At our next Rotary meeting on January 26th, we will discuss a request from the Girl Scouts to update the deed for Camp EE, the Girl Scout camp given by the Emporia Rotary Club. They are reluctant to continue capital improvements at the camp with a restricted title to the property. It is important for everyone to read the history of Camp EE that was attached to an e-mail sent to every Emporia Rotary Club member and come to our January 26th meeting to discuss the request for an unrestricted deed. It contains a good description of the background of the relationship of Camp EE and the Emporia Rotary Club.
Liz Workman from the Girl Scout council located in Wichita, which has control over the girl scout program in this area, attended our Rotary Club board meeting on December 3, 2015. Liz Workman indicated to our board that the capital improvements made to Camp EE was $20,000 in 2014 and another $12,000 in 2015. In 2016 the improvements planned include improving the access to the river, but they are reluctant to invest much into the camp with the restricted title to the property.
The members of our Rotary Club board want your ideas about this request.
Merlin G Wheeler, the chief judge for the Fifth Judicial District of the District Courts in Kansas, spoke freely to our club about several issues facing the Kansas judicial branch. Merlin indicated that several issues that are changing the judicial branch include changes in the selection of judges from being selected by attorneys to selection by gubernatorial appointment. Cuts in funding of the judicial branch in Kansas is another threatening issue. Decreased funding is diminishing the ability for the judicial branch to attract quality employees.
Harvey Foyle reported recently on the status of the Salvation Army project that will soon be getting underway. Barbara Wry is leading the overall project, while Harvey Foyle is coordinating the work between the Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club, whose members are working with us on this project. Our club secured a Rotary District grant, which along with some funding that we put aside provides $3,908 to complete this project. Some of the Kiwanis Club members who are skilled in cabinetry will be heading that part of the project. A schedule will be put together and announced very soon for us to get involved. It involves a new cabinet to help the Salvation Army organize their ministry supplies, replace a large window, a new stainless steel table, painting, replace a ceiling, and helping them to re-organize their supplies in the new cabinet. The order that this will take place is roughly as follows:
1. clean items out of the old cabinet and move it to the other wall.
2. build the new cabinet - it can be worked on, sawing, etc, in the big room
3. stain or paint the new cabinet - yet to be determined
Rotarian Dan Robertson was recognized by Richard Duncan, Rotary Club Foundation Chairman, and Rotary International for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation as a Paul Harris Fellow + Two. Congratulations, Dan!
Rotarian Andy Koenigs was recognized by Richard Duncan, Rotary Club Foundation Chairman, and Rotary International for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation as a Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations, Andy!
Announcing a new Rotary Club membership drive running January 5 through June 7.
On June 7th, the winner will receive $100.00 in Chamber Bucks
Each time a new member is inducted into Rotary, the sponsoring Rotarian will have their name entered into a drawing. The more members you bring in, the more chances of winning the drawing. First Place will get $100, Second Place will get $50 and Third Place will get $25 We have a lot of great projects to accomplish and we need members. Applications with the breakdown of dues are available from every Board member. Remember, new members get reduced meal prices for a limited time.
Benefits of being a member…
Great Friendships, Awesome networking, Interesting programs, the feeling of accomplishment in our community, State and the World. Doing good, feels good. Think of it like this… Yes you pay for your meals even though you may not be able to attend every week, but that money goes to fund some amazing projects.
That is the motto for the team of Emporia State University Teachers College faculty members Lori Mann, Tiffany Hill and Nancy Smith as they explore the use of technology in the classroom and develop the ESU Elementary Education 1:1 Initiative. Rotarian and Teachers College Dean Ken Weaver asked this team to present their latest findings to the
Emporia Rotary Club. They are developing methods to be able to utilize technology like tablets and chrome books in the classroom. Introducing technology like this results in more interactive and collaborative learning experiences for students.
Future challenges:
sorting through the content available on the Internet to make sure it is quality content,
the digital divide, or the case of "haves" and "have nots",
rapidly changing technology.
Thanks to Ken Weaver for bringing this interesting and informative program.
Posted by Jim Wayman and Jack Havenhill
on Jan 12, 2016
The change collected at each table during our Rotary Club meetings adds up...most recently to $65.87 to help eradicate polio in our world as reported by Rotary Club Foundation Chairman Richard Duncan. Rotarian Jack Havenhill reported that only Pakistan and Afghanistan have had cases of polio over past twelve months. Pakistan had 51 cases and Afghanistan had 19 cases of the type 1 strain. Of the three polio strains, type 2 has been eradicated, type 3 has not had any cases since November 2012, and type 1 is the only strain with cases during the past 12 months. Beginning in April 2016, the polio vaccine will not contain the type 2 strain.
Rotary Club President Teresa Maley announced today that the date of our club's 100-year celebration is now set for Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the ESU Ballroom. Stay tuned for further developments!
Two members of our Rotary Club, Representative Don Hill and Senator Jeff Longbine, provided a preview to our club of the rapidly approaching Kansas Legislative Session. Both Don and Jeff talked about several of the big issues facing this legislative session: school finance, Medicaid expansion, and firearms on college campuses. The current funding shortfalls facing Kansas and the small buffer of cash for shortfalls are creating an urgency to seek understanding and ways to fund government services in our state.
Jeff mentioned that deferring maintenance on our roadways must not be allowed, and indicated that the property tax cap passed last year will tie the hands of county government to fund their needs. Both indicated that common sense,
reasonable approaches are necessary during this session.
Rotarian Dan Robertson 
