Recent Club Highlights
Hello Rotarians!
 
We returned to our regular format last week, with a special nod to porcine friends.
 
 
After Visitors' Day May 1st, we received new applications to join. We'll welcome these new members soon.
 
Our greeters were John Armbrust and Karen Cole at MCC and Bill Muir on Zoom. Dr. Roger Reitz accompanied us in singing 'My Country Tis of Thee'.
 
Our visiting Rotarians were Christine Benne and Dan Eilert, and our guests were Antonina Broyaka, Chris Bunnell, George Kennedy, Jerome Niedfeldt, Christine Peterson, Bill Richards and our speakers Vickie James and Dr. Megan Niederwerder.
Please continue to invite guests, especially those that joined us May 1st. They're the best source of new members to the Club.
 
We resumed our weekly attendance raffle last week, and Don Wissman was the winner of a Free Lunch at an upcoming meeting.
 
May's theme is Youth Service, and our CUP Money goes to the Sunflower CASA Project. They aim to provide trained volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children and youth in the 21st and 22nd Judicial Court Districts (Court-Appointed Special Advocates).
 
Vice President Shelley Carver awarded the April CUP Money Big Check to Konza Student Table. Vickie James accepted the donation and told us how the Table serves 300-325 meals each Wednesday and made a challenge to members to help fund $1,200 to fund one meal/week.
 
 
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John Armbrust introduced himself as a 25-year Rotarian who values the camaraderie of Rotary and the goals it supports. His fun fact is that he is ambidextrous, and tries new things with both hands to see which is more natural!
 
     
 
Karen Cole has been a Rotarian since 1989 and her son participated in a Rotary Youth Exchange in Belgium. Her family hosted several international students over the years, and she values the camaraderie and community service aspects of Rotary. Her fun(?) fact is that she helps manage a family cemetery in Hutchinson, KS.
 
I then had the proud pleasure of introducing Dr. Megan Niederwerder, DVM, PhD, who is the Executive Director of the Swine Health Information Center here in Manhattan. Megan is particularly interested in the research and reporting functions of the Center, and received her education at Kansas State. Her husband Jeremy and she have 2 sons.
 
     
 
The mission of the SHIC is to protect the health of the U.S. swine herd, and is funded by pork producers.
Megan introduced us to the Center and began with a less-known fact that pork is the most-consumed protein in the world. China, the EU and the US are the leading producing nations.
She provided detailed data about the most common health threats to the herd, and what the Center does to monitor and communicate with stake holders, based on 5 strategic priorities.
They produce podcasts, webinars, websites, newsletters, and published articles and conduct industry presentations and media interviews.
 
 
 
 
In Megan's honor we will donate the children's book "Hidden Hero" to the Amanda Arnold Elementary School.
 
 

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Thanks to John, Karen and Bill for greeting, Dr. Reitz on piano, and Megan for showing us an important part of our food supply chain. Her mother and I were very proud!

Our next meeting will be at the Manhattan Country Club May 15 from 12-1 PM. We'll hear from Kat Culbertson, daughter of President-Elect Chris Culbertson and former member of MRC. She is now a member Berkeley (CA) Rotary. She will relive her time in Madagascar.
 
The Greeters for the next meeting will be Jayson Cyr and Larry Erpelding.

Please wear your name badge and sign in, include guests too. We'll have name badges for our guests at the doors.

Lunch RSVP:  Click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 by Wednesday 5/14/2025. Lunch begins at 11:30AM and costs $12. Please register so the Country Club accommodates us all.
 
Attend via Zoom: If you cannot attend in person, but can attend remotely, please do. We intend to continue it so more people can join.
          https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387499653?pwd=eVdYZ29zdDhnQ0MrZWVXMklPNC9IQT09
          Meeting ID: 873 8749 9653  /  Passcode: 280408


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Thank you all for your part in helping our Club grow and our guests feel welcome. I look forward to seeing you this week.

Yours in Rotary,


Randy

Randy Peterson, President
(cell) 316-213-2252
randallpete54@gmail.com



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Opportunities to Participate:

2025-26 Rotary Dues
      
$250 annual dues are due June 15th.  Bring a check or card to a meeting for Janet or Therese, mail to PO Box 331, Manhattan KS  66505-0331, use Venmo @Manhattan-Rotary, or pay online at https://manhattanrotary.org
 
Rotary on Tap
      
Our next social will be at the Arrow Cocktail Lounge on Thursday, May 29 from 5-7 PM. The Club provides appetizers and a no-host bar. Mark your calendar.

Rotarian of the Year
     We will announce the honoree in June. Please submit nominations to Janet Lowell by May 16. http://JanetL@centralnational.com or 785-323-4039.
     Previous honorees were Janet Lowell (2024), Robbin Cole (2023), and Dale Bradley (2022).

Community CARES Chest
     
CCC remains closed for construction. 
We expect Community CARES Chest to resume this month.
     
Visit Konza United Way website to volunteer: https://www.konzaunitedway.org/volunteer 
 
District 5710 Podcasts
 
KSU Rotaract Club
     The Kaw River boat ramp cleanup was last Saturday morning, May 10th. Rotarians Chris Culbertson, Mike Dodson, Steven Graham and I joined Dawn Buehler of the Friends of the Kaw with a riverboat to clean up lots of trash.
     We did not have Rotaractors helping out this time.
 
     
 
Konza Rotary Club Meeting
     The Konza Rotary Club meets at 7AM on Friday May 16th at Meadowlark Hills. Allyn Weddle, will talk about the history and growth of Weddle & Sons Roofing.

CAAHT (Community Action Again Human Trafficking) Club Meetings
     
Meetings are conducted monthly at noon on the 1st/3rd Tuesdays by Zoom.
     For more info ask Sharon Sullivan or Patti Mellard: sharon.sullivan@washburn.edu / patti@keystaffing.com
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    Opportunities to Contribute:
     
    May Cup Money - Sunflower CASA Project
         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, using the QR Code:
     
     
    Rotary FoundationTo make contributions to the Rotary Foundation:
         1) Go on-line to www.rotary.org and click Donate and then Annual Fund. You will then sign in and 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 Nelson or Janet Lowell at a meeting.
     
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    Opportunities to Show Rotary Pride:

    Purchase Rotary Products
         You can purchase official Rotary caps or hats, shirts, socks, etc. at Russell Hamptonhttp://www.bestclubsupplies.com
     
    Document your Profile in My Rotary
         You can document your biography in My Rotary. Share your contact and background information, information on Rotary programs and your professional expertise.
         Go to https://my.rotary.org and click My Profile.
    Meeting Greeter

    Name

    Greeter Date

    Brady Armstrong

    04/17/2025

    Andy Bowen

    04/17/2025

    Dale Bradley

    04/24/2025

    Russ Briggs

    04/24/2025

    Robbin Cole

    05/01/2025

    Mitzi Richard

    05/01/2025

    Karen Cole 05/08/2025

    Bob Copple

    05/08/2025

    Jason Cyr 05/15/2025
    Art DeGroat 05/15/2025
    Tracey DeBruyn 05/22/2025
    Bob DeBruyn 05/22/2025
    Dan Devlin 05/29/2025
    Mike Dodson 05/29/2025
     
     
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