Ward Wilson, Executive Director of Kentucky Waterways Alliance
Lauren Coulter, Founder of Biscuit Belly

Welcome to The Rotary Club of Louisville

With over 350 members, the Rotary Club of Louisville is the 14th largest club of Rotary International’s 46,000+ clubs around the world. Our Club has been serving others in this community and worldwide since 1912.

We welcome guests and visiting Rotarians from all over the world at our weekly Thursday luncheon meetings. Our programs involve prominent leaders in every field, and our membership represents the business and civic leaders of our community and our state.

We are connected with each other, our community and with other Rotarians worldwide.

Rotary Club of Louisville Create Hope in the World

OUR MEETINGS

University Club Louisville

Thursdays at 12:00 PM (networking/lunch begins at 11:30am)

See upcoming speakers here: https://www.louisvillerotary.org/our-meetings/

University Club Louisville

200 E Brandeis Ave
Louisville, KY 40208

Mail:
Rotary Club of Louisville
657 S Hurstbourne Pkwy, Ste D-226
Louisville, KY 40222

CLUB NEWS

Next Week's Meeting: Lt. Col. Whitney Allen, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

Whitney Allen
The May 23rd meeting at the University Club will feature Lt. Col. Whitney Allen, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.

We will also be presenting three Ted Buerck scholarships to deserving students.

The menu will be fried catfish with mac 'n cheese and collard greens; a salad with grilled chicken or a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.

RSVP by NOON on Monday, May 20th 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:
 

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Rotary in the Spotlight: District 6710 Conference

By: Delene E Taylor
Rotary was very much in the spotlight this past weekend as our District 6710 annual conference was held here in Louisville at the Marriott East.

District 6710 Conference 2024District 6710 Conference 2024

Rotarian Jean West kicked things off and served with excellence as our mistress of ceremonies.

Rotarian Scott Koloms delivered an inspiring keynote that challenged us to reimagine success beyond the bottom line, to consider how ethical business practices boost profits and purpose, and to unleash our inner Rotarian entrepreneur for a future where good deeds and good business do a victory lap together. He issued a call to action for building a Kentucky (and beyond!) where doing well and doing good are two sides of the same powerful coin. You can view the recording HERE.

Rotarian Michael Washburn with Kentucky Waterways Alliance, joined Mark Noll with the Ohio River Way, and Shannon Delahanty the University of Louisville’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute to share the transformative impacts of stewardship for the Ohio River on health, economic growth, and resilience of our lands. Rotarian Alex Novak led a panel discussion following the presentations. I wasn't able to record the entire session, but you can view a portion of it HERE.

Rotarian Whitney Austin delivered a powerful dinner keynote address about finding common ground when it comes to reducing gun violence. I won't even try to summarize - you just need to go watch it HERE.

Saturday morning, Rotarian Mike Brumleve oversaw the District Speech Competition, where the three finalists, Rebecca Kaiser (Bedford), Isabella Burton (Princeton), and Madeline Prichard (Glasgow) delivered impressive speeches with the theme of "Hope". You can watch the speeches HERE (starts at 5:00 minute mark), HERE and HERE. Congratulations to Isabella (contestant B) who was chosen as the winner.

And Rotarian Barbara Sexton Smith would not accept any answer other than YES as she heeded the call to serve as our auctioneer to raise money for The Rotary Foundation during the live auction. She says it took her out of her "comfort zone" - but I'm not sure that's actually possible. You can watch her auction a week at Jean West's villa in Aruba HERE.

At a special recognition dinner on Thursday evening, Rotarian Paula Grisanti and her husband Mike hosted District leaders and new Major Donors, including Paula Harshaw and Fred Cowan.

District 6710 Major Donors Reception 2024

Additional members from our club in attendance were:

Kevin Lynch
Mike Kull and his wife Kathy
Roland Blahnik
Susan Zepeda
Robert Chatham
Louis Straub
Thom Crimans

Behind the scenes, Rotarian Ashley Brauer very generously contributed her expertise in public relations to help promote the conference.

The star of the conference for me was the Stuckey's pecan log roll...and I'm happy to report that my photos were shared on the social media channels of this beloved national brand (who remembers looking forward to the Stuckey's stops on road trips?)! Let's show our appreciation - go like the LinkedIn post!

Stuckey's LI Post Screenshot

 Next year's conference will be in Hopkinsville, May 16-17; hope to see you there!
 

Rotary and LCCC: Supporting Entrepreneurship

By: Kevin Fields
LCCC Program Graduation

This week marks the graduation of 18 minority entrepreneurs from the Woodforest Foundry entrepreneurial training program, a comprehensive 12-week course delivered by the Louisville Central Community Center's  Old Walnut Plaza Business Intelligence Center (BIC). This program, launched in 2022 by LCCC in partnership with the Rotary Club of Louisville, the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE, the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, Louisville Metro, the University of Louisville, and others, has been instrumental in fostering business acumen and development among minority entrepreneurs in our community.

Notably, one of our own, Rotarian Jackie Jones, was a member of this graduating cohort and has recently announced the grand re-opening of the second season of her business, Frosty's Frozen Treats. A ribbon-cutting celebration was held last Friday at the Big Four Bridge.

Additionally, Rotarian Johnetta Roberts, the owner of The 40 & 1 Company, played a pivotal role as the lead training facilitator for the "Entrepreneurship 4 All" course. The BIC continues to be a vital component of our DEI outreach strategy, advancing RCL’s efforts to support economic development in west Louisville by nurturing minority business development. Its ongoing operations encompass a wide range of activities, including business development, advanced technology skills training, real estate development training, and various other skill development workshops for adults.

We encourage Rotarians who are interested in becoming SCORE mentors and matching with clients of the BIC to contact Thom Crimans or myself for further information and to get involved.
 

Rotary University: Next Session Tuesday, May 21

By: Jay Mallory
Thank 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)


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Rotary Group Trip to Italy This November

By: Kent Oyler
Tuscany Trip Graphic

Join your fellow Rotarians on a group trip 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.

 

Rotarian in the Spotlight: Kenya Wade

Rotarian Kenya Wade will be one of the speakers at the May 20th League of Women Voters Louisville Democracy in Action Forum “YOUTH VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE: THE REALITIES, INTERVENTIONS, AND SOME SOLUTIONS.” It will take place at The Main Library, 4th and York Streets, in the Centennial Room (lower level); doors will open at 5:30 and the program is from 6:00-7:30 pm.
LWV Forum May 20

Rotarian in the Spotlight: Kim Halbauer

Kim Halbauer will speak at the 1si Pearls of Wisdom event on June 5 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at the Calumet Club in New Albany. Register HERE.

1si Pearls of Wisdom Kim Halbauer

Rotarian in the Spotlight: Whitney Austin

Rotarian Whitney Austin will speak at the June 7th Daughters of Greatness breakfast at the Muhammad Ali Center. The series honors women who are changemakers in the arenas of social philanthropy, activism, and pursuits of justice. Impassioned after surviving the Sept. 6, 2018, mass shooting in Cincinnati, Whitney cofounded Whitney/Strong with her husband. The organization is focused on finding common ground to end gun violence through data-driven, responsible gun-ownership solutions. Learn more and register HERE.
Whitney Austin Daughters of Greatness

Honor Flight: May 21

By: Gerald Martin
Save 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.

Honor Flight May 21

Meanwhile, volunteers are needed to write some letters for Mail Call! Click Read More for info.
 

Read More

Volunteers Needed for Ohio River Sweep: June 1

By: Alex E. Novak
OHIO RIVER SWEEP INFORMATION
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.

Read the full press release, written by our own Ashley Brauer, owner of Max Strategic Communications, HERE.

Contact: Alex Novak, anovak@iglou.com for details and to register. 

 

 


 

New Member Service Project at SOS: June 5 **NEW DATE**

By: Jay Mallory
Join 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.

Craig Scherman's Fabulous House Party: June 9

Craig Scherman will host his annual party for members and their guests at his beautiful home in Anchorage (1208 Evergreen Rd) on Sunday, June 9th, from 4:00-7:30pm. $30 will cover food from Mark's Feed Store, open bar, live music, beautiful views, great conversation and a whole lotta fun! Click HERE to RSVP.



Photos of prior year events:


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Service Projects & Grants due May 30

By: Steven A. Eggers
Committee 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).

**** 

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.
 

Read More

Events & Opportunities: West End School

By: Walt L. Kunau
What: Ultimate Bourbon Raffle
Organization: West End School
Date/Time: Drawing Thursday, June 20, 11:00am (do not need to be present to win)
Cost: $100 per ticket

West End School Ultimate Bourbon Raffle

More information and to purchase tickets: click HERE
Member to contact: Walt Kunau, wkunau@bellsouth.net


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.

Events & Opportunities: Leadership Louisville Center

By: Paul Bolton
Leading Better Summit

What: LeadingBetter Summit
Organization: Leadership Louisville Center
Date/Time: May 22, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Location: Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

Description: This year's LeadingBetter Summit speaker lineup includes Kim Scott, NYTimes and WSJ bestselling author of Radical Candor, as keynote speaker. She joins the author of ‘Mean Girls’ fame and a popular podcast host, author, and educator Matt Abrahams from Stanford University, along with many other speakers. These global leaders will provide valuable leadership training, inspiration, and connection – making this an event you won't want to miss!

You can attend in-person or virtually. The day will include content around communicating with greater confidence and clarity, building a culture of accountability and commitment, tackling conflict with tact, and being a better and more inclusive boss.

Save $100 on tickets with code Rotary100.

More information: HERE
Member to contact: Paul Bolton, pbolton@leadershiplouisville.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.

UPCOMING SPEAKERS

May 23rd 2024 at 11:30 am
RCoL Weekly Club Meeting: Lt. Col. Whitney Allen
Speaker: Lt. Col. Whitney Allen, Commissioner, KY Dept of Veteran Affairs

More info
May 30th 2024 at 11:30 am
RCoL Weekly Club Meeting: Purna Veer
Speaker: Purna Veer, V-Soft Consulting Group

More info
June 6th 2024 at 11:30 am
RCoL Weekly Club Meeting: Carolyn Tandy
Speaker: Carolyn Tandy, SVP - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Humana

More info
June 13th 2024 at 11:30 am
RCoL Weekly Club Meeting: Rebecca Fleischaker
Speaker: Rebecca Fleischaker, Louisville Downtown Partnership

More info
June 20th 2024 at 11:30 am
RCoL Weekly Club Meeting: Omar Ayyash
Speaker: Omar Ayyash, World Trade Center Kentucky

More info

SPARKS NEWSLETTER

People of Action

Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change

The Rotary Club of Louisville has supported over 40 International Youth Exchanges.

Youth
Service

The Rotary Club of Louisville is a strong supporter of people with special needs.

Community
Service

The Rotary Club of Louisville has supported the End Polio Now campaign since 1979.

International
Service

The Rotary Club of Louisville is a leader in supporting the community.

Vocational
Service

Imagine Rotary - 2022-23 Theme

WE CONNECT PEOPLE

Rotary unites more than a million people

Through Rotary clubs, people from all continents and cultures come together to exchange ideas, and form friendships and professional connections while making a difference in their backyards and around the world.

WE TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES

We take action locally and globally

Each day, our members pour their passion, integrity, and intelligence into completing projects that have a lasting impact. We persevere until we deliver real, lasting solutions.

WE SOLVE PROBLEMS

No challenge is too big for us

For more than 110 years, we’ve bridged cultures and connected continents to champion peace, fight illiteracy and poverty, promote clean water and sanitation, and fight disease.

Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

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