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Scott Wagner received the “Becky Castro Award” at the July 5, 2017, club meeting from outgoing president Jim Peters.  Scott has been a member of Lawrence Central Rotary for thirteen years (since December 2004), is a Paul Harris Fellow, and served as club president in 2008-2009. In recent years, Scott has managed the roster of programs for the club, arranging a variety of stimulating speakers and communicating the program topics to the club weekly. Recently, Scott accepted the role of President Elect on the board of the newly-formed Lawrence Central Rotary Club Foundation.

Congratulations, Scott, on receiving the second Becky Castro Award. Thank you for all you have done for Lawrence Central Rotary and the Lawrence community.

Rebecca “Becky” Lizabeth Castro was a founding member of our club who died after a long illness in June 2014 at the age of 68. A lifelong resident of Lawrence, Becky was active not only in Rotary, but also numerous other community organizations. Her warm welcome greeted everyone who came to a Lawrence Central Rotary meeting. In spring 2015, Past-Presidents Tobin Neis and Carolyn DeSalvo conceived of the Becky Castro Award as a way to honor the memory of this tireless founding member. The criteria state that the award be given to a member who exemplifies the dedication to community service and the love of Rotary that Becky displayed.

In March 2016, Past President Steve Lane recieved the first Becky Castro Award in recognition for his leadership of the Community Bike Ride initiative.

Stephanie Kelton, Ph.D., challenges conventional thinking about the economy.  In Kelton’s mind, the national debt is not a problem. Instead, the challenge to American leaders is “slowth”–slow growth and low inflation. For a remedy, she recommends a change in fiscal policy: spend more and lower taxes to encourage growth. These strategies will tap the “spare capacity” in the United States and restore Gross Domestic Product to its higher potential growth rate.

Kelton’s ideas have proven correct in the past, as her website explains.  Among her impressive track record of economic foresight, she “predicted the debt crisis in the Eurozone” and “that: (1) Quantitative Easing (QE) wouldn’t lead to high inflation; (2) government deficits wouldn’t cause a spike in U.S. interest rates; (3) the S&P downgrade wouldn’t cause investors to flee Treasuries; (4) the U.S. would not experience a European-style debt crisis.”

Kelton served as Chief Economist on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee (minority staff) in 2015 and then became an Economic Advisor to the Bernie 2016 presidential campaign. In 2016, POLITICO recognized her as one of the 50 people across the country who is most influencing the political debate. She is a regular commentator on national radio and broadcast television.  Kelton has been Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the past 17 years. This fall, she will begin teaching at Stony Brook University in New York.

Helen Schnoes, Food Systems Coordinator for Douglas County, explained the proposed Douglas County Food System Plan. The draft proposal was released in January 2017 for public comment and was presented to the Douglas County Commissions on June 14.  It was heard by the City of Lawrence in March. The policy is the result of extensive input and research including 13 focus groups, listening surveys with feedback from over 450 people, several experimental projects, and 13 public forums.  Although it is a document separate from the Comprehensive Plan and does not change code nor commit funds, it will serve as a valuable statement of vision and a guide for future decisions regarding “Farm to Fork” initiatives.

Established by the County Commission in 2010, by the Douglas County Food Policy Council (FPC) seeks to identify the benefits, challenges, and opportunities for a successful, sustainable local food system in Douglas County. Their goals are Wellness, Equity, Economy, and Environment. The FPC advises the Douglas County and City of Lawrence Commissioners on food-related policy issues and provides a forum for the community. As a joint county and city-appointed group, the group includes 23 diverse stakeholders–from agricultural producers to extension agents, retail food partners and more–all collaborating to improve the local food system. Schnoes serves as the liaison between the County and the Food Policy Council.

On Saturday morning, July 15, Lawrence Central Rotary will welcome bicyclists to the seventh annual Community Bike Ride at the Rotary Arboretum in west Lawrence.  This event is the first of two rides that the club provides each year.  The other 2017 ride will take place on Saturday, September 16, beginning and ending in the stadium parking lot at Haskell University.  Watch for additional details in the coming weeks.

Steve Lane is the instigator, inspiration, and organizer of Lawrence Central Rotary’s signature even.  Now rolling into his seventh season leading the project, Steve continues to manage the effort with skill and enthusiasm.  The club held the first Community Bike Rides in 2010, funded by grant money from LiveWell Lawrence.

The club has collected over $4,000 in sponsorships from multiple donors for the 2017 rides.  The financial support allows them to give away bike helmets and safety vests to riders.  In addition to providing a safe and friendly ride, the event features a training wheel take-off clinic, bike maintenance checks, healthy snacks, and inflatable fun.  This season, there will be a special seventh-anniversary t-shirt available as well.

Omar Jaleel Hazim, the Iman of the Islamic Center of Topeka, visited Lawrence Central Rotary Club to talk about his faith and the activities of the Center.  The Iman accepted Islam in 1962 and studied under the guidance of Elijah Muhammad.

This branch of Islam had a strong Black Nationalism component that appealed to a young Black man growing up in an unjust society.  In the 1970’sOmar Jaleel Hazim accepted a mainstream belief in the faith.  He is a builder by trade and has helped to establish many Mosques and Islamic Community Centers in the Kansas City area.  The Iman spoke of the belief that the Torah, the Bible, and the Koran are linked and represent a divine message from the creator.  He believes that all three faiths share many ideas and values.  He noted that many of the perceived negative elements of Islam, like the repression of women, are cultural expressions and not part of the true faith.  The Iman has dedicated his time and energy to teaching and dispelling misconceptions about Islam.

Hazim was the first Muslim to give the invocation in the Kansas House of Representatives.  He has served on the Board of Directors of Interfaith Topeka, Inc. and as the Islamic Advisor to the Kansas Department of Corrections.  He is an active speaker and has numerous publications, including the book “Islam in the Heartland of America.”  The Iman was asked if his community has been targeted for abuse, and he said the Islamic Center and people in the Topeka Islamic community have largely escaped that kind if attention.

For more information about the Islamic Center of Topeka – visit their website at http://wp.topekamosque.org/ and the Imam Hazim’s book is available in hardback, paperback and Kindle edition on Amazon.