Shannon Wedge is the executive director for the American Red Cross serving South Central and Southeast Kansas which covers 21 counties in Kansas. She has worked for non-profits for over 20 years raising money for many organizations including United Way of the Plains, Episcopal Social Services, Goddard Education Foundation and the Red Cross. She has a BA in Advertising from Wichita State University. She is always rooting for WSU and the Chiefs. (Her brother in law is the new WSU baseball coach.) Go Shocks! In her spare time, she enjoys supporting her 4 children’s school and sports activities.
Last year the American Red Cross
responded to over 62,000 disasters,
collected more than 4.7 million blood products
and enrolled over 2.2 million people in first aid, AED and CPR trainings
Provided services to military members, veterans and their families through Services to the Armed Forces over 422,496 times
And on average more than 464,000 children a day receive measles or rubella vaccination through the Red Cross and our partners.
Thank you for your contributions for the Rotary District 9570 - Australia Drought and Fire disaster relief. We collected nearly $800 last week. It was decided to make the opportunity to donate available again this week for those who missed it. Hopefully, we can get to $1,000 to send to them. If you would like to donate, please bring cash or a check made payable to: West Wichita Charitable Foundation.
TODAY is your last chance 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.
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.
The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
In sympathy...
Our club received word that Ralph Hight passed away Monday morning, February 17, 2020. Ralph became a member of The Rotary Club of West Wichita in 1988 - shortly after our club was chartered. He was a very active member serving in a variety of board positions, including our 7th Club President, 1993-94. He served as Rotary District 5690 Governor for the 1997-98 term. Ralph often hosted our club's foreign visitors, he initiated the RITE program, participated in many club projects, recruited members for our club, was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and was Chair of the Extension Committee who formed the Sunrise Rotary Club. Ralph received our club's 1999 Service Above Self award and the 2003-04 District 5690 Service Above Self Award. He was named an Honorary Member of our club in 2012 after his health prevented him from participating as an active member. In addition to his Rotary club involvement, Ralph participated in numerous community activities, such as serving on the Boards of the Wichita Festival, Wichita Wagonmasters, Wichita Old Cowtown, Wichita Convention & Visitor's Bureau, Kansas Newman College Board of Trustees, just to name a few. Ralph was the 1985 Wichita River Festival Admiral Windwagon Smith XII. It would be too extensive to list all of Ralph's involvements both in our club and the community but, needless to say, he truly lived our "Service Above Self" motto!
We extend our condolences to his wife, Armida Hight, and their family.
ATTENDANCE & MEMBERSHIP Last meeting: 69% Membership: 61 Last year: 54% Membership: 57
HOLIDAY RAFFLE: Lori Taylor won $4 in our raffle last week. The pot will be worth over $45 if an Ace is drawn. Proceeds from the raffle are used to purchase groceries for needy families at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
HAPPY BASKET: $11.00 Thanks to Mindy Wagner who stepped up as a last minute volunteer to do the Happy Basket!
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
This year our Vocational Service Committee decided 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 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.
Our David Weber Extra Efforts Awards were presented to the selected 2nd graders from Lawrence Elementary at last week's meeting.