American
Association
Of University
Women
The AAUW Manhattan Branch meeting took place on April 8, at the Manhattan Public Library. President Usha Reddi reviewed the recent successful International Women’s Day celebration.
On May 13, we will celebrate this year’s AAUW programs, events, and members. Usha issued a call to action to work on our 10th anniversary of IWD in 2025 for which we want a prominent female speaker, multiple days and activities, and collaboration with the community and the college for a wide participation.
Although some commitments have been secured, new officers are needed for next year, a president-elect and a webmaster to manage the branch’s social media, website, and photographs. Members are asked to consider candidates or themselves.
Lynn Ewanow, co-vice president of the Branch AAUW program committee, introduced Dr. Rana Johnson who is Kansas State University’s inaugural vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Dr. Johnson, even though she is here to guide K-State’s future in DEIB, began with K-State’s history of inclusion, pointing out that as the first land grant college, it was at the forefront of admitting female students and people of color in the late 1800s. George Washington Owens, the first black male student, graduated with distinction in 1899; Minnie Howell Champe was the first black woman to graduate from K-State in 1901. The first African-American male graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1912 and the first female graduated in 1932.
At K-State during the Civil Rights Movement years, many renown leaders spoke. Among them were Harry Golden, Shirley Chisholm, Betty Friedan, Charles Evers, Gordon Parks, Ralph Abernathy, Carl Rowan, Dick Gregory, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. President James McCain was instrumental in inviting these convocation speakers to guide students in problem solving and critical thinking skills.
K-State President Richard Linton’s Next-Gen Strategic plan was launched in 2023. Strategic Imperative No. 3 will provide every degree-seeking student with applied learning experiences to help them work with diverse groups and diverse individuals within and beyond their discipline. High impact practices will include internships, undergraduate research, participation in judging and design teams, on-campus employment, education abroad, and student organizations. From these they will gain the skills to engage and interact with the diverse population of the world.
Kansas State University has many success support services for students, among them First Lady Sally Linton’s committee for promoting mental health, Lafene Health Center, the food pantry for students known as the Cats’ Cupboard, alcohol and drug education courses, a counseling center, a travel clinic, CPR classes, and the Bandana Project.
The May 13 AAUW Manhattan Branch meeting will be at the Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills, 6 p.m. for dinner. https://manhattan-ks.aauw.net/
East Central KS Model T Club
The East Central Kansas Model T Club meets the second Thursday of the month. The ECKMT’s will meet at 6:30 p.m. on May 9 in the conference room of the Burlington Library. The library is located on U.S. Highway 75 in Burlington. The main entree and drinks will be provided. Please bring a side dish to share with the meal which will be eaten before the meeting.
The meetings are a time to share experiences and information about the cars and car projects. In addition members will share information on the work day, the national meeting in Oklahoma City, the recent tour out of Manhattan and the 30th anniversary of the club and party.
The ECKMT’s is a family organization and a chapter of the not for profit National Model T Club of America. Owning a Model T is not a requirement for membership. All meetings are open to the public. Please feel free to visit. For additional information call Bud Redding at 785-733-2124.
Manhattan Duplicate Bridge Club
Elizabeth Jankord and Amit Chakrabarti won the Charity Club Championship at the Manhattan Duplicate Bridge Club April 29. Linda Schottler and Mory Mort were second. Katie Philp and Kathleen Oldfather were third in flight A and first in flight B. Pat and Tom O’Grady were fourth and second, and Georgia Reynolds and Nancy Gugler were third in flight B.
The Duplicate Bridge group meets each Monday at 1 p.m. at the Seniors’ Center. All bridge players are welcome. For more information or partnerships, call Pam at 785-456-3117.
Manhattan Lions Club
The Manhattan Lions Club met April 2, in the Blue Hills Room. President Diana Chapel called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. with 18 members and 3 guests present. Lion Preston Chapel led everyone in singing “God Bless America” followed by “Lions Roar” before members said the Pledge of Allegiance. Lion Carol Hockersmith gave the Invocation.
The club acknowledged Carol Ott’s birthday. Arlene Sherwood, Kay Carothers, Al and Mickey Keithley conducted vision screening for 78 children in March. The Lions annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 30 was a huge success. Thanks to Lion Kent Oleen for chairing this event with his wife Lana and family assisting as well as Lion Dave Schafer. We could not have done this event without all the Lions who helped and the wonderful Easter bunny.
The Highway clean-up took place April 20 on Zeandale Road. It was chaired by Alan Van Nahmen. Lion Chris Wilson gave a program on plastic recycling. He said it takes 1,000 pounds of plastic to make one bench. So far 5 benches have been made with our collection by the NexTrex company. Some of these benches have been donated to the Sunset Zoo. Another Trex bench has been donated to the School for the Blind in memory of Lion Anne Nielsen.
Following the program election of officers was held for 2024-25. Lion Duaine Sherwood will receive the Melvin Jones award at the Kansas State Convention on May 31 in Lawrence by the Lions International President.
The meeting was adjourned following singing Smile True Lions. The next meeting will be May 7 in the Blue Hills Room.
Manhattan Rotary Club
President Mitzi recognized guest Monte Miller, who relocated to Manhattan from Colorado. His grandfather is A.Q. Miller, the namesake for the School of Media and Communications. George Ham introduced returning member Andy Bowen, senior tax manager with Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd, LLC. On Earth Day, Deans and Rotarians Culbertson and Petrescu with Rotaractors planted trees on the K-State campus. Vice President Chris Culbertson gave the Polio Plus update. The club has contributed $3,550 towards our $5,000 annual goal for Polio Plus. Chris emphasized that analytical technology of waste streams is improving the environmental monitoring of vulnerable locations for the polio virus in the world.
Sue Maes introduced the program speaker, Aaron Stewart, the Manhattan Parks and Recreation director. Aaron discussed the department’s efforts to address community recreation needs while managing escalating expenditures, highlighting the potential for expanding program revenue. He shared public data supporting the construction of an aquatic center within Manhattan City Park along with updates for Northview and Northeast Community parks. He emphasized the importance of parks in creating and supporting a healthy community. In honor of Aaron’s presentation, the club will donate the children’s book “Bears are Best” to the Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School library.
In other news, the Staley School of Leadership recognized K-State’s Rotaract Club as the Kansas State University Outstanding Student Organization of the Year. Mitzi thanked Katharine Hensler for organizing the new member orientation.
The Community Cares Chest program is paused, with volunteers to be notified via email upon the next product delivery. President Mitzi extended gratitude to all Grow Green Match Day donors for their contributions to the GMCF Rotary Fund supporting local nonprofit services.
Solar Kiwanis Club
The Manhattan Solar Kiwanis Club met at noon on April 30, at the Blue Hills Room. There were 8 members present. Club President Karl Dean led the meeting. Charlie Sargent led the song, Doug Denning led the pledge and Cheryl Jones gave the invocation.
We had one club member with a birthday before our next weekly meeting: Steve Bartle on May 1, and we had one club member with an anniversary before our next weekly meeting: Chad Tepe and Stacie on May 4.
Club treasurer Jim Bach’s mother passed away last Monday night. Arrangements are pending. Your Solar Kiwanis Board of Directors have approved a Slate of Officers for our 2024-2025 year beginning Oct. 1. On our May 7, meeting we will hold an election for the officers. The offices and officers that have been nominated are: President Treavor Heeney, President-elect Ron Jackson, Vice President/Assistant Secretary Doug Denning, Vice President/Newsletter Editor Greg Doering, Secretary Doug Ackley, Treasurer Jim Bach, at-large board members through Sept. 30, 2026 Veral Williams and Cheryl Jones. If any Solarian wants to nominate someone for any position, please let Secretary Doug know and we will have to have a runoff election. Solar Kiwanis Board of Directors meeting is May 15, at noon at the Bluestem Bistro in Aggieville. All Solarians are welcome to attend.
Solarian Ron Williams had a mild stroke last weekend. Keep Ron in your thoughts and prayers. Solarian Vera Williams has lined up an interclub meeting on May 6, with the Marysville Kiwanis Club. We will leave Manhattan at 10:45 a.m. from the west end of Marshall’s in Westloop. President Dean opened the discussion about possible service projects our club could undertake. He also mentioned increasing participation with the Royal Family Kids Camp, such as assisting the Manhattan Wonder Workshop, helping with the new playground in Zeandale and partnering with the Evening Kiwanis Club on a combined project.
Solar Kiwanis President-elect Ron Jackson would like to see our club organizing community activities on “quasi holidays” such as Groundhog Day or April Fool’s Day. Further discussion will ensue at the May 2024 Solar Kiwanis Board of Directors meeting. Solar Kiwanis meets at noon at the Blue Hills Room next to RC McGraw’s in the Blue Hills Shopping Center. Our next weekly meeting will be May 7, and Solarian Suzanne Ryan-Numrich will talk about the Taiwan Agricultural Youth Exchange project. Contact Secretary Doug Ackley (rda@ksu.edu or 785-539-4945) if you have any questions.
