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President Shelley's Weekly Update

Hello Rotarians!

We had a busy program at last week's meeting that featured awarding our 2nd KSU Student of the Month. This is a wonderful new project run by VP Duane Dunn.

Signature Projects:

• Our next monthly shift at Common Table is next week, November 10th from 5:15-7:30 PM at the Lincoln Education Center. There's still room for the Cook's Helper position, so talk to Jayson Cyr if you can help.

• Community CARES Chest is awaiting new shipments and we expect to reopen again soon.

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The meeting started by singing 'My Country 'tis of Thee' with Dr. Roger Reitz on piano, followed by the 4-way Test.

Our guests included Speakers Debbie Mercer & Roger Schieferecke, Student of the Month Alex Watkins, Jesse Pounds (Janet Lowell) and Lance Shriver (Janet Lowell).

Our Greeters were Tom Giller and Lori Goetsch.

November's theme is Rotary Foundation, with our CUP Money going to The Museum of Art + Light.

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I was honored to welcome our newest Club Member, Tristan Griffin. He has transferred from the Marysville Rotary Club and is a loan officer with Exchange Bank in Manhattan and Junction City. Please get to know him and make him feel welcome.

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Vernon Turner's Mental Health Moment showcased some of the activity of District 5710 at the recent Annual Conference. They included the Wichita Rotary Club's Hope Within notes and There is HOPE kits that were assembled as an in-conference service project and donate to Via Christi's Social Work Department under Jennifer Jones, and Chaplain Carol.

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Duane Dunn introduced our October KSU Student of the Month, Alex Watkins. Alex represents the College of Education and was accompanied by Dean Mercer and Associate Dean Schieferecke. He's a dual major senior who is a College Ambassador, member of Call Me Mister men's educator group, Ad Astra focuses upon rural education, and Honors and Integrity Council, etc. What a great choice!

Duane then introduced Debbie Mercer, Dean of the College of Education, who gave an enlightening presentation on the College's mission, called EDCATS. She showed maps of how KSU COE grads impact all 105 Kansas Counties, all 50 US States, and 63 nations overseas.

Dean Mercer highlighted how they've invested in E-Textbook technology that has benefitted students more than $1.5M to date. She also spoke about how the faculty was involved with a significant amount of Grant proposals, with an increase over FY 2025 in both numbers of applications, and their dollar amounts. Debbie then asked Associate Dean Roger Schieferecke to talk more about teacher shortages, COE enrollment and scholarships.

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In Debbie's honor, we presented the children's book 'Up Periscope' to Frank V. Bergman Elementary School.

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Thanks to Tom and Lori for greeting, Dr. Reitz for piano, Dean Mercer and Associate Dean Schieferecke for a great update on the College of Education. And congratulations to Alex Watkins, Student of the Month.

Greeters this week will be Steven Graham and Viktoria Gramp.

We'll have a Zoom presentation by Dr. Anshu Chandra about the Rotary Haiti Eye project, and this year's Operation Santa and Veterans' Day activities by Phil Mattox and Christine Benne.

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Lunch RSVP: click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 to register by Wednesday 11/4/2026. Lunch is served at 11:30AM for $12.

Attend via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87387499653?pwd=eVdYZ29zdDhnQ0MrZWVXMklPNC9IQT09 - Meeting ID: 873 8749 9653 / Passcode: 280408

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Please submit your ideas for speakers, service projects, etc. in the Blue Suggestion Box.

Yours in Rotary.

Shelley
Shelley Carver, President
(cell) 785-317-7606
shelleycarver0576@gmail.com

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Opportunities to Participate:

• Manhattan Veterans' Day Parade

You can help on Poyntz Avenue next Wednesday, 9:15-11 AM for the City's Veteran's Day Parade. See Jayson Cyr or Mike Dodson for details.

• Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

We will assist RCPD with traffic flow again on Thanksgiving morning for the annual 5K race. It's from 8:30-10:15 AM.

• 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

Opportunities to Contribute:

• November Cup Money - Museum of Art + Light.

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 66502-0127, 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 66505-0331.
  3) Write a check to Rotary Foundation and give it to Liz or Janet at a meeting.

Opportunities to Show Rotary Pride:
• 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.

• Rotary Goods

You can find Rotary clothing, membership items and other gear at Russell Hampton online: http://bestclubsupplies.com