This week's meeting at noon at the University Club will feature Rob Givens, Retired USAF.
"A World at War: How Does it all End and What Does it Mean to You"
The world is experiencing warfare on a level it has not seen since the 20th century. Major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have brought the world to the brink of global conflict. Rob will discuss the military realities and policy implications of the ongoing struggles and how they impact us here in Louisville.
The menu will be oven-roasted salmon with spinach orzo and a lemon cream sauce; a salad with grilled chicken or a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.
RSVP by NOON on Monday, April 22nd HERE.
There is a $5 meeting fee for those who choose not to purchase a meal - this will include a dessert and tea/coffee/water and, of course, a fantastic program. You can pay $5 cash, check or scan the QR code at check-in to pay with a credit card.
Click Read More to view Speaker Bio:
Louisville native Rob Givens serves as State Director for U.S. Senator Rand Paul. In this role, Rob is responsible for leading the official staff in the Commonwealth and providing advice and coordination on legislation that benefits constituents.
Rob graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986 and achieved the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in 2013 after serving his country for 27 years in the United States Air Force. During his military career he became a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in the F-16 and A/O A-10. Rob is a combat veteran with more than 100 career combat sorties in Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and was twice decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in action against Iraq. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and flew as the Right Wing for the USAF Thunderbirds. His commands included the 35th Fighter Squadron, the 56th Operations Group and the historic 8th Fighter Wing - the Wolfpack.
Besides an impressive flying career, Rob also gained valuable experience at the senior executive level of the national security process in several key assignments. He served as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of U.S. Forces Korea. In his final deployment, Rob was responsible for day-to-day combat air operations in the Middle East, where he held the position of Director, Combined Air and Space Operations Center, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia.
Rob is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air Power Studies and the National War College. He has attended executive level education programs at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In January 2015, Rob served as the national security advisor to the Rand Paul for Senate Campaign and as an independent advisor on defense issues with both the public and private sector. In 2017, Rob assumed the role of Executive Director of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship helping develop leaders of the future for our Republic. Rob was selected for his current role in July of 2019.
As a reminder, we will not have a regular meeting on Thursday, May 2nd. If you are not joining us for the Rotary Day at the Downs on Wednesday, we hope to see you the following week, May 9th, at our Rotary Honors Scholars Celebration luncheon at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus at 28th & Broadway. If you ordered tickets, please see the email from Delene with details. Tickets that have not been requested to be mailed will be available at the University Club tomorrow (Thursday, 4/25) from 10:30am until 2:00pm.
***We still have a few tickets available; email director@louisvillerotary.org if interested.
Join us for Rotary Day at the Downs for Champions Day on Wednesday, May 1. We have reserved the brand-new Silks Balcony and Loge for Champions Day. Our group will have an elevated view of the Paddock in a covered open-air setting. This area offers both dining tables and box seats. Enjoy easy access to a dedicated race viewing location in the 3rd floor Clubhouse in Section 320.
Tickets are $140 per person and include admission, racing program, 4-hour Chef's Table Buffet, coffee, tea and soft drinks, and a 4-hour OPEN BAR.
Champions Day shines a spotlight on the rich history of the Kentucky Derby and the thrilling world of thoroughbred racing. This year, we're setting the stage for an even more expansive celebration, paying tribute to the extraordinary Kentucky champions who have excelled across a diverse spectrum of sports.
Parking: Tickets include free parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center, with continuous shuttles to/from the Paddock Gate at Churchill Downs.
Our May 9th meeting will be a celebration of our Rotary Honors Scholars at the brand new Norton Healthcare Goodwill Opportunity Campus, located at 2820 W Broadway. Bellarmine University Men's Basketball Head Coach Scotty Davenport will speak!
Our meal will be catered by RealPotatoes LLC owner Chaun James, our first West Louisville Housing Initiative homebuyer! The buffet menu will be chicken, green beans and potatoes; a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.
RSVP by NOON on Monday, May 6 HERE.
There is a $5 meeting fee for those who choose not to purchase a meal - this will include a dessert and tea/coffee/water and, of course, a fantastic program. You can pay $5 cash, check or scan the QR code at check-in to pay with a credit card.
Click Read More to view Speaker Bio:
On April 29, 2005, Scott Davenport became the 11th coach in Bellarmine University men's basketball history, and in six years took Bellarmine all the way to the top by leading the Knights to the 2011 NCAA Division II Tournament national championship. For his efforts, he was named national Coach of the Year by two different organizations: the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Division II Bulletin. Davenport’s career record of 413-148 (through the 2022-23 season) ranks him as Bellarmine’s all-time winningest coach, both in terms of total wins and winning percentage (.736). While Davenport built Bellarmine’s program into a perennial national power at the Division II level, perhaps even more impressively, the Knights have continued to succeed in its recent transition to the NCAA Division I level.
Prior to coming to Bellarmine, Davenport served nine years as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under national championship-winning Hall of Fame coaches Denny Crum and Rick Pitino. He also served a year as an assistant coach on Mike Pollio’s staff at Virginia Commonwealth, where he coached alongside future Kentucky coach Tubby Smith.
Before heading to Louisville, Davenport spent 10 seasons as the head boys' coach at Ballard High School, where he won a state championship in 1988 and coached two future NBA players in DeJuan Wheat and Allan Houston.
A Louisville native, Davenport and his wife, Sharon, have two sons, Russ and Doug, who are both Bellarmine graduates, and a granddaughter, Wren.
This week is World Immunization Week, April 24-30. It's an opportunity to focus on that work, and the robust polio eradication infrastructure built by Rotary and our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) provides a model for it. Increasing awareness about the power of vaccines and closing immunization gaps could protect millions of people worldwide from vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, according to the World Health Organization.
The GPEI reports polio vaccines have saved an estimated 20-million children from paralysis worldwide. When Rotary helped launch the GPEI in 1988, the disease paralyzed more than 1,000 people worldwide every day, most of them young children. Since then, Rotary and its partners have reduced the number of polio cases by 99%, and in 2021 there were just six cases of polio caused by the wild poliovirus. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where the wild poliovirus remains endemic.
You can support Polio Plus through our Rotary District 6710's Purple Pinkie Bourbon Charity. There are still 80 bottles available from our private barrel. All of the $130 will go to PolioPlus.
Send your donation:
Dr. Melissa Webb Earnest, District Treasurer
District 6710 – Polio Plus
206 Cherry Lane
Princeton, KY 42445
When all the bottles have their new homes, we expect to net $8K for Polio Plus. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, these contributions will be tripled, getting us even closer to a polio-free world. This amount will help vaccinate over 300M children worldwide.
You can pick up your special bottle at our District Conference (May 10 - 11 in Louisville), or, by special arrangement, by contacting DG Tommy Reed (tdreed6710@gmail.com).
Remember! There is no limit for donations (2 donations = two gift bottles). 
Rotary Club of Louisville members toured GE Appliances, a Haier Company, on Tuesday, getting a behind the scenes look at AP3, where dishwashers are made. We also learned about GEA's investment in its North American plants. Since 2016, GEA has invested $2B and created 4,000 new jobs. Here in Louisville, that investment equals $808M and 2,185 new jobs. Thanks to Rotarian Kent Oyler for coordinating. By: Kent OylerThanks to all who responded to the poll about international group travel opportunities. Italy was the favorite among those who participated, so that is where we will be going this November.
Join us November 1-9 for only $3,899 per person (double occupancy) which includes hotels, meals, day trips and airfare from Louisville!
You can download the brochure and registration form HERE.
Contact me at kent@oyler.net or 502-550-5102 for more information.
By: Frederic T. Harned
Rotary Youth Exchange is one of Rotary’s most popular programs worldwide. Over 9,000 students each year have an opportunity to experience life in one of 80 foreign countries, for a period ranging from one month to an academic year.
Our Louisville Club has been offered a chance to arrange hosting for an inbound student, an 18-year-old girl from Taiwan. But a lot of organization is needed before we can respond positively!
Do you have teenagers in your family who might be interested in meeting a peer from another country, or in spending time exploring another language environment? Do you have non-Rotary friends who might be interested in the program? Please respond to this survey with your level of interest!
Our Western Kentucky District was not active in this program for over a decade, despite numerous requests from parents seeking opportunities for their children aged 15 to 19. This past year we received renewed certification from Rotary International, based on pledges and structures to uphold Rotary’s strong emphasis on youth protection in all aspects of the program.
There are three main variants of the program:
Short-term Exchanges send a student to live with a peer student and family for one to three months, followed by the two students returning to live in the first student’s home for a comparable period.
Outbound Exchanges give a student the opportunity to live with different families (again with a foreign peer) for an academic year, gaining extensive experience with the language and culture of their destination. Both the hosts and the students are extensively vetted and trained by Rotary, and the students are held to strict behavior codes.
Inbound exchanges are the counterpart of Outbound. Here, local Rotary Clubs can be extensively involved in selecting host families and providing a counselor for the inbound student. They may also involve the student in club meetings and activities. Clubs are also expected to provide the inbound student with a small monthly expense allowance, while the host families (usually three, each for three months) provide room and board.
Details of the programs are available through Rotary International or through our District co-chairs for the program, Cathy Palmer in Bowling Green and Dale Leatherman, incoming District Governor, or from Rick Harned in our club. Lots more information is readily available!
By: Frederic T. Harned
An update from the Rotary Club of San Salvador Maquilishuat, a partner club we've worked with in El Salvador. Elizabeth "Eli" Nova de Zavaleta has been the key drive behind the TOILETON projects our club has supported for years. So far, she has helped provide decent sanitation with flush toilets in tiled compartments in 23 rural elementary and middle schools, as well as wash stations, hygiene training and purified water for kitchens.
Eli is featured in a series of photographs by the United Nations (UN) through the Association of Swiss Women and Empowerment (ASWE). They will be displayed at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The "Palais de Nations: A Time for Reflection," exhibition will also be displayed on May 29 at the National Museum of Anthropology in El Salvador.
Eli - with our help and that of several other District 6710 clubs, is making a real difference in children's lives! By: Walt L. KunauJoin us for our Middle School Literacy Project as we read and discuss a book with 8th grade students at the West End School. You will be amazed and enriched by the accomplishments of these students and this school!
We meet Thursdays, April 11 - May 9, from 10:05 - 10:55 a.m.
Email Walt at wkunau@bellsouth.net or call 502.262.2792 to sign up or for more information.
West End School is a free, private, college preparatory, Pre-K through 8th grade. Admission is open to boys who are on free or reduced lunch, are capable of doing academic work at grade level or above, and who would benefit from a safe environment and high expectations. West End School strives to address all the issues which boys in our community face by creating for its students an environment of high expectations and personal responsibility. One of the main opportunities for this community is literacy. Through the school's rigorous academic and personal standards, we encourage our students to attain the highest possible level of scholarship, character, and intellectual growth.
Motto: To be a man is to be responsible. Read More
By: Jay MalloryThank you to all who participated in our first two Rotary University sessions. If you are a long-time member but would just like a refresher, feel free to watch the recordings as well.
Session #1 What is Rotary? available HERE passcode to access: @5ZatVk0
To earn credit for Session #1, complete survey with code words HERE.
Session #2 Service Above Self available HERE passcode to access: 0tj&G+^*
To earn credit for Session #2, complete survey with code words HERE.
Please mark your calendars for the next sessions, all at NOON via Zoom. Completion of Rotary University is required for new members, so prioritize these sessions!
Click HERE to register for the May 21 Rotary Honors Scholars noon Zoom session.
If you have any questions, reach out to me, or Jay Mallory, Co-Chair of the Membership Development & Engagement Committee, jmallory@imagequest.com.
| March 19 |
Session 1 - What is Rotary? |
| April 16 |
Session 2 - Service Above Self |
| May 21 |
Session 3 - Rotary Honors Scholars |
| June 11 |
Session 4 - Committees |
| July 9 |
Session 5 - Rotary Beyond the Club |
| July |
New Member Celebration / Mixer (location TBD) |
Read More
By: Gerald MartinSave the date for the next Honor Flight on May 21st - we will need volunteers for the ground crew as well as people to cheer for our veterans at the airport as they return home from their day in Washington DC.
Any Rotarians interested in volunteering to help the vets depart from and return to the airport on the day of the flight should go to the website and fill out and submit the application form ASAP. A volunteer representative will then contact you to discuss the requirements and available options for the May flight.
I can be reached by email at gerald@riverhillcapital.com or by text message to 502-693-7209.
Thanks for your support in making these flights so meaningful and successful. We have hundreds of people meet the returning vets in the evening on their return from DC, but we’d love to have even more in May.
If you are interested in being a Guardian for a veteran on the flight, let me know.
Meanwhile, volunteers are needed to write some letters for Mail Call! Click Read More for info.
By: Alex E. Novak
Join the Rotary Club of Louisville's Environmental Committee on June 1 from 9 a.m. to noon for a Litter Clean-up Event at Eva Bandman Park.
It's part of the annual Ohio River Sweep volunteer clean-up that extends the entire length of the Ohio River. Volunteers from six states remove litter at multiple locations along the river and many of its tributaries.
The volunteer work makes a positive impact along the entire Ohio River Basin. Learn more: HERE.
Contact: Alex Novak, anovak@iglou.com for details and to register.
By: Jay MalloryJoin us on Wednesday, June 5th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at SOS for our new member service project. All are welcome - this is an excellent opportunity to serve alongside and get acquainted with some of our newer members.
We will be sorting and packing supplies to be redistributed to those in need. SOS meets critical health care needs in medically impoverished communities in 106 countries around the world by collecting and distributing surplus medical supplies and equipment. Partnering with hospitals, clinics, and manufacturers to recover and redistribute what would otherwise go into local landfills, SOS promotes environmental stewardship.
Please RSVP HERE. By: Steven A. EggersCommittee leaders:
Please make note that all information related to request(s) for service projects and/or grants for the 2024-2025 Rotary year must be submitted no later than May 30. Proof of completion of the 9-minute mandatory training must also be provided to me by that time (seggers@knbarch.com).
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Applications for 2024-2025 Service Projects & Grants will need to be submitted in the new electronic format approved by the Rotary Board at the February meeting. Completion of a mandatory training session is required for Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs that plan to apply for projects or grants, or if someone else on the committee will be preparing the project proposal, the Chair can designate that person as the representative for their committee.
Click Read More for the overall schedule for the review and approval of Service Projects & Grants.
May: All service project applications are due online by May 30. Proposals received will be circulated online to the Service Projects & Grants Committee members.
June: Questions regarding proposals will be forwarded to Committee Chair Steve Eggers, to request clarification from the Chair of the requesting committee. In person meetings with applicant Committee Chairs may be scheduled as needed. Steve will obtain information from the Rotary Fund Board on the anticipated level of funding available for projects in 2024-2025. A spreadsheet will be created, along with brief project narratives, showing all requested projects and the Committee’s proposed level of funding, if any, for 2024-2025. Steve will advise Committee Chairs by email (with a copy to their Board Liaison) of the proposed level of funding for all submitted projects.
July: Chair Steve Eggers will present the spreadsheet and narrative to the Rotary Club Board and their recommendations will subsequently be presented to the Rotary Fund Board.
Read More 
Rotarian Carl Kihm recently traveled to Guatemala with a team of veteran surgeons, anesthesia staff, and nurses on a life-changing mission. They performed 43 surgeries in just 5 days — providing corrective procedures for children and neglected adults with congenital deformities. Among the common cases were clubfoot deformities, where their ability to correct twisted feet truly made a difference. As done in years past, we look forward to celebrating the long-term success stories of our patients.
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Rotarian Denise Sears was in the news this week again!
Last Saturday, SOS International stepped in to help with a free wheelchair clinic. The event served those living with partial paralysis and other disabilities. Folks could bring their standard or electric wheelchairs and get them repaired, cleaned or even replaced on the spot. Denise said the turnout was larger than they expected and that they ended up helping dozens of people in a matter of hours.
By: Delene E TaylorWhat: 2024 JFCS MOSAIC Awards
Organization: Jewish Family and Career Services
Date/Time: May 14th, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Mellwood Arts Center
Description: This event honors refugees, immigrants, and first generation Americans who are leaders and changemakers in Louisville.
More information: HERE
Member to contact: Courtney Evans, cevans@jfcslouisville.org
Note: This section features upcoming events and opportunities to serve with our nonprofit member organizations. Submissions must be from a member (or spouse/partner) of our Club who is either an employee or board member of the organization for which the event/opportunity is being shared. Click HERE to submit.
By: Karen MorrisonThe Rotary Lifetime Service Award award honors a member who has exhibited a personal dedication to the pursuit of Rotary’s values in one or more of Rotary’s avenues of service. It recognizes a Rotarian’s full body of service both to Rotary and to other organizations in the community, region and beyond. Download the nomination form HERE.
We will begin accepting nominations for the Rotararian of the Year Award as we get closer to the end of our Rotary year in June.
Click below for more info and a list of criteria for nominations.
Lifetime Service Award Criteria
This award recognizes a Rotarian’s full body of service both to Rotary and to other organizations in the community, region and beyond.
This award is presented annually to a Rotarian who:
• has been a member for at least 10 years; and,
• has demonstrated a lifelong adherence to Rotary’s Service Above Self ideals.
The list of past recipients appears on page 11 of the Membership Directory; last year’s recipient was Larry Sloan
The Rotarian of the Year Award is designated for the one Rotarian in our club who clearly stands out in demonstrating "Service Above Self" and principled commitment to the Four-Way Test. A nominee should be an outstanding club member who has made significant contributions to the mission and operation of our club, and to one or more avenues of Community or International Service. This award may be given to a member who exhibits Service Above Self in their daily activities and who promotes Rotary by their actions and involvement. This may be accomplished through one major activity in club service, in multiple activities, or by serving on several committees. This person should be highly visible in the weekly activities of the club.
Rotarian of the Year Criteria
While no one can participate in every activity, be at every event or serve on every committee, the following criteria is presented to illustrate the range of things that should be considered when nominating a person for Rotarian of the Year. The decision need not be limited to these items, nor should the items on the list be considered mandatory for selection. The list of past recipients appears on page 10 of the Membership Directory; last year’s recipient was Ashley Brauer.
Club Membership and Attendance
- To be considered for nomination, the candidate must have been a member of our Rotary Club for at least 5 years.
- The nominee must be a member in good standing.
- The nominee must have active membership status.
- The nominee should have an exemplary attendance record. While perfect attendance is not a requirement, the nominee should either regularly attend our club meetings or complete make-ups when they are unable to attend.
Rotary Club Involvement
- The nominee has been involved with service projects that have been undertaken by the club through active participation and support.
- The nominee has been involved with fundraising projects that have been undertaken by the club through active participation and support.
- The nominee has participated in additional club activities that help to strengthen the camaraderie of the club, such as social events.
- The nominee has contributed to the day-to-day workings of the club by helping with the tasks necessary for the club to function effectively.
Leadership and Recruitment
- The nominee has worked on a committee for the club.
- The nominee has taken an active leadership role within the club.
- The nominee brings visitors and/or candidates for membership to the club and/or has sponsored new members.
