Lawrence Central Rotary

Category: Service

Live Well Lawrence Celebrates 5 Years!
You are cordially invited to the fifth anniversary celebration of LiveWell Lawrence. The celebration will be from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Abe and Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., in downtown Lawrence.

LiveWell Lawrence is a coalition of more than 100 community members who are working together to make it easier for Douglas County residents to eat healthy foods, be physically active and live tobacco free.

The celebration’s program begins at 5:15 p.m. and will include:
- Welcome — Hank Booth
- Bringing the vision of LiveWell to life — Marilyn Hull, of Douglas County Community Foundation
- LiveWell, today and tomorrow — Cindy Johnson, chair of LiveWell Lawrence
- LiveWell, a state leader — Jeff Usher, of Kansas Health Foundation, and Robert Moser, MD, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Community impact — Douglas County Commissioner Mike Gaughan and Lawrence Mayor Michael Dever
- Special recognition of Marilyn Hull
We hope you can attend the event and celebrate our community’s successes, which include passage of a Complete Streets Policy in Lawrence, adoption of school marathon clubs and school gardens, and establishment of WorkWell Lawrence, a network of employers who are working together to create a culture of health in the workplace.

There will be free food and beverages along with information booths about community activities ranging from school gardens and bicycling to workplace wellness and transportation planning. It’s a great opportunity to network and learn about LiveWell!

Lawrence Central Rotary and Ride Lawrence will be set up with information about local biking and other exciting giveaways!

RSVP on Facebook here.

Help us promote the celebration. Download and share the event flyer here.
September 30, 2013
Another of Lawrence Central Rotary’s Shelterboxes has been 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 the second box we purchased was deployed to Myanmar for refugees who have lost everything due to the ongoing conflict in Kachin state in northern Myanmar.

We’ll be tracking the last one and will post updates on where it went.

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

September 4, 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
What’s so great about Lawrence? Ask Lawrence Central Rotary about the Community Bike ride.
“The old song says “The best things in life are free!” and this is true of one of the best things about summer in Lawrence, the Central Rotary Community Bike Ride, July 20 at the Rotary Arboretum by the YSC Soccer fields at Clinton Park. With no charge of any kind to participants, the Ride offers a morning of family fun and outdoor activity, as well as promoting safe cycling.

Cyclists have three rides to choose from, all traveling along the South Lawrence Trafficway bike path, a wide paved surface that is “car-free.”
- The first ride begins at 8 a.m. and is a 10-mile ride that travels near I-70 and back.
- A three-mile family ride begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes to the Clinton Lake Overlook and back.
- A one-mile easy loop is available between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and circles around the arboretum. It also accommodates those who’d just like a brisk walk.
Participants also receive, while supplies last, free t-shirts, helmets, drinks from McDonalds, healthy snacks from the Merc, and free bike tune-ups from on site mechanics. Jim Whittaker, who leads GP VeloTek which is staffing and supporting the Ride, is working on getting free chair massages for cyclists. Cycling experts will conduct “training wheel take-off,” helping the youngest riders learn to ride without training wheels when they’re ready. Safe Kids of Douglas County with Lawrence Memorial Hospital will provide cycling safety tips for kids of all ages.

Central Rotary member Stephen Lane, who has been Bike Ride chairman since its inception three years ago, said all riders will be well cared for, with mobile mechanics and volunteers stationed at the few street crossings. Those in the 10-mile ride will also get food at a SAG (Support and Gear) stop at the five mile point. The SAG stop, promoted by Lawrence Bicycle Club members Justin Graham and Craig Weinaug, will be manned by the Bicycle Club. He suggested riders bring, in addition to bikes in safe working order, water and sunblock. Release letters will be available at the event.

Scott Wagner, also a member of Central Rotary, said the Community Bike Ride was started by a two-year grant from LiveWell Lawrence in March of 2010 and included three parts: building bike racks, creating a website called RideLawrence and a community ride. The Central Rotary Club has funded the ride with a portion of the grant for 2011 and 2012 and is now funding it on its own, as well as installing bike racks in the city.

” We can’t think of a better way to involve families in a healthy, fun activity,” Lane said. “Last year we had 225 cyclists and walkers and we’re hoping to double that this year. We’ve had riders and walkers in their 80s and three year-olds riding on training wheels. Last year we even had a training wheel Superman, red cape and all. Costumes and decorated bikes are welcome. And we’re going to have several surprise guests.”

Riders may download the forms to preregister at www.ridelawrence.com.
July 8, 2013
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