Events

The last three years could go down as one of the most successful periods in K-State Athletics history as Gene Taylor’s program has taken the college athletics world by storm. Team championships, postseason runs, record crowds, continued academic success and new facility enhancements have all been the cornerstone of recent Wildcat success.

Named Director of Athletics at K-State in April 2017, Taylor has guided the football program to six bowl appearances and a Big 12 Championship, men’s basketball to a Big 12 Championship and Elite Eight, baseball to a Super Regional, and women’s track and field to back-to-back Big 12 Outdoor championships.

Additionally, Taylor and his staff have fundraised and implemented a department-wide facility master plan that benefits all Wildcat teams including the newly completed Indoor Track and Field Complex, the Morgan Family Arena for volleyball, Morris Family Olympic Training Center and the Shamrock Practice Facility for football.

A former member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and current member of the LEAD1 Board of Directors, Taylor was named the 2022-23 Cushman & Wakefield FBS AD of the Year. He is a 1980 business management graduate of Arizona State and earned his master’s degree in sports administration in 1985 from St. Thomas University in Florida. Taylor and his wife, Cathy, have two children, Casey and Jared.

DR. FRANK TRACZ is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University. He earned his B.M.E. from The Ohio State University, the M.M. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. He has public school teaching experience in Wisconsin and Ohio and has also served as Assistant Director of bands at Syracuse University and Director of bands at Morehead State University. Dr. Tracz has served as an adjudicator, clinician, speaker in various schools and conferences and has conducted All-State and Honor bands across the United States as well as in Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

At Kansas State he directs the Wind Ensemble and the Marching Band, teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting, advisor the Band Ambassadors, and administers and guides all aspects of a large BIG XII comprehensive band program. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at numerous State conferences, MENC, two CBDNA regional conferences, The Larry Sutherland Wind band Festival at Fresno State, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. The marching band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2015. The Wind Ensemble also performed at the International Convention of the American Bandmasters Association in 2019 in Loveland, CO.

Dr. Tracz is on the faculty of the Conn-Selmer Institute, adjunct faculty of the American Band College, past member of the Music Education Journal Editorial Board, contributor to the Teaching Music Through performance In Band series, and was recently appointed Chair of the Sudler Trophy Project of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. His honors include the Stamey Award for outstanding teaching, Kansas Bandmasters Outstanding Director award, Wildcat Pride Alumni Association award, the Tau Beta Sigma Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director award, named a Lowell Mason Fellow, and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Fraternity. He has also received the Conn- Selmer Institute Hall of Fame award, the Kansas State Professorial Performance award, and was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

He has also directly or indirectly raised over 5 million dollars for the construction of the West Stadium Band Hall.

Dr. Tracz is married to Geralyn, and has three daughters, Jessica Tracz Kelly, Kelley Tracz, and Carly Tracz Morris, and one grandson, Caden Tracz Kelly!

Celebrating Abilities and Empowering People: March is Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Awareness month, and an opportunity to highlight the importance of inclusion and acceptance of our friends and neighbors living with a developmental disability.  We have come a long way through the last 75 years in supporting youth and adults with disabilities as well as their families. We’ll share a little of the history of IDD services and AbilityPoint, some of the programs and services developed to meet the needs of the families we serve and the stories behind why they are so important.

Kevin Fish has been with AbilityPoint since 1996, serving as the Executive Director since 2004.  Under his leadership AbilityPoint serves over 2,100 youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing social and recreational opportunities, information & education, targeted case management and advocacy.

Kevin helped launch and hosts the Transition Council of South-Central Kansas, Chairs the Advocates in Communities Team. Serves on the board of directors for InterHab, a statewide developmental disability advocacy organization as well as Unstoppable God Ministries.

Kim Hett brings over three decades of educational experience to KLS Wichita. She co-founded and operated Andover eCademy, one of Kansas’s first K–12 blended online education programs, launched 15 years ago. With a strong background in both traditional and alternative learning environments, Kim’s collaborative leadership and commitment to student-centered, personalized learning align perfectly with our mission. She is poised to build on our school’s strong foundation and serve the KLS Wichita community with dedication and vision.

Our Story: Khan Lab School was established in 2014 in Mountain View, California, by Sal Khan, author of The One World Schoolhouse. Sal's book unveiled a forward-looking vision for the future of education, seamlessly integrating both in-person and online learning. His founding vision remains the driving force behind our mission. As Khan Lab School marks over a decade of mastery-based learning, we are excited to bring our program to Wichita, Kansas.

Our Mission: Khan Lab School is a community of learners empowering every student to navigate their own PATH. Our philosophy centers on the belief that education should empower students to become independent learners and critical thinkers while building strong academic foundations.  

A native to Los Angeles, Jesse has been a Kansan by choice for the last 20 years. He holds degrees from UCLA and Embry-Riddle; is an accredited airport executive; and is currently serving as a board member for the Kansas Aviation Museum and United Way of the Plains. 

With over 25 years of management and leadership experience in various industries, Jesse also has 12 years of teaching experience at both Baker and K-State University. Prior to Wichita, Jesse served as the Director of the Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan, Kansas (not to be confused with that other “Manhattan”); and he served as the Director of Aviation for the Kansas Department of Transportation.  He was most recently honored as an executive of the year by the Wichita Business Journal.

In 2003, Jesse began his career as an airport management intern at the Hollywood Burbank Airport; however, his aviation experience began in 1993 when he first attained his pilot’s license. That passion for aviation never leaves.  You can still catch him watching airplanes from his office.

Sarah was born and raised in Wichita. She attended Bishop Carroll High School. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from Newman University and her Juris Doctorate from the Washburn University School of Law. While studying at Washburn Law, Sarah had the opportunity to work for Kansas Legal Services in Wichita, the Department of Homeland Security in Kansas City, the Washburn Law Clinic in Topeka, and with the Honorable Judge Birzer at the United States District Court for the District of Kansas in Wichita. Sarah has been practicing law since September of 2018. She specializes in removal defense and humanitarian-based immigration. She is most known by clients and the community as understanding and willing to fight for her client’s best interests. In her free time, Sarah enjoys playing golf with her family.

DR. FRANK TRACZ is Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Kansas State University. He earned his B.M.E. from The Ohio State University, the M.M. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University. He has public school teaching experience in Wisconsin and Ohio and has also served as Assistant Director of bands at Syracuse University and Director of bands at Morehead State University. Dr. Tracz has served as an adjudicator, clinician, speaker in various schools and conferences and has conducted All-State and Honor bands across the United States as well as in Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand.

At Kansas State he directs the Wind Ensemble and the Marching Band, teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting, advisor the Band Ambassadors, and administers and guides all aspects of a large BIG XII comprehensive band program. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at numerous State conferences, MENC, two CBDNA regional conferences, The Larry Sutherland Wind band Festival at Fresno State, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. The marching band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy in 2015. The Wind Ensemble also performed at the International Convention of the American Bandmasters Association in 2019 in Loveland, CO.

Dr. Tracz is on the faculty of the Conn-Selmer Institute, adjunct faculty of the American Band College, past member of the Music Education Journal Editorial Board, contributor to the Teaching Music Through performance In Band series, and was recently appointed Chair of the Sudler Trophy Project of the John Philip Sousa Foundation. His honors include the Stamey Award for outstanding teaching, Kansas Bandmasters Outstanding Director award, Wildcat Pride Alumni Association award, the Tau Beta Sigma Paula Crider Outstanding Band Director award, named a Lowell Mason Fellow, and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Fraternity. He has also received the Conn- Selmer Institute Hall of Fame award, the Kansas State Professorial Performance award, and was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

He has also directly or indirectly raised over 5 million dollars for the construction of the West Stadium Band Hall.

Dr. Tracz is married to Geralyn, and has three daughters, Jessica Tracz Kelly, Kelley Tracz, and Carly Tracz Morris, and one grandson, Caden Tracz Kelly!

Steve is the President/CEO of the P.B. Hoidale company an eighty year old fourth generation family owned business specializing in fluid storage, movement, and management systems headquartered in Wichita, KS.

He graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Juris Doctorate.

In addition to serving as board chair for Second Light Steve has extensive experience in the Wichita non-Profit community serving as past board chair for the United Way of the Plains and serving on the boards of The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coalition of Sedgwick County, Firm Foundations Ministries, Wichita Independent Business Association, and Lead Wichita.

“Community is one of Hoidale’s core company values stemming from our founder Pete Hoidale and taught to generations of team members that business has an important role to play in the wellbeing of the communities we serve.  Not only to provide quality career opportunities but to help build and support vibrant thriving communities that attract talent and truly care for our neighbors.” 

Dared Price is a respected pharmacy leader, entrepreneur, and advocate committed to strengthening community pharmacies and reforming the PBM landscape. As owner of a growing pharmacy group—expanding from two stores in 2010 to eight locations by 2025—he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to patient-centered care. Dared serves as co-owner and Chief Growth Officer of OreadRx, where he works to bring transparency and accountability to prescription benefit management while educating employers, policymakers, and the public about the impact of PBMs.  He has been invited to speak on such subjects at the White House and as well as many different Congressional hearings.

He is an active national and state leader, serving on the National Community Pharmacists Association Board of Directors, and in numerous Kansas Pharmacists Association roles including Past President. Dared also contributes to many different advisory and board positions.

July 1st marks the beginning of a new Rotary year! Thank you to Mindy Wagner for her leadership as our 2025-26 President and our Board of Directors for their service this year.

We will have a recap today of our activities this past year presented by our Committee Chairs, followed by our Past Presidents passing the gavel up through the years to this year's Club President Rick Ogelsby.

THE BUFFET LINE WILL OPEN AT 11:50 am THIS WEEK!

Our entire meeting time will be devoted to committee meetings so plan to sit with your committee (as listed below) when you arrive.
 

Club Service 
Jamie Wise - Chair
Sean Babjak, Christy Barnett, Jacob Beckman, Paul Blissett, Mark Chamberlin, Marv Fisher, Colin McKenney, Bob Nelson, DeAnn Sullivan, Mindy Wagner, Sharon West

Community Service
Jodi Barnwell – Chair
Meliss Hamilton – Asst. Chair
Shannon Bauer, Roger Bowles, Bob Broeckelman, Terry Gardner, Vern Klassen, Mike Ludlow, Tony Morrow, Dennis Nguutu, Bruce Pearson, Allan Sands, Lori Taylor, Ann Welborn

International Service
Mark Hazleton – Chair
Bob Beumer, June Costin, Diana Fredelake, Ed Frey, Brian Goudie, Mark Hansen, Lesley Hazleton, Maurice Linnens

Foundation
John Oswald - Chair
Monty Allen, Brent Groves, Cindy Hand, John Mosley, Dale Rein, Pat Walden

Membership/Public Relations
Colby Reynolds - Chair
Ryan Dugan, Gregg Greenwood, Misty Jack, Rick Oglesby, Joey Timmer, Wade West

Vocational Service
Randy Bowles - Chair
Dave Abbott, Dana Brewer, Stephanie Flaming, Scott Hinderliter, Brian Turney

Sheryl Wohlford, President and Co‑Owner of Automation‑Plus, Inc., is a proud Kansan and Wichita State University alumna with a degree in Health Care Administration. She joined Automation‑Plus in 1991, four years after her husband Doug founded the company.

Automation‑Plus manufactures identification marking systems with a strong niche in aerospace, with more than 2,000 systems installed across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company also operates an in‑house product marketing division. In early 2023, an electrical fire destroyed the company’s machine shop—an event that coincided with Doug’s consideration of retirement and marked a significant turning point for the business.

Sheryl’s commitment to civic engagement is evident throughout her career. She currently serves on the boards of the Sedgwick County Zoo, Fidelity Bank, Wesley Medical Center, and the WSU Foundation. Her past board service includes the Wichita State University Board of Trustees, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Wichita.

Her professional journey began at the Wichita Clinic after graduating from WSU. She later joined Koch Industries in 1989, supporting internal software reporting systems. Sheryl has been widely recognized for her leadership, including selection for the Wichita Business Journal’s Women in Business class (2003), the inaugural 40 Under 40 class (1998), and induction into the 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame (2015). She also served as president of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors in 2003.

The RITE (Rotary Intercountry Teacher Exchange) program was started in our District by Ralph and Armida Hight in 1996. It began as a joint project of the Rotary Clubs of West Wichita and West Sedgwick County–Sunrise and has grown to involve additional clubs in our District. The Outbound portion of the program involves selecting and sending teachers from the Wichita area to Panama for 4 weeks during their summer break. Today, our Outbound teachers will share about their experience in Panama this summer. 

Amanda Allen has served as a Spanish teacher at Andale High School since 2019. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Wichita State University (WSU), and she is trained and fluent in Spanish and French. She earned her teaching certification through WSU’s Transition to Teaching Program while working in her first teaching position at Nickerson High School. She actively seeks opportunities to promote language and cultural learning for learners of all ages. She led a seminar in David for teachers who work in the Comarca (reservation). Growing up with foreign exchange students sparked her interest in world languages, and she believes students need to be prepared to engage confidently in a global community. Amanda is an avid traveler and lifelong learner. In 2021, she began teaching beginning and intermediate Spanish courses for WSU as a Concurrent Enrollment Instructor. She taught English in France for one year and completed a six-week immersion program in Mexico. Her travels have taken her to Mexico, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and most recently, Panama. Amanda is committed to continuing her support of the RITE Program because it aligns closely with her personal values, professional goals, and belief in the importance of language and cultural education.

Perla Coyle is a first-grade teacher at Cloud Elementary School in Wichita Public Schools. She began her education career in Mexico, where she earned her first bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in her native Spanish language and completed her student teaching. After moving to the United States with her family, Perla worked in retail for several years before joining Wichita Public Schools in 2020 as a high incidence paraeducator. She served in prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms at Spaght and Colvin Elementary Schools, experiences that strengthened her commitment to early childhood education. During this time, she enrolled in Wichita State University’s Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP), an online program designed to prepare paraeducators to become licensed elementary teachers for birth through third grade. Through TAP, her paraeducator experience was recognized as a valuable foundation for her student teaching. Perla earned her second bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Wichita State University in May 2024. She is completing a master’s degree at Newman University in English as a Second Language Learning by end of summer 2026. Perla led a seminar in David with teachers of English in Chiriquí schools. She views her students as whole people and advocates for the potential within every learner she encounters. She brings a strong blend of professional excellence and personal warmth, making her an invaluable asset in any school. Perla has traveled between Mexico and the United States, and this experience marks her first trip to another country. She hopes her RITE experience will help her continue growing as a teacher leader in any school setting.

Isaac McNary is honored to lead the district as District Governor for the 2026–2027 year. A dedicated and deeply involved Rotarian, Isaac is a Past President of the El Dorado Rotary Club, a Past Assistant Governor for Rotary District 5680, and Chair for the District End Polio Now Committee. 

Isaac serves as the Vice President of International Development for The Outreach Program, an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe water, food, medical care, and education to vulnerable populations globally and domestically. Since 2009, Isaac has mobilized hundreds of thousands of volunteers to package over 60 million meals for food-insecure communities across America and in various developing nations. His work also focuses heavily on sustainable infrastructure, leading the development, production, and installation of water purification systems in rural Tanzania that now provide clean, safe water to more than 40,000 people.

Isaac lives outside El Dorado with his wife, Alana, their two sons, Isaiah and Aedric, and a lively pack of rescue dogs. Both Isaac and Alana are deeply passionate about civic leadership and animal welfare; they have volunteered for and served on the boards of numerous local non-profits, and have opened their hearts and home to foster over 70 rescue dogs over the last five years.

We welcome Isaac to our Rotary Club of West Wichita meeting today!

The Purple Line Project, led by ComfortCare Homes, is strengthening Wichita’s social fabric by helping local businesses become more welcoming to individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and their care partners. Through specialized dementia training and practical guidance—like simplifying menus, offering accessible restrooms, and allowing extra time for transactions—participating businesses make everyday outings less stressful and far more enjoyable for seniors and their families.

Businesses that complete the training display a recognizable Purple Line window sticker and QR code, making it easy for care partners to find supportive locations throughout the community.

With nearly 7 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s—and that number expected to double by 2060—the need for inclusive, dementia‑friendly environments has never been greater. ComfortCare Homes is proud to champion this effort, partnering with Wichita businesses that are committed to compassion, accessibility, and meaningful connection. Together, these Purple Line Project partners are making a difference one thoughtful interaction at a time.

Micala Gingrich Gaylord, President & CEO of ComfortCare Homes will join us today to share about The Purple Line Project.