July - August 2013

The Newsletter of the Topeka Downtown Rotary Club

“Service Above Self”

Rotary International President Visits Topeka Dowtown Rotary

Published by:Topeka DowntownRotary Clubwww.topekarotary.org

“Engage RotaryChange Lives”Ron Burton - RI President

“Engage Rotary, Change Lives”

So what are we going to do with this theme, you ask? Last year for the first time ever our club developed a strategic plan. It provides a great framework for us mov-ing forward into the future. And we are in a better position than ever to move the club forward toward that vision.

Our plan includes three goals that we will build on this year by developing objec-tives and action plans to move us forward toward our strate-gic goals. The first one says that we will “strengthen our club by increasing en-gagement, participa-tion and giving.”

This goal fits into Rotary’s theme so well – if we as individual Ro-tarian’s are engaged in Rotary then we have the power to Engage Rotary’s awesome power and resources to serve our community and our world. We’ll talk more in the weeks to come about our strategic plan and how we want every Rotarian to have a say in developing our plans for the coming year.

Each of us is a Rotary member because we were invited, and because we made a choice to accept that invitation. Every day since then, we’ve been faced with another choice: whether to just be a member of a Rotary club, or to truly be a Rotarian.

Being a Rotarian is a commitment that goes beyond just showing up at meetings once a week. It means seeing the world and our role in it in a different way. It means believing that improving our communities is our responsibility and acting like you mean it. It means taking the initiative, making the effort, and doing what’s right, not what’s easy. It means Service Above Self.

Regardless of why you joined Rotary, it’s up to you to find your pas-sion in the things Rotary does or bring Rotary to your passion.

From the Presidentby David Beck, President

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Outgoing President Blanche Parks turns the gavel over to David Beck who begins his year as President of the Topeka Rotary Club

Vision Statement:

“The Downtown Rota-ry Club of Topeka will actively serve and im-prove the quality of life in our local and interna-tional communities by leveraging our resourc-es to address com-munity needs with our time, money, expertise, advocacy, research, ed-ucation, and signature projects.”

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President - David Beck

President Elect - Chris McGee

Vice President - Curtis Sneden

Secretary - Susan Mauch

Treasurer - Alica Snavely

Seargent-at-Arms - Stan Martindell

Past-President - Blanche Parks

Topeka Rotary Foundation President - Kirk Johnson

Rotary Foundation Fund Raisers - Scott McKenzie

Volunteers are needed for the Make A Splash Topeka Water Festival September 19th. This annu-al festival is at Garfield Park and we need at least 8 volunteers to fill the time slots between 9:00 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Rotary volunteers help 4th grade students with an activity called The Incredi-ble Journey.

The activity has students pretend to be water drops, rolling dice to see where they go next in the water cycle. Students collect colored beads as they travel as different forms of water, ending up with a water cycle bracelet. Club members who have volunteered in past years say this is a fun project!

You can sign up to volunteer for a shift at the festival at the club meeting or e-mail Marie Pyko (MPyko@tscpl.org) for more information.

Volunteers Needed for Water Festival

Membership Chair - Kathleen Williams-Heit

Club Administration - Betsy Schlossman

Community Service - Marie Pyko

Vocational Service - Joyce Martin

International Service - Rehan Reza

Club Service/Public Relations - Jamison Law

New Generations and Youth Service - Nancy Daniels

100th Anniversary Planning - Grant Glenn

Executive Administrator - Ruth Reynolds

Topeka Downtown Rotary Board of Directors

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Topeka Downtown Rotary Club QuicklyBecoming Sporting Kansas City Fans

by Greg Hill

Four years ago, the Topeka Downtown Rotary Club was introduced to Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer when a representative of the club gave a program about the new state-of-the-art stadium in Kansas City, KS.

When Sporting KC extended an invitation to Rotary to attend a game, the club accepted and approximately twenty Rotarians saw their first professional soccer game.

Since then, the club has attended five Major League Soccer games, including a match against the MLS Champion Los Angeles Galaxy, featuring internation-al superstar David Beckam and United States National team player Landon Donavan who helped lead the US to a top-8, quarter final finish in the World Cup.

“The stadium is beautiful and the energy of the crowd is unbelievable and unlike any other sporting event we have been to,” said Alisa Snavely who, along with her family, has attended most of the Rotary group games. “We love to get tickets through Rotary because it’s a great way to connect with other Rotarian’s families. It’s a guaranteed great time for everyone, even for someone who doesn’t follow MLS. It’s one of my family’s favorite events.”

Earlier this year, representatives of Sporting KC once again spoke to the club about the Sporting affiliation program with youth programs around the Midwest. The following week, thirty Rotarians watched a match between Sport-ing KC and the Portland Timbers. It was a rare home loss for the home squad.

In September, thirty Rotarians will attend a CONCACAF Champions League game against Nicaraguan champion Real Estali. Sporting Kan-sas City qualified for this elite, in-ternational tournament by winning the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a sixty-four team tournament fea-turing club teams from all levels of United States Soccer adult leagues.

Topeka Downtown Rotarians and their familes enjoyed a match last season at Sporting Park in Kansas City.

by Greg Hill

A full house at the Topeka Country Club witnessed Rotary International President Ron Burton from Norman, Oklahoma deliver one of his very first speeches during his term in office. Burton spoke to the Topeka Rotary Club on July 18th to a special joint meeting of the Topeka Down-town Rotary Club and other Topeka and area clubs.

“We’re so excited to have this opportunity to be the President of Rota-ry International,” Burton said during his remarks. “I stopped and I thought of this when someone brought it to my attention, but they said, ‘you are in the line that was started by Paul Harris.’ That kind of puts it in perspective.”

Burton, accompanied by his wife Jetta, was in To-peka at the invitation of Washburn University Pres-ident and friend, Dr. Jerry Farley and Past Topeka Rotary Club President Blanche Parks.

“We were in Bangkok and I was in-troduced to Ron Burton and I invited him to come to our meeting,” Parks said. “Across the world in Bangkok, I invited a Rotarian from Norman, Oklahoma to come to Topeka, Kan-sas to speak.”Burton acknowledged that the office of President of Rotary International

is not about him; it’s about the po-sition and the honor bestowed upon those who have served since Paul Harris.

“I tell people all the time that I’m happy to have my picture taken with you, but I’m smart enough to realize that in two years, nobody will want their picture taken with me,” said Burton to the laughter of the near-

ly 250 in attendance. “They won’t remember who I was or what I did.”

Burton spoke of his theme for 2013-2014, Engage Rotary, Change Lives and his belief that Rotarians are blessed to have the opportunity to serve in such a wonderful organiza-tion.

“I believe that we as Rotarians are a very blessed group of people and

we need to share that blessing with others,” he said.

Part of sharing that blessing comes with how Rotarians interact with new members and engage current members.

“Just because you get them in the club you are not finished with them at all,” Burton said. “You need to

mentor that person, you’ve got to get them engaged, you’ve got to give them something to do to keep them in-volved in Rotary.”

Burton said he once tried to terminate his membership in the Norman, OK, club be-cause they didn’t keep him engaged about eighteen months after he joined.

“They were smart enough not to really terminate me,” Burton said. “They asked me

to chair the Rotary Foundation the next year because they thought he had some expertise in dealing with foundations.”

Burton asked the audience to look at the many things that Rotarians have to offer as individuals and seek to engage them to become more in-volved. Otherwise, they run the risk of letting members slip away.

Engaging with Ron BurtonTopeka Rotarians Get a Front Row Seat With RI President

Topeka Mayor Larry Wolgast presents Rotary International President, Ron Burton with a Topeka lapel pin prior to his presentation.

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By Arnold R. Grahl Rotary News

As Rotary clubs continue to promote diversity in their membership, Rotary is marking a milestone. Anne L. Matthews, a Rotarian from South Carolina, USA, began her term on 1 July as the first female vice president of Rotary International.“Women have contributed significantly to Rotary initiatives, and will continue to do so,” says Matthews, who is also the first woman to serve as both a Rotary Foundation trustee and an RI director. “No doubt, the unfortunate and sometimes misleading image of ‘an old boys’ club’ will be buried for good.“Whether the job is done by a male or female is immaterial,” she adds. “What is important is that the individual who serves is effective in that role. With that said, I am extremely proud to be the first wom-an vice president and am thankful for the California pioneers who pursued membership of women in Rotary.”

Matthews Begins Term as First Woman Vice President

“Women have contributed significantly to Rotary initiatives, and will continue to do so”

Anne L. Matthews

A member of the Rotary Club of Co-lumbia East, Matthews has served Rotary in numerous capacities. In addition to her service as trustee and director, she has been a regional Ro-tary Foundation coordinator, RI pres-ident’s representative, lead seminar trainer for the International Assembly, Future Vision Committee member, RI training leader, and district governor.

She is a recipient of Rotary’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. Matthews is a Rotary Foun-dation Benefactor, Bequest Society member, Major Donor, and Paul Har-ris Society member.

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She has a long and distinguished career outside Rotary as well. President of Matthews and Asso-ciates, an educational consulting firm, she has degrees in business, economics, and educational administration, including a doctorate from the Uni-versity of South Carolina.

She has served as a trustee of Coker College, on the Advisory Education Board of the National Fed-eration of Independent Business, as president of the National Business Education Association, and as a member of the Southern Regional Education Board of Directors for High Schools That Work. She has also served on the board of the Center for Occupational Research and Development in Texas and the Commission on Occupational Ed-ucation, a national accreditation agency, among others. She is a member of Leadership South Carolina.

Matthews says she began attending Rotary club meetings in 1989, on the recommenda-tion of her minister. It wasn’t long before she became actively involved in her club. Her most satisfying moments, of which she says there have been many, include immunizing children against polio in India, digging wells in the Amazon jungle, and preparing food for the hungry.

“I feel especially peaceful when simply sharing stories and facts with Rotarians about the good Rotary is doing in pockets all over the world,” Matthews says. “Seeing and hearing their reactions is particularly satisfying.”

Rotary International has a new website. Visit www.rotary.org

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by Jamison Law

Washburn Tech has a long his-tory of providing technical edu-cation in Topeka, tracing its roots back to the beginning of World War II. Legislation passed cre-ated a vocational program in the 1960’s which gave college goers a different approach to starting college, besides jumping in head and wallet first. Many students not knowing exactly what they want to do, now had a vessel for testing new waters, without the full financial burden of two years.

Kaw Area Technical School pro-vided many students a vast ar-ray of technical skills they could acquire. However, being a tech-nical school, some credits would not transfer to four year college progams.

In 2007, Kaw Area Technical School would emerge as the new Washburn Institute of Technolo-gy. Washburn Tech is a national-ly recognized innovator in career and technical education, and serves as a model for Technical Schools and partnerships with

Universities. Washburn’s Insti-tute of Technology’s Welcome statement reads, “Our unique relationship with Washburn Uni-versity gives students the added benefits of starting with technical courses and continuing to ad-vanced degrees while preparing for today’s career opportunities”. Dean of Washburn Tech, Clark Coco, gave a passionate speech about his and the staff’s dedica-tion to the students and the goals of Washburn Tech.

Washburn Tech Offers Vocational Programs to Community

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At Washburn Tech, students can choose from thirty career pro-grams. As Coco states, “The Tech experience is life changing. You are seeking a hands-on, high-tech education that leads directly to career opportunities.”Career Fields available to stu-dents are: Construction, Health Care, Human Services, Tech-nology, and Transportation. through a partnership between SnapOn and Washburn Tech, beginning students who are in-terested in the field will not have to pay thousands of dollars for tools to see if this is a career that they will want to do.

Because of this partnership, there is no cost to the student; therefore, student debt will not be in issue when trying a new program. This is only one exam-ple of how unique and import-ant Washburn Tech is to its stu-dents. Within, Human Services, The Culinary Arts program offers a 48 credit technical certificate that prepares students to serve under the supervision of chefs and other culinary professionals. Here they will learn basic culinary math, food safety and sanitation, use of and care of equipment, as well as food preparation and cooking skills.

“You’ll have opportunities to connect with businesses and employers, often landing paid internships and immediate job placement,” said Coco. “You’ll find connections that last a life-time, through community service projects, student leadership or-ganizations, or time spent in the lounge with fellow students.”

With all that Washburn Tech has to offer, it is no wonder that Washburn Tech has a student retention rate of 87% and a job placement rate of 94%, Wash-burn Tech is making believers. Thanks to the partnership with Washburn University.

The Tech experience is life- changing. The tech allows stu-dents to perform in their chosen

career and exceed both their personal and professional goals.

“Whether you’re a high school student, an adult learner, or a career changer, I invite you to explore your options at The Tech,” Coco said. “Imagine what you can achieve. Let our faculty inspire your success and trans-form your life.”

Washburn Tech Values:•Accountability; adopting clear goals and expectations and certifying when goals and expectations have been met or exceeded

•Collaboration; working with business and industry leaders to transform students into valued employees with the necessary skills to drive the work-force and economy

•Excellence; seeking to consistently exceed expectations of our constitu-ent group

•Innovation; embracing teaching and learning strategies that engage and challenge students and result in a transformative educational experience

•Integrity; maintaining the essential inner voice of self-control in all we do

•Respect; exhibiting an atmosphere in which all constituent members are held in esteem and are treated considerately, kindly, and courteously with appreciation for his or her contributions

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Topeka Rotary Foundation is Making a Difference in the Topeka Community

Topeka Rotary Foundation is Making a Difference in the Topeka Community

The Topeka Rotary Foundation is now accepting proposals to fund social service, public health, public safety, arts, culture, recreation and entertainment projects in Topeka and Shawnee County.

Foundation President Kirk Johnson said members and friends of the Rotary Club of Topeka (also known as Downtown Rotary) pro-vide funding for the local foundation.

“Downtown Rotarians are pleased to support community-based needs in the Topeka area, much like the Rotary International Foun-dation supports needs worldwide,” Johnson said. Since its cre-ation in 1976 to present date, the Foundation has contributed near-ly half a million dollars in Topeka and Shawnee County.

Joanie Underwood, chair of the Foundation’s Gifting Committee said, “Our Foundation grants have funded many worthwhile proj-ects in the Topeka area over the years and we look forward to re-ceiving applications for new projects that will enhance the quality of life for residents of Topeka and Shawnee County.”

Download the Grant Guidelines Download Grant ApplicationThe Foundation has $18,000 available for this round of funding, which is expected to support from three to five projects, Under-wood said.

Applications will be accepted from August 1 through September 30, 2013, with grant awards to be made in January 2014.

Collaborative applications and start-up projects will be given pri-ority. Major capital projects, such as the purchase or improvement of property, or the construction or renovation of buildings, are in-eligible.

The grant application can be found on-line at www.topekarota-ry.org/ and by clicking on the link under Stories “Topeka Rotary Foundation taking Applications.” The form is fillable and can be saved as a .pdf for emailing and printing.

Completed forms must be signed and submitted by email to dtro-taryfoundation@gmail.com with a paper copy sent by mail to: Ro-tary Club of Topeka, 420 SE 6th Ave., Suite 121, Topeka, KS 66607 (postmarked no later than September 30, 2013).

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From the EditorI do hope you have enjoyed this issue of Service Above Self. As I said before, I’m not exactly sure how our newsletter/magazine is ultimately going to be pub-lished. But one thing I do know is this. Jamison Law, Ann Palmer and myself are going to do our best to bring you the best Rotary publication in the world. It’s a noble goal and it’s how we are putting service above self.

Jamison and I are trying our best to talk weekly, to go through stories that we think might be of interest to you and how we might present them to you, using all of our communication channels we have available. Ann can always be counted on to bring you great photographs from our meetings and you can see more of those on our Facebook page. In the end, we hope to provide you with content you can be proud of and a publication that exceeds your expectations.

I think it’s important that we reach outside the doors of our club, to share the message of Rotary, to tell the community what our club is doing to make it bet-ter. We’re looking to distribute our message through this newsletter and other social media, not just to oth-er Rotarians, but throughout Topeka and the district. You see, I’m proud to call myself a Rotarian and to give what I can to this organization.

We’re working to finalize our communication strategy by bringing to together our social media, the week-ly reminder, our website and this newsletter. You’ll begin to notice how we weave stories from a simple tweet to a story here in Service Above Self.

Let us know how we are doing. We’re always looking to feature member stories and to share what our club is doing across Topeka.

“Jamison Law, Ann Palmer and myself are going to do our best to bring you the best Rotary publication in the world. It’s a no-ble goal and it’s how we are putting service above self.”

Find us online at www.topekarotary.org

@toprotary

topekarotary

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The Rotary Club of Topeka (Topeka Downtown Rotary Club) pub-lishes Service Above Self six times a year. The newsletter is distrib-uted to members of the club and to other organizations throughout the community. Editor-in-Chief - Greg HillPhotographer - Ann PalmerContributing Editor - Jamison Law