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Today's Club Meeting
Feb 11, 2020 12:00 PM
SVP of Sports & Entertainment for the Wichita Wind Surge

Cookie hails from Pawtucket (paw-tuck-it), RI. He is a graduate of La Salle Academy, served in the United States Marine Corps, is a Persian Gulf War Veteran, serving with the 6th  Motor Transport Battalion during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. Served as a paralegal in the Criminal Division under both Rhode Island Attorney Generals Jeffrey Pine and Sheldon Whitehouse. While serving in the department of Attorney General he attended and later received his Law Degree from Suffolk University Law School, in Boston. 

He then went on to work for the United Way of Rhode Island and served as the Senior Vice President/Annual Campaign Director, managing a team that raised in excess of $20MM annually for those in need in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.  He then went on and served as an Assistant Vice President/Community Development Officer for the largest credit union in the State of Rhode Island, Pawtucket Credit Union. There he created a Community Development Department that administered corporate giving and community outreach, in particular the teaching of Financial Literacy to the underserved in the community.  

He eventually achieved his personal goal of working in Sports. He served as the General Sales Manager for the Pawtucket Red Sox Baseball Club, Triple A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.  As the General Sales Manager the sales team reached record highs in terms of tickets sold and revenue generated. He also oversaw several successful in game promotions and charitable events for the franchise.  

In 2014 he was offered and accepted a position with Learfield Sports, as the General Manager for the Brown Bears Sports Properties at Brown University. 

He returned to work with Wichita Baseball 2020 Managing Partner Lou Schwechheimer, as the General Manger of the New Orleans Zephyrs/Baby Cakes and is now serving as the SVP of Sports & Entertainment for the Wichita Wind Surge where he will be responsible for over 130 events, including sporting events, festivals, concerts, corporate & private events at the new stadium. 

He also served as an adjunct faculty member at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Loyola & Tulane Universities in New Orleans where he taught Sports Marketing & Promotions. 

Over the years, he has worked in the Academic, Government, Military, Non-Profit and Private sectors and feels this experience has helped him truly connect with current and prospective community and corporate partners. 

His hobbies include running half marathons and marathons, reading, and travelling. He also considers himself a movie aficionado, usually watching every OSCAR nominated movie annually.    

What he is most proud of is that he is married to the former Kristin Cicilline of Newport, RI, his college sweetheart and they have four grown children that currently live throughout the country.

Augusto “Cookie” Rojas relocated to Wichita in the Fall of 2019. He and his colleagues at the Wichita Wind Surge look forward to bringing, family, fan friendly and affordable sports & entertainment to the region.       

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Club News
DONATIONS TO AUSTRALIA DISTRICT
EXCERPT FROM THE E-MAIL RECEIVED:     
Recently our District, along with other areas of Australia, have experienced a bush fire crisis that experts describe as unprecedented.  This has resulted in homes being lost and businesses being destroyed.  Many of the farms that have been impacted by the fires have also been in drought for many years.
 
I am asking for donations to our Drought and Fire appeal within District 9570.  The money will be used to assist in the purchasing of water and food for livestock.
Money can be donated to the bank account below, which is being used to manage the District Disaster Response. Account Name: Rotary Club of Pioneer Valley
Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
 
Michael Buckeridge, Rotary International District 9570 Governor 2019-2020
 
Several of our members would like to take up a collection to send with a card to this Rotary District to help with their Fire and Drought relief. If you would like to donate, please bring your cash or check to our meeting this week and we will pass the hat.
 
SERVICE ABOVE SELF NOMINATIONS
It’s time to nominate a fellow member of our WW Rotary Club for our club's Service Above Self Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize a fellow Rotarian for the outstanding contributions they make to the community, our club, social, religious, educational, business ethics, and/or other worthwhile activities which make Wichita a better community. These current members who are past recipients are not eligible: Bob Goebel, Roger Bowles, Mike Ludlow, Michael Phipps, Shelli Kadel, DeAnn Sullivan, Mark Hansen, Phil Michel, Jack Flesher, Sharon West, Brian Goudie, Jamie Wise, John Mosley and Mark Chamberlin.
If you would like to nominate a fellow Rotarian, send an e-mail to me (Diane) with the following information:
            The NAME of the Rotarian you would like to nominate
            The REASON you feel they deserve this award
Our Selection Committee, consisting of past recipients, will review all nominations to select this year’s winner. The deadline to submit is February 18th.
DAVID WEBER EXTRA EFFORT AWARDS
Our David Weber Extra Efforts Awards were presented to the selected 3rd graders from Benton Elementary at last week's meeting.
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SPRING SOCIAL
CROWN UPTOWN THEATER
DALE KENNY'S ROCK & ROLL REVIEW
3207 E. DOUGLAS AVE.
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00)
Our club members + 1 guest: No charge
Reservations due by March 6 - Sign up at the meeting or e-mail Diane
REMINDER: Reservations made and not kept will be charged
 
INTERACT DODGE BALL TOURNAMENT
Our Interact Club (sponsored by WW & WSC Rotary clubs) is hosting a Dodgeball Tournament, Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 a.m., Colwich Elementary to raise funds for their service trip to Panama over Spring Break. Our club has been challenged to put together a team for the tournament.(FYI: our club's team has placed 1st in several of the past tournaments!) The teams will consist of 6-10 players with at least 2 girls per team. The entry fee is $10 per person. The winners receive bragging rights and prizes! If you cannot participate in the tournament, sponsorships are available or cash donations would be appreciated. Checks should be made payable to: Sunrise Charitable Fund and can be mailed to 11617 W. Binter Ct., Wichita, KS 67212 or brought to our Rotary meeting. 
Stan Krehbiel, Foundation Chair, presented a PHF+1 to Diana Fredelake at last week's meeting. Our congrats and gratitude to Diana for her contributions to The Rotary Foundation!
COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM
As Dave Abbott announced at last week's meeting, our club can earn money for our charitable activities by members linking their Dillons shoppers card to our West Wichita Charitable Foundation account. It's easy and painless and it doesn't take away from your personal Dillons rewards! If interested in getting signed up, see Dave Abbott.
Save the date!
 2020 WINE EVENT   
Saturday, September 26th
The Wine Event Committee held their first meeting to get organized for this year's event with 15 in attendance! The following Lead Team was identified for a smaller committee to attend the regular planning meetings: Colin McKenney, DeAnn Sullivan, Mark Chamberlin, Michael Phipps,  Terry Finger,  Randy Bowles, Rod Brown and Diane Walker. We have a great support team of sub committee members as well. There will be many levels of opportunities for members to get involved so we're hoping for 100% participation this year!  The next Lead Team Wine Event committee meeting will be held March 10th following our club meeting. 
FEBRUARY
Member Birthdays
Zella Newberry
February 1
 
Michael Phipps
February 23
 
Grady Goff
February 27
 
Stan Krehbiel
February 27
 
Bob Broeckelman
March 28
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
RITE (Rotary Intercountry Teacher Exchange)
Jan 18, 2020 – Feb 16, 2020
 
Rotary Club Meeting
Rolling Hills Country Club
Feb 11, 2020 12:00 PM
 
Rotary Board Meeting
Downing & Lahey Mortuary
Feb 17, 2020 5:30 PM
 
STAR Class
Rolling Hills Country Club
Feb 18, 2020
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Rotary Club Meeting
Rolling Hills Country Club
Feb 18, 2020 12:00 PM
 
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MEETING INFORMATION

GUEST                                Jacob Beckman - brought by John Mosley

ATTENDANCE & MEMBERSHIP                        Last meeting: 69%  Membership: 61                    Last year: 54%        Membership: 59

HOLIDAY RAFFLE: Sharon West drew a Queen won $9 in our raffle last week. The pot will be worth over $76 if an Ace is drawn. Proceeds from the raffle are used to purchase groceries for needy families at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

HAPPY BASKET: $40.00      Brian Goudie boosted the basket by challenging members to donate for being happy the Chiefs won! 

THANKS TO RITE HOSTS
Our inbound RITE teacher program (organized by Dalia Hale and Shelli Kadel) is winding down for this year. The teachers have had a full schedule for the past month of visiting schools, gathering new ideas and materials, attending events and more! A Farewell get together will conclude their stay then they will return home on Sunday. Thank you to those who hosted the RITE Teachers:
West Wichita Rotary
Shelli & Craig Kadel
Bob & Rosalie Goebel
Sharon West & Rex Custer
Nancy Chadick
John & Kathy Mosley
Bruce & Bev Pearson
Pam & Doug Chambers
Sunrise Rotary
Dalia & Steve Hale
Tom & Peggy Church
East Wichita Rotary
Robin & Eric McGonigle
Joyce & Fred Heismeyer
Downtown Rotary
Clay & Kate Bastian
Greg & Robyn Sullivan
Marsha Geisert
Non-Rotarians (at this time)
Katie Dawes
Jim & Sharol Sullivan 
 
FEBRUARY MONTHLY GROCERIES
Shopping pairs this month:
John Mosley & Gregg Greenwood Ed Frey & Marv Fisher
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
This year our Vocational Service Committee would like to target students who will be attending a Kansas Trade school to receive our scholarships. Our club awards three $1,000 scholarships to a graduating senior from our area high schools. For more information, see the application form on our website. Spread the word to anyone you know who qualifies. NOTE: It cannot be a family member of our Rotary members.