This week's meeting at noon at the University Club, will feature Alli Truttmann, Founder and CEO of Wicked Technologies.
"No Rest for the Wicked; A Founder's Story"
Being an entrepreneur is jokingly described as giving it your all: "blood, sweat, and tears". In this case, come hear Alli share how building a business based on sweat led to a new calling and true passion through perseverance and a customer-centric mentality.
The RSVP deadline has passed for this event; email admin@louisvillerotary.org if you would like to attend.
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:
Alli Truttmann is the founder and CEO of Wicked Technologies, a smart bedding company based in Louisville, Kentucky. The company's first product, Wicked Sheets, earned the coveted title of "Best in Sheets: Cooling" award by Good Housekeeping, and then Truttmann won a spot selling her product on QVC. Truttmann pivoted the company's core product focus after suffering supply chain disruption during the pandemic and promptly began R & D on washable smart incontinence pads. The Wicked Smart Pad was originally designed to meet the needs of her aging grandmother who suffered issues related to incontinence and bedsores. Wicked Technologies has been awarded $490k in grant funding from the NIH and the Commonwealth of Kentucky to continue developing the Wicked Smart Pad. Wicked Technologies closed a $1.5M equity round at the end of March.
Alli holds degrees from Bellarmine University and the University of Louisville, in Child Psychology and Personal Training. Alli is an adjunct professor in the Psychology Department at Bellarmine University.
The April 25th meeting at noon at the University Club will feature Rob Givens, Retired USAF.
"A World at War: How Does it all End and What Does it Mean to You"
The world is experiencing warfare on a level it has not seen since the 20th century. Major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have brought the world to the brink of global conflict. Rob will discuss the military realities and policy implications of the ongoing struggles and how they impact us here in Louisville.
The menu will be oven-roasted salmon with spinach orzo and a lemon cream sauce; a salad with grilled chicken or a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.
RSVP by NOON on Monday, April 22nd 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:
Louisville native Rob Givens serves as State Director for U.S. Senator Rand Paul. In this role, Rob is responsible for leading the official staff in the Commonwealth and providing advice and coordination on legislation that benefits constituents.
Rob graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986 and achieved the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in 2013 after serving his country for 27 years in the United States Air Force. During his military career he became a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in the F-16 and A/O A-10. Rob is a combat veteran with more than 100 career combat sorties in Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and was twice decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in action against Iraq. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and flew as the Right Wing for the USAF Thunderbirds. His commands included the 35th Fighter Squadron, the 56th Operations Group and the historic 8th Fighter Wing - the Wolfpack.
Besides an impressive flying career, Rob also gained valuable experience at the senior executive level of the national security process in several key assignments. He served as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of U.S. Forces Korea. In his final deployment, Rob was responsible for day-to-day combat air operations in the Middle East, where he held the position of Director, Combined Air and Space Operations Center, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southwest Asia.
Rob is a graduate of the School of Advanced Air Power Studies and the National War College. He has attended executive level education programs at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In January 2015, Rob served as the national security advisor to the Rand Paul for Senate Campaign and as an independent advisor on defense issues with both the public and private sector. In 2017, Rob assumed the role of Executive Director of the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship helping develop leaders of the future for our Republic. Rob was selected for his current role in July of 2019.
By: Walt L. KunauJoin us for our Middle School Literacy Project as we read and discuss a book with 8th grade students at the West End School. You will be amazed and enriched by the accomplishments of these students and this school!
We meet Thursdays, April 11 - May 9, from 10:05 - 10:55 a.m.
Email Walt at wkunau@bellsouth.net or call 502.262.2792 to sign up or for more information.
West End School is a free, private, college preparatory, Pre-K through 8th grade. Admission is open to boys who are on free or reduced lunch, are capable of doing academic work at grade level or above, and who would benefit from a safe environment and high expectations. West End School strives to address all the issues which boys in our community face by creating for its students an environment of high expectations and personal responsibility. One of the main opportunities for this community is literacy. Through the school's rigorous academic and personal standards, we encourage our students to attain the highest possible level of scholarship, character, and intellectual growth.
Motto: To be a man is to be responsible. Read More
By: Kent Oyler
Rotary has secured an exclusive executive briefing and tour of GE Appliances' dishwasher factory on April 23rd. This is a great opportunity to see a state-of-the-art assembly facility and meet with senior GEA executives. In fact, GEA is encouraging potential suppliers who are Rotary members to join this tour. So, if you need a good GEA contact, or just want to see lots of cool automation, this outing is for you. The briefing and tour will run from 10:00 a.m. – Noon. Space is limited so register quickly HERE. Please note that, per GEA’s safety protocols, no canes, walkers or wheelchairs are allowed and attendees must wear closed toe and heel shoes with heels no more than 1” high.
By: Jay MalloryJoin us on April 23rd from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at SOS for our new member service project. All are welcome - this is an excellent opportunity to serve alongside and get acquainted with some of our newer members.
We will be sorting and packing supplies to be redistributed to those in need. SOS meets critical health care needs in medically impoverished communities in 106 countries around the world by collecting and distributing surplus medical supplies and equipment. Partnering with hospitals, clinics, and manufacturers to recover and redistribute what would otherwise go into local landfills, SOS promotes environmental stewardship.
Please RSVP HERE. We still have a few tickets available; email director@louisvillerotary.org if interested.
Join us for Rotary Day at the Downs for Champions Day on Wednesday, May 1. We have reserved the brand-new Silks Balcony and Loge for Champions Day. Our group will have an elevated view of the Paddock in a covered open-air setting. This area offers both dining tables and box seats. Enjoy easy access to a dedicated race viewing location in the 3rd floor Clubhouse in Section 320.
Tickets are $140 per person and include admission, racing program, 4-hour Chef's Table Buffet, coffee, tea and soft drinks, and a 4-hour OPEN BAR.
Champions Day shines a spotlight on the rich history of the Kentucky Derby and the thrilling world of thoroughbred racing. This year, we're setting the stage for an even more expansive celebration, paying tribute to the extraordinary Kentucky champions who have excelled across a diverse spectrum of sports.
Parking: Tickets include free parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center, with continuous shuttles to/from the Paddock Gate at Churchill Downs.
By: Jay Mallory
NEW MEMBERS: Please mark your calendars for the upcoming sessions, all at NOON via Zoom. Completion of Rotary University is required for new members, so prioritize these sessions!
Click HERE to register for the May 21 noon Zoom session.
If you have any questions, reach out to me, jmallory@imagequest.com.
| March 19 |
Session 1 - What is Rotary? |
| April 16 |
Session 2 - Service Above Self |
| May 21 |
Session 3 - Rotary Honors Scholars |
| June 11 |
Session 4 - Committees |
| July 9 |
Session 5 - Rotary Beyond the Club |
| July |
New Member Celebration / Mixer (location TBD) |
By: Gerald MartinSave the date for the next Honor Flight on May 21st - 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.
Any Rotarians interested in volunteering to help the vets depart from and return to the airport on the day of the flight should go to the website and fill out and submit the application form ASAP. A volunteer representative will then contact you to discuss the requirements and available options for the May flight.
I can be reached by email at gerald@riverhillcapital.com or by text message to 502-693-7209.
Thanks for your support in making these flights so meaningful and successful. We have hundreds of people meet the returning vets in the evening on their return from DC, but we’d love to have even more in May.
If you are interested in being a Guardian for a veteran on the flight, let me know.
Meanwhile, volunteers are needed to write some letters for Mail Call! Click Read More for info.
By: Alex E. Novak
Join the Rotary Club of Louisville's Environmental Committee on June 1 from 9 a.m. to noon for a Litter Clean-up Event at Eva Bandman Park.
It's part of the annual Ohio River Sweep volunteer clean-up that extends the entire length of the Ohio River. Volunteers from six states remove litter at multiple locations along the river and many of its tributaries.
The volunteer work makes a positive impact along the entire Ohio River Basin. Learn more: HERE.
Contact: Alex Novak, anovak@iglou.com for details and to register.
By: Steven A. EggersCommittee leaders:
Please make note that all information related to request(s) for service projects and/or grants for the 2024-2025 Rotary year must be submitted no later than May 30. Proof of completion of the mandatory training must also be provided to me by that time (seggers@knbarch.com).
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Applications for 2024-2025 Service Projects & Grants will need to be submitted in the new electronic format approved by the Rotary Board at the February meeting. Completion of a mandatory training session is required for Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs that plan to apply for projects or grants, or if someone else on the committee will be preparing the project proposal, the Chair can designate that person as the representative for their committee.
Click Read More for the overall schedule for the review and approval of Service Projects & Grants.
May: All service project applications are due online by May 30. Proposals received will be circulated online to the Service Projects & Grants Committee members.
June: Questions regarding proposals will be forwarded to Committee Chair Steve Eggers, to request clarification from the Chair of the requesting committee. In person meetings with applicant Committee Chairs may be scheduled as needed. Steve will obtain information from the Rotary Fund Board on the anticipated level of funding available for projects in 2024-2025. A spreadsheet will be created, along with brief project narratives, showing all requested projects and the Committee’s proposed level of funding, if any, for 2024-2025. Steve will advise Committee Chairs by email (with a copy to their Board Liaison) of the proposed level of funding for all submitted projects.
July: Chair Steve Eggers will present the spreadsheet and narrative to the Rotary Club Board and their recommendations will subsequently be presented to the Rotary Fund Board.
Read More 
Rotarians Kristen Byrd and President-Elect Lori Hudson Flanery were in the news recently to celebrate PNC Foundation making a $100,000 grant to New Directions' St. Benedict Center for Early Childhood Education to build a natural classroom. The grant expands the Center's current offerings and creates an immersive outdoor learning environment where children can develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world. This work builds our club's service project efforts back in 2019.
See the WDRB story HERE.
Rotarian Joyce Seymour, Retired Girl Scouts CEO, and The Zonta Club of Louisville completed 500 Birthing Kits to be sent globally by SOS to countries to help women in villages who give birth on dirt floors. By: Diane Clark CurtisWhat: Next Luncheon w/Special Guest Granger Smith
Organization: First Hour Grief Response
Date/Time: Thursday, April 18, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Description: Granger Smith is a former country music singer and songrwriter who lost his 3-year old son "River" in an accidental drowning. His book, Like A River, details his grief journey and how God used his pain for his new ministry.
More information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/next-luncheon-with-special-guest-granger-smith-tickets-832635895377
Member to contact: Diane Clark Curtis, Diane@firsthourgrief.org
Note: This section features upcoming events and opportunities to serve with our nonprofit member organizations. Submissions must be from a member (or spouse/partner) of our Club who is either an employee or board member of the organization for which the event/opportunity is being shared. Click HERE to submit.
By: Anthony L. Newberry
What: On Our Way Conference
Organization: Junior Achievement
Date/Time: April 22 - 23
Location: 1401 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Description: On April 22 - 23, JA will host more than 300 JCPS high school special needs students for a work-readiness conference. The students are from 13 different schools and will participate in a resume workshop, mock interviews, hear from career speakers and enjoy a mini career-fashion show, presented by Dress for Success.
Volunteers are needed throughout, but the largest need is for mock interviewers.
More information: Click Here.
Member to contact: Jennifer Helgeson, Jhelgeson@jaky.org, 502-262-9929
Note: This section features upcoming events and opportunities to serve with our nonprofit member organizations. Submissions must be from a member (or spouse/partner) of our Club who is either an employee or board member of the organization for which the event/opportunity is being shared. Click HERE to submit.
By: Jason PierceWhat: Leadership Luncheon For Scouting
Organization: Lincoln Heritage Council, Boy Scouts of America
Date/Time: April 23, 12:00pm
Location: The Galt House Hotel Grand Ballroom
Description: Join us for this event featuring a conversation with Jimmy Kirchdorfer, General Chair of the 2024 PGA Championship | Co-Owner, Valhalla Golf Club | Chairman & CEO, ISCO Industries
More information: https://ow.ly/KxF250QynTO
Member to contact: Jason Pierce, Jason.Pierce@scouting.org
Note: This section features upcoming events and opportunities to serve with our nonprofit member organizations. Submissions must be from a member (or spouse/partner) of our Club who is either an employee or board member of the organization for which the event/opportunity is being shared. Click HERE to submit.
By: Delene E TaylorWhat: 2024 JFCS MOSAIC Awards
Organization: Jewish Family and Career Services
Date/Time: May 14th, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Mellwood Arts Center
Description: This event honors refugees, immigrants, and first generation Americans who are leaders and changemakers in Louisville.
More information: HERE
Member to contact: Courtney Evans, cevans@jfcslouisville.org
Note: This section features upcoming events and opportunities to serve with our nonprofit member organizations. Submissions must be from a member (or spouse/partner) of our Club who is either an employee or board member of the organization for which the event/opportunity is being shared. Click HERE to submit.
By: Karen MorrisonThe Rotary Lifetime Service Award award honors a member who has exhibited a personal dedication to the pursuit of Rotary’s values in one or more of Rotary’s avenues of service. It recognizes a Rotarian’s full body of service both to Rotary and to other organizations in the community, region and beyond. Download the nomination form HERE.
We will begin accepting nominations for the Rotararian of the Year Award as we get closer to the end of our Rotary year in June.
Click below for more info and a list of criteria for nominations.
Lifetime Service Award Criteria
This award recognizes a Rotarian’s full body of service both to Rotary and to other organizations in the community, region and beyond.
This award is presented annually to a Rotarian who:
• has been a member for at least 10 years; and,
• has demonstrated a lifelong adherence to Rotary’s Service Above Self ideals.
The list of past recipients appears on page 11 of the Membership Directory; last year’s recipient was Larry Sloan
The Rotarian of the Year Award is designated for the one Rotarian in our club who clearly stands out in demonstrating "Service Above Self" and principled commitment to the Four-Way Test. A nominee should be an outstanding club member who has made significant contributions to the mission and operation of our club, and to one or more avenues of Community or International Service. This award may be given to a member who exhibits Service Above Self in their daily activities and who promotes Rotary by their actions and involvement. This may be accomplished through one major activity in club service, in multiple activities, or by serving on several committees. This person should be highly visible in the weekly activities of the club.
Rotarian of the Year Criteria
While no one can participate in every activity, be at every event or serve on every committee, the following criteria is presented to illustrate the range of things that should be considered when nominating a person for Rotarian of the Year. The decision need not be limited to these items, nor should the items on the list be considered mandatory for selection. The list of past recipients appears on page 10 of the Membership Directory; last year’s recipient was Ashley Brauer.
Club Membership and Attendance
- To be considered for nomination, the candidate must have been a member of our Rotary Club for at least 5 years.
- The nominee must be a member in good standing.
- The nominee must have active membership status.
- The nominee should have an exemplary attendance record. While perfect attendance is not a requirement, the nominee should either regularly attend our club meetings or complete make-ups when they are unable to attend.
Rotary Club Involvement
- The nominee has been involved with service projects that have been undertaken by the club through active participation and support.
- The nominee has been involved with fundraising projects that have been undertaken by the club through active participation and support.
- The nominee has participated in additional club activities that help to strengthen the camaraderie of the club, such as social events.
- The nominee has contributed to the day-to-day workings of the club by helping with the tasks necessary for the club to function effectively.
Leadership and Recruitment
- The nominee has worked on a committee for the club.
- The nominee has taken an active leadership role within the club.
- The nominee brings visitors and/or candidates for membership to the club and/or has sponsored new members.
