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TODAY'S MEETING
Mar 11, 2025 12:00 PM
Chris Earl
KAKE Anchor
Chris Earl joined KAKE News one year ago, in March 2024, but he's no stranger to the region.  As a Kansas City-area native, this was a welcome return to a region that he has always loved.
 
Coming from nearly 30 years as a news anchor and reporter, Chris has covered the triumphs and also the tragedies we all experience -- mostly recent Flight 5342 from Wichita.  It is in *those* moments that he believes we can have the most resonating impact -- how we, as reporters, work to reach with grace and perspective.  Striving to be right in our facts even if that means we're not the first.
 
It has been in those moments of "daily history", as he calls it, where he finds the most fulfillment.  Before Wichita, Chris was the evening anchor in Fort Myers, Florida --where he helped to guide hundreds of thousands through the devastation of Hurricane Ian.  Yet most of his career has been here in the Midwest, including in Topeka where he got his start.  He's covered everything from tornadoes to historic flooding to the pandemic and how Marine recruits get through basic training.
 
Chris is also a licensed drone pilot so whenever you see the aerials of Wichita or any other cities, he is proud to have likely been a part of that.
 
He has two grown children, a son who just graduated college and lives in Dallas -- he designs roundabouts in Texas so, if you don't like them, e-mail HIM.  Chris also has a daughter who is in police forensics while in college in Florida.
Mar 18, 2025 12:00 PM
Jeff Horlacher
Rotary District Governor
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Our SERVICE ABOVE SELF AWARD selection committee (consisting of past recipients) will meet after today's meeting to review nominations.
 
ANNUAL BOOKSHELF DELEVERIES
Last week, we had the pleasure of delivering bookshelves to the 1st graders at Benton Elementary and Lawrence Elementary, with 21 from our club in attendance. A huge thank you to Vern Klassen and Rod Brown for leading this wonderful project, to STAR Lumber for providing the supplies, and to everyone who participated —from building to delivering!
Below are a few photos I captured during the event. Be sure to check out Mark Chamberlin's post on our club’s Facebook page for an amazing video and write-up about this special project!
Jacob Beckman, Community Service Chair, addressing the 1st graders
at Benton Elementary before we handed out the bookshelves.
Our members assisted the students as they decorated their
bookshelves with stickers provided by Roger Bowles.
The students were very happy with their new bookshelves!
It was a rewarding experience to see their excitement & joy.
CLUB INFORMATION
CLUB MEETING:
Attendance: 34% (bookshelf deliveries)
Membership: 75 (58 RCWW + 17 Satellite)
Last year:
Attendance: 37%
Membership: 63                                  
HOLIDAY RAFFLE: Will be worth over $21 if an Ace is drawn. Proceeds from the raffle are used to fund our Monthly & Holiday grocery projects.
 
There is no STAR class in March, so the next one will be April 15 with the topic of "Interact".
 
GROCERY PROJECT
     We need a few more members to help with the Easter Holiday grocery shopping on April 19 and shoppers for our Monthly Grocery shopping in May. Email Diane or sign up at the meeting if you are available to help.
REMINDER: pick up our club credit card from Diane at the meeting to use for the groceries.
 
Member Spotlight 
Bob Beumer
Member picture
 
Upcoming Spotlight Schedule
March 18 - Colin McKenney
March 25 - Mark Chamberlin
April 1 - Colby Reynolds
April 8 - Roger Bowles
April 15 - Bob Goebel
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
Member Birthdays
Annie Pfeifer
March 5
 
Dale Rein
March 23
 
Bob Broeckelman
March 28
 
 
SAVE THE DATE: 
April 30, 2025 
There will be an ALL AREA ROTARY CLUB SOCIAL at the Hopping Gnome Brewing Company, 1719 E Victor St., Wichita, KS 67214.  Indoor and outdoor seating, patio games, food truck and great beers on tap to facilitate networking among our area Rotarians. Watch for more information.