Lawrence Central Rotary

Blog

  • Elvis Visits Lawrence to End Polio Recap

    Joseph Hall rallying the crowd before the 5K
    Joseph Hall rallying the crowd before the 5K

    Here’s a repost of a great story in the LJ World about the Elvis Visit to End Polio  Below the story is a gallery of photos of the event taken by Lawrence Central’s own Lynn O’Neal.

    More than 100 people gathered at Watson Park on Saturday morning to run a 5k and grab lunch during the kick-off to the weekend-long event, Elvis Visit to End Polio Now.

    Several Elvis impersonators and other runners participated in the Visit to End Polio Now 5K walk and run Saturday.  Kids in Elvis masks and sequined scarves ran alongside Joesph Hall, an Elvis tribute artist and finalist on season three of “America’s Got Talent.” The day continued with tours of Old West Lawrence, an antique car show and Hall’s Rock ‘N’ Remember tribute concert at the Lied Center.

    Ten local Rotary clubs organized the event, which is a fundraiser for Rotary International’s PolioPlus fund, a campaign that began in 1985 with the goal of eradicating polio worldwide.

    Lawrence Rotarian Bob Swan brainstormed the idea of introducing the King to the campaign.

    “Rotary is international, in more than 200 countries. Elvis is a phenomenon, known all around the world in just as many countries,” Swan said. “He is loved and respected by many, many millions.”

    Swan said there is a potential for his idea to spread, and for Elvis to act as a symbol in Rotary events throughout the country. He has spoken with Hall, who is officially recognized by Elivs Presley Enterprises, about arranging other qualified Elvis impersonators to visit multiple communities. The event’s website and schedule, Swan hopes, will act as a template.

    Swan is also optimistic that the event will become a fixture in the Lawrence area.

    “There are 34,000 Rotary clubs, and hundreds that could take this idea,” Swan said. “And we hope that in Lawrence or KC, wherever the site will be, that it becomes an annual event.

    Mary Jean Eisenhower, a granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and polio survivor, was the chairwoman of the event, and attended the tribute concert last night.

    The fundraiser continues today with Hall’s visit to First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky Street, and Free Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Avenue. Hall will sing gospel and ask for prayers and offerings for the eradication of polio in the three remaining endemic countries: Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    Swan said that Rotary’s goal is to completely eradicate polio by 2018.

    “Our workers are getting killed in Pakistan and their guards are being murdered in Nigeria,” Swan said. “If people can be that brave, then we should at least raise some money for them.”

    How to help

    To donate to the PolioPlus fund, make checks payable to Leawood Rotary Charitable Fund and mail to: Elvis Visit, PO Box 1776, Lawrence, KS 66044. You may also donate online at rotary.org.

  • Central Lawrence Rotary Unveils Another Bike Rack!

    Ribbon CuttingAs 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
    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.
    The backstage rack suggests actors holding
    hands and bending downward in a company bow at the end of a performance.
    Lawrence Central Members
    Lawrence Central Rotary members (R-L) Lynn O’Neal, Eva Wagner, Scott Wagner, Carolyn DeSalvo, Steve Lane and his son Grant.

     

     

     

     

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

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • The Tour of Lawrence

    ToL13_Poster03_PRINTIf you think Kansas is all flat, think again!  Enjoy bicycle racing at its best in beautiful and historic Lawrence. The Tour of Lawrence is a set of three separate USA Cycling Pro-AM competitive bicycle racing events.  5 years ago a really neat event had it’s inception. Some people wondered whether the city of Lawrence could sponsor and eventually sustain a mid-summer bike race (in and around the 4th of July)?  The weekend of June 28th will mark the 5th anniversary and it’s still going strong.

    The TOL actually consists of three competitive bicycle racing events and the weekend’s cash prize list totals over $20,000!

    — on Friday night downtown are the Street Sprints sponsored this year by Laird Noller Automotive

    — on Saturday, the challenging the KU Campus Circuit Race sponsored by Meadowbrook Apartments goes up and down the hills of Mt. Oread with over 400ft of climbing per lap and is this year’s KCA’s Kansas State Category Road Race Championships

    — on Sunday, the Downtown Criterium sponsored by Free State Brewery is using the former two-time Collegiate National Championships course and this year’s KCA’s Kansas State Category Criterium Championships

     If you’re not a competitive bike rider there’s lots of other opportunities.. You can volunteer to help at the TOL’s site http://www.touroflawrence.com/volunteers.php

    Lawrence Central Rotary and one of our initiative’s Ride Lawrence is sponsoring the free Kid’s Zone on Friday night and Sunday. The fine folks from Lawrence’s Jump for Joy will have inflatables set up for the kids and it’s free!  There’s also a host of other kids events that weekend. Click on the image below for more info, times & places!

    kids_race

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

    Screen Shot 2013-06-16 at 7.10.46 PMNo 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.

    walkandrunSaturday, 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!) walk-run register button

    11:00 a.m. Joseph Hall Media Conference

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

    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 buytickets button

    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

  • 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.

    2013 Lawrence Community Bike Ride Sponsors

    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!

     LCBR Flyer 2013 Print HR_Page_1LCBR Flyer 2013 Print HR_Page_2

EMAIL
Facebook
Facebook
fb-share-icon
INSTAGRAM