The April 24th meeting at noon at the University Club will feature Jimmy Kirchdorfer, CEO, ISCO Industries.

"Pipe Dreams"

ISCO CEO Jimmy Kirchdorfer, a member of the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame, discusses how his family business in golf course irrigation grew into a global piping solutions provider, and at the same time helped bring professional golf to Louisville. From purchasing Valhalla in 2022, hosting the 2024 PGA Championship, landing the 2028 Solheim Cup, and becoming the title sponsor of the ISCO Championship (a PGA Tour event to be held at Hurstbourne Country Club this summer), Jimmy will share about the journey of bringing professional golf to his hometown.

The buffet opens at 11:30am and the program begins at noon. The menu is spaghetti with meatballs; a salad with grilled chicken or a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.

Please register by Monday, April 21st HERE.

**Rotarians - come a little early if you are interested in getting the scoop on Rotary Grants (more info 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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TL;DR Come at 11:30 am for lunch on Thursdays, and learn about: Grants (April 24) and Rotary Youth Exchange (May 15)

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 first opportunity will be Thursday, April 24th, and the topic will be focused on Grants. This won't be a training session, but just a casual conversation while you eat about how grants work in our local club, our district and globally; who can apply; what types of grants are likely to be approved, how they are funded, etc. It will last about 15-20 minutes, until our meeting begins. 

We'll do it again on Thursday, May 15th, discussing the Rotary Youth Exchange program: short-term and long-term exchanges, inbound and outbound programs, who is eligible, host family responsibilities, etc.

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.

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The April 10th meeting at the University Club featured Deborah Bilitski, President & Executive Director of Waterfront Park. President-Elect Ken Selvaggi shared the invocation and Herbert Johnson led the pledge and 4-Way Test. Waterfront Park Board Secretary Kevin Fields, Sr. introduced Deborah.



You can view the recording on our YouTube channel and view the slides HERE. Click HERE for the recent Sparks story about Playport. Provide feedback about the meeting HERE. 

The April 17th meeting at the University Club featured Deputy Mayor David James & Misty Wright, Executive Director of Community Safety. Steve Rungwerth shared the invocation and Darrell Fuller led the pledge and 4-Way Test. Fred Cowan presented an update on the work of our Gun Violence Reduction Subcommittee (of the Community Impact Committee) and was presented with the Rotary Service Above Self Award by Jean West (see story HERE) before introducing the speakers. Our Club was the first to hear the presentation about the SAFE LOUISVILLE Comprehensive Violence Reduction Plan, announced at a news conference just a few hours prior to our very timely meeting.

Also at the meeting, Alisa Gray, Chair of the Lifeline Committee, presented a "big check" to Lisa Schardein and Karen Buchanan with First Hour Grief Response (see story HERE).



You can view the recording on our YouTube channel. Provide feedback about the meeting HERE. 

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It’s such a challenge when considering recipients for the Rotary Service Above Self award, because all of us, as Rotarians, are ALL about “Service Above Self.” In fact, for most of us, that is the driving force behind our participation in Rotary. We serve on committees and do philanthropic good with gifts of time and treasure. We make a difference within this club, in our greater community, and indeed around the world with some of our international work.

There are some Rotarians that just stand out even among great servant leaders. Fred Cowan is one of those people.

Past President Jean West presented the award at our April 17th meeting. You can listen to her remarks HERE.

Click Read More to see some of the comments shared about Fred by fellow Rotarians.

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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.


 

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Larry Sloan and I were pleased to present a "big check" to Lisa Schardein and Karen Buchanan with First Hour Grief Response, for a grant sponsored by our Lifeline Committee to support grief therapy for youth who have experienced trauma due to violence. You can see the remarks by Karen and Lisa in the recording HERE and view the slides HERE. Learn more about the youth workshops and other grief services HERE.

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Thanks to the Rotary Social Activities Committee for planning our outing at the Cub House/Snow Leopard Pass. It was a gorgeous afternoon full of sunshine, carrots...and a camel! See the video of Rotarians feeding the camel HERE.



Dan Maloney shared about the Kentucky Trails expansion and the return of the zoo train, the upcoming elephant move to Tennessee, and more!

Thanks to Robert Chatham for sponsoring this event!

 

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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.

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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!
 

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Our Lifeline Committee is sponsoring a Kentucky Humane Society CARE-a-van pet wellness day at Louisville Central Community Center (1300 W Muhammad Ali Blvd) on April 25th from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. The CARE-a-van mobile veterinary clinic visits neighborhoods throughout Kentucky to provide affordable pet care. Services currently include vaccines, heartworm tests, microchips, flea/tick and heartworm preventatives, and nail trims, pet wellness exams and spay/neuter surgery.

If this date doesn't work, there are many volunteer opportunities. We'd love to have you join us for "Date with a Dog" at KHS's Sam Swope TLC Campus, 241 Steedly Drive. No need to go through orientation for this. Behavior staff will get you set up for success with one of their adorable adoptable pups. You can take them out on a walk, to a dog-friendly store or to a home/workplace to relax and play. You can do the date by yourself or in pairs if interested. Please sign up by emailing [email protected].
 

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The Rotaract Club of Louisville has a new Board for the 2025–2026 Rotary year:

President Jackie Pena
Vice President Blaise Gbadago
Treasurer Reilly Dowell
Secretary Caroline Davis
Communications Director Ashish Gogi

I am blessed to serve as an advisor to this committed, talented group of Rotarians and to work alongside Rick Harned in this endeavor. The Club had a successful "re-start" year and will begin planning the year ahead at the next meeting. If you are interested in learning more or recommended someone for membership, just let me know.
 

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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.

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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.

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Craig Scherman will host his annual party for members and their guests at his beautiful home in Anchorage (1208 Evergreen Rd) on Sunday, June 8th, from 4:00-7:30pm. Come enjoy dinner, an open bar, live music, beautiful views, great conversation and a whole lotta fun! Watch for the RSVP link soon.


 

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It is that time again when Honor Flight Bluegrass needs your help. There will be 84 veterans flying to DC on May 13th. Just like back in the day when they were serving, "mail call" is one of their absolute favorite parts of the day...and your words of gratitude are everlasting for them!

Cards/letters must be received by Tuesday, April 29:
Honored Veteran
c/o Greg Dillon
806 Cannons Ln
Louisville KY 40207

You are welcome to take to a meeting and give them to Delene or Tracy if you prefer.

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. Click Read More below for more info.

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During Mayor Greenberg’s State of the City address to Rotary on January 30th, he mentioned the new partnership between Rotary and Brightside to help make Louisville cleaner and safer. The goal of the partnership is to have at least 25 Rotarians serve as a Team Lead to create a cleanup event around their business or in an area with a litter problem. 

Brightside will provide trash bags and gloves for your cleanup event and coordinate pickup of the filled bags after your event with the Clean Collaborative. While Brightside’s Community Wide Cleanup day is scheduled on Saturday, April 19th, you are welcome to hold your cleanup event any time during the month of April.

How do you get involved?

1. Register at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/brightside/brightside-wm-community-wide-cleanup
2. Determine your cleanup area or ask Brightside to help you find an area of need
3. Recruit your coworkers, friends, and/or family members to help volunteer
4. On the day of your cleanup, remember to take a group photo so we can share and celebrate on social media

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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.



 

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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

President Nominee Barbara Sexton Smith has been appointed the interim director of the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) system beginning April 28. A national search is underway for a permanent LFPL director, led by Deputy Mayor Nicole George and Chief of Staff David Kaplan. Read more HERE.
 

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Our Rotary Club was WELL represented at the 2025 LeadingBetter™ Summit! Of course, our Corporate members from Leadership Louisville Center (Cynthia Knapek, Aaron Miller, and Paul Bolton) knocked it out of the park. Thanks to Kristen Byrd and Corporate member PNC for being the Presenting Sponsor. It was a real treat to have a follow-up Q&A session with LinkedIn VP & Editor-in-Chief Daniel Roth after the summit.


 

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Congratulations to Michelle Black White, who competed in the inaugural StoryFest storytelling competition and received a grant of $8,000 for her "On the Bright Side" story. 

This event, held at the Ali Center on the second anniversary of the tragic Old National Bank mass shooting, was created by Maryanne Elliott and the Tommy Elliott Fund for Community Leadership, in partnership with the Leadership Louisville Ignite program, to "reclaim the day for hope and unity in our community." See story HERE.

Six nonprofit leaders shared their stories, three of which are represented in our club: Brightside Foundation, The Healing Place and the Louisville Orchestra. Barbara Sexton Smith served as a mentor for one of the storytellers.  Again, our Rotary Club was well-represented in the room!

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Congrats to Kent Oyler and his wife Kathy on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent Metro United Way 2025 Community Impact Awards. The "IMMIE" award recognizes those who have demonstrated an unwavering lifelong commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism, and advocacy, embodying the core values of Metro United Way.

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Watch this interview with Dan Maloney as the Louisville Zoo and our community celebrate elephants Punch and Mikki before they head to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

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Congratulations to Cindy Collier on being honored as one of the 2025 Enterprising Women at the recent Business Women First Luncheon.

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Congrats to Charlie Todd on being selected for the Leadership Kentucky ELEVATE Class of 2025.

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DeVone Holt recently spoke to the Lexington Rotary Club.

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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!

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Di Tran's new book, which he states is: "...a love letter to my children—Jayden, Skylar, and Dylan—and a message for anyone who’s ever felt pressure to prove, perform, or rush through life..." is now published and FREE to read HERE.


 

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You may recall the recent spotlight highlighting Rotary Leadership Fellow Amalia Gamez Guerra's partner Humberto Lahera, whose artwork was chosen for the 2025 Woodford Reserve commemorative Derby bottle (view it HERE).  



 

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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!

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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]

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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

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