their pregnancy. Adoption referrals may be made, however, no referrals are made for abortions. The center offers the services of an attorney for consultation.

“Earn While You Learn” classes are available to teach parenting skills and class participants earn “Baby Bucks” that may be redeemed at the PCC Baby Boutique. PCC provides a Birth Mom Advocate and staff also work to encourage fathers to be a responsible parent. The largest demographic served is ages 19-25. Lawrence PCC averages 55 service contacts a month—some of that number are repeat visits. 22 births were celebrated in 2015. PCC is working to reach out to students, with some success—those contacts are up 40% over last year. The Organization is funded by donations from individuals, businesses and churches. Bridgit Smith expressed considerable satisfaction with her work at PCC and told of numerous parents and babies she has served through the years. More information is available at www.pcclawrence.org.

January 9, 2016