We always enjoy having visitors from other Rotary clubs and Lawrence Central had a visiter from Germany on July 25th. Dr. Heinz Beer stopped by for lunch as he was in town visiting his son who attends KU. He and club President Bob Swan exchanged visiting Rotarian banners and he told us a little about his medical practice and Rotary Club in Fichtelgebirge, Germany .
Their banner is particularly interesting as the club logo is made of same porcelain that region is renown for making.
Lawrence Central Rotary and Ride Lawrence are proud to announce the 2nd Annual Lawrence Community Bike Ride. This year’s ride is scheduled for July 21st at the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum / Youth Sports Complex. The ride is completely free and open to all ages. This year’s ride has three paved-path rides that anyone can participate in.
People looking for a longer ride will commence a 10 mile ride at 8:00am while at 9:00 a shorter 3 mile ride will depart. All morning anyone can participate in an easy 1 mile mini-course around the wide pathways in the Arboretum.
Other activities include a Training Wheel Take-off where experts help kids who are ready to take off their training wheels in a safe and fun environment and a Safety Zone where Gary Long w/ Cycle Works, and Lisa Hallberg will help outfit kids with helmets and other safety gear, while supplies last, along with providing cycling safety tips for kids of all ages – and for adults too. Make sure to stop by during the event!
Registration is required. Free T-shirts will be issued, while supplies last, at registration. You may print off the registration form in advance by clicking this LINK – or they will also be on hand the morning of the 21st.
The temperatures were close to 100 but that didn’t deter Riders, attendees and lots of kids from checking out the Tour of Lawrence’s Criterium Sunday July 1st on Mass Street in Lawrence. Lawrence Central members staffed the Kids Zone that had two massive inflatable attractions for kids to slide and play on. Also popular not to just the kids but lots of people downtown was a misting system that was installed in one of our tents.
We also passed out flyers for our Community Bike Ride scheduled for July 21st at the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum. Below are some pics. Thanks to everyone who helped and attended! We’re proud to be a part of the Tour of Lawrence!
Lawrence Central has been working to raise $1000 to endow a ShelterBox, currently we're 3/4 the way there! There's been some new great developments we'd like to share.
There was an interesting story on the national Rotary site.
By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News – 30 March 2012
Top: Tom Henderson, CEO of ShelterBox, and John Hewko, RI general secretary, during the signing of a project partner agreement this month. Bottom: ShelterBox teams distributed more than 550 tents to Madagascar for families left homeless by a powerful cyclone. Photo by Angela Spencer-Smith/ShelterBox
Rotary International and ShelterBox, a grassroots disaster relief organization, signed a project partner agreement this month, allowing the two organizations to collaborate more closely to provide relief and temporary shelter to survivors of natural disasters.
“Project partner” is a special status RI gives to groups started or managed by Rotary clubs. The agreement will build on the strengths of both organizations in responding to disasters all over the world.
“Our Rotary friends have always been there ready to assist – from generous donations to direct operational support on the ground Rotary has always been part of our DNA,” said Tom Henderson, ShelterBox CEO. “I feel like we have 34,000 ShelterBox offices around the world working together to help those who have lost everything when they need us the most.”
RI General Secretary John Hewko said the agreement will enable Rotary club members to have an immediate, lifesaving impact in communities hit by natural disasters. “ShelterBox will be able to ensure that local Rotarians are provided an opportunity to participate in the distribution of ShelterBox containers,” he said.
Each ShelterBox typically provides a bespoke tent designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, stove, water purification kit, blankets, tools, and other necessities to help a family survive for six months or more after a disaster.
Henderson, a civil engineer and former search-and-rescue diver for the British Royal Naval, founded ShelterBox in 2000. Its response teams of trained volunteers have brought lifesaving supplies to victims of more than 175 disasters in nearly 80 countries.
“For more than 10 years, ShelterBox has given light to over one hundred thousand families worldwide in their darkest hour,” said Hewko. “This project partner agreement represents our mutual goal of helping those in need. It gives RI a forward-facing approach to immediate disaster relief.”
Noted Henderson: “This partnership with Rotary International is a formal recognition of our good work over the past 12 years. It will help Rotarians get a better understanding of what we do. I hope Rotarians worldwide will see us as a coherent and able disaster relief organization.”
Earlier this month, a ShelterBox team distributed more than 550 tents to communities in Madagascar where powerful cyclones left more than 250,000 people homeless.
For more information:
After 25 years of hard work, Rotary and its partners are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to 
root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions.
Reaching the ultimate goal of a polio-free world presents ongoing challenges, not the least of which is a US$535 million funding gap through 2012. Of course, Rotary alone can’t fill this gap, but continued Rotarian advocacy for government support can help enormously.
As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are that high.
In an effort to raise funds for Polio Plus and the non-profit foundations of The Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit, the Blue Springs Rotary Club and the Raytown Rotary Club, the three clubs have combined to create Rotary Ride: Pedaling Against Polio. We look forward to your involvement and support in helping raise money and raise awareness.
For more info check out http://kcrotaryride.com/
