Club news for May 25, 2024 | Community Info

The chaplain, Doreen Burnett, sent a sympathy card to Diane Long’s granddaughter with a note saying that a memorial has been sent to the Johnson Cancer Research Center. $250 was donated in Diane’s name.

Dianna Horner announced Emily Stebbins and Chase Phillips as this year’s scholarship winners. Each will receive $500.

Susan Bergsten announced that Poppy Day ended with $3,511.76 in donations. The group is donating $200 to the American Legion Riders Legacy run, which raises money for the Legacy Foundation Scholarship Fund (a child and youth program).

For the Memorial Day program, President Dana Pierce will read the address “In Flanders Fields.” Carol Zeitvogel announced that Master Landscape recently finished its project under the flag poles on the north side of the building. The Legion will place a plaque there in the future, honoring a member who passed away recently.

Bonfire 4-H

At the May Bonfire 4-H meeting, two committees met to discuss Family Fun Night and Club Tour. During New Business, it was voted to make and exhibit a club banner at the county fair and to decorate a window for the window decorating competition. The Riley County Fair theme “Sew It, Grow It, Show It” will be incorporated into both banner and window decoration.

There were two presentations. Henry demonstrated how to play a ukulele and Jameson talked about the benefits of forensics class in 4-H.

Lions Club

The Manhattan Lions Club met May 7 in the Blue Hills Room. The meeting was called to order by President Diana Chapel at 6:15 p.m. with 19 members present. Lion Preston Chapel led everyone in singing “God Bless America” followed by “Lions Roar.” After saying the Pledge of Allegiance, Lion Duane Sherwood gave the invocation.

Lion Mickey Keithley gave the April Vision Screening Report. 98 were screened with Lions Pat Strathman and Kay Carothers assisting Al and Mickey Keithley. The Kansas State Lions convention will be held May 31 and June 1 in Lawrence. Lion Duaine Sherwood will receive the Melvin Jones Award to be presented by the Lions International president.

Two Manhattan High students were selected to receive Lion scholarships for 2024. They were Allison Cloyd and Macey Pecenka. Congratulations to both students. Lion Dave Schafer arranged the Lions sponsorship of youth teams for softball and baseball.

The program was presented by Lions Joe, Carol and Michael Ott on the Harvesters’ Mobile Food Distributions. There are four distributions in Manhattan and one in Ogden monthly. The Harvesters also serve several at K-State during the fall and spring semesters. Harvesters out of Topeka and Kansas City serve 12 counties in Missouri and 16 in Kansas. Food that is primarily donated is produce and bread items. Volunteers do the distributions for people coming from the surrounding areas. The next meeting will be June 4 in the Blue Hills Room.

Manhattan Rotary Club

Greeters were Julie Hostetler and Charlie Hughes. Guests of Rotarians were Susie Grier, Maureen Hinkin and Jermain Glasper. Dean Henricks from Sacramento CA was a visiting Rotarian. President Mitzi presented the “big check” to Deb Kluttz, Director of Homestead Ministries. Deb shared that since July 2012, 85 women have completed the program at the Manhattan or Salina campuses. The big need now is for funds and a home to support women who have experienced ritual abuse, comprising 30% of those who are trafficked. The Community Cares Chest supported twelve nonprofits last week.

Daryn Soldan introduced Shelia Ellis-Glasper, CEO of SEG Media Collective and Executive Director of the Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills (BEFH), a 501 © 3. With a vision of Progress and Prosperity, Sheila shared statistics on the wealth gap among black and white families, wage discrepancies and what this means in terms of prosperity in a community. The BEFH have 110 members in Manhattan and Junction City with an economic impact of $3.5 million. Entrepreneurs range from food truck owners to relators. Six of the 110 Black entrepreneurs are working with Hy-Vee to promote their products. Tres, the son of Sheila and Jermain, is the mastermind behind the Tre’s Squeeze beverage. The four-point plan for the BEFH is to champion, boost, deliver and drive. When black entrepreneurs thrive, the entire community thrives. The work of the BEFH includes providing microloans, funding scholarships, providing training and development and one on one consultations for Black owned businesses.

Sponsors of BEFH includes WTC, the Kaufman Foundation, GMCF and many others. The community can support BEHF by supporting black owned businesses, belonging to the Circle of Community and engaging with BEHF members. In Sheila’s honor, the children’s book, Cape, will be given to the Lee Elementary School Library.

Manhattan Solar Kiwanis

The Manhattan Solar Kiwanis Club met at noon on May 21 at the Blue Hills Room. There were 11 members present. Club President Karl Dean led the meeting. Chad Tepe led the song, Cheryl Jones led the pledge and Vera Williams gave the invocation.

Announcements were led by President Dean. Vera W. has set up an interclub meeting with the Junction City Noon Club on Wednesday, June 12, at the Pizza Hut in Junction City. She is looking for three Solarians to accompany her to that meeting. Charlie Sargent and Cheryl Jones indicated that they could go so Vera is looking for one more. Our club is once again sponsoring a girls’ 5th and 6th grade City League softball team. All Solarians have been sent a file showing the roster and the schedule of games. Our team is the Solar Kiwanis River Cats, and the next game is Tuesday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. It will be played on Field 4 at the Twin Oaks softball complex in Anneberg Park. Chad Tepe has set up a SignUp Genius account to keep track of those who are helping at our July 4 pancake breakfast. This is our biggest fundraiser and we need everyone’s helping to make it successful. Just Google “signupgenius.com” and enter Chad’s email (chad.tepe@sbcglobal.net) or just let Chad know what time slot(s) you can work.

President Dean called upon Solarian Charlie Sargent to present the program. Sargent introduced Diane Hoobler who talked about the Zeandale Community Center Park Project. Zeandale is an unincorporated community with 13 residents about 7 miles east of Manhattan on Kansas Highway 18. The town had a rundown 1950s schoolhouse that needed to be restored or torn down. An engineer said it was beyond repair so they tore it down. Some citizens in Zeandale and the surrounding area wanted to build a park and set about writing grant proposals and having fundraisers. These efforts were spearheaded by Diane Hoobler and her husband. The park has a new volunteer fire station and a playground for children. They are planning to build a community house, pickleball and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a soccer field, picnic tables and other shaded amenities. The goal is to provide a meeting place for the Zeandale community, families and friends. People can donate to the Friends of Zeandale Community through the Wamego Community Foundation and the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation.

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 Tuesday, May 28, and Solarian Karl Kandt will introduce Donna Price who is the Junction City Convention and Visitors Bureau director. Contact Secretary Doug Ackley (rda@ksu.edu or 785-539-4945) if you have any questions.

Welcome Club of Manhattan

The Welcome Club of Manhattan met May 16 at the Blue Hills Room for the monthly luncheon and meeting with Past President Carolee Fairbanks presiding.

Dr. Danelle Perry, a physician at Stonecreek Family Physicians, presented the program on Walk with a Doc. The free health talk and walk at one’s own pace occurs the first Saturday of the month. Following Dr. Perry’s talk members introduced themselves and shared brief personal information.

Janet Silva and Eula Mae Galati are new members. Carolee presented a long-stemmed rose to birthday celebrant Linda Ford.

June activities include First Tuesday Bunko June 4; Third Monday Bunko June 17; Fourth Monday Bunko June 24; Hand and Foot cards June 13 and 27; Bridge June 28; Book Club June 11; Coffee Tyme June 14; Mexican Train June 25. The June luncheon will be held at the Blue Hills Room June 20.

The Welcome Club is open to all new and current members of the Manhattan community. For more information call Sharon Zierlein, membership chair, at 785-282-0594 for club activities or reservations.