Monica Duncan and Mike Wise from the 27th Class of Leadership Emporia, and John Kelsh from the Lyon County Sheriff Department, talked about how the Respect the Wheels! program was developed in their Leadership Emporia class, and how it continues now and in the future.
Funded with a total of $11,779 from various sources, the Leadership Emporia class developed the Respect the Wheels! program to develop awareness of both bicyclists and motorists following the rules of the road and to respect each other on the road. The class created awareness through radio, newspaper, billboards, brochures, window stickers, getting information into elementary schools, Facebook, bike classes, Keep it Safe Summer table and a table at the Dirty Kanza. The program has been well-received with lots of inquiries from visitors from other towns and states.
In order to sustain the progrm into the future, the Respect the Wheels! program is being transitioned to the Multi-Use Planning Path (MUPP) Board, which was started in 2006. MUPP recently promoted safety for bicyclists in the Bike Across Kansas as they traveled through Lyon County, and the group is planning to open a nature trail along the Cottonwood River between Peter Pan Park and Soden's Grove. Continued funding for the Respect the Wheels! program could possibly come from sales of signage program materials to other communities and states who import the program, and possibly from KDOT funding. Their current priority with the program is training of law enforcement officers of the rules of the road to help create a strong enforcement component.
We got the opportunity to meet and learn from Robin Clark, the new Director for the Emporia Public Library. She told us all about the programs and materials at the library, including Tumblebooks, which narrates books for the reader online. Robin brings lots of enthusiasm to the library. Robin likes to get involved in the community, and we look forward to interacting with her in the future.
In response to the worst earthquake in Nepal in eighty years, members of our Rotary Club donated a total of $2,085, and our club added another $621.63 to pay for three Shelter Boxes. Good job everyone!
Below are pictures of the Shelter Box taken by Chuck Frazier at a recent Rotary function.
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