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.
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.
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 distinguishing it among 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 certified facilitators. 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.
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.