2008-2009 Front Page News
Heart to Heart International Honors Rotary
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2008-2009 District Governor Vickie Randel Visits Olathe Rotary
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Trails West at Lone Elm Park
A project for the City of Olathe that commemorates Rotary's 100th birthday was dedicated May 2nd. "Trail's West" can be seen in Lone Elm Park at the Southeast corner of 167th and Lone Elm Park.
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Olathe Rotary Sponsors Group Study Exchange Student to Seoul, Korea
Melissa Van Es, now in her 3rd year of teaching In Olathe was selected to join our Rotary District Group Study Exchange Team to Seoul, Korea. She stayed with Rotarian families during her 4 week visit. After her trip, she spoke to Olathe Rotary about the DMZ, as well as cultural differences in education, politics, and cuisine. Her speech was very informative and entertaining. Olathe Rotarian John Curran, a 2004 Group Study Exchange Student to Japan, introduced Melissa. Melissa was born and raised in Alton, Iowa. We are pleased to have sponsored her on such a worthwhile project.
2008 Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar, Teresa Holderbach Speaks to Olathe Rotary
Teresa Holderbach, 4th grade teacher at Wichita, Kansas USD 259, was one of two Ambassadorial Scholars from our district in the 2006-2007 school year. At the time she applied for the scholarship, she was attending Emporia State University. Thanks to a scholarship from Rotary International, Theresa was able to study in Paraguay for a year. She is a dynamic speaker and represents Rotary well. She learned the language and gave countless presentations while in Paraguay. 38,000 scholars from 110 countries have studied abroad with this program.
Olathe Rotary Donates $2,104.95 to Read With Mayor Mike Program
July 16th, a donation of $2,104.95 was presented to Mayor Copeland for The Olathe Reads Program, thanks to the effort of Olathe Rotarians selling newspapers on Kansas City Day in April of 2008 (the previous Rotary year). This program buys books and book bags for 1st grade children in Olathe's Title One schools. Through the "Read with Mike" program, these children are also read to. Olathe Rotary also donated $2,104.95 was donated to Rotary Youth Camp in Lee's Summit. This
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Thanks to Salvation Army Chair, Kent Donley, and all Olathe Rotarians who gave their time to ring bells this holiday! Above left, Mark Myer, Neal Huston, and Neal's son made up one of a number of teams who rang bells this year.
Author and Pastor, Dennis Apple, Speaks to Olathe Rotarians
Pastor Dennis Apple authored "Life After the Death of My Son...What I'm Learning", a book that is a guide for how to deal with others who experience adversity through the loss of a loved one. Dennis has started numerous support groups and counsels couples and individuals who grieve the death of a child or family member. He is a Pastor at College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe. Rotarians enjoyed hearing great "Skills for Life".
Larry Moore, KMBC Television News Anchor, Visits Olathe Rotary
January 14th, Olathe Rotarians enjoyed listening to guest speaker, Larry Moore talk about how the dream and persistance of one man lead to the creation and huge successes of the Dream Factory. 5500 youngsters with chronic or serious illnesses in the Kansas City area have had their dreams granted. Larry spends countless hours at fund raising events raising more than $400,000 a year so that no child ever has to be turned away because of lack of funds. Larry has been involved in the coverage of almost every major news story that has affected the Kansas City area in the past 32 years.
PolioPlus A Rotary International Worldwide Effort
Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the number of polio cases has been slashed by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of childhood paralysis and 250,000 deaths. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2007, fewer than 2,000 cases were reported worldwide.
After 25 years of hard work, and nearly $800 million Rotarian dollars spent, Rotary and its partners are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease. A strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions. At the RI National Assembly in San Diego January 21, 2009 Bill Gates Announced the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would contribute $255 million to the eradication of polio.
With the total of $355 million in grant funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, $200 million matching grant funds from Rotarians, and the $800 million previously contributed from Rotarians, the eradication of polio around the world will no longer be just a dream, but a reality. In 1985, there were 350,000 polio cases annually in 125 countries. Today, there are only four endemic countries....the lowest in history: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan. Contact Olathe Rotary Treasurer, Ernie Hicks to make your contribution.
NBC Action News Anchor, Elizabeth Alex, "Jeruselum to Gaza, A Child Saved"
Elizabeth is not only a winning news anchor, she has dedicated her life to humanitarian work, both at home and abroad. Click here for her incredible bio and email address. Many of you asked for her email address to follow up with how we might help with the Orphanage in Romania and the 14 children from 6-12 years moved back to Romania when Romania shut down International adoption. Elizabeth is trying to get this changed and to bring the kids back to the U.S. For donations to "United Aid Foundation/Deb's House", mail to Dr. Domingo Nunez, 132 E. 76th Street, New York, New York 10021.
Thank you Joe! We raised $870.00!
Guest Speaker, Joe Calhoon, most requested and highest rated speaker with the Covey Leadership Center, spoke to Olathe Rotarians March 25th. Joe is a motivational and corporate consultant and speaker. His topic was prioritizing in your business and personal life. His clients include the Who's Who of Business and Industry, such as, 3M, GE, Best Buy, Northwestern Mutual Life and Ritz Carlton. He has been a featured speaker in programs with Zig Ziglar, Lou Holtz, Catherine Crier, and Dennis Waitly.
Joe donated his book, "Prioritize!" to Rotary members or guests who donated $20.00 or more to the "Olathe Rotary Club Foundation". His book is a system for leading your life and business on purpose.
Olathe Rotarians Meet at Olathe Chamber
The Olathe Chamber of Commerce hosted Olathe Rotarians at the Chamber's new site located in the beautiful Corporate Ridge Office Park March 11th. Lunch was in the Healthridge Fitness Center across the street from the Chamber office, where Chamber Leadership spoke to Rotarians, including Frank Taylor, President, Tim McKee Executive Vice President of Economic Development, Brad Cornell, Director of Business Retention and Expansion, and Dana Ketterling, VP Membership Develop-ment. A tour of the new Chamber offices was enjoyed. Also noticed....there were actually parking spaces!!! Thank you Brad Cornell for organzing this great outing.
Johnson County Sheriff Frank Denning Speaks to Olathe Rotarians
Sheriff Denning has been serving the law inforcement community for 30 years. He joined the Johnson County Sheriff's Dept. in 1978 as a deputy serving in the Adult Detention Center. Assignments have included patrol, detective and narcotics, sergeant, and lieutenant. He developed the County's "crime scene investigative unit" and recruited their current nationally recognized crime lab director for the county's accredited forensic crime lab.
World War II, At Home and Abroad Virginia Visser Guest Speaker
Former 1st Lieutenant Army Nurse, Virginia Visser spoke about her experiences as a nurse during World War II as she served in evacuation hospitals in France, Belgium, and Germany. She earned the EAME Theatre Ribbon with 2 Bronze Battle Stars, 2 Overseas Service Bards, and the Victory Medal. She treated thousands of men and women during a war that took 2 million lives. Her story is filled with joy, sorrow, heartache, discovery, and overcoming adversity in the most devastating war of all time.
Greater Kansas City Day a Success Even in the Rain and Very Cold Temperatures
Rotarians and friends of Rotary sold Kansas City Star newspapers on the street corners of Kansas City on April 10th. $87,000 was raised on a very miserable weather day. Olathe Rotarians raised $3,300.00. $1,650 will be given to Rotary Youth Camp in Lee's Summit and $1,650 will be given to the Olathe Reads Program. Thanks to Chair Todd Lynch for another successful KC Day!
Thank you Auctioneer Phil Detrixhe!
Olathe Rotarian and Chair of the 2009 Feast and Fun, Ray Mattix, April 8th, presented auctioneer Phil Detrixhe a plaque for helping with our Feast and Fun Fundraiser for the last 4 years. This will be the 5th year he will donate his unique auctioneer services to Olathe Rotary. Thank you Phil!
Olathe Rotary Selects It's Teacher of the Year, Martha Biggs
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Our 2008-2009 Year Comes To A Close
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Congratulations 2009 Olathe Rotarian of the Year, Max DaMetz!
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2009 Paul Harris Fellows
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Nichole Asquith
