Club President Blanche Parks lists the many accomplishments of our club this past year that helped the Downtown Topeka Rotary Club earn the Presidential Citation Award.

The Topeka Downtown Rotary Club and its partners kicked off the Solemates Project yesterday and according to Jessica Goubeaux, one of the event organizers, " The project was a hit!" 

Group Study Exchange 2013 - District 5710/District 9200

Group Study Exchange  is Rotary’s International Exchange Program for Young Professionals. The GSE team will visit District 5710  April 28 – May 28, 2013, and will be in Topeka Thursday May 9 - Sunday, May 12.  The team is from East Africa and all are medical professionals.  There are two opportunities to meet and visit with the team while they are in Topeka.   

·         All members are invited to attend the GSE Welcome Reception, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Blue Moose Bar & Grill, 3030 SW Wanamaker Road, Thursday May 9^th.   This event is open to all Rotary Club members and their guests who would like to meet the GSE team, and no reservations are required. Cash bar.   

·         If you would like to see the GSE team program you are invited to attend the South Topeka Rotary Club meeting at 7:15 a.m. Friday May 10^th.  The South Club needs to know how many extras will be coming so that they can plan for seating and food service.  If you want to attend the South Club meeting please notify Roger Underwood runderwood@communitybanktopeka.com by Monday, May 6^th. The South Topeka Rotary Club meets in the Washburn Memorial Union. Breakfast will cost $10.

District 9200 comprises the six East African countries Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The geographical variation ranges from beautiful coastal beaches (both in Kenya and Tanzania), to Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and Lake Victoria, the largest fresh water lake in Africa. The Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo - still roam our vast savannahs and bush land. The equator passes through Kenya and Uganda. The total population of all five countries is about 130 million in an area of 3,139,000 sq kms.

The Downtown Topeka Rotary was a co-sponsor of the Peace Forum at Kansas State University on February 23, 2013. The Forum sponsors were the Manhattan  Konza  Rotary Club and  Manhattan Rotary Club. 

Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka, challenged all Rotary clubs to sponsor at least one peace forum during the 2012-13 year. Tanaka established “Peace Through Service” as the theme for Rotary International and asked Rotary clubs worldwide to host Peace Forums discussing how their respective communities could effectively contribute to peace and conflict resolution.  Our club surpassed the challenge by sponsoring or co-sponsoring a total of six Peace activities.                                                                         

President Blanche served on the Manhattan conference planning committee.  Larry Dimmit served as a panelist on a panel session titled, “Humanitarian Assistance Projects”. 

The keynote speaker was Mary Eisenhower, Granddaughter of Former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  She is President & CEO of People to People International. This organization is dedicated to “peace through understanding”.         

The purpose of the Peace Forum was to help educate and heighten awareness of people of all ages, backgrounds and interests regarding peace related issues.  Participation in the event helped to empower attendees with new knowledge and understanding of how each of us can contribute to a more peaceful world through their local, state and international community.  Session topics included peace related student and citizen exchanges and study abroad programs, peace related service and projects abroad, peace and conflict resolution in our schools & communities, peace advocacy groups and efforts, peacekeeping matters related to diplomatic and military service. 

At the request of the Downtown Topeka Rotary, City of Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten proclaimed February 23, 2013 as Peace Day in the City. 

(Topeka) - The Topeka Rotary Foundation is issuing a Request for Proposals to award grants totaling $15,000 within the next few months. 

             The Foundation is the charitable gifting arm of the Topeka Rotary Club (downtown), and has recently adopted a new approach to gifting and civic support, said Joanie Underwood, chair of the foundation’s gifting committee.