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Volume 65, Number 8February, 2009

 Also: The Topeka Rotary Club is now on the popular Facebook social network 

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Rotary on the Web

Rotary International

Website — 

www.rotary.org

Rotary District 5710

Website — 

www.rotary5710.org

Rotary Club Website — 

www.downtowntopekar

otary.org

Rotary International

Foundation — 

www.rotary.org/

foundation

Twitter — 

www.twitter.com/

topekarotary

The Editor’s Blog ast year, we ran our first ―Technology‖ issue o

the Rotopeka. It was designed to demonstrat

some of the many things we were doing in ou

club using technology to advance the mission of ouclub. Without realizing it at the time, we were trave

ing the same path as Rotary International.

I’ve written several times about how the internet

an extremely valuable tool and we as Rotarian

need to embrace and join the efforts of those wh

blazed the trails for us. The term ―early adapter‖

used to describe those people who are out in fron

on technology. A few weeks ago, with a group o

technology minded

Topekans, we con-cluded that we

were past the time

for early adapting.

The time is now for 

us as Rotarians to

become a world

leader, not in just

what we have traditionally done to serve the charity needs of the

world, We need to lead in a way that provides the greatest oppor-

tunity for us to share our message to the world.

This month, the Topeka Rotary Club launched a page on the popu-

lar and rapidly growing social networking website, Facebook. More

than a dozen members have already joined us and we would like

to invite you to join us too. You’ll be receiving an email invitation to

create a Facebook page and to join the group. If you don’t want

to join us, you certainly don’t have to. But I think it will be worth your 

time.

My goal is to help create the most technologically advanced Ro-

tary Club in the world. But the reason is because as we become

better connected with both our club members and members

around the world, we enable the mission of Rotary to spread with it.

Each connection we make, we are growing the network of Rotary.

I’ve been very impressed with the direction RI has taken in the past

two years and I am committed to following their lead.

I hope you will take the opportunity to join us.

L

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Topeka Rotary Club Members Connect through Facebook 

y now, you probably at

least have heard of

Facebook. If not, or If

you aren’t sure exactly what it

is that has drawn hundreds of

millions of users, Facebook is

the popular social networking

program that allows friends to

connect with others online in

an interactive format.

In the last few months, Face-

book has transformed from a

tool used by the more tech

savy to the mainstream. And

with that, comes new ways to

utilize the opportunities to con-

nect with people.

The Topeka Rotary Club has

 joined Facebook and uses it as

a more interactive website which accompa-

n i e s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

www.downtowntopekarotary.org webpage.

Club members can not only download and

view much of the same information on the cur-

rent website, but can contribute their own

content, including photos, comments.

―I have found that Facebook is a fun way to

find old friends and discover new ones with

similar interests,‖ says Roger Viola, one of the

club’s online members. ―It's a great way for 

people with common interests, for example

Rotary, Visioning, or KU basketball, to stay con-nected. It's a quick and easy way to communi-

cate electronically with friends and a great

way to share photographs. It's easy to use and

not just for the younger generation.‖ 

Fifteen members have joined us on the group,

but there are other club members that are us-

ing Facebook.

With the Facebook group, the Topeka Rotary

Club will continue to broadcast its live video as

it has been for the past eight months, offeringclub members an opportunity to watch the

entire program live or any time after using the

archive feature. With Facebook, we can also

upload a much higher quality video after the

program.

If you are a Facebook user, please join us. Just

search for Downtown Topeka Rotary Club or 

look for the link on the club’s website. If not

consider creating a Facebook account to

connect with Rotary.

Once you done that, send us a message and

let us know how Facebook is enhancing your 

Rotary experience. We’ll share other mem-

ber’s thoughts and ideas and help you be-

come more Facebook fluent so you too can

take advantage of this new world of social

networking and what Rotary has to offer with

15 members of the Topeka Rotary Club have joined the Topeka

Rotary Club on its new Facebook page.

B

By Greg Hill

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Minutes from January Board of 

Trustees

January 14, 2009

Secretary’s Report — Approved as revised. A written pol-

icy regarding memorials was submitted.

Treasurer’s Report — Accepted as presented

December 31, 2009 Membership — 199

Attendance Privileges Request — received from Bob

Caplinger, approved

Resignations — Accepted from Angela Root

New Member Proposal — An application was received

from Eileen Casper.

Golf Tournament — will be held May 7 at the Shawnee

Country Club. The weekly meeting will also be held

there.

Fireside Chats — Jennifer reported a survey will be pre-

sented at the meeting on the 15th to get member’s

thoughts on the event.

Memorial Contributions Policy — was distributed by Joy.

Gordon moved to approve and Henry seconded. The

motion passed.

Panama Medical Mission Fund — request was presented

by David. It was moved by Terry, seconded by Alvin to

use $500. The motion passed.

Career Day — will be March 13 as reported by Fred

2008-09 Goals — Kirk asked that the board review its pro-

gress as presented in the District Governor’s booklets 

Next Board Meeting — will be held February 11, 2009 at

the Top of the Tower.

Meeting adjourned.Respectfully submitted,

John Wall 

Rotary Club of Topeka

Officers

PRESIDENT — Kirk Johnson

PRESIDENT-ELECT — Terry Wages

VICE-PRESIDENT — Gordon

Lansford

TREASURER — Gary Knoll

SECRETARY — John Wall

SERGEANT AT ARMS — Mike Locke

Board Members

David Beck 

Alvin Dvorak 

Glenda DuBoise

Fred Gatlin

Jennifer Haller 

Henry McClure

Joy Moser 

Blanche Parks

Susan Mauch

Past President — Joan Wagnon

THE ROTOPEKA

Editor — Greg Hill

Published Monthly by the Downtown Rotary Club of

Topeka

Downtown Ramada Inn, Suite 110 Topeka, Kansas

66607

Subscription $2.00 per year 

Periodicals Postage Paid at Topeka, Kansas USPS 471-

860

POSTMASTER: Send address change to Rotopeka 420

SE 6th, Suite 110 Topeka, KS 66607

Rotopeka deadline is two weeks prior to the first

Thursday of the month

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he 2009-10 RI theme acknowledges the important role

individual Rotary clubs will play in shaping the future

of Rotary.

RI President-elect John Kenny unveiled the theme, The

Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, on Monday during theopening plenary session of the International Assembly , an

annual training event in San Diego, California, USA, for in-

coming district governors.

"The future of Rotary will not be shaped at RI headquarters --

it will be shaped in each and every Rotary club," Kenny said,

"because it is for each of us -- as Rotarians -- to do what is

necessary to keep Rotary strong."

Kenny acknowledged the foundation established by past

Rotary leaders and laid the responsibility for building upon

that success on every Rotarian.

"Each one of us is standing on the shoulders of generations of

Rotarians past, and it is our responsibility to determine Ro-

tary’s future," Kenny said. 

"The goals we set, whatever our action plan, it is in our hands

to accomplish or not," said Kazeem Mustapha, governor-

elect of District 9125 (Nigeria). "Everybody has to be in-

volved."

Chuck Cicchella, governor-elect of District 6710 (Kentucky,

USA), likes the theme's emphasis on the future. "I have alwayshad a strong desire to nurture along young people. It's vital

to us."

Kenny emphasized that every Rotary club is and must be

autonomous.

"Everything begins and ends with our clubs," he said. "Our 

T

RI President-elect John Kenny announces t

 Alyce Henson/Rotary Images

Kenny says

clubs can and do work together; they work through their districts, in cooperation with other clubs and districts, and

the support of our Foundation.

"But at the end of the day, everything that we accompl

done through the strength of our clubs. And so each club

have autonomy to serve where and how it can serve best."

At the same time, Kenny highlighted the importance of th

Strategic Plan , adopted by the RI Board of Directors, as a

By Arnold R. Grahl

Rotary International News

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theme, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, to incoming district governors at the 2009 International Assembly. Photo by

ture of Rotary Is in Your Hands'

ntial tool in providing continuity.

he plan is designed to strengthen and proclaim the core values of Rotary: service, fellowship, diversity,

tegrity, and leadership," Kenny said. The training sessions for incoming governors during the weeklong

sembly are all tied to some component of the strategic plan, and a final group discussion on Satur-

ay will seek to tie all the pieces together and show the future district leaders how to take the strategic

an to the club level.

enny concluded his remarks by sharing a favorite saying from his homeland, Scotland: "We must look 

eyond our own parish pump."

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9

Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates meets with RI President-elect John Kenny, Rotary Foundation Trustee

Chair Jonathan Majiyagbe, PolioPlus Committee Chair Bob Scott and RI President Dong Kurn Lee at the Interna-

tional Assembly in January shortly after announcing a new grant of US$255 million to Rotary in the fight to eradi-

cate polio. Rotary Images

In a letter posted on the Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation's Web site this week, Bill Gates

praises Rotary International's work for over two

decades in fighting to eradicate polio and dis-

cusses the progress being made on ending thedisease.

Gates cites the vital work of the World Health

Organization, UNICEF, and Rotary International

in the global effort to make polio the second

disease to be eradicated, after smallpox. In re-

ferring to Rotary, the letter states that "we

wouldn't be anywhere on this without their ef-

forts."

The letter, the first in what is planned to be an

annual exercise, outlines the goals of the Gates

Foundation and the progress being made on

those goals. Even though the foundation's as-

sets fell by 20 percent last year, Gates says it will

increase its giving to US$3.8 billion in 2009,

about 7 percent of its assets.

Last week during the 2009 International Assem-

bly, Gates announced a new US$255 million

challenge grant to Rotary in the global effort to

eradicate polio. In response to the new grant,

Rotary will raise $100 million in matching funds.

In November 2007, RI received a $100 million

Gates Foundation grant, which Rotary commit-

ted to match by raising $100 million.

The two Gates Foundation grants total $355 mil-

lion. Rotary International’s matching effort in

response is called Rotary’s US$200 Million Chal-

lenge, which must be completed by 30 June

2012.

"Rotary International and other donors are do-

ing a great job so far coming up with the extra

resources that are needed (for polio eradica-

tion)," Gates states in the letter. "Just this month

I went to a Rotary meeting and helped an-

nounce more than $600 million in new money

from various sources that will go toward eradi-

cating polio."

In addition to the Gates grant and Rotary's

match, the governments of the United King-

dom and Germany have committed a com-

bined $280 million to the Global Polio Eradica-

tion Initiative.

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10

Youth Exchange: We have one host family for a foreign

exchange student from France for the school year 2009-

2010 and need one or two more. The student’s name isPauline Vidal, and she is 16 years old. In addition to

French she speaks English and Spanish and she is studying

Russian. She plays the saxophone and has many other 

interests including drama, photography, reading, and art

history. Host families do not have to be Rotarians but

should live in Shawnee Heights school district or be able

to transport Pauline to school there. The commitment

would be for a 3  –  5 month period, depending on how

many host families we can recruit. For more information

see David Beck.

Topeka Rotary Club News

The Panama medicalteam as they were leaving

Kansas City International

Airport to depart for al-

most two weeks in Pa-

nama. The team will be

  joining Panama medical

p r o f e s s i o n -

als providing services to

native inhabitants in cen-

tral and western Pa-nama. Members of the

team, pictured left to

right, are Dr. Dick Meid-

inger, Lawrence; Dr. Bob

Jacoby, Topeka; nurse

practitioner Susan Ander-

sen, Lawrence; and nurse

practitioner Shirley Black,

Howard. Also joining the

team will be dentist, Mike

Byers, from Topeka. The

Topeka club has contrib-

uted funds to help pay for 

medicines used by the

team in Panama.

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11

Locally, we have helped a number of organizations including schools, the Marian Clinic, The

American Red Cross, Capper Foundation and many others. Within the next few weeks we will

have a clothing drive for the Topeka Rescue Mission. The drive is being organized by those mem-

bers who are new to the club within the last year. Please support their efforts. Having a ―new

member project‖ was an idea that the board embraced with the idea that having new members

work together would (1) help create immediate Rotary friendships among new members (2) help

reinforce the goals of Rotary among new members (3) help provide a sense of membership and

(4) provide an avenue for local or international service for all club members.

What still needs to be done?

We still need volunteers to help with the Group Study Exchange Team from the Philippines in April.

Please sign up to help if you can or talk with Staci Williams if you have questions

Volunteers are needed to help with Youth Career Day on March 13. If you have questions about

what is involved, see Fred Gatlin; he’s done a wonderful job organizing this year’s event. 

Start thinking about putting together a team to play in our Golf Tournament on May 7th

. If youdon’t play golf talk with Henry McClure about how you might help with the tournament. Our first

annual golf tournament is designed as a fundraiser to meet the Gates Foundation Challenge to

Rotarians to raise a total of $200,000,000 worldwide to eradicate polio. Our club needs to contrib-

ute $2000 in each of the next three years, but I am confident that we will do much more than that.

RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS. Our membership is down by 8 members from June 30th. We now have 198

members. This isn’t just a numbers game – more Rotarians means more people to help us achieve

important local and international goals.

Thanks to all for your support and encouragement.

(Continued from page 5)

Dennis McKinney Discusses State Treasurer’s Office 

Newly appointed State Treasurer 

spoke to the club about his new

roll in state government. McKin-

ney was selected by Kansas Gov-

ernor Kathleen Sebelius to fill the

unexpired term of Lynn Jenkins

who was elected this past No-

vember to the United States Con-

gress.

McKinney formally represented

the town of Greensburg, KS in the

state legislature as the House Mi-

nority Leader 

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12

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.

Dr. Park, PhD in Political Science,

recently spoke to the Topeka Ro-

tary Club on the important func-

tion of the Korean Peninsula and

its importance on the economic

future of the United States.

Dr. Park’s presentation can beviewed on the Topeka Rotary

Club’s Facebook page.