Hello Rotarians - Hard to believe the end of the Rotary year is just 4 weeks away. It's been an honor to serve as your President.
We started last week's meeting by singing My Country 'tis of Thee with piano by Dr. Roger Reitz, followed by the 4-Way Test.
We started last week's meeting by singing My Country 'tis of Thee with piano by Dr. Roger Reitz, followed by the 4-Way Test.
Guests were Karama Malik (Mike Heylin), Patrick Gormely (Ellen Meyer Jumpponen) and our speaker Dr. John Blair.
June's theme is Rotary Fellowship, and our CUP Money goes to the Riley County Manhattan Senior Center.
*****Signature Projects: Community CARES Chest had 17 agencies get OxiClean, baby formula and furniture last week. It's open 8-10 AM and 1-3 PM Wednesdays. Thanks to Rebecca Gould, George Ham, Mike Heylin & Felix Jiminez for volunteering.
Our next Common Table shift is next Tuesday, June 9th, 5:15-7:30 PM at 901 Poyntz.
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Our greeter last week was Jim Wright - a Rotarian of 34 years. He retired from the restaurant business and lives with Karen Bryant at Tuttle Creek. He value the camaraderie of Rotary and the leadership talent among the Board. Few know that Jim graduated from KSU in Industrial Psychology, but ended up running a restaurant at age 22 - just following a girl to Iowa.
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Mike Heylin introduced our newest Rotarian, Sandy Myers. Sandy is the Sales & Event Coordinator at the Hilton Garden Inn. She graduated from K-State, and returned to Manhattan in 2024 as her daughter started at KSU. We met her at Visitors' Day in April; she even filled in on piano! Please give Sandy a warm welcome.
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Vernon Turner's Mental Health Moment was on NAMI and HMA launching the National Collaborative for Crisis Systems Innovation. For details see https://www.nami.org/press-releases/new-national-collaborative-aims-to-improve-our-national-response-to-people-in-mental-health-crisis/
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President-elect Shelley Carver presented the April CUP Money Big Check to Dr. John Blair, Director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station. He thanked us, then remained up as I introduced him as our speaker.
John is an ecologist with passion for the conservation on grasslands. He will retire this month after 34 years at K-State, but plans to continue working with KSU and The Nature Conservatory.
John is an ecologist with passion for the conservation on grasslands. He will retire this month after 34 years at K-State, but plans to continue working with KSU and The Nature Conservatory.
Blair spoke of the KPBS's 3-fold mission of research, education, and conservation, and described many programs at the 8,600-acre tallgrass preserve owned by TNC & managed by K-State. He described what the station is and how it came to be from pioneering work of Dr. Lloyd Hulbert and anonymous funding by Katherine Ordway, until her passing. It was founded at the historic Dewey Ranch. Managed burning, grazing, experimentation and education are its current efforts, and he ended by touching upon Public Outreach and Art & Science Collaborations.
On behalf of John we donated the children's book "I.ROCK - A Geology Tale" to the Ogden Elementary School.
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Thanks to Jim Wright and Bill Muir for greeting, and John for an engaging look a local ecological treasure.
Our next meeting is this Thursday, June 4th at the Manhattan Country Club, 12-1PM. Tyler Burroughs, Director of Sports Tourism with Visit Manhattan will speak.
Ellen Jumpponen and Brad Roberts will greet this week, with Fr. Don and Jill Zimmerman on June 11th.
Submit your ideas 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 6/3/2026. 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:
Library of Congress Veteran's History Project
The LOC will interview veterans for the nation's 250th celebration this Saturday June 6th in Abilene from 9:30AM-5 PM. To participate, sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScRS6IC3_CTqCtbPPnwZLk2xGP1hypYsswHf4yBSC6a4pJ1kg/formResponse
Step up to the Plate for PolioPlus
The district will host a Monarch's game at Legends Field in KCKS on June 19th. Tickets are available at https://tickets.monarchsbaseball.com/events/39269 - use Rotary promo code.
2026-27 Leadership Installation Reception
District 5710 will host a its reception on Friday, 6/26 at 6PM at the Bluemont Hotel.
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:
June Cup Money - Riley County Manhattan Senior 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 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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