News: Rotary Club of Louisville
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May 8th Rotary Honors Scholars Celebration with Coach Jeff Walz
Join us at noon on May 8th at the University Club for our Rotary Honors Scholars Celebration, featuring guest speaker Jeff Walz, Head Coach of the University of Louisville women's basketball team.
The buffet opens at 11:30am and the program begins at noon. The menu is rotisserie chicken with glazed carrots and fingerling potatoes; a salad with grilled chicken or a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.
Please register by Monday, May 5th 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 HERE to view Speaker Bio.
Pre-Meeting Learning Opportunities with Our New Assistant Governor
TL;DR Come at 11:30 am for lunch on Thursdays, and learn about: Rotary Youth Exchange (May 22) and Rotary Fellowships (May 29)
You may recognize our new District 6710 Assistant Governor for Area 9: Rick Harned
Rick was planning to begin his term in July, but has agreed to step in a little early to allow the current AG to focus on his health. Assistant Governors serve as a liaison to the District for the clubs in their area and as an additional resource and connector for those clubs.
One of the topics that Rick and I discussed on our shared ride back from the President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) in Chattanooga last month was the wealth of knowledge and perspective that some of our longer-term members have. We tossed around some ideas about how to make that information available to members who might have an interest in a specific area, but aren't sure who or even what to ask. We decided to try something new and see how it works.
Rick will host a table at some of our upcoming regular meetings for members who want to learn about that week's topic. Just show up around 11:30 when the buffet opens, grab your meal, and go sit with Rick. You'll get a better parking space, less of a line, and some useful knowledge!
The next opportunity will be Thursday, May 22nd, and the topic will be focused on the Rotary Youth Exchange program: short-term and long-term exchanges, inbound and outbound programs, who is eligible, host family responsibilities, etc. It will last about 15-20 minutes, until our meeting begins.
No need to RSVP or sign up...just set an alarm on your phone to leave a little early for Rotary. If you are interested in a topic but can't make the meeting that day, just let us know.
Nominate a Member for Rotarian of the Year!
Congratulations to Ginger Wallace's dad, who was just announced as their Rotarian of the Year!
It is time to nominate deserving members for our 2024-2025 Rotarian of the Year award. Click HERE to download the nominations form and see criteria for the award. The deadline to submit is May 31, 2025.
Come Read With 8th Grade Boys at West End School
We began our annual Middle School Literacy Service Project at the West End School last Tuesday, reading Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary (books are provided) with a class of 8th grade boys. Thanks to Rick & Mary Ellen Harned, Jean West, Bob Nesmith, Rensha Allen, Mike Brumleve, and Delene Taylor for joining us.
Our scholars kicked off our time by saying their creed. Delene said it gave her chills! You can see students reciting the creed and hear from one of the 8th graders that read with us - Noah Hunter - in this WLKY story. Included in the story is an interview with Head of School and Rotary Club member Dr. Greg Ross. Click Read More below to see the names of the students and where they plan to attend high school.
Did you know that the WES Library was named after Mike's dad, Ben Brumleve, who served on the Board of the school and was a member of our Rotary Club for many years?
I am very proud to serve on the board and encourage more folks to get involved. In addition to volunteer hours, we support the school with a grant, which our District 6710 matches!
We will meet the next few Tuesdays from 9:50-10:35 am; email me at [email protected] or call 502-262-2792 to sign up.
Re:Center Ministries Meal Service: April 23
Our next meal service will be this Wednesday, April 23rd at 5:30 p.m. at 757 S Brook St. We need a couple more volunteers, so please let Larry Sloan ([email protected] or 502-552-3990) know if you can help.
Thanks to our volunteers who came out to serve and fellowship with the men in the addiction recovery program at Re:Center Ministries in February and March!
Business Synergy Mixer with Canopy / YPAL / Independence Bank: May 20
Please join us Tuesday, May 20th, from 5:30-7:30 pm at Independence Bank for our 3rd Annual Rotary Business Synergy networking event in collaboration with Canopy and the Young Professionals Association of Louisville (YPAL). Thank you to Louis Straub and his team for hosting us again!
You can RSVP HERE.
Repair Affair Service Project: June 7
We don't yet know the address, but our project is usually a yard clean-up and/or painting for a senior homeowner, or maybe a wheelchair ramp that needs sealing or staining. Please plan to dress for this type of work. NDHC/Repair Affair will provide all needed equipment, work gloves, water and a box lunch. We will meet at the site at 8:00 a.m., work until noon, have lunch and then clean up the site with the intent of being finished around 1:00 or 1:30. Each volunteer will receive a Repair Affair t-shirt.
Scherman Summer Social: June 8
New Member Service Project at SOS: July 22
Our next new member service project at SOS, 1500 Arlington Avenue will be Tuesday, July 22nd from 5:30-7:30pm. For those of you that have attended, feel free to come back. For those of you that have not made it, I hope you are able to, as this is a fantastic opportunity to give back and meet some of your fellow Rotarians. Come ready to have some fun, pack medical supplies, and you might even shed a tear when you learn about how this fantastic organization is changing people's lives. Learn more HERE.
Register HERE.
District 6710 Conference Early Bird Rate Deadline: April 25
We will be celebrating the Magic of Rotary at the Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville on May 16-17 for District Conference 2025! Be prepared to be inspired, entertained and motivated; click HERE for the schedule.
- Keynote Speakers: Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey's and Past Rotary International President Mark Maloney
- Entertainment: Professional magicians, live music, and basket auction Hoptown-style to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation
- Special Event: Friday evening, we will be hosted by DG Dale Leatherman's home club, the Rotary Club of Hopkinsville, at Casey Jones Distillery. The event features an outdoor barbeque, special cocktails, distillery tours, live music, and more
- Service Project: Love the Hungry - Saturday morning
- Favorites: Speech Contest and 10 dynamic breakout sessions
Rotarian in the Spotlight: Cheryl Kersey
This one's a little different! Cheryl Kersey will be teaching workshops on Fiber Grading (May 17) and Gardening with Wool (May 18) at the Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival in Lexington!
Rotarian in the Spotlight: Kristy Flippins Bartlett
Congrats to Kristy Flippins Bartlett on being selected as a finalist for the Today's Woman 2025 Most Admired Woman Award in the Non-Profit Leadership category.
You can see all the finalists and vote HERE or you can go directly to her page HERE (one vote per hour per email address through noon on May 2nd). Let's show her some Rotary love!
Events & Opportunities: Kentucky To The World
What: Spectacle of Excess: Wrestling As American Performance Art
Organization: Kentucky To The World
Date/Time: June 11, 5:30 pm
Location: Speed Art Museum Grant Hall, 2035 S 3rd St
Description: Step into the world of suplexes, over-the-top personas, and body-slamming storytelling at this one-of-a-kind live experience inside an actual ring, featuring WWE legend and OVW operator Al Snow in conversation with Sam Ford, board chair of Kentucky to the World and the only person to have taught a course on U.S. professional wrestling at MIT.
More information: Click HERE
Member to contact: Ken Grossman, [email protected]
Events & Opportunities: NEW Showcase
What: NEW Showcase of Entrepreneurial Women
Organization: Network of Entrepreneurial Women
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 11, 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Location: The Olmsted
Description: Join NEW as we showcase the amazing entrepreneurial women of our community with an evening of fabulous networking, entertainment, food, drinks, door prizes and presentation of the 2025 Cliff Elgin Award. We will spotlight some young entrepreneurs as well. See photos from last year's event HERE.
More information: Click HERE
Member to contact: Cliff Elgin or Marisa Neal
OUR VISION:
To be Louisville’s premier fellowship of business, professional and civic leaders dedicated to selfless humanitarian and civic service, improving lives in our ever-changing community and the world.
OUR MISSION:
To provide a fellowship of inspired business, professional and civic leaders with exceptional opportunities for humanitarian and civic service, while promoting integrity, understanding and goodwill on a local, national and worldwide basis. We achieve our mission by:
- Developing a strong, growing and active membership that reflects the diversity of vocations and people in our community.
- Strengthening finances to support the club and to carry out the civic, vocational and international service projects that meet the needs of the community and the world.
- Building a dedicated, well-trained and energized leadership team to guide the club and to support the District and Rotary International.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION:
The Rotary Club of Louisville’s mission is to provide a fellowship of inspired business, professional and civic leaders with exceptional opportunities for humanitarian and civic service, while promoting integrity, understanding and goodwill on a local, national, and worldwide basis.
We, as a club, cannot achieve our mission without acknowledging the inequalities in our country and our community, specifically for Black and minority Americans.
We celebrate diversity and equality. We continue to foster supportive programs for our community. We will be tenacious in creating new, innovative solutions to address community needs.
We strongly believe everyone should be heard, be respected, and be supported.
Yes, we still have much work to do. But our club is passionate in addressing these issues. Together, we can continue to foster peace, justice, and #EquityForAll.
Adopted January 2021
CORE VALUES & GUIDING PRINCIPLES
These core values are reflected in the Object of Rotary and The Four Way Test which we use in our daily lives. Adopted June 2012
SERVICE
We believe that our service activities and programs improve lives and communities and bring about greater understanding and peace. Through the plans and actions of our Club, we create a culture of service that not only benefits the recipients but also provides unparalleled satisfaction for those who serve.
FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship leads to tolerance and transcends racial, national and other limiting boundaries. This broadens our lives and perspectives and strengthens our ability to serve.
DIVERSITY
We believe Rotary unifies all people behind the ideal of service. We encourage diversity of vocations within our membership and in our activities and service work. Our membership reflects our business and professional community and is a key to our Club’s success.
INTEGRITY
We are committed to and expect accountability from our leaders and fellow members, both in the results of our efforts and in the processes we use to accomplish our goals. We adhere to high ethical and professional standards in our work and personal relationships. We are fair and respectful in our interactions, and we conscientiously steward the resources entrusted to us.
LEADERSHIP
We are a fellowship of leaders and believe in offering our members lifelong opportunities to develop their leadership capabilities in service to others. As Rotarians, we are leaders in implementing our core values.