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President Shelley's Weekly Update

Hello Rotarians!

Veterans' Day is tomorrow, and 10 members have already signed up to help with the Poyntz Avenue parade. If you still want to help, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949ACA62BA5FAC70-67213946-veterans#/ or see Mike Dodson.

Signature Projects:

• Our shift at Common Table is tonight November 10th from 5:15-7:30 PM at the Lincoln Education Center. Thanks to the 6 members that will be there to serve.

• Community CARES Chest is awaiting new shipments but we do not have an ETA.

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The meeting started by reciting 'The Pledge of Allegiance' followed by the 4-way Test.

Our guests Speakers Dr. Anshu Chandra and Operation Santa Elves Karina Howell, Jeff Ingram, Colin Kingston and Kelly Seeker (Phil Mattox).

November's theme is The Rotary Foundation, with our CUP Money going to The Museum of Art + Light.

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Our Greeters were Steven Graham and Viktoria Gramp with Bill Muir on Zoom. Steven joined MRC in 1984 when he came to Manhattan with the Kansas Wheat Commission. He had administrative work at KSU for 22 years and helped plan the new Western Star Building. His wife Cheri is a watercolor artist, and they have 2 grown children. He likes Rotary for the service and working with younger Rotaract and Interact members. Not all know Steven served in the Peace Corps in the 1970's.

Viktoria is a new member joining this June. She was born in Eastern Siberia and is fond of cold weather, but has learned to appreciate hot Kansas summers. She came to the US on a scholarship and earned 2 advanced degrees from K-State. She is an International Education Administrator at KSU advocating students navigating academic requirements, scholarships, etc. Viktoria has been in international education over 20 years, and her family has fostered 2 students, and she loves to travel.

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Our first speaker joined us via Zoom from upstate New York, Rotarian Dr. Anshu Chandra. She introduced her 17-year Global Eye Project in Haiti and showed 2 videos of the clinic and its impact.

Dr. Chandra requested we support an Arch Klump Society Member's $250K Match Fund, that is $60K short of its goal of November 30. We'll send a separate email with details.

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Daryn Soldan introduced our own Rotarian Phil Mattox, who told us about this year's Operation Santa project for Ft. Riley service personnel (E-5 and below). Phil thanked the Club for its book donations and over 2,000 Christmas stockings made by members' wives and our own Rebecca Gould.

Phil told us about the donations table at the back, then introduced one of his 'elves' Kelly Seeker. In 2025 OPS served 750 families and 1,800 children, involving over 2,000 volunteer hours. This year's OPS shopping is open from November 20-December 19.

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Daryn then introduced Rotarian Christine Benne, who leads the Armed Forces Community Fund. She shared an itinerary of events for Wednesday's and local Veterans' discounts.

Wednesday's parade is from 9-11 and ends at City Hall. Christine urged us to donate to the Stand-To Match Day Nov. 11-13. Details were sent out.

In Christine's honor, we presented the children's book 'Leonard Grows a Haunted Garden' to Lee Elementary School.

We also we presented the children's book 'The Invisible Parade' to Bluemont Elementary School from our Assembly in recognition of Stormy Kennedy.

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Thanks to Steven, Viktoria and Bill Muir for greeting, and Dr. Chandra, Phil Mattox, Kelly Seeker and Christine Benne for their presentations.

Greeters this week will be Jim Genandt and Mike Haddock. We'll hear from Sarah Duggan, Community Relations Manager at Meadowlark Hills.

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Lunch RSVP: click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 to register by Wednesday 11/11/2026. 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

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Please submit your ideas for speakers, service projects, etc. in the Blue Suggestion Box.

Yours in Rotary.

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

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Opportunities to Participate:

• Homestead Ministry's Fall Cleanup

We will help with the fall cleanup this coming Saturday, 11/14 from 9:00 AM to 12:00PM. You can RSVP on ClubRunner or with Rebecca Gould, who has the location and other details.

• Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

We will assist RCPD with traffic flow again on Thanksgiving morning for the annual 5K race. It's from 8:30-10:15 AM and you can RSVP on ClubRunner or with Mike Dodson.

• 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:

• November Cup Money - Museum of Art + Light.

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 66502-0127, 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 66505-0331.
  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