Program Preview

Here are the upcoming speakers through the month of November.

Oct. 25 - Dr. William Reed, Cardiologist, KU Medical Center
Nov. 1 - President Edward H. Hammond, Ft. Hays State
Nov. 8 - George Webb, Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs
Nov. 15 - Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, "Alternative Energy in
Kansas"
Nov. 22 - Thanksgiving - no meeting
Nov. 29 - Paul Dorrell, "Artists and Business"

Your Help Needed: Finding GSE Team Members

Applications for an expense-paid trip to South Korea are still being received by the District GSE Committee. If you know a young business or professional person between the age of 25 and 40 with 2 years experience in their chosen field who has no Rotary connections talk to them about this once in a lifetime experience. Interviews are planned for mid-to-late November. Team will travel May 15 - June 15, 2008. After team selection members will spend 1/2 day per month in preparation. Contact Phil Coolidge with questions and/or recommendations.

Rotary District 5710 - Foundation Banquet

Come join Rotary District 5710 on November 10, 2007 at elegant "Maceli's", just one block away from the Arts Center in downtown Lawrence. Catch up with Rotary friends and hear an inspiring keynote from Thomas Branum who serves on RI's Board of Directors. For more information, visit www.rotary5710.org.

Helping Hands Humane Society to Undergo Big Changes

Carol Stubbs, Executive Director of the Helping Hands Humane Society outlined the plans for a much needed renovation to the not-for-profit animal shelter at the weekly meeting of the Topeka Rotary Club last Thursday. According to Stubbs, the building was designed to handle approximately 5000 animals each year, but has been taking in 10,000. The building will be constructed next to the existing facility on Northwest Rochester Road.

Rotopeka Photo Contest

The winning photo for the Rotopeka photo contest has been announced.  Check out the new Rotopeka to find out why this photo was chosen.  Click here to see all the entries.

Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy - Highly Regarded Nationally

It seems that Topeka has a pretty good civic theater. At least that is what New York thinks. And that is quite a compliment for the only continuously running community theater in the country.
“ We have an amazing theater here in Topeka ,” said Shannon Reilly, Artistic Director for the Topeka Theatre & Academy. “Topeka is a fantastic city and there are many cities who would die to have a theater and a community like ours.”
Since 1936, Topeka Civic Theatre has operated in Topeka, now at its new theater at 3028 SW 8th Avenue.
Reilly first came to TCTA in 1990 as a guest director from Kansas City to direct Wait Until Dark. He returned the following year to direct The Night Hank Williams Died and was asked to join the staff as Associate Artistic Director in September of 1992. Shannon was named Artistic Director in December of 1993 and has directed well over 50 productions for the Topeka Civic Theatre.
“Our seventy second season is getting started. We have some amazing shows this year. Our season is very literary this year, starting with Misery.”
Misery was written by Stephen King and according to Reilly, the adaptation is even scarier than the well known movie. It will run October 19 through November 3rd.
To learn more information about the Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy or to enquire about tickets, shows, or other volunteer or learning opportunities, please visit the TCT website at www.topekacivictheatre.com or call (785) 357-5213.

Meeting Makeups

Did you know that making up a meeting can be accomplished by simply serving on a Rotary committee, working on a Rotary project or even visiting a website?

The Topeka Rotary club encourages its members to attend 50% of its meetings. This can be accomplished in a number of ways other than regular meeting attendance.

· Make sure you have signed the signup sheet in the back of the room. This very simple step helps the club better track attendance.

· If you are serving on a committee, your time counts. Whether you are making calls to fill invocation slots, writing an article for the Rotopeka or attending a new member orientation lunch, everything you do for Rotary counts.

· Have you been to another club meeting? Have you spoken to another Rotary club? Of course, these count, but you don't need to file a report or share a club flag.

· The Rotary board meetings and foundation meetings are other ways in which you can make up a meeting. Let the club know you are interested in attending one of these meetings. The board meets on the second Wednesday of every month at noon and the foundation meets quarterly.

· To notify the club of your involvement in other activities, simply call Ruth at the Topeka Rotary Club office at 785-232-7216, by email at dtrotary@swbell.net, or by dropping by the office before a club meeting.

Mike Hayden, Sec. of Wildlife and Parks, Today's Speaker

Former Kansas Governor Mike Hayden has always been known for his love of the outdoors. It should come as no surprise that his interests now surround a development project in Shawnee County.

Hayden, a Paul Harris Fellow, comes from a Rotary family. His father has been an active member of the Atwood, KS Rotary club for fifty seven years.

"In fact, the Atwood Rotary club meets Thursday's at noon," he said. "So I suspect I know where my father is at this very moment."

In 2006, the Kansas Legislature enacted the Topeka-Shawnee County Riverfront Authority. The committee consists of members appointed by both the City of Topeka and Shawnee County.

"I always have enjoyed the Kansas river and have it right here in the capital city and its always been disappointing to me how people have taken it for granted. If you go back to the history of Kansas, Topeka is here because of the Kansas River."

The Kansas River is a navigatable river under the laws of the United States as is under the jurisdiction of the Corp of Engineers.

"Navigatable rivers in our state belong to the people," Hayden said. "They are public property between the high banks. There are three navigatable rivers in our state, the Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri."

Hayden acknowledged that the development of the riverfront has been an issue of concern for past community leaders, but it has taken legislation to move it forward.

"Until last year, we couldn't really coalesce around one activity," Hayden said. "The first thing the authority did was go out and raise about a hundred thousand dollars spread fifty-fifty between the public and private sector. Then they solicited requests for proposal for the development itself."

Ten firms submitted proposals for the development which have been reduced to two proposals.

"These are both prestigious firms who have experience in working with other communities in developing their riverfronts. The authority will be making their decision shortly."

The winning firm will then develop a plan in six months and it will be available for public comment.

"Then the proposal will be put before the voters,"Hayden said.

Rotary International's website has some wonderful videos about its involvement and support of efforts worldwide. This video is titled "Peace (We all want the same Thing)". Fore more videos, check back at the Rotopeka Blog or visit http://www.rotary.org/support/prtools/tools/psa3.htm.l

Upcoming Speakers

Here is a listing of the upcoming speakers beginning next week.  

October 11 - Shannon Reilly, TCTA Artistic Director - What's Up at TCT

October 18 - Carol Stubbs, Exec. Director of Helping Hands Humane Society - Exciting Plans for Helping Hands

October 25 - Dr. William Reed, Cardiologist, KU Med Ctr. 

Thursday Speaker

Mike Hayden, Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Parks will be the guest speaker at tomorrow's Rotary Club meeting.  His topic will be the "Status of Riverfront Project".  The meeting will be in a different location this week.  We will be downstairs in the Jefferson Ballroom.  Check back tomorrow after the meeting for a brief summary of the meeting.