Independence, Kansas Rotary Club

08/26/2026

Jeff Gettler has the program this Friday and will introduce Kellie Puderbaugh and Joslyn Kusiak who will present about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. What a timely program given the fact that Dolly passed away this week. Great lady. Everyone loved her.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.

08/22/2026

Happy Birthday to Rotarian Darrell Gentry, who also had the program for our August 21 meeting!

President Cody Oates opened the meeting, and Sergeant-at-Arms Drew Demo followed with a few fines for Rotarians who had managed to get their pictures on the front page of the newspaper.

Darrell then introduced Valori Stone with K-State Research and Extension, who presented a practical program on downsizing as we get older.

Darrell summed up the challenge well: “The kids may not want Grandma’s favorite yellow pie plate.”

But that yellow pie plate may have belonged to previous generations and may have a very interesting family story behind it. Valori emphasized the importance of making sure family members know the stories behind sentimental items. Without that context, something that has been in the family for generations may not seem special to the next generation and could easily be discarded.

She also encouraged families to talk openly about what people actually want. We may assume a child or grandchild wants a particular piece of furniture, dish or keepsake, only to learn they would rather have something completely different. Having those conversations ahead of time can make downsizing easier and help meaningful items go to the people who truly value them.

Valori also shared practical advice on deciding what to keep, give to family, sell, donate or rehome, and encouraged taking the process one room, one drawer or even one box at a time.

We’ve included Valori’s 10 downsizing tips in the comments below.

Thank you, Valori, for a useful and very relatable program, and thank you, Darrell, for arranging it. Happy Birthday, Darrell!

08/16/2026

Founding Fathers, Liberty, Religion, Moral Values… and a $1 Parking Fine

Our July 10 Rotary program began with a little club business before moving into a thoughtful discussion of some very big ideas.

Rotarian Jeff Chubb introduced local sports enthusiast, aspiring writer, and all-around knowledgeable guest Craig Null, who shared a presentation on the views of our Founding Fathers regarding "liberty, freedom of religion, and moral values."

Craig brought historical perspective to the discussion and gave Rotarians plenty to think about as he explored how these principles shaped the country’s early foundations and continue to influence public life today.

But before Craig ever got started, Jeff made sure Rotarian Steve Wilken received some immediate accountability for a much more local offense: parking outside the lines. The penalty? A $1 fine. Rotary justice can be swift.

Thank you, Jeff, for arranging the program, and thank you, Craig, for an interesting and thought-provoking presentation.

08/16/2026

What Is Rotary?

Rotary is about service, relationships, leadership, and community.

For Independence Rotary, that means bringing people together each week to learn more about what is happening in our community, building connections with local leaders and organizations, and working together on projects that benefit Independence.

You may know us from some of our community activities, including our fundraiser supporting the Independence fireworks celebration, our annual Easter Egg Hunt in partnership with the City, and our tradition of providing dictionaries to local third graders each year. We also support selected community organizations and programs as our resources allow, such as the Children’s Summer Theater, and we assist with sponsoring the reception for the Independence High School Academic Awards.

Those projects are part of who we are, but Rotary is also about the friendships, conversations, and shared commitment to service that continue throughout the year.

We meet Fridays over the noon hour. Each week generally includes lunch, fellowship, and a program featuring a local organization, business, community leader, or topic of interest.

Curious about Rotary? Talk with one of our members about joining us as a guest at an upcoming Friday meeting and learning more about Independence Rotary.

During Rotary Membership Month, we are especially grateful for the members who give their time, talents, and energy to serve our community.

08/16/2026

District Governor Laura Garrett Visits Independence Rotary

Our July 17 program featured Dr. Laura Garrett, District 6110 Governor, and she brought exactly the kind of energy you hope for in a Rotary program: relaxed, engaging, informative, and fun.

Dr. Garrett shared more about District 6110, her Rotary journey, and the work happening across the district. A third-generation Rotarian and member of the Will Rogers Rotary Club in Tulsa, she has more than 25 years of Rotary service and has also served as an Assistant District Governor and District Youth Protection Officer.

Outside of Rotary, Dr. Garrett is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Tulsa Community College and is active with the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and the Oklahoma Healthy Brain Initiative.

Thank you, Dr. Garrett, for visiting Independence and for a lively and enjoyable program. We appreciated the opportunity to learn more about you and District 6110.

08/16/2026

Ideas, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Rotary

Our July 24 Rotary program was all about turning ideas into opportunities.

Rotarian Jim Clubine introduced Jim Correll, Executive Director of the Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC), who shared how the organization works with entrepreneurs, small businesses, and innovators in Montgomery County. IBRC was established in 2010 and serves as the local partner for the Montgomery County E-Community, providing resources and programs designed to help entrepreneurs develop and grow their ideas.

Jim also introduced Laura Schaid, Director of the Life Skills Academy and Maker Space. The Academy, now a subsidiary of IBRC, focuses on hands-on, project-based learning, entrepreneurship, tutoring, business coaching, and access to maker-space technologies such as 3D printing, woodworking, metalworking, laser engraving, and computer-aided design.

Then we got to see innovation in action.

Tim Haynes of Haynes Design Solutions demonstrated a working prototype of his adjustable construction framing jig, designed to help with joist-hanger placement and construction alignment for different lumber sizes. In practical terms, the goal is to help contractors and do-it-yourself builders frame projects such as decks more accurately and efficiently.

Tim is one of the first local recipients of a $5,000 Rural ACCEL-KS Innovation Grant through IBRC’s partnership with Groover Labs in Wichita. The grant is helping him purchase materials and tooling, refine the prototype, conduct product testing, and move the idea toward commercialization. Rural ACCEL-KS is designed to help rural entrepreneurs take promising ideas through research, development, testing, market validation, and ultimately toward the marketplace.

Programs like this are a great reminder that innovation does not have to begin in a large city or a corporate research lab. Sometimes it starts with someone looking at an everyday problem and thinking, "There has to be a better way to do this.”

Thank you, Jim Clubine, for arranging such an interesting program, and thank you to Jim Correll, Laura Schaid, and Tim Haynes for sharing the work being done to support learning, entrepreneurship, and new ideas right here in Southeast Kansas.

https://ibrcenter.org/

08/16/2026

A New Chapter at Independence Community College

Our July 31 Rotary program gave members an opportunity to meet one of the newest leaders in our community.

Taylor Crawshaw introduced James P. Arnold, the new President of Independence Community College, who shared his background, his outlook for ICC, and some of the priorities he sees as the college begins its next chapter.

President Arnold brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, with a background that includes enrollment management, student development, athletics, institutional operations and community engagement. He spoke about the importance of student success, strengthening enrollment and retention, supporting both academic and career-focused programs, and building strong relationships between the college and the community it serves.

A recurring theme was connection. President Arnold sees ICC as an important part of Independence and Southeast Kansas, with a responsibility to provide opportunities for students while also contributing to the strength of the broader community.

It was an excellent opportunity for Rotarians to hear directly from President Arnold about his vision for ICC and the enthusiasm he brings to his new role.

Thank you, Taylor, for arranging the program, and welcome to Independence, President Arnold. We wish you and the entire Pirate family a successful year ahead!

08/16/2026

Pirate Basketball Takes the Rotary Floor

Basketball was the topic at our August 7 Rotary meeting as Drew Demo introduced Jai Steadman, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Independence Community College.

Coach Steadman gave Rotarians a look at the ICC men’s basketball program, shared his perspective on the team and the upcoming season, and introduced three Pirate student-athletes, including local players from Independence and Caney. Each of the players also had an opportunity to speak to the club, giving Rotarians a chance to learn a little more about them both on and off the court.

It was a great chance to hear directly from the coach and student-athletes and to learn more about the people behind the Pirates basketball program. We especially enjoyed hearing from the players and getting to know them beyond the basketball court.

Thank you, Drew, for arranging the program, and thank you to Coach Steadman and the ICC players for spending your lunch hour with us. We wish the Pirates a successful season ahead!

08/16/2026

Extra! Extra! Local Journalism Takes Center Stage at Rotary

At our August 14 meeting, Rotarian Tim Emert introduced guest speaker Andy Taylor, publisher of the family-owned Montgomery County Chronicle, which the Taylor family has published for decades.

Tim shared that although law became his chosen profession, he is also a graduate of journalism school and once aspired to become a journalist. That background gave him a lasting appreciation for journalism and the important role it plays in keeping communities informed.

Before beginning his presentation, Andy handed out copies of the August 13 edition of the Chronicle. He walked Rotarians through several of the newspaper’s most interesting articles, discussed current local topics, and spoke about the important role local newspapers and professional journalism play in providing accurate, well-researched information as news and opinions circulate quickly through social media.

The questions kept coming as Andy responded to a wide range of topics. Had it not been time to adjourn, the conversation could easily have continued well into the afternoon.

Thank you, Tim, for arranging such a timely and engaging program. Thank you, Andy, for sharing your experience, answering our many questions, and reminding us of the value of strong local journalism.

Curious about Rotary? Talk with one of our members about joining us as a guest at an upcoming Friday meeting.

Photo note: The program information was digitally added to the television screen after the meeting for clarity.