OK, what does RYLA stand for? Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.
District 5710 held its version of RYLA May 31 to June 4 for high schoolers at the University of Kansas. Our Rotary Club sponsored two students. We'll get to hear about their experiences this week.
Emporia State University Football has demonstrated an exciting style of play this season. We heard first-hand from two young and enthusiastic coaches, Matt Nardo and Bryan Nardo, who talked about how the team has been buying-in and playing hard. The seniors on the team have been exercising great leadership. Matt is the wide receivers coach, and Bryan is the co-defensive coordinator for the Hornets. The MIAA seems to be the toughest division 2 football conference, and NW Missouri State and Pitt State are two of their toughest competitors they'll face this season.
Emporia High School Coach Corby Milleson brought three seniors to speak at our Rotary Club meeting. All three are leading EHS football this year in a tough conference and district this year.
We received a resignation letter from Chuck Frazier, who has moved to Florida. We are publishing his letter for all to see. It shows the impact of getting involved in Rotary, not only on the life of the Rotarian getting involved, but the lives of many other people.
Good morning Teresa,
It is with a great deal of sadness that I write to indicate my resignation from the Rotary Club of Emporia effective September 30, 2015. However, the heavy heart is tempered with the fact that I will be joining the Gulf Beaches Rotary Club in Treasure Island, Florida on October 1.
When I joined the Emporia club in August 1979, shortly after moving to the community from El Dorado, I had no idea of the impact it would make on my life. For several years, I was just a club member and not really a Rotarian. I joined others for lunch, fellowship and a program every Tuesday - never really giving it much of a thought.
It was not until I got involved with the opportunities afforded to me by Rotary International through my membership that I believe I truly became a Rotarian. It was an privilege to work with the youth exchange program, both on the administrative and the host parent side, where I saw the value of this program and the impact it made on young people. It was an honor to head the youth exchange program on the club and the district level, only to move forward and serve with our regional affiliate of South Central Rotary Youth Exchange and ultimately be appointed be the International Coordinator of Youth Services for R.I. for two years.
As a result of the involvement in youth exchange, Nancy's and my daughter participated in a year exchange in Senegal, West Africa which provided us an opportunity for our first experience of the power of Rotary on an international basis. A visit to our daughter during her exchange opened my eyes to the scope of what Rotary is accomplishing outside the confines of my club, district and country. After that trip, I knew I had to do more than I had been doing to further the message of Rotary International and extend the reach of the work done through RI's Foundation.
It has been an incredible opportunity to be involved with our organization at a level I never dreamed of when joining in 1979. As a result of that trip to Africa and seeing what the Rotary Foundation can do, my life was truly transformed into the advocate I am for this great organization. It was a privilege to serve our district as governor. I've been honored to be appointed by many RI presidents to serve multiple positions for our foundation at the zone and international level. I truly believe that I personally have benefited from my efforts as much as those I've tried to assist.
While I certainly plan to continue my Rotary work with my new club in Florida, I hope I can continue to keep a finger on the pulse of the Rotary Club of Emporia which is approaching it's 100th anniversary. I've been involved with that club for one third of its existence so a great deal of my heart will always be with it and the members who have become such good friends. If you will keep me informed on the activities of the club, probably easiest through the good club e-bulletin, I hope to return in a couple of years for a grand celebration of a century of service to Emporia, the district and the world at large.
The Rotary Club of Emporia has a great deal to be proud of as a result of many hard working members. The membership is coming back after going through some tough years. And it is so exciting to see the young faces that I hope will be given the opportunity to take leadership roles. That is what will make the club stronger.
It's obvious to see your dedication to making the club a success and I hope that you and the club will attain new heights in service through Rotary.
Our Rotary Club has donated three Little Free Libraries to be installed in Emporia. Jami Reever has taken the lead in this project. The libraries are in the hands of Big Brothers Big Sisters who is painting them for us. The United Way of the Flint Hills has identified potential sites for the libraries. Little Free Libraries donated a starter pack of 150 books. Jami plans to have a book drive at Rotary so we have an assortment of books to stock the libraries with over time. Members of our club will help install the libraries when they are ready in a few weeks.
Click HERE to see more information on Little Free Libraries.
The Emporia City Commission recently awarded the bid to construct the David Traylor Zoo's new lemur exhibit. Our Rotary Club is one of the major donors to this exhibit. In recent years, we pledged and raised $25,000 toward its construction, and are holding this amount for that purpose. The Emporia Friends of the Zoo describes the developments on page three of its September Newsletter. Click HERE to view the EFOZ Newsletter.
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