With more than 45 years of experience in higher education, Elizabeth has served as CEO of the Wichita State University Foundation since 1991, becoming president and CEO in 2006. Between 1991 and 2006, Elizabeth also held the title of vice president for university advancement, responsible for the Foundation as well as University Communications and Marketing, the Ulrich Museum of Art and the Board of Trustees. She is the youngest vice president ever named at Wichita State and the second female vice president. Since her arrival, the WSU Foundation’s assets have grown from $54 million to over $420 million. Most recently, she led the Foundation’s Shock the World Campaign, raising nearly $308 million on a goal of $250 million.
Active in her community, Elizabeth is past chair of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and past president of the Downtown Rotary Club, from which she received the club’s Service-Above-Self award. She also serves on the board of the Kansas Society for Children with Challenges. At the state level, Elizabeth is a member of the board of directors for the University of Kansas Hospital Authority. In addition, she served for six years on the Investment Advisory Committee for Rotary International (Evanston, IL). She is a member of the Association of Governing Boards, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Elizabeth has been recognized professionally by receiving the CASE Commonfund Institutionally-Related Foundation Award (2009) for executive leadership. She was named one of the “50 Kansans You Should Know” in 2012 by Ingram’s, Kansas City’s business magazine. In 2018, Elizabeth was inducted into the Wichita Women in Business Hall of Fame, having been named to the inaugural class in 2003. She is especially grateful to have received the Wichita State University Alumni Association Recognition Award in 2006.
Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College and a Masters of Education and Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Texas.
She is married to Don and they have two adult sons, Lance (married to Paula) and Brandon.
We had a wonderful Christmas luncheon with nearly 60 in attendance. The Friends Concert choir did a wonderful job. In keeping with tradition, President Colby led the choir in singing Happy Birthday to our club's December birthday celebrants.
DECEMBER 19 will be our last club meeting for 2023! You won't want to miss the special holiday program being planned.
CHECKLIST...
Bring your Christmas family gift to our club meeting
Sign up to host RITE teachers in January
Make Foundation donations before the end of the year
Donate to help purchase sonogram units for Ukraine
Sign up to assemble bookshelves
Mark your calendar to attend the all District Club meeting on January 8 at Botanica (info to follow)
Mail your Quarterly dues: Statements will be sent the end of December.
NOTICE
There will be a vote at our club meeting on December 19th to approve the nominations for our 2024-25 Board of Directors, as prepared by the Nominating Committee (Joey Timmer, Chair) and approved by our board. The positions in bold are the ones being filled.
President - Ed Frey
President-Elect - Mindy Wagner
Secretary - Suzy Chapman
Treasurer - Scott Hinderliter
Club Service - Annie Pfeifer
Community Service - Jacob Beckman
International Service - Brian Goudie
Vocational Service - Stephanie Flaming
Foundation - Cindy Hand
Membership & Public Relations - Wade West
Immediate Past President - Colby Reynolds
SERVICE PROJECTS
From President Colby:
Our club has been challenged to purchase at least one sonogram unit. My goal is that we have 100% of our members supporting this cause, whether it is $5 or $500. I think support of such a worthy cause is not only something that Rotary wants to get behind, but something that our club will be proud that we collectively supported.
With that said, please bring checks before the 19th of December made out to West Wichita Charitable Foundation so that we can help a worthy cause in Ukraine.
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING
Thanks to those who rang bells last Saturday and to Bruce Pearson for organizing this project.
Paul Blissett, Rod Brown, Bob Nelson and Heidi Bowen.
Additional volunteers: Allan Sands, Vern Klassen, Jacob Beckman & Bruce Pearson.
CHRISTMAS GROCERY SHOPPING & DELIVERIES
Saturday, December 23, 9:00am
@ Dillons, Central & West
Shoppers: Mark Hansen (project lead) Randy Bowles, Monty Allen, Ed Frey, Heidi Bowen, Terry Gardner, Vern Klassen, Scott Hinderliter
Bring the gifts purchased for our Christmas families to our December 12 or 19 meeting. Wrap the gift without a box and attach a Christmas gift tag with the person's name and the gift number.
BOOKSHELF BUILDING
Organized by Rod Brown & Vern Klassen
The boards are prepped (thanks Rod!) and ready to be assembled.
Sign up to help:
Saturday, January 6, 9:00 a.m.
1354 S. Ridge Rd. (East entrance)
RITE PROGRAM
We need HOSTS for the inbound RITE teachers during their stay, January 13-February 11, 2024.
Host weeks:
Week 1: January 13-20 (guests may arrive earlier than Jan. 13)
Week 2: January 20-27 - Filled!
Week 3: January 27-February 3
Week 4: February 3-February 11 (or departure date)
Contact Mark Hansen if you are interested in hosting.
CLUB INFORMATION
Last week:
Attendance: 62%
Membership: 62
Last year:
Attendance: 65%
Membership: 62
Family of Rotary guests
Armida Hight
Jack & Kathy Flesher
Spouses in attendance: 15
No STAR CLASS in December
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Cindy Hand - December 2
Colin McKenney - December 10
Jamie Wise - December 10
Jodi Besthorn - December 17
Allan Sands - December 24
UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE
Mark your calendar!
Dec. 19 - Speaker: Shelli Kadel
"Holiday Memories"
Dec. 26 - NO MEETING (holidays!)
Jan. 2 - NO MEETING (RHCC closed)
Jan. 8 - All District Club meeting (info to follow)
Jan. 9 - NO MEETING (RHCC closed plus the Jan. 8 meeting will replace our
Bring the gifts purchased for our Christmas families to our December 12 or 19 meeting. Wrap the gift without a box and attach a Christmas gift tag with the person's name and the gift number.
