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When Audrey Coleman goes to work at the Dole Center for Politics she confronts a huge stained glass American Flag flanked on either side by steel beams salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. The tragedy of that day, for her, is always close at hand. Audrey is Director of the Dole Center and a member of Lawrence Central Rotary. Audrey shared some thoughts on the events of 9/11 and lead a session of personal reflections by club members. 9/11 is one of those momentous events that are unforgettable for those old enough to have had the experience. Audrey reviewed the time line of events and asked people to share their memories of that day. Several people believed it was a terrible accident until the second tower was struck. Millions watched the drama unfold in real time and there was fear and uncertainty about the extent of the attacks. Some reflected on the sacrifice of first responders and the protracted retaliation of the United States. Audrey expressed the importance of personal agency and measured discourse in moving our country forward. She credited historian Rick Atkinson with the line “holding the cause of the dead in trust.”

Lawrence Central Rotary’s own Lynn O’Neal stepped in on short notice to talk about the impact of eye disease in the Western world. Lynn is a retired Doctor of Opthamology who loves history, literature, travel and the arts. Lynn spoke about different pathologies of the eye and mentioned several examples of historical figures who were impacted by eye problems. King Henry II of France lost an eye in a joust while author James Joyce suffered thirteen eye operations and had to dictate his work in later years. Artist Claude Monet was beset by cataracts and Lynn showed how cataracts impacted Monet’s work as he aged. James Thurber and John Muir suffered auto-immunes diseases of the eye. One of the more curios figures in the history of eye disease treatment was Dr. Albert C. Barnes who invented a treatment to prevent blindness in infants. Barnes made a fortune and amassed a remarkable collection of Impressionist art. Lynn and his wife Debbie had an opportunity to visit sites in France where various Impressionists lived and worked. He and Debbie also traveled through the Loire River Valley and to Brittany and the shared samples of one of their favorite French wines.

The Senior Resource Center of Douglas County (SRC) provides variety of resources for Seniors according to Executive Director Megan Poindexter. The SRC is a non profit that has served Seniors in Douglas since 1972. Megan explained that there are two categories of aging, healthy and unhealthy, and there are SRC resources for both. The transition to unhealthy aging can be sudden and can leave people scrambling to deal with the loss of income, mobility and health. So STC provides information on health insurance, living options, in-home care, support groups and transportation. Regardless of health status, Seniors need social engagement and SRC offers a variety of clubs, special events and life long learning opportunities. The county is the largest source of funding and SRC works with numerous partners. SRC services and activities are listed in Better Senior Living, a free newsletter.

Rod Hofer is a retired Environmental Engineer who has made a study of his Hutterite heritage. Rod grew up in Freeman, South Dakota, the site of a Hutterite Community. Through the years his interest grew and was stimulated by work and travel in Europe. Rod went on to author “Hutterites in Romania” and to lead tours of the communities where they lived. The Hutterites were a branch of the Anabaptist movement of the 1600s which also included the Mennonites and Amish. Their beliefs put them at odds with the established church and governments, resulting in severe persecution. They were pacifists, and refused to make oaths, they believed in adult baptism and the separation of church and state. They were communal people, holding material goods in common. Some local princes offered shelter for the group who were famous for their clocks, pottery, wine, medical expertise and schools. However, their beliefs brought down devastation and a mere 78 members had to flee over the alps in 1716. After a stay in Russia they came to America, settling in South Dakota. Their pacifism caused trouble in World War I and many of the group resettled in Canada. Today there are some 50,000 Hutterites in North America.

Local Lawrence History was a passionate interest for retired Professor Dennis Domer, and retirement from Kansas University finally gave him time to launch an ambitious local history of the City of Lawrence. Embattled Lawrence: Conflict and Community (2001) was the first of a planned four volume history of a culturally and historically unique community. It focuses on settlement, The Border War and Civil War periods. The book was well received and a revised and reprinted copy will be available soon. Volume II, Embattled Lawrence: The Enduring Struggle for Freedom, is now available at the Raven Bookstore. It covers significant Lawrence institutions, civil rights and Haskell Indian Nations University. A third volume, Building the City, is planned with more articles by local experts and a fourth volume will be a compilation of historical photographs from various sources.

Dennis Domer believes history should not be “sugar coated” if we are truly to understand ourselves. He works with a team of experts who are committed to the project, which is funded primarily by donations. Profits go to support the work of Watkins Historical Museum.