In his 14th year as head coach of the Emporia State University baseball team, Coach Bob Fornelli continues the winning traditions of ESU baseball. With a 15-4 overall record so far this year (5-1 conference record), ESU baseball teams have made it to the playoffs 11 times, twice to the world series, and getting second in 2009. Bob said he has 38 players on his team, and gets along remarkably well with only 5.2 scholarships.
Second-year Emporia State University softball coach and former Hornet player April Huddleston updated our Rotary Club on how her team is doing at this point in the season. She took over a very young team when she took the reins last year. Come see the Lady Hornets play some weekend home games coming up on March 24 and 25.
Jamie Dawson a government teacher at Emporia High School, along with students Katherine Keinholtz and Austin Wang talked to our Rotary Club about the We the People competition. We the People is a civic organization that was started 30 years ago to further learning about the U.S. Constitution and civic values, and provides curriculum for teachers in the classroom. It also sponsors state competitions throughout the country with mock congressional hearings to boost the knowledge of students. Jamie Dawson took sixteen students to the state competition and the group received the second place trophy in their first competition, missing first place by only two points (out of 1,600 points). An invitation was also received to the national competition in Washington, DC., so they are currently fundraising nearly $30,000 to get their group to the competition.
Sam Purohit has ordered Rotary Club of Emporia license plates that celebrate our 100th Anniversary. The cost per license plate is $6.00. All funds are going to pay for the cost of the plates. Any funds over the cost are being contributed to Polio Plus. You can get yours from Sam or from Jim Wayman.
Last fall, District Governor Chris Ford challenged all Rotary clubs to increase membership by 20%, or 14 new members for our club. The first step in getting new members is to ask a person who may be interested in joining to come to a meeting. To encourage this very thing, we are offering some incentives.
When a Rotarian brings a potential member for the first time, the Rotarian will receive $5 in Chamber Bucks. When that new member is inducted, the sponsoring Rotarian will receive $20 in Chamber Bucks.
Ken Adams has worked at the Emporia Municipal Airport for 35 years, and as the Manager of the airport, he provided a good picture of the state of affairs. The first paved runway of 3,000 feet at the airport was in 1945. Today the airport has a 4,999-foot runway capable of handling small jets. The city-owned airport gets income from hanger rentals from about 50 aircraft, and from fuel sales, selling 70,000 to 80,000 gallons of fuel per year (10% from turbine jet fuel). There are a total of 8,000 to 10,000 operations (take offs and landings) per year. Small aircraft from across the country use the airport for stops and fueling along with several local companies that use aircraft in their operations. The Emporia airport contributes to our local economy.
A ten-year master plan is being developed that could include a 500-foot runway extension in the latter part of that plan to accommodate larger aircraft. Unfortunately, any future runway extensions need to be added to the south side of the runway, making it necessary to make changes to the municipal golf course in the future. The U.S. government pays 90% of approved runway extensions, and the city pays the remainder.
Local historian Roger Heineken talked about Emporia in its early years 160 years ago. Founded by investors of the Emporia Town Company, including 19-year old Preston Plumb, the town was laid out in a one-mile square. Investors in the Emporia Town Company got free land. Preston Plumb, with his newspaper publishing expertise, was needed to promote the new community.
The purpose of the Emporia Town Company was to develop the local amenities to attract potential Emporians. The investors were intellectual and purposeful in what they did. The name "Emporia" is Greek for trade center, or a busy place of commerce. The streets close to the town center were named with similar connotations...Commercial Street, Market Street, Merchant Street. Other streets included names like Constitution, State, Congress, Mechanic, Union, and Exchange. Streets toward the outer perimeter included names like Elm, Cottonwood, Rural, Neosho, and Sylvan.
Early on there were as many as 20 saw mills along the rivers producing needed lumber. In 1858, the first well was dug, and parks were established (Humbolt and Freemont). Just two years later, the population was nearly 850. Perhaps the early residents were attracted by the abolitionist ideals of the founders and other early settlers. Preston Plumb became a legislator, and successfully lobbied for colleges and railroad access. From the 1890s to World War I, the community had a booster mentality with the Business Men's Association (later becoming the Chamber of Commerce). Street Fairs were attracted, including Buffalo Bill Cody...a superstar attraction of the time. Inexpensive excursion tickets by railroad were marketed to come to the street fairs. It all seemed to work by attracting 15,000 to the matinee performance and 10,000 to the evening performance. The first automobile west of the Mississippi River was the featured attraction of another street fair and parade. The population soared to 7,500 by 1898. The Committee of Fifty was formed to launch industrial activity that continues in Emporia today.
William Allen White was a founding member of the Rotary Club of Emporia 100 years ago. He was progressive in his racial beliefs, and ahead of his time in discussing social issues. Domestic violence and first amendment issues were discussed in his newspaper editorials. Indeed, Will White became a very influential Kansan. Local historical bus trips are being planned in March, and perhaps again in mid-summer.
Tim North was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow + 7, and Ken Buchele as a Paul Harris Fellow + 4 for each of their generous giving to the great causes of the Rotary Foundation.
In his 14th year as head coach of the Emporia State University baseball team, Coach Bob Fornelli continues the winning traditions of ESU baseball. With a 15-4 overall record so far this year (5-1 conference record), ESU baseball teams have made it to the playoffs 11 times, twice to the world series, and getting second in 2009. Bob said he has 38 players on his team, and gets along remarkably well with only 5.2 scholarships.
Second-year Emporia State University softball coach and former Hornet player April Huddleston updated our Rotary Club on how her team is doing at this point in the season. She took over a very young team when she took the reins last year. Come see the Lady Hornets play some weekend home games coming up on March 24 and 25.
Jamie Dawson a government teacher at Emporia High School, along with students Katherine Keinholtz and Austin Wang talked to our Rotary Club about the We the People competition. We the People is a civic organization that was started 30 years ago to further learning about the U.S. Constitution and civic values, and provides curriculum for teachers in the classroom. It also sponsors state competitions throughout the country with mock congressional hearings to boost the knowledge of students. Jamie Dawson took sixteen students to the state competition and the group received the second place trophy in their first 
competition, missing first place by only two points (out of 1,600 points). An invitation was also received to the national competition in Washington, DC., so they are currently fundraising nearly $30,000 to get their group to the competition. .jpg)
Sam Purohit has ordered Rotary Club of Emporia license plates that celebrate our 100th Anniversary. The cost per license plate is $6.00. All funds are going to pay for the cost of the plates. Any funds over the cost are being contributed to Polio Plus. You can get yours from Sam or from Jim Wayman.
Ken Adams has worked at the Emporia Municipal Airport for 35 years, and as the Manager of the airport, he provided a good picture of the state of affairs. The first paved runway of 3,000 feet at the airport was in 1945. Today the airport has a 4,999-foot runway capable of handling small jets. The city-owned airport gets income from hanger rentals from about 50 aircraft, and from fuel sales, selling 70,000 to 80,000 gallons of fuel per year (10% from turbine jet fuel). There are a total of 8,000 to 10,000 operations (take offs and landings) per year. Small aircraft from across the country use the airport for stops and fueling along with several local companies that use aircraft in their operations. The Emporia airport contributes to our local economy. 
Local historian Roger Heineken talked about Emporia in its early years 160 years ago. Founded by investors of the Emporia Town Company, including 19-year old Preston Plumb, the town was laid out in a one-mile square. Investors in the Emporia Town Company got free land. Preston Plumb, with his newspaper publishing expertise, was needed to promote the new community. 
Tim North was recognized as a Paul .jpg)
Harris Fellow + 7, and Ken Buchele as a Paul Harris Fellow + 4 for each of their generous giving to the great causes of the Rotary Foundation. 
