The Rotary Social Activities Committee is planning a special outing at the Louisville Zoo on Tuesday, April 8th, from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Cub House, which adjoins Snow Leopard Pass. Enjoy snacks (pepperoni/salami, cheeses and fruit), wine/beer**, great fellowship with Rotarians, and animal encounters! Golf carts will be available for driving tours through the zoo and to/from your vehicle (park in Outpost Parking Lot). Thanks to sponsor Robert Chatham, we are able to offer this at a price per person of $20 (if you know anything about catering events at the zoo, then you know this is a GREAT deal!).

Register HERE.

**One drink ticket per person included; then cash bar:
     Wine ($9): Z. Alexander Red Blend, Decoy Chardonnay
     Domestic Beer ($7): Miller Lite
     Craft Beer ($8): West 6th, Yuengling

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The April 10th meeting at noon at the University Club will feature Deborah Bilitski, President and Executive Director of Waterfront Park.

"Expanding Westward: Continuing the Legacy of Louisville's Waterfront with Phase IV" 

Phase IV continues the evolution of Louisville’s beloved Waterfront Park, extending its legacy westward along the Ohio River. Discover how this transformative expansion will create new opportunities for connection, recreation, and community growth.

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

Please register by Monday, April 7th 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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The April 17th meeting at noon at the University Club will feature Deputy Mayor David James along with Misty Wright, Executive Director of Community Safety, Louisville Metro Government

"Building a Safer Louisville: Collaborative Efforts to Reduce Gun Violence"

Learn about the city's comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence including current initiatives, community partnerships and actionable strategies aimed at creating a safer, more secure Louisville for all residents. Collaboration between government, law enforcement and community organizations is critical in addressing one of the most pressing issues facing our city today.

NOTE: The Gun Violence Reduction Committee will meet immediately after the regular meeting. If you are interested in being part of our work to reduce gun violence, you are welcome to join us.

The buffet opens at 11:30am and the program begins at noon. The menu is lemon pepper trout with brown rice, green beans and a brown butter sauce; a salad with grilled chicken or a vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten-free option is available upon advance request.

Please register by Monday, April 14th 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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The 25^th annual Rotary Unsung Heroes Luncheon was held on March 20, 2025. We recognized 45 high school seniors for living out our motto of Service Above Self in their school and community. You can read the remarks and amazing accomplishments shared by nominees for each young hero HERE and view the slides with photos HERE. Each student received a Certificate of Achievement, a $400 cash award, an opportunity to apply for $52,000 in scholarships in Jefferson County, and many admission tickets to activities and attractions around Louisville. All semi-finalists also received $100 and the same package of goodies.

Thank you to Ray Strothman, Treasurer of Metro Louisville Rotary Clubs Charities, Inc., who shared the invocation and Karen Morrison, CEO of Gilda's Club Kentuckiana, who led the pledge and 4-Way Test. Corey Miller, Executive Director, The Cabbage Patch Settlement House, served as Master of Ceremonies and Maggie Harlow, CEO of Signarama and Executive Director of the Jack Harlow Foundation, inspired students and guests with her talk titled "The Unsung Hero's Mission". 

Thank you also to Barry Sears for helping with the video, Michelle Black White for photos, and Tracy Peck's husband John for helping with the setup while Delene was at a Rotary conference in Chattanooga.



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

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The March 27th meeting at the University Club featured Rotarian Leslie Smart, CEO of the Louisville Ballet, as our speaker. Jean West shared the invocation and Sharon LaRue led the pledge and 4-Way Test. Michelle Black White introduced Leslie. John Bush had a full class at the What is Rotary table following the meeting!



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

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

Join us for our Middle School Literacy Service Project as we read and discuss Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary with 8th grade students at the West End School. 

We will meet on Tuesdays beginning April 15, from 9:50-10:35 a.m. You will be amazed and enriched by the accomplishments of these students and this school! Books are provided.

Email Walt at [email protected] 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.

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Rotary Fund President Kevin Lynch was on hand for the Parks Alliance of Louisville Groundbreaking Ceremony at Ballard Park. Our club, through the Rotary Fund, provided grant funding for a water station in the park. Several members of our club are involved: Ginger Wallace, former Director of Development and Lifeline Committee project leader; Alice Bridges, Director of Special Projects; Eric Gurevich, Director of Community Relations; Dominic Manecke, Board Secretary, and Max Bridges and Swannie Jett, Board members.

We held our final Rotary Honors Scholars mentoring sessions at Iroquois High School and Western High School this month. Check out these awesome collages Melissa Cobb created!



Thank you to all who invested time in the success of these young people this year! If you are interested in joining us next year, contact me for more information: [email protected]
 

All three of the clubs we sponsor - the Rotaract Club of Louisville, Western HS Interact and Iroquois HS Interact - came through with flying colors, donating those precious units of blood to serve our community! I am blessed to work with not only these youths, but also our boots on the ground: the advisors at each campus. Special thanks to Rebekah Byron, Red Cross Director, for believing in us, and to Rick Harned for everlasting support.

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! Our next meal service will be Wednesday, April 23rd at 5:30 p.m. at 757 S Brook St. Click Read More for more info and to sign up.




 

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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

Our next Rotary University session will be Tuesday, April 29th at NOON via Zoom. Completion of Rotary University is required for new members, so prioritize these sessions! We will discuss the various ways our club invests in Youth & Education and how to get involved. If you have been a member for a while but would like to learn more or just meet some of our newer members, feel free to join us as well.

Register HERE.

If you were unable to attend Session #1 last month, please watch the recording HERE (passcode q%E9&28Y). You will need to note the 3 code words mentioned during the session and enter them in Question 7 of the survey HERE in order to get credit for attending.

If you were not able to join for Session #2, please watch the recording HERE (passcode AZlS*0tw) and then complete the survey HERE for credit.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming sessions at NOON via Zoom. 

May 27 - Service Above Self - Register HERE.

June 16 (Monday) - Rotary Beyond the Club - Register HERE.

and

July 22 Service Project at SOS, 5:30-7:30pm | Register HERE.

If you have any questions, reach out to Delene or to Jay Mallory, Chair of the Membership Development & Engagement Committee, [email protected].

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Congrats to the Rotarians in the spotlight at the Junior Achievement 2025 Kentuckiana Business Hall of Fame:

Jennifer Helgeson, JA President
Chris Manzo, JA Board Vice Chair
and 2025 Laureate Inductees:

Congratulations to Dr. Paula Grisanti, CEO of the National Stem Cell Foundation, a leading funder of space-based research on brain cells to fight neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s, progressive multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer’s. The organization received a $3.1 million award from NASA to continue its breakthrough studies on brain cell behavior in microgravity. Read more HERE.



Click Read More for the full press release:
 

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Congrats to Henry Heuser, Jr. on another successful Vogt Educational & Leadership Scholarship Luncheon which recognized 19 outstanding JCPS recipients with $12,000 scholarships, which can be used for tuition, books, and academic fees at any nonprofit accredited four-year undergraduate program that leads to a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree. See coverage HERE and learn more about the program HERE.

Di Tran (and his wife Vy) shared words of wisdom for business and life at the annual UofL College of Business CEO Panel Discussion. 

Congrats to Dr. Swannie Jett - Park DuValle Community Health Centers has begun construction on an immediate care center at its location at 3015 Wilson Ave. It will provide patients a broader range of health care services, including preventative care like examinations, vaccinations, screening tests and on-site diagnostic services that will allow patients to access lab testing and imaging services. It is expected to open in two months and will treat patients even if they don't have insurance or the ability to pay.

Read more HERE.

And last month, Park DuValle Community Health Centers was awarded the Excellence in Colorectal Cancer Screening award by the Kentucky Health Center Network!

Congrats to Maggie Harlow, who was honored at the March 21 Daughters of Greatness program at the Muhammad Ali Center. The Daughters of Greatness series honors women who are changemakers in the arenas of social philanthropy, activism, and pursuit of justice.

Check out Ben Reno-Weber's recent article sharing his vision for Louisville's future following the departure of KFC.

What: 2025 LeadingBetter Summit
Organization: Leadership Louisville Center
Date/Time: Wednesday, April 9, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts (or VIRTUAL)
Description: The 2025 LeadingBetter™ Summit on April 9th is a one-day leadership experience designed to equip leaders at all levels with fresh ideas and actionable strategies to tackle today’s toughest challenges. Gain new energy, strengthen communication, navigate difficult conversations, and learn how to lead high-performing teams—all from nationally recognized experts. Save $100 on tickets with promo code: ROTARY

More information: https://join.leadershiplouisville.org/summit25
Member to contact: Paul Bolton or [email protected]


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.

What: 2025 StoryFest
Organization: Multiple
Date/Time: Thursday, April 10, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Muhammad Ali Center
Description: This event, on the second anniversary of the mass shooting in downtown Louisville, is designed to inspire and build hope. Come hear six nonprofits share their stories and join these leading organizations in lifting up our community. Three of the nonprofits are represented in our club: Brightside Foundation, The Healing Place and the Louisville Orchestra.

More information and to purchase tickets:
 https://www.storyfestlouisville.com/
Member to contact: Michelle Black White, [email protected]


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.

Today is International Women's Day - a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Thank you to our past presidents Merrily Orsini, Alice Bridges, Julie Schmidt and Jean West, our current President Lori Hudson Flanery, and our President Nominee Barbara Sexton Smith!