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“Molecules to Medicine – Attacking the Virus”
Jan 26, 2021 12:00 PM
Richard W. Zahn is a principal with HMJ Global Partners, a corporate strategy and governance group. Mr. Zahn has guided public and private companies in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, and Asia. Prior experience includes over four decades in pharmaceutical leadership including the founding management board member of Ortho Biotech, the biotechnology division of Johnson & Johnson, where he commercialized the world’s first monoclonal antibody and recombinant protein for human therapeutic use. Mr. Zahn is the retired President of Schering Laboratories where he led change and grew the business to a $6 billion, 7000 employee integrated pharmaceutical research development and manufacturing organization. His portfolio included leading modalities in cardiovascular, oncology, allergy, and asthma. Mr. Zahn has been a guest lecturer at leading universities discussing health policy and global impact. He is active in community groups, a member of the Iola Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. |
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Bookshelf Deliveries
Feb 09, 2021
During our regular meeting time this week, we will be delivering bookshelves to the 1st graders at Lawrence and Benton Elementary schools. Due to COVID precautions, the delivery will be outside this year (bundle up!) and lunch will not be provided. Below is our sign-up list, but even if you didn't get signed up, feel free to join us at one or both schools for the delivery!
Lawrence Elementary - 12:00 noon
Roger Bowles
Allan Sands
Vern Klassen
John Mosley
Phil Michel
Jon Roper
Benton Elementary - 12:30 p.m.
Roger Bowles
Allan Sands
Vern Klassen
John Mosley
Phil Michel
Diane Walker
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PPP Loans
Feb 23, 2021 12:00 PM
Sarah Haymaker is the Deputy District Director with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Wichita, Kansas and has recently completed 18 years of federal service. Prior to joining SBA Sarah was with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington, D.C. where she led the public affairs program for the communications division, was a special assistant to the Chief of NRCS, and served as Chief of Staff for the Senior White House Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture. Prior to service at USDA headquarters, Sarah held several technical and management positions across Louisiana before joining the senior leadership team and eventually serving a term appointment as the state director. Sarah is an Oklahoma native where her family has owned and operated small businesses for more than 60 years. Sarah holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science from Oklahoma State University. |
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United States Courts
Mar 02, 2021 12:00 PM
Raised on a cattle and wheat farm in Southwest Kansas, Eric Melgren was in the first generation of his family to attend college. He earned his undergraduate degree from Wichita State University, where he served as student body president. After college, he worked for a few years in business management before attending law school at Washburn University, where he was a member of the Law Review and graduated in the top 5% of his class. Following law school, he was a law clerk for Federal Judge Frank Theis in Wichita for 2 years. Then, for 15 years he was with the Wichita firm of Foulston & Siefkin where his practice focused on tax and business matters. In March 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Melgren United States Attorney for the District of Kansas. He served in that position until September 2008, when the U. S. Senate confirmed President Bush’s nomination of Melgren as a judge in the U.S. District Court in Kanas. He sits in the chambers where he clerked for Judge Theis. Melgren has been active in the community, including serving as Chairman of the Board of the United Way of the Plains, Chairman of Leadership Wichita, and President of the Wichita State University Alumni Association. He has also served as President of the Wesley E. Brown Inn of Court, and President of the Federal Bar Association Chapter for the District of Kansas and Western Missouri. Judge Melgren also was appointed as the Tenth Circuit representative to the Defender Services Committee of the Judicial Conference for the United States, and served as the Judicial co-chair of a national Judicial/Executive Branch task addressing problems relating to Southwest Border prosecutions. Fun Fact: Eric was a member of our Rotary club 1994-2002. |
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Mar 09, 2021 12:00 PM
Lynn Rogers was sworn in as the 41st State Treasurer on January 4, 2021. Lynn is a businessman, former State Senator, and former Wichita Board of Education president, who has been fighting for Kansas families for decades. Lynn has more than 40 years of experience in banking, serving in a number of capacities for a variety of financial institutions. In 2016, he retired after spending over thirty years traveling Kansas as an agriculture banker assisting farmers and ranchers with financial planning and investment. He worked to provide more than $750 million in leasing and financing services to farmers, ranchers, and grain cooperatives. This experience has helped him understand the challenges Kansans face, especially those in rural communities and in the agricultural sector. In 2001, Lynn was elected to the Wichita USD 259 Board of Education. He worked on behalf of the children and parents in Wichita serving as president or vice-president for seven of those years. Lynn also volunteered on his local Parent Teacher Organization and his local church. Lynn was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2016. He represented the 25th Senate District, which includes parts of Wichita, from 2017 to 2019. During his time in the Senate, he served as the Ranking member of the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance and was a member of the Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs and the Senate Committee on Agriculture. He also served on the Legislative Post Audit Committee. He went on to serve as Lieutenant Governor from 2019 to 2021. As Lieutenant Governor, Lynn was the head of the Office of Rural Prosperity. He focused on increasing opportunities in rural communities. He made significant progress in expanding broadband and housing opportunities in rural Kansas. Lynn is a commonsense leader who has a passion for education and improving the lives of Kansas families. He has lived in Wichita for over 30 years with his wife, Kris. They have three adult children – Kyle, Kelsey, and Keegan – all of whom are graduates of Wichita public schools. |
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Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission
Mar 16, 2021 12:00 PM
Mike Sharpe became just the second President in the 23-year history of the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission when he began his duties on January 4, 2021. Sharpe comes to Wichita from Kansas City where he previously served as the Director of Business Development for 7 ½ years with the Kansas City Sports Commission. During that span, Sharpe was the lead in securing several national sporting events for the KC community including the US Figure Skating Championships, USA Gymnastics Championships, USA Boxing National Championships, and multiple NCAA National Championship events. Prior to his time with the KC Sports Commission, he served 6 years as Assistant Commissioner of the Great West Conference (NCAA DI), seven years as Athletic Director of Avila University (NAIA), and 10 years as a men’s basketball coach at the Community College and Division I levels. Mike will talk about his past experiences, his brief time in Wichita, and what the Sports Commission is working on for the future.
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Founder & CEO, ICM
Mar 23, 2021 12:00 PM
While growing up on a farm in Iowa, Dave VanderGriend learned early on how farming affects both rural communities and the global economy. Dave began working in the ethanol industry in the 1970s and later became vice president of operations for High Plains Corporation, an ethanol production company. In 1995, he used this knowledge to create ICM with the goal of advancing renewable energy using efficient, streamlined methods that sustain agriculture and reduce waste. The company began as a 20-employee fabrication shop. ICM has since become the ethanol industry’s leading provider of process technologies, which have been integrated into more than 100 plants worldwide, which collectively produce 8.8 billion gallons of ethanol and 25 million tons of distillers grains annually. In 2012, Dave received the Renewable Fuels Association Leadership Award for his role in advancing the ethanol industry through improved efficiencies and technological development that helps increase profitability throughout the industry. As president of Urban Air Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving air quality and protecting public health by reducing vehicle emissions, Dave drives change on a national level. He is also a board member of Growth Energy, the leading biofuel trade association in the country that represents producers and supporters of ethanol who are working to bring consumers better choices at the fuel pump and improve the environment for future generations. Dave is passionate about supporting projects and charitable organizations that involve people, food, energy and environmental restoration. He cares deeply about many local and international causes and is focused on removing barriers to opportunities and providing those less fortunate with the means to thrive. |
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"The evolution of philanthropy: the whys of our great grandparents to our children’s generations"
Apr 06, 2021 12:00 PM
Danielle R. leads the Marketing & Development efforts at the Museum of World Treasures (MOWT). A Wichita native, Danielle holds a Master of Science in Biological Anthropology from California State University, Hayward where she specialized in primate culture and communication, and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Washburn University in Topeka. Danielle began her career as a zoo educator and found her way to the MOWT as an education volunteer while working at the Sedgwick County Zoo. She began her career with the MOWT as the Education Director in 2008 and has returned in this new role to help reach their goals in growing their amazing visitor experiences, grant-writing, and relationship development. Danielle loves to stay busy in her free time as a group fitness instructor, enjoys bellydance, and anything zoo & dog related! |
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"Updates about what the City is doing and how Covid has impacted their planning"
Apr 13, 2021 12:00 PM
With 25 years dedicated to a career of service, I have developed a reputation as an organizational development leader with a commitment to people-oriented management skills and the efficient use of resources. My passion for municipal government, and the interaction of employees with citizens, is to develop the best quality of life possible for residents. To meet the needs of 400,000 citizens: The Parks and Recreation Department provides quality programming, the highest level of maintenance and operations of parks, innovative planning, golf operations rated as the best in Kansas; with 200 dedicated employees. |
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KANSEL
Apr 20, 2021 12:00 PM
With a passion for assisting youth and a proactive mindset, Thomas brings a strong leadership presence to KANSEL. His “So What? Now What?” approach with students and staff brings a culture of caring, consideration, collaboration and creation. Going out of his way to hear student’s problems, engaging issues and working as a team to address individual needs. Working multiple jobs since he was 15, Thomas’s professional experiences include positions in Non-profit Leadership, Workforce Development, Sales, Retail and Food Management and lots of “blue collar” manual labor. |
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Wichita Friends School
Apr 27, 2021 12:00 PM
Aaron Fowler is a Wichita native, and a graduate of Friends University. His career in education has been broad with 11 years of classroom teaching experience in Wichita Public Schools, 20 years of administrative experience as Executive Director of Hope Street Youth Development, and 10 years as a Nationally-recognized Teacher Artist. Prior to becoming Head of School, Aaron volunteered in various ways at WFS, serving on the Board of Directors, as Clerk of the Development Committee, as a member of the Finance Committee and as Director of the Capital Campaign that funded the new additions to their building and playgrounds. "I felt called to arts education in college, and have had that calling confirmed all my life. I especially love building confidence and stimulating curiosity in children and helping them discover how truly wonderful and awesome they are." |
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UAS Flight Operations
May 04, 2021 12:00 PM
Travis Balthazor oversees flight instructors and pilots for UAS research, outreach, and flight training. He has extensive knowledge of current 14 CFR Part 107 regulations, Public and Section 333 Exemptions through Certificate of Authorizations. As Flight Operations Manager, he ensures that all flight operations are conducted in accordance with applicable regulations and routinely works with the FAA to gain operational approval for flights that are outside the regulatory constraints. Balthazor has a master’s degree with a focus on human factors in UAS. Additionally, he received a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Technology– professional pilot as well as a minor in aviation safety and an unmanned aircraft systems certificate from Kansas State University. Balthazor has several manned flight ratings including commercial instrument multi-engine airplane and certified flight instructor instrument airplane. As a flight instructor, Balthazor trains and endorses students on check rides. Balthazor routinely teaches outreach course offerings to the public. Through these courses, he instructs individuals, companies, and departments to integrate UAS within their respective industries. These courses span many industries but are often directly taught to law enforcement, academia, agriculture, and construction. |
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“Wichita vs. Topeka: When Cities and States Conflict”
May 11, 2021 12:00 PM
Russell Arben Fox, a native of Spokane Valley, WA, has lived in Wichita for 15 years. He received a BA and MA in Political Science and International Studies from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, in 1993 and 1994, and a PhD in Politics from Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 2001. He taught at Mississippi State University, Arkansas State University, and Western Illinois University, before arriving at Friends University in 2006. He currently serves as Professor of Political Science and directs their History & Politics major, their University Honors Program, and their Model United Nations Program. He has published numerous articles on American history, education, continental political thought, communitarianism, Confucian philosophy, and bicycling, and is currently working on a book on mid-sized cities. He is a long-time blogger, a regular political commentator for KPTS and KAKE, a contributor to the state-wide newspaper service Insight Kansas, a frequent participant in city advisory boards, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife Melissa are the parents of four daughters. |
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Kansas Department of Transportation Updates
May 18, 2021 12:00 PM
Steve Hale is Director of Communications for the Kansas Department of Transportation. Steve’s hometown is St. Francis in the extreme northwest corner of the state and he has a Journalism degree from Kansas State University. He’s lived and worked in McPherson, Cimarron, Arkansas City and Gardner and has canvassed the state on behalf of both the KDHE and KDOT. His professional career started in newspapers before turning to public relations, marketing and economic development. Prior to joining KDOT, he was a Senior Partnership Specialist for the 2020 Census in Kansas. Steve is a past school board member and city councilman. He is going on 36 years as a Rotarian and is currently a member and past president of the Gardner Rotary Club and is a past president of the Overland Park Rotary Club. Tom Hein, KDOT’s Public Affairs Manager for the Wichita Metro Area, will be joining Steve in this presentation. Tom will provide an update about Wichita-area road improvement projects and local transportation-related updates.
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Wichita Genealogy Society
May 25, 2021
Margaret is the current president of the Wichita Genealogical Society. An engineer by degree, she spent the first 25 years of her career at Boeing followed by a 15 year stint with the FAA. She retired from the FAA in 2019 and now works part time for a non-profit DC research firm. Genealogy is a hobby of 30 years that has turned into an avocation. She has traced her family in Ireland, Croatia and various locations within the U.S. with ancestors that came here as early as the Mayflower and as late as 1910. Her talk will introduce you to the Wichita Genealogical Society and their association with the Wichita Public Library. Along the way, she’ll touch on Rotary-unique history as extracted from area newspapers dating back to the early 1900s. |
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The Outreach Program
Jun 08, 2021 12:00 PM
Isaac McNary began humanitarian work during high school after his first trip to impoverished villages in Nicaragua. Since then, his relief and development work with the world’s most vulnerable populations has taken him to Central America, South America, Africa and impoverished communities in the United States. Today, Isaac will speaker to our club about the Gallapo Water Project. District 5680 is partnering with The Outreach Program and The Rotary club of Babati Tanzania to provide clean water to the village of Gallapo, Tanzania. Population 19,500. They will be refurbishing a large communal water system and installing Waterpoint Stationary systems in each of the seven schools in Gallapo to provide strategic access points to clean water around the village. Isaac is the President-Elect of the El Dorado Rotary Club. |
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Paxton's Blessing Boxes
Jun 15, 2021 12:00 PM
Paxton’s Blessing Box (PBB) started from a simple idea that Maggie Ballard saw on social media back in August 2016. She shared the photo with her son, Paxton, then age six, and they both felt that their house would be the perfect place for a Blessing Box to fill with non-perishable food and hygiene products for those in need. Shortly afterwards they enlisted the skills of a handy friend who built the first Blessing Box. Maggie and Paxton placed it in their front yard and painted it bright crimson red, their favorite color. Next, they filled it with food and personal hygiene products and it’s been stocked by donations ever since, going through roughly $500-$600 a week in groceries! Boxes have been added each year since that initial one. Currently, there are 87 Blessing Boxes scattered throughout the Wichita area, Kansas towns and other states! What they love about their program is that it provides a little bit of anonymity. No ID's. No questions. No judgment. “Take a blessing when you need one and leave a blessing when you can!” is their motto. There is a huge increase in children visiting a lot of their locations when school is not in session. Popular items for the kids are as follows: crackers, chips, juice boxes, water, granola bars, pop tarts...No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from! Maggie and Paxton’s goals continue to be adding new PBB locations across the United States along with increasing partnerships to help with organizing a food drive, sorting food, getting boxes of food ready for hosts to pick up for their location and making sure food isn't out of date. All that is needed it the same passion and love to help feed those in need. Through the support of the ICT community, they believe that everyone involved can make a positive change in a person’s life, one BLESSING at a time. Our club recently sponsored the installation of a Blessing Box at Lawrence Elementary which the staff is in charge of overseeing. TODAY’S MEETING: Please bring non-perishable foods and hygiene items that can be donated to Paxton’s Blessing Boxes.
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Jun 19, 2021
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Roxy's Downtown
Jun 22, 2021 12:00 PM
Christi Moore is the former owner of Cabaret Oldtown (now known as Roxy's Downtown) and has produced, directed and performed in shows in every Theatre in Wichita. Her New York credits include the National Broadway tour of the Wizard of Oz w/ Mickey Rooney. You can find Christi singing with her band, B-Side at various venues and events around Wichita. She is currently also serving as the General Manager of Roxy's Downtown. Jesse Warkentin has played keyboard and Music Directed in every Theatre in Wichita. He first worked with Christi in 2005 and they have been buddies ever since. Just before 2020 threw us all a curveball, Jesse had just completed the International tour of American in Paris. Since being back in Wichita, Jesse continues to be sought after for his unmatched music abilities. |
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Jul 13, 2021 12:00 PM
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Meet Keeper the Clydesdale and learn about the WPD Mounted Unit
Jul 20, 2021 12:00 PM
Sergeant Edward D Brower | Mounted Unit Commander is our guest to talk about the role the police mounted unit plays in crowd control and public relations. Sergeant Brower will also be bringing one of the unit's newest members, Keeper. Keeper is a Clydesdale who was given as a gift by Together Wichita in July 2019. Keeper has gone through extensive training and is a proud member of the mounted unit. After Sergeant's Brower's remarks, we can adjourn outside to meet Keeper in person. The mission of the Wichita Police Mounted Unit is to augment and enhance traditional police activities during special events, search and rescue activities, public relation functions, and specialized patrol activities. The Mounted Unit is an auxiliary unit composed of commissioned members of the Police Department. The Mounted Unit is activated by special order to support the activities of other departmental units during major community events or police operations to provide crowd control in areas where other patrol techniques are less effective and during search and rescue operations covering large geographical areas. Each year, the Mounted Unit honors numerous requests from the community to represent the Police Department during special activities to build police/community relations. |