Roger Heineken, who is a local historian, will be our program this week. Roger works with the William Allen White Community Partnership, and is a promotor of Emporia causes.
Our Rotary Club meeting was packed with guests from Leadership Emporia, who came to hear Ed O'Malley, who is the President and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center. Ed has Emporia ties with his father working for the Emporia Gazette, and Ed who attended ESU in his freshman year. The Kansas Leadership Center was started ten years ago, funded by the Kansas Health Foundation. Its role is to build the leadership capacity of the whole state. The Emporia community has really jumped aboard with seven certified facilitators who work with those in Leadership Emporia, making it the highest number of certified facilitators and one of the best leadership programs in Kansas. Emporia State University has embedded leadership curriculum from the Kansas Leadership Center in instruction of students, enabling every student at ESU to learn leadership principles. There are nine ESU faculty members who are faculty in residence. No other community in Kansas has embraced the leadership program like Emporia.
A few points from Ed O'Malley on leadership:
Leadership is an activity, not a position.
One doesn't have to have a particular title to lead.
Leadership is different from authority. It is mobilizing people to solve tough problems.
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.
Scott Brunner, a Medicaid and CHIP Analyst for Aetna Insurance Company, presented an overview of the Medicaid program in Kansas. Scott is uniquely qualified as the past director of the Kansas Medicaid Director as well as several other positions relating to the financing of health care. He is also an ESU graduate. Scott described Medicaid as a federal/state partnership created by the Social Security Act in the 1960's.
Every state runs its own program.
The Fed sets the floor, and each state can go beyond.
The Fed matches state spending, paying 50% to 73% of the costs.
Program recipients are low income kids, pregnant women, and those age 65 and over with low incomes.
Spending by Kansas has increased 380% since 1998...increasing from $1 billion to $3.8 billion today.
75% of the recipients in Kansas are individuals who are low income children, receiving 33% of total spending.
People with disabilities drive the majority of the costs along with people living in nursing homes over 65 years old.
25% of everyone who has health insurance is on Medicaid.
There are lots of ideas for reducing costs:
Reduce the number of people who are eligible.
Reduce Federal spending to the states for this program.
Several Past Rotary Club Presidents presented their memories and the accomplishments of our Rotary Club. There were also several letters from past club presidents who could not attend that were read as well. Sam Purohit organized the program highlighting the rich traditions of the Rotary Club of Emporia in our 100th year.
Our Rotary Club has committed to donating $10,000 over five years to the Emporia State University Foundation. A check was presented for our annual donation to the foundation. Scholarship recipients are enabled to attend and learn skills needed to thrive in the work force of today.
Our Rotary Club has committed to donating $10,000 over five years to the Flint Hills Technical College Foundation. A check was presented for our annual donation to the foundation. Scholarship recipients are enabled to attend and learn skills needed to thrive in the work force of today.
Flint Hills Technical College President Dean Hollenbeck introduced Patricia Tucker, a scholarship recipient of our Rotary Club's FHTC Scholarship Fund. Patricia is working on her graphic design degree, thanks to the scholarship she received. She indicated that her attendance at FHTC would not have been possible without the scholarship that she received.
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.
Happy Bucks add up over a three month period. Happy Bucks collected this quarter are being donated to the Kansas Children's Service League, so be generous!
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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.
Scott Brunner, a Medicaid and CHIP Analyst for Aetna Insurance Company, presented an overview of the Medicaid program in Kansas. Scott is uniquely qualified as the past director of the Kansas Medicaid Director as well as several other positions relating to the financing of health care. He is also an ESU graduate. Scott described Medicaid as a federal/state partnership created by the Social Security Act in the 1960's. 
Several Past Rotary Club Presidents presented their memories and the accomplishments of our Rotary Club. There were also several letters from past club presidents who could not attend that were read as well. 
Sam Purohit organized the program highlighting the rich traditions of the Rotary Club of Emporia in our 100th year.
Our Rotary Club has committed to donating $10,000 over five years to the Emporia State University Foundation. A check was presented for our annual donation to the foundation. Scholarship recipients are enabled to attend and learn skills needed to thrive in the work force of today.
