Speakers and Events
Feb 01 Debra Ryder, KC Zoo
Feb 08 Col Thomas Hardy-Great Story from
Victory Base
Feb 15 Michael Wilkes, Olathe City Manager
Feb 22 Tom Stephens, Korean War Memorial
Feb 29 Tim McKee, Olathe Chamber/Economic
Development
Mar 07 Nick Awad, Israel Trip
Mar 14 Peter Loth, Holocaust Survivor (tent date)
Apr 18 Dr. Marlin Barry, Olathe School District
May 05, 2012 The Days of Wine and Rotary,
Ritz Charles
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2/15/12 Guest Speaker
Olathe City Manager
J. Michael Wilkes
The Olathe Chief Administrative Officer, City Manager, Michael Wilkes, spoke to Rotarians about the radical comprehensive approach the city has taken to health insurance for city workers. It includes a clinic that can be used by all city workers, and a consumer involved health care plan with higher deductibles and an HSA. The approach saves the city thousands of dollars and has caught the attention of other cities across the country. Michael said the Olathe Community Center that will be across from Mahaffie is scheduled to open January 2015. He also said the city changed from using steel blades to using a hard synthetic blade that is lighter, saving roads and gas when plowing snow. Since this winter has been mild, the city has had the opportunity to stock pile salt which it was very low on after a harsh 2010-11 winter.
2/8/12 Guest Speaker
Col. Thomas A. Hardy
A Story of "Doing The Right Thing"
Olathe resident, Retired U.S. Army Col. Thomas Hardy, spent 31 years in the Army Reserves serving around the world. He had 2 tours in Iraq and spoke to us about one of the unique stories that came out of his Iraq tour 2008-2009. At the time he was the Commander of the largest military base in Iraq, the Victory Base Complex, surrounding the Baghdad International Airport, with a population of 65,000 military and civilians. The 326th Area Support Group, a small unit of 140 soldiers from the Kansas City, Kansas Army Reserve unit, were tasked with running the Baghdad base, providing services of a small city: water, sewage, electricity, road construction, building construction, and problem solving. Col Hardy said it was learned that over 100 Ugandan women had been sold into slavery in Iraq and were being raped, starved, and worked from morning until late at night. “it would have been easy for the men of the 326th Area Support Group to do nothing, to not get involved, to avoid risk of an international incident. That’s not the choice they made. Click here to read how 17 of these women were saved. The story, written by Mary Sanchez of The Kansas City Star, will make you sad, but proud. The story was posted April 30, 2011.
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Rock Star of the Kansas City Zoo
Nikita
2/1/2012 Debra Ryder, Director of Education of the Kansas City Zoo for 9 years, spoke to Olathe Rotarians about the zoo, how it has changed over the years, exciting upgrades and additions yet to come, and financial stability of the zoo. Debra's recent work with Polar Bear International took her to Churchill Manitoba during the fall of 2010. She spent time with bears and the scientists who study them focusing on the influence of climate change on bear nutrition and reproduction. The zoo is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 pm. Due to weather, some outdoor exhibits animals many not be on display, therefore admission is only $6,00 for all ages through February. Train, tram, and carousel will operate weather permitting. The African Sky Safari is closed through February 29th. For more information call 816 513-5800.
The Days of Wine and Rotary 2012
Planning for the 3rd Annual Days of Wine and Rotary at the Ritz Charles is well under way. Be sure and mark your 2012 calendar for the May 5th event.
Now is the time to collect donations of items for the live and silent auction and begin thinking about guests to invite. Stay tuned for more exciting details.
Dana Lambert, Event Chair
Congratulations Andre Butler,
Olathe Rotarian and Heart to Heart Intl. CEO!
Andre was selected one of
"Ingrams 50 Kansans You Should Know"
A celebration was held 1/19/12 at Heart to Heart International to honor and congratulate Andre.
For complete story, click here.
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Olathe Rotarians Make a Difference in 2011!
Rotary Youth Camp for Disabled Children, $1,227.
Five High School Scholarships (Olathe), $3000.
Heart to Heart International, $12,232.
Salvation Army Food Drive Plus $250 Cash
Salvation Army Kettle, $1,100. (Bell Ringing)
Deb’s House - $22,326. (Romanian Orphanage)
(Plus $14,000 that hopefully will have matching grant.)
Reading with Olathe Mayor Mike Program, $1,227.
Spring Hill Golf Tournament, $150.
2 Incoming Youth Exchange Students, $2,000.
Youth Exchange to Japan, $600.
Mission Project, $2,650.
Mission Project Golf Tournament, $500.
Guatemala Water Project, $500.
TLC, $1,250.
Rotary Foundation Giving, $9,505.
Youth Baseball Team Sponsorships, $400.
Boy Scouts, $200.
Olathe Medical Center Hospice House, $1,000.
4-H County Fair Awards, $99.
American Cancer Society, $2,900.
RYLA (4 Students), $1,200. (Leadership)
AVID, $3,178. (Olathe School District)
Olathe Rotary Club Foundation, $6,116.
2011-2012 Rotary Foundation Drive
Olathe Rotary RI Foundation Chair, Darrel McDaniel, announced completion of
our annual RI Foundation Drive.
Our goal was to collect $100 from each of 96 members for a total of $9,600. As of January 2012,
we surpassed our goal with a total of
$9,705.00!
73 members contributed,
averaging $132.95 per person.
Congratulations to all those members that made it possible to achieve our goal for 2011-2012!
Our club members have contributed
$403,181.00
to the Rotary Foundation since 1977.
Olathe Rotary Awards
MAX DAMETZ
With His 4th Paul Harris 1-18-12
Left, spouse Linda DaMetz, Max DaMetz,
and Mike Haskin
Mike Haskin awards Olathe Rotarian Max DaMetz his 4th Paul Harris award. Thanks to Max, a project for the City of Olathe that commemorates Rotary's 100th birthday, was dedicated May 2nd, 2009. The project began in 2003, and Max worked tirelessly with Olathe Parks and Rec, and all parties involved to complete the project in 2009. The support for the 6000 pound sculpture, "Trails West", now in Lone Elm Park, was designed, completed, and donated by DaMetz Engineering. For complete story...
Max was on the Rotary team that traveled to St. Croix in 1990 to help re-construct a fish market destroyed by Hurricane Hugo. He served on the Olathe Rotary board, has participated in countless Rotary projects, and was Olathe Rotary Club Rotarian of the Year in 2009. For story click here. Max joined Rotary in 1987. Ford Bohl was his sponsor.
Below, many friends and family came to support Max when he received his Paul Harris award.
Olathe Rotary and Heart to Heart International Service in Guatamala
click here
We Support the Olathe School District
AVID Program
click here
Olathe Rotary for the Third Year Will Support
Deb's House In Romania
click here
Heart to Heart International
(One of Our Proudest Moments)
click here
Thanks to all Olathe Rotary
Salvation Army Bell Ringers.
Due to a match from Kent Donley, we made
$1,100.00!
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For
Current Olathe Rotary Newsletter,
The Rotary Wheel,
click on
"OUR NEWSLETTER"
at top of web page.
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Ray Mattix
