Hello Rotarians: 
Lunch RSVP: Click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 to register by Wednesday 1/14/2026. Lunch is at 11:30AM for $12.
Chris
Chris Culbertson, President
(cell) 785-410-7701
culbert@ksu.edu 
MHS Interact will resume after the holiday break.
It was good to see everyone after the holidays, and grateful we're having a pretty mild winter so far, esp. compared to last year!
A reminder that we have the Suggestion Box at the reception table, and we had our first one last week. I encourage you to offer any ideas for programs, service projects, or improvements we can make.
Community CARES Chest, our Signature Project, was open last week with a shipment of powdered baby formula that's good until August. Please let non-profits that deal with young families know that we are back, and will continue this Wednesday 8-10AM and 1-3PM.
Thanks to Rebecca Gould, Mike Heylin and Felix Jiminez for their service.
Thanks to Rebecca Gould, Mike Heylin and Felix Jiminez for their service.
*****
Our greeters last week were Brian Niehoff and Bill Muir online. We were accompanied by Roger Reitz in singing My Country 'tis of Thee.
January's theme is Vocational Service. CUP Money goes to the Big Lakes Developmental Center.
Our guests were Sasha Lapshova (Rotaract/Antonina Broyaka), Martha Seaton (Dick Seaton), Kathy Ray & John Biggs (Bill Richter), and our speaker Ned Seaton.
*****
Greeter Brian Niehoff has been a member since 2024 and is married to Usha Reddi. Between them they have 4 children and 1 grandchild. What he likes best about Rotary is the salad (tic), his fellow members and Rotary's international focus. He was first introduced to Rotary in Taiwan will be going to Uganda this summer with a Rotary Global Grant project. He appreciates what Rotary stands for in our 4-Way Test. What many do not know about Brian is that he is a middle child in a family of 8 kids, which taught him to share and get along, and that, now retired, Brian recently completed rebuilding his 500th bicycle for Be Able clients.
*****
Liz Nelson presented Paul Harris Fellow +2 and +3 pins to Bob Copple and Don Wissman, recognizing their continuing support.
We also recognized December's long-term members Russ Briggs, Steven Graham, Tom Hawk, Chuck Rice, Rich Wartell and Ron Wilson for a combined 181 years' membership.
*****
Vernon Turner's Mental Health Moment highlighted key considerations for evaluating Artificial Intelligence in mental health care. For more information about how NAMI is partnering on AI, he gave the link: https://www.nami.org/ai-and-mental-health/.
***** 
Dick Seaton then introduced our speaker and his nephew, Ned Seaton, General Manager the Manhattan Mercury & Manhattan Broadcasting, for his annual barbed look at the past year's events in and around Manhattan.
Ned offered a humorous look back at 2025, sharing stories about a runaway cow, public-space naming rights, the hiring of Collin Klein as K-State head football coach, and more.
His Top 10 News Stories of 2025 included the new KSU rodeo arena, school start time changes, State championship for the MHS Indians, last January's snowstorm, K-State enrollment increase, the end of Scorpius, a notorious chiropractor trial, NBAF firing (and reinstatement), and School Board issues.
The #1 story of 2025 was the resignation of Coach Chris Kleiman and the subsequent hiring of Collin Klein.
The #1 story of 2025 was the resignation of Coach Chris Kleiman and the subsequent hiring of Collin Klein.
He also previewed news expected in the coming year: developments in NIL, sustaining K-State enrollment, elections, addressing poverty, indoor pool survey, taxes, and continued construction on Anderson Avenue.
*****
On behalf of Ned, we donated the children's book "Stranded!" to Marlatt Elementary School.
*****
Thanks to Brian and Bill Muir for greeting, Dr. Reitz on piano, and Ned for another entertaining look at the news that made headlines in 2025.
Our next meeting is this Thursday, January 15, 2026. Beth St. Amand from LightMHK will brief us on their important mission to support Mental Health services in the community.
We sent out the quarterly greeter schedule last week and Ed Olson and Randy Peterson will help this week.
Next week we'll have Liz Nelson and Brian Peete.
Next week we'll have Liz Nelson and Brian Peete.
Lunch RSVP: Click https://manhattancc.surveysparrow.com/s/Rotary-Club/tt-deafc2 to register by Wednesday 1/14/2026. 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:
KSU Rotaract & MHS Interact
KSU Rotaract will resume in the Spring semester.
MHS Interact will resume after the holiday break.
Instagram: @interact.club.of.mhs
Konza Rotary Club Meeting
Konza Rotary Club meets next on January 16th, 7-8AM at Meadowlark Hills with Dr. John Blair speaking on the Konza Biology Research Station.
CAAHT (Community Action Again Human Trafficking) Club
Monthly meetings are conducted at noon on first and third Tuesdays on Zoom.
Monthly meetings are conducted at noon on first and third Tuesdays on Zoom.
For info, contact Sharon Sullivan or Patti Mellard at sharon.sullivan@washburn.edu / patti@keystaffing.com
*****
Opportunities to Contribute:
Cyclone Ditwah & Hurricane Melissa Response Funds
Rotary International has established response funds for both of these recent storms' victims. Both the Hurricane Melissa Response Fund and Cyclone Ditwah Response Fund are providing relief to those affected by the recent storm.
You can donate to either or both at: https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund
You can donate to either or both at: https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund
January Cup Money - Big Lakes Developmental Center
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, using the 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.
*****
Opportunities to Show Rotary Pride:
Complete your Profile in My Rotary
Complete your Profile in My Rotary
You can 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.
Get 'Rotarized'
You can find Rotary clothing, membership items and other gear at Russell Hampton online: http://bestclubsupplies.com
.jpg)
