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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. |
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"Making Strategy Sexy Again"
Jul 27, 2021 12:00 PM
Most leaders have a clear vision of where they want their organizations to go. But getting there is often tedious and dispiriting, leading to unmotivated employees and underwhelming results. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Strategy can have more life than a binder or a Gantt chart. Brandon will explore how strategy can be profoundly invigorating, calling out the best in people, and producing sustained hope, purpose, and growth. Brandon Gaide leads a strategy and innovation consultancy called Sevenfold, in partnership with Hutton. He helps organizations transform and grow by unlocking employees’ genius and creativity. He has consulted for a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing to banking to non-profits. A former ordained Presbyterian pastor, he holds an MBA from Indiana University, an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a BA from the University of Texas. He has lived in five foreign countries, learned and forgotten four languages, has two daughters, two Vizslas, and one wife. Brandon and his family have lived in Wichita for four years. |
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Kansas Commission on Peace Officers' Standards & Training
Aug 03, 2021 12:00 PM
"Police Reform in Kansas" Gary Steed began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in 1974. Steed worked his way up through all ranks until being elected Sheriff in 2000. He served two terms as Sheriff, retiring in 2008. Steed then worked as a program manager for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) until December 2010 and then as an investigator for the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (KSCPOST) before being appointed Executive Director in April of 2012. Director Steed served as a KSCPOST Commissioner during his tenure as Sedgwick County Sheriff. Gary earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from Wichita State University. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, the Southern Police Institute, the Nationals Sheriffs Institute, and both the FBI and FBI Central States Law Enforcement Executive development programs. Gary served two terms as a board member for the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). He is a life member of the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, the Kansas Peace Officers Association, and the Kansas Sheriffs Association, having served as President of that organization in 2007. He is very proud to have been named the Wichita Crime Commission’s Criminal Justice Professional of the year in 2013. In 2019 he was awarded the Clarence M. Kelley lifetime achievement award by his peers at the Kansas and Western Missouri Chapter of the FBI National Academy Association. Gary also served for four years as the Honorary Chair of the Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. |
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"Destiny"
Aug 10, 2021 12:00 PM
Mike Leichner’s music spans multiple areas over many years. These include nine years full-time travel while preaching 49 full week revivals across the nation yearly, overseas mission work and music with 15 recordings. He is a songwriter and a published author. Mike and his wife Dee, founded the Ark Church at Maize Rd. & 96 Highway in Maize (at Wichita) Kansas in 1988 where he is senior Pastor. In 2020 he turned the Lead Pastorship to his son and now travels full-time. Mike has been a presence on the 700 club, TBN Praise the Lord and Christian Cable TV. His music is currently on multi-state radio stations, international stations and internet radio. He also hosted the daily radio broadcast ‘Fresh Fire’. He has worked with Veteran’s Organizations and Christian Biker’s chapters across America. He has worked with multiple organizations to rise funds for our military men and women who suffer from PTSD. He has also been privileged to sing for our troops on several military bases. A great opportunity was to sing and be a part of the Kansas Honor Flight when welcoming home veterans from World War II, Korea and Viet Nam Wars on the 100th anniversary of WWI Armistice. He and Dee wrote the Kansas Honor Flight and National version theme song ‘Bringing Home the Heroes’. Mike is a United States Marine and a strong patriot with a love for his Country. This is reflected in his message and his music. He was honored to have a song nominated as 2016 Song of the Year. His recording ‘Country Side of Me’ was nominated 2016 album of the year, both at ICGMA. His music reached #1 on Country Gospel Charts, remaining in the top 10 for 6 months, pus several other songs in the top10. His newest recording was just completed in Nashville and will be released next month. Mike received the honor to be named the 2017 Male Vocalist of the Year Gold Cross award from International Country Gospel Music Association. This year he was awarded Christian Voice magazine Favorite Fan Country Soloist of the year, 2021.
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Guatemala Literacy Project
Aug 24, 2021 12:00 PM
Joseph Berninger is a former marketing representative for IBM. He graduated from the University of Colorado (MA, Religious Studies) and Xavier University (BA, History). He has implemented development projects in Guatemala since 1997. As Executive Director, Joe is responsible for overall management and oversight of U.S. operations. He is also responsible for program design, implementation, effectiveness, strategic planning, business plans, and measurable results. The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is one of the largest grassroots, multi-club, multi-district projects in Rotary. More than 600 clubs and 80 districts have been working together since 1997 to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala. In that time, nearly 225,500 students have been served through four sustainable programs that are tested and proven to work. In 2017, then-RI President Ian Riseley called the GLP “the gold standard of Rotary projects” for its sustainability and impact. Joe will join us via zoom for our meeting today. |
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“FutureMaker Mobile Learning Lab Program”
Aug 31, 2021 12:00 PM
Our meeting today will be held at WSU Tech, 4004 N. Webb Road We will enjoy a box lunch then hear about their FutureMaker Learning Lab About the presentation: In this program we will introduce and tour an innovative program through WSU Tech called the FutureMaker Mobile Learning Lab. This program was created in 2017 to introduce middle/high school, and GED students across the state to technical careers that are in high-demand. We travel to schools both face-to-face and virtually to deliver engaging high-tech demonstrations that get students thinking about what they want to do during high-school and beyond. Some of your kids may have even been through our program or seen us at a community STEM event. For more information on this program check us out at www.futuremakerlab.com! About the speaker: Shea currently serves at WSU Tech as the Director of the Career & Tech Ed STEM Lab, or more widely known as the FutureMaker Lab. This program serves middle/high school and GED seeking students with options for high-demand technical careers and how to train for them. He is also a mentor at GoCreate Makerspace, and teaches classes in Design, 3D printing, laser cutting, and large format printing. Shea completed the CMD Master Certificate in Project Management. That step lead him to complete the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from PMI. Shea actively utilizes his project management knowledge in his current director role to expand the FutureMaker Lab Program. Shea’s passion is aviation, receiving his pilot license at the age of 17, and going on to earn his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering with minors in math and crash investigation. Since moving to Wichita Shea has worked for several local aviation companies. Shea received his Master’s of Business Administration from WSU. During his time at WSU he led the first team of technology transfer research students as WSU Ventures Tech Transfer Office was formed. Shea was honored as a “40 Under 40” by the Wichita Business Journal in 2020 for his community efforts. He has completed many hours of volunteer service designing and constructing exhibits and demonstrations for Exploration Place. He recently managed a short project to turn the whole museum into a Rube Goldberg Machine! Additional community service efforts include Wichita Rotary Club board member, and past board member of the former Young Professionals of Wichita (YPW). MEETING NOTE: Masks are not required (as of now) but are encouraged. However, you WILL need a mask to enter the Future Maker Lab (the trailer that goes to the schools) if you want to see what’s in there and how it’s used.
Be sure to refer to the e-mail sent to you with the map on where to park and enter the building.
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Lunch and Entry Complex Tour
Sep 07, 2021 12:00 PM
Our meeting today will be held at Sedgwick County Zoo INSTRUCTIONS: Parking at the Zoo is free and you can park anywhere in the Zoo parking lot. To enter, go through the main admission gates. The ticket scanners will be informed about our meeting; just state that you are with the Rotary Club event and the staff will let you through.We will meet for lunch in the POET Gazebo which is at the front of the Zoo. It’s about a two minute walk or less from the entry gates. After lunch, we will head to the new entry complex for a tour. Dr. Jeff Ettling, Executive Director After getting his start in zoo leadership at Sedgwick County Zoo in the 90s, he spent 22 years as a curator in St. Louis. He was named Executive Director of the Sedgwick County Zoo in 2018 following Mark Reed's retirement. Dr. Jeff will give us a tour of the new entry complex. The new entrance includes eight ticket windows, compared to four previously, which will improve guest experience by reducing wait time to enter the Zoo and a new state of the art membership office with seating in the waiting area. The new administration building replaced the small 60-year-old office and features a board room with an aquarium. The expanded gift shop is double the size of the former facility and has a kennel on the parking lot side to provide out of town guests traveling with their cat or dog a safe, climate-controlled place to house their pet while they visit the Zoo. |
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Freedom Hooves
Sep 14, 2021 12:00 PM
Amanda Hale has been the Executive Director of Freedom Hooves Therapeutic Riding Center for over 8 years. She grew up in southern Missouri where she owned and has been riding horses since she was two years old. Therapeutic riding has been the way to combine her two passions of helping people with disabilities and horses! Amanda received a B.S. in Psychology and Equine Science from Kansas State University. She became a PATH International Certified Riding Instructor in 2012 and a year later moved to Wichita to begin working at Freedom Hooves. Amanda absolutely loves all the clients, horses, staff, and volunteers at FHTRC and is blessed to be part of such a wonderful program! Today, Amanda will be talking about what equine-assisted therapy is and why it works. She will also give a brief overview of Freedom Hooves, how we serve the Wichita community, and opportunities for people to get involved! |