December, 2008—January, 2009 Volume 65, Number 6-7

Rotary Awareness Month

"In the promotion of understanding, it is important to reach large numbers,

non-Rotarians as well as Rotarians, and you cannot reach large numbers
privately." - Paul Harris
 From the Editor
I scrapped my first editorial. It just
didn’t seem right on the eve of this
historical event in our nations history.
You see, as I wrap up this issue and
send it off to press, I am re-writing my
editorial at 9:30 p.m. on January 19,
2009. For the Rotary historians who
might be reading this in some sixty
years, this is the night before Barack
Obama is to be sworn in as the 44th
Rotary on the world President of the United States.
Wide Web I can’t tell you how history will look back on this event. But I can
tell you how I hope that this amazing sense of optimism we as a
country feel on this date will continue well beyond the pomp and
 Rotary International
circumstance of the Inaugural. I could write how President
Website—
Obama should look at the Rotary Four Way to help guide him over
www.rotary.org
the next four or eight years, but I think he already has a pretty
good grasp on what it means to put service above self.
 Rotary District 5710 No, what I have to say is that I believe we as a nation are going to
Website—
be stronger tomorrow and that what President Obama is going to
www.rotary5710.org
bring is a sense that we are ALL responsible for making our world
better each and every day.
 Rotary Club Website— I am proud to be a Rotarian and proud of those things we are do-
www.downtowntopeka ing throughout the world. I sense that in a way, we are all being
rotary.org
called to service and to act in unison, bound together by promise
and hope of a better world around us. We are called to use our
 Rotary International resources and our own unique abilities for the betterment of the
Foundation— community in which we live and to help our fellow human beings
www.rotary.org/ in their time of need.
foundation
Each of us as Rotarians must do something more than come to a
meeting once a week. We must utilize our talents and our unique
skills to harness the power of our millions of members. Acting to-
gether, we can continue to change the world.

2
 Minutes from November Board of
Trustees
Rotary Club of Topeka Officers
Secretary’s Report: Terry moved to approve October min-
utes, Gordon seconded, passed.
Treasurer’s Report: We reviewed the financial reports, John
PRESIDENT—Kirk Johnson moved, Alvin seconded to accept reports.
PRESIDENT-ELECT—Terry Wages
Memorial Contributions: Bereavement committee will make
VICE-PRESIDENT—Gordon a recommendation at a future meeting.
Lansford
October 31 Membership: 203
TREASURER—Gary Knoll
Resignations: Frank Ybarra, Lanny Brown, George Webb,
SECRETARY—John Wall
Larry Magill, accepted. Terry Sandlin has transferred his
SERGEANT AT ARMS—Mike Locke membership to the South club (according to a call from
Board Members their secretary).
David Beck New Member: Jerry Wittmer has rejoined, Alvin moved to
Alvin Dvorak approve, Gordon seconded, passed.

Glenda DuBoise Leave of Absence Requests: from Bob Bloomquist and

Johnny Huffman, approved.
Fred Gatlin
Jennifer Haller Website Meeting Attendance Proposal: District Governor
Vicki Randel will be asked for comment.
Henry McClure
2007-08 New Member Project: Terry described working on
Joy Moser
Armenia school orphanage project with the state, he will
Blanche Parks
have more information at a future meeting.
Susan Mauch
District-wide Polio Fundraising Event: will be discussed at our
Past President—Joan Wagnon December board meeting.
Christmas Project: Glenda moved that we advance our De-
cember cup money to Scott Magnet School, Alvin sec-
THE ROTOPEKA onded, passed. Glenda also discussed a project of helping
Editor—Greg Hill at Highland Park High School, will have more information at
Published Monthly by the Downtown Rotary Club of
a future meeting.
Topeka

Downtown Ramada Inn, Suite 110 Topeka, Kansas

Meeting adjourned, next meeting will be December 10,
66607
2008.
Subscription $2.00 per year

Periodicals Postage Paid at Topeka, Kansas USPS 471-

860

POSTMASTER: Send address change to Rotopeka 420

Respectfully submitted,
SE 6th, Suite 110 Topeka, KS 66607

Rotopeka deadline is two weeks prior to the first

John Wall, Secretary
Thursday of the month

3
Message from the President
By Kirk Johnson, President

Has anyone ever asked you WHAT EXACTLY DOES TOPEKA

ROTARY DO?
Here is one answer.
About a year ago, our club started a dialogue with the
Rotary Club of Narayanganj, Bangladesh to determine if
we could cooperatively provide funds for an ambulance
for the Narayanganj Diabetic Hospital. The Narayanganj
hospital provides care for 250-300 people per day, mainly
from low and middle income families. An ambulance is
needed to provide transportation for critical care pa-
tients.
Thanks to all of you and other partners, this much needed
ambulance will soon be a reality. Our own Topeka Rotary
Club is contributing $1,500 to the project. There are also
matching grants from our District #5710, matching funds
from District #3280 in Bangladesh, and a gift of $10,000
from the Islamic Medical Association of North America:
altogether $25,000! SPECIAL THANKS to Dr. Ashraf Sufi –
the immediate past president of IMANA – Rehan Reza,
Larry Dimmitt, Joan Wagnon and Blanche Parks for the work that they have done to bring this
project to fruition.
The organization that we know as Rotary is able to accomplish much throughout the world
through individual efforts of individual people like Ash, Rehan, Larry, Joan and Blanche. We
need more people to continue to accomplish our goals. Won’t you please take the time to in-
vite one or two folks that you know would make great Rotarians to an upcoming meeting?
Once you do, I think it will be easy to ask them to become a Rotarian.
Best wishes for a health and happy 2009!
 German Rotarians team up with
publisher on book project
By Sandra Prufer
Rotary International News -- 7 January 2009

Rotary clubs in Germany have teamed up with

science book publisher Wissen Media to release a
192-page book highlighting Rotary projects that
are saving lives and improving the living condi-
tions of people in the world.
Blue Planet: Together for a Better World was un-
veiled at the RI presidential membership confer-
ence in Vienna in December.
The book project was initiated by the Rotary Club
of Dorfen. The book includes 77 groundbreaking
Rotary club projects and discusses the vital contri-
Blue Planet: Together for a Better World was unveiled
bution of volunteers in helping to address global at the RI presidential membership conference in Vi-
challenges, such as natural disasters, epidemics, enna in December.
climate change, conflicts, and war.
"Initially, we just wanted to publish a photo book in a small edition to present our club
projects and raise funds for PolioPlus," says Matthias Lange, who coordinated the project
with his wife, Ute, also a Rotarian. The couple, who own a TV production company, con-
sulted with the publisher of Wissen Media who suggested adding editorial content.
"After a brainstorm we realized that this could grow into a bigger, more ambitious pro-
ject, and we invited all German clubs to join," says Lange.
In the following months, dozens of clubs submitted project descriptions. The German-
language Rotary regional magazine and Rotary International staff provided additional
content and photos to illustrate international projects. District 1840 (part of Austria; Ger-
many) also received an RI Public Relations Grant for the book project.
A portion of the proceeds from sale of the book, available in Germany and through the
German language Web site www.buchprojekt.org, will benefit PolioPlus.

5

What does Rotary Do?
The next time you are asked what
our club does, remember all the
wonderful projects we have
helped make a reality. Here are
several of those projects:
Christmas in April
Help with TARC Winter Wonderland
Dictionaries in School
Dental Screenings
Scholarships for Washburn Students
Florence Crittenden Services
RYLA
Vocational Day for Junior High
Sponsor Ambassadorial Scholars
Christmas Bureau
Sponsor East Avondale Activities
Polio Reconstructive Surgery—
India
Cataract Surgery—Pakistan
Ambulance Project—Bangladesh
Medical Team—Panama
Shelter Box
Books for Peace Corp Volunteers
And Much, Much More
GSE Sponsor: David reported that Phil Coolidge has a request to sponsor GSE, David moved, Gordon seconded to
approve $200 each (for 2 people) from club funds. Passed.
Memorial Contributions: Joy reported on their committee’s decision. They will have a written recommendation at
the January board meeting.
2008-09 Goals: Kirk asked that we be prepared to review their status at the January board meeting.
Next board meeting will be January 14, 2009. Meeting adjourned.
6
Rotary Briefs
The Rotary District Youth Exchange Officer is beginning to receive
applications from foreign students interested in spending the 2009
-2010 school year in Northeast Kansas. We have applications
from Spain, France, and Italy and will probably get applications
from Denmark, Chile, Romania and Switzerland. If you have an
interest in hosting a high school student for part of the next school
year (2 or 3 host families per student) or just want more informa-
tion please contact David Beck davidbeck@cox.net or 274-3382.
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) has moved to KU! De-
signed for high school students who will be sophomores, juniors
and seniors next school year, RYLA will be held May 31 – June 4,
2009. It is not necessary to have a family member in Rotary to at-
tend. For more information, contact Susan Mauch at
susan.mauch@cosgrovelaw.com or at 235-9511.
December Minutes
Secretary’s Report: November minutes were approved as pre-
sented.
Treasurer’s Report: The financial reports were reviewed, Gordon
moved, David seconded to accept reports.
Gary reported that 3 members are three quarters or more delin-
quent. He proposed that a letter be written to members that are
three quarters or more past due with their dues requesting that
they pay or submit a letter of resignation.
November 30 Membership: 199
Leave of Absence Request: was received from Jose Davis for the
duration of his deployment. Approved.
Bangladesh Ambulance Project: The application and matching
grant have been completed, signed and forwarded to the Trus-
tees for decision.
Holiday Party: will be December 18. Jennifer reported on meal
prices and children’s menu. Everyone will have a plated meal.
Valentine Day Program: Gordon reported that theValentine pro-
gram would include a musical presentation.
Avondale East Elementary School has invited us to attend a book
delivery at their school.
Laptop Computer: Gordon reported that a laptop would be very
helpful for programs when the projector is used. We will ask for a
donation of one from an organization or a club member.
Historic Moments
The Rotarian through time
Story from Rotary International

From its humble beginnings as a 12-page periodical, The Ro-

tarian has grown into an award-winning publication with a
circulation of over 500,000, inspiring the creation of a host of
Rotary regional magazines.

The first issue of The National Rotarian appeared in January

1911. It included news items from existing clubs, announce-
ments of new clubs, and an essay written by Paul P. Harris, in
which he discussed the purpose of Rotary clubs.

As president of Rotary, Harris, along with secretary Chesley R.

Perry, launched the publication as a way to share informa-
tion with a growing number of Rotarians. Perry was the
magazine’s first editor and held the position until 1928.

The formation of clubs in Canada and Great Britain and Ire-

land prompted the magazine to change its name to The Ro-
tarian in 1912.

Early on, the magazine focused on business ethics, character

The first issue of The National Rotarian in-
cluded news, announcements, and an
essay written by Paul P. Harris
more than 130 countries, and published in over 20 languages.
development, and membership growth. Throughout the
years, well-known critics and authors and popular artists and
photographers contributed their work to its covers and
pages.
In addition to The Rotarian , the Rotary World Magazine Press
produces 31 Rotary regional magazines. These publications
are produced independently by Rotarians, distributed in

The first regional magazine was published in Great Britain and Ireland in 1915. In the 1920s, a regional
magazine in Australia became the predecessor of Rotary Down Under and the first regional publica-
tion to gain RI approval.

For more historical information about Rotary, visit Rotary History and Archives or the Rotary Global His-
tory Fellowship.

Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

7
 Topeka Rotary Club Makes Donation to Scott Magnet School

Thanks in part to a $500 gift from the Topeka Rotary

Club, the Scott Magnet School staff was able to pur-
chase 475 Christmas gifts for each of the nearly 500
students to the school in the heart of East Topeka.
Scott Computer Technology Magnet School has a
diverse student population with ninety-four percent
low income.
―Scott Magnet’s staff would like to raise our glasses
and recognize your contribution to our annual visit
from Santa Clause to assure that each one of our
students receives at least one Christmas gift this sea-
son,‖ said Deborah Sidwell, Principal, Scott Com-
puter Technology Magnet. ―We as a staff were able
to purchase 475 Christmas gifts for each our stu-
dents. Santa Claus donated his day to visit with
each of twenty-six classes in the lobby at Scott. It
was a sight to behold. Your generosity is greatly ap-
preciated and recognized throughout our building
on this very special day.‖
For more photos, please visit the Topeka Rotary Club website at www.downtowntopekarotary.org.

Meeting Makeups
Topeka West—Wednesday, 7
AM Marriott Courtyard, 2033
SW Wannamaker
Topeka South—Friday, 7 AM—
Kansas Room, Washburn Uni-
versity Memorial Union
Topeka North—Wednesday,
noon—Topeka North YMCA
Board Room. 1936 NW Tyler.