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President Shelley's Weekly Update

Hello Rotarians!

Please leave your ideas for speakers, service projects, etc. in the Suggestion Box in back.

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Signature Projects:

* Community CARES Chest had just 2 agencies come last week, and will be closed tomorrow, the 7th. Thanks to George Ham, Mike Heylin and Felix Jimenez.

* Common Table still has 2 slots left for next Tuesday, October 13th, 5:15-7:30 at the Lincoln Education Center. Please RSVP on ClubRunner or speak to Jayson Cyr to help out.

We had 3 Rotarians help with last Saturday's annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, including Chris Bunnell, Stormy Kennedy and Greg Krissek. Our thanks to them all.

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The meeting started with singing My Country 'Tis of Thee with Dr. Roger Reitz on piano, and reciting The 4-Way Test.
The guests were our speakers Danielle Dulin and Brian Johnson.

October's theme is Community Economic Development, with our CUP Money going to Yuma Street Cultural Center.

Our greeters were Dan Eilert and Bill Muir on Zoom. Dan was a Rotarian in Andover since 2003, and joined MRC last year. He and his wife Tammy have one son and 3 grands.

What Dan likes about Rotary is how it gives him a chance to get out with others and help the less fortunate. Something you may not know is he and his wife met on a blind date, and they will be married 46 years on October 18th.

Treasurer Janet Lowell had a birthday last week and we congratulated her.

We also acknowledged our 8 long-standing Rotarians from September, totaling 265 years' membership.

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Daryn Soldan then introduced our speakers, Danielle Dulin, Manhattan City Manager and Brian Johnson, Manhattan City Engineer. They joined us to give the Club detailed information about the upcoming Street Maintenance Sales Tax ballot issue. Manhattan voters will cast their ballots November 3.

Danielle was grateful for the invitation to address MRC and talked about the key components of the upcoming .5% sales tax increase ballot issue in Manhattan. She spoke about the existing .2% tax that was approved in 2016 and expires December, and what has been accomplished. That followed with public survey results asking for better roads, and what the total Sales Tax would be in 2027 if the measure passes.

She then talked about Pavement Condition Index (PCI), or the measure by which the city rates and priorities street projects. She had great examples of Backlog, Fair, Good and Very Good roads, and showed some maps of the area's PCI ratings and completed projects.

Danielle then dove into the budgetary impact of what the City projects is needed to increase the average PCI, and what can be expected without and with the new 10-year tax. It was a compelling tale which concluded with the wording of the ballot issue and information on voting.

Both Danielle and Brian answered several questions from the Club, about the PCI scores, comparative regional tax rates, inhouse vs. contractor work, and whether the tax revenue would be used as promised.

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In Danielle's honor, we presented the children's book 'Wanda Hears the Stars' to Northview Elementary School.

We then asked Brian to pick the raffle winners for Mack Teaskley's book: The Real Ike. They were Bob DeBruyn and Jonathan Hupp.

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Thanks to Dan and Bill Muir for greeting, Dr. Reitz for piano, and Danielle for the run-down on the upcoming Sales Tax vote.

Gary Fees will greet this week, and our speaker will be Rotarian Todd Holmberg, who will entice us with this year's McCain Auditorium Performance Series (we won't be able to record or photograph it).

Lunch RSVP: click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 to register by Wednesday 10/7/2026. Lunch is served at 11:30AM for $12.

Attend via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387499653?pwd=eVdYZ29zdDhnQ0MrZWVXMklPNC9IQT09 - Meeting ID: 873 8749 9653 / Passcode: 280408

Remember our Club Assembly is coming up next week, October 15th. We'll have updates from the Committees, some By-Laws changes to vote upon, and the opportunity to sign up to help on a committee (or two).

Also, we will be meeting at the HILTON GARDEN INN, Flint Hills Room on the following week (10/22); make a note of the change of venue.

Yours in Rotary.

Shelley
Shelley Carver, President
(cell) 785-317-7606
shelleycarver0576@gmail.com

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Opportunities to Participate:

* Rotary on Tap

Please join the Konza Club at their social on Tuesday, October 27th, 6-8 PM at Pour Decisions Tasting Room. The fee is $15, and please RSVP with Duane Dunn by 10/9.
* 2026-27 District 5710 Annual Conference

The District Annual Conference will be held in Manhattan October 23-24 at the DoubleTree Inn. Register at https://qrco.del/jointdc26 or use the QR code:

* Essence of India National Immunization

RI will be immunizing in Agra, India from 10/22 to 11/3/2026. Link details: https://worldpolioday.agratajmahalrotary.org/

* CAAHT (Community Action Again Human Trafficking) Club
Monthly meetings are at noon on first and third Tuesdays on Zoom. For info contact Sharon Sullivan or Patti Mellard: sharon.sullivan@washburn.edu / patti@keystaffing.com

Opportunities to Contribute:

* October Cup Money - Yuma Street Cultural Center.

Mail it to Manhattan Rotary Club, PO Box 331, Manhattan, KS 66505-0331, or the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, 555 Poyntz, Suite 269, Manhattan, KS 66502, with the memo saying, ‘Rotary Club Cup Money.’

You may also contribute Cup Money via Venmo with QR Code:

* Rotary Foundation - To make contributions:
  1) Go on-line to www.rotary.org and click Donate and then Annual Fund. You sign in to pay.
  2) Send a check to the Rotary Foundation at:
     Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693 -or- Manhattan Rotary Club, PO Box 331, Manhattan KS 66505.
  3) Write a check to Rotary Foundation and give it to Liz or Janet at a meeting.

Opportunities to Show Rotary Pride:
* Complete your Profile in My Rotary

Fill in your biography in My Rotary to share your background, Rotary programs and professional expertise.
Go to https://my.rotary.org and click My Profile.

* Rotary Goods

You can find Rotary clothing, membership items and other gear at Russell Hampton online: http://bestclubsupplies.com