Hi Rotarians! 
Chris
Chris Culbertson, President
(cell) 785-410-7701
culbert@ksu.edu 
KSU Rotaract and MHS Interact
We are delighted that some of our guests from Visitors' Day have decided to join Rotary, and we look forward to welcoming them soon, along with our two newest members, Erin Dragotto and Shane Shivley, whom the board approved last week.
We started by singing My Country 'tis of Thee with accompaniment by Dr. Roger Reitz, followed by the 4-Way Test.
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Congratulations to Past-President Mitzi Richards for being awarded the Susan M. Scott Community Leadership Award by the Staley School of Leadership yesterday, and Nelson Galle and his wife Marilyn for the naming of the Dean of KSU's College of Education.
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Community CARES Chest had 5 agencies get water, baby formula and furniture last week. We will be CLOSED this week for GMCF Grow Green Match Day, but will resume 4/29 at 8-10 AM and 1-3 PM. Thanks to Anne Culbertson, Rebecca Gould, Mike Heylin and Felix Jiminez for helping, and Mike Dodson, Dan Eilert and Jim Wright for hauling off cardboard, etc. last week. Rotary had its first Common Table shift last Tuesday with Jayson Cyr, Dan & Tammy Eilert, Rebecca Gould, Vern Henricks and Bob Ward along with Randy Peterson as bouncer. These 2 are our Signature Projects, and we'll repeat Common Table until September or longer.
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April's theme is Environmental and our CUP Money goes to the Konza Prairie Biological Station.
Guests included Ellen Jumpponen (Bill Richter), Martha Seaton (Dick Seaton), and one of our speakers, Betty O.
Our greeters last week were Nikki Warnick and Rich Wartell with Bill Muir online.
Nikki has been a member of the Club since 2019, and has lived in Manhattan over 40 years. A K-State grad, she and her husband Bob have 6 children and 2 grands. Nikki is the CEO of the Master Teacher, where she's been 11 years. What she enjoys about Rotary are the values it has and the difference it makes. What some do not know about her is that she served on the Manhattan Urban Planning Board, working on the Flint Hills Discovery Center and the nearby hospitality development.
Rich Wartell joined MRC in 1990 when he came to Manhattan. He was in broadcasting 46 years, starting with the National Association of Broadcasters and Westwood One. He bought his first radio station in Arkansas City, KS and soon after joined Rotary. Rich then joined a media investment company which connected him to Manhattan Broadcasting Company, serving as president until retiring after 26 years. What few know is that Rich's door was once knocked by a man collecting for his Mercury subscription, who turned out to be his own medical doctor - Roger Reitz!
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President-Elect Shelley Carver presented our February CUP Money Big Check to Betty O, of Manhattan Juneteenth. She thanked us for continued support and spoke about this year's schedule of events and how to get involved.
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I had the privilege of introducing long-time member Dick Seaton, who's been a member of the Club since 1971, and has been practicing law over 60 years, and in state and federal courts over 50 years. His wife Martha joined him at the meeting too.
Dick wanted to let us know about 2 amendments to the Kansas State Constitution that are on the ballot for this summer's primary election: one concerning the appointment of Supreme Court Justices and the other about voter qualifications.
He gave a colorful history of how judges have been selected over the years in Kansas, and how the amendment changes a system in place since 1958. He did a good job of explaining the changes and the ramifications. This amendment is opposed by the Kansas Bar Association, ACLU, Teachers' Union and Planned Parenthood for the politicizing of the process in the guise of voter choice.
Dick told us the 2nd voter amendment is essentially a minor wording change. He is not in favor of it, but also not strongly opposed .
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On behalf of Dick we donated the children's book "Aloha Everything" to Northview Elementary School.
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Thanks to Nikki, Rich and Bill Muir for greeting, and Dick for some good insight into important election issues this coming summer.
Our next meeting is Thursday, April 23rd. Dr. Lauren Rictterbush will tell us all about the historical Marlatt Homestead.
John Armbrust will greet this week, with Keith Westervelt & Allison Wheatley on the 30th.
Write your ideas and leave them in the Suggestion Box at the registration table.
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Lunch RSVP: Click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 to register by Wednesday 4/22/2026. Lunch is at 11:30AM for $12.
Attend via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387499653?pwd=eVdYZ29zdDhnQ0MrZWVXMklPNC9IQT09 - Meeting ID: 873 8749 9653 / Passcode: 280408
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387499653?pwd=eVdYZ29zdDhnQ0MrZWVXMklPNC9IQT09 - Meeting ID: 873 8749 9653 / Passcode: 280408
Yours in Rotary,
Chris
Chris Culbertson, President
(cell) 785-410-7701
culbert@ksu.edu
Opportunities to Participate:
Linear Trail Cleanup
Manhattan Rotary Club will join Konza Rotary Club for 2 hour's cleanup of the Linear Trail this coming Saturday, 4/25. Meet at 9:30 at the old Guilty Biscuit 3033 Anderson; formal signup is not required; work gloves are recommended.
Manhattan Rotary Club will join Konza Rotary Club for 2 hour's cleanup of the Linear Trail this coming Saturday, 4/25. Meet at 9:30 at the old Guilty Biscuit 3033 Anderson; formal signup is not required; work gloves are recommended.
Bill Snyder 5K & Half Marathon
See Jayson Cyr or Mike Dodson about volunteering for the annual race May 23rd.
KSU Rotaract and MHS Interact
Rotaractors will meet at the Big Blue River boat ramp on Saturday, April 25th from 8:30AM-3:00 PM for a cleanup project.
MHS Interact meets today at 3PM in MHS Room E-139, and again on Monday 5/4 .
Instagram: @interact.club.of.mhs
India Polio National Immunization
Rotary International will sponsor polio immunization again this fall from 10/22-11/3/2026. For details visit: https://worldpolioday.agratajmahalrotary.org/
CAAHT (Community Action Again Human Trafficking) Club
Monthly meetings are at noon on first and third Tuesdays on Zoom. For info contact Sharon Sullivan or Patti Mellard: sharon.sullivan@washburn.edu / patti@keystaffing.com.
Monthly meetings are at noon on first and third Tuesdays on Zoom. For info contact Sharon Sullivan or Patti Mellard: sharon.sullivan@washburn.edu / patti@keystaffing.com.
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Opportunities to Contribute:
April Cup Money - KPBS
Mail it to Manhattan Rotary Club, PO Box 331, Manhattan, KS 66505-0331, or the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, 555 Poyntz, Suite 269, Manhattan, KS 66502, with the memo saying, ‘Rotary Club Cup Money.’
You may also contribute Cup Money via Venmo with QR Code:
Rotary Foundation - To make contributions:
1) Go on-line to www.rotary.org and click Donate and then Annual Fund. You sign in to pay.
2) Send a check to the Rotary Foundation at:
Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693 -or- Manhattan Rotary Club, PO Box 331, Manhattan KS 66505.
3) Write a check to Rotary Foundation and give it to Liz or Janet at a meeting.
1) Go on-line to www.rotary.org and click Donate and then Annual Fund. You sign in to pay.
2) Send a check to the Rotary Foundation at:
Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693 -or- Manhattan Rotary Club, PO Box 331, Manhattan KS 66505.
3) Write a check to Rotary Foundation and give it to Liz or Janet at a meeting.
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Opportunities to Show Rotary Pride:
Complete your Profile in My Rotary
Complete your Profile in My Rotary
Fill in your biography in My Rotary to share your background, Rotary programs and professional expertise.
Go to https://my.rotary.org and click My Profile.
Go to https://my.rotary.org and click My Profile.
Rotary Swag
You can find Rotary clothing, membership items and other gear at Russell Hampton online: http://bestclubsupplies.com
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