Credit cards are NOT ON FILE for unpaid dues invoices - I need your help!

We no longer have access to charge dues to your credit card that was previously on file. If you received an invoice from Rotary, please open and call me with your credit card info. Once I key it in to the new billing system, it will be on file for future automatic payments. I am sorry for the inconvenience. I can also set up contributions to our local Rotary Fund, the Rotary International Foundation (PHF qualification) and/or the West Louisville Housing Initiative at the same time if you like.

We have thousands of dollars in outstanding dues that are owed the Club and we need to refill the empty coffers.

We will be hosting US Senate Candidate Charles Booker as our speaker at Thursday's meeting – at the iconic Joe’s Palm Room at 1821 W. Jefferson, NOT at Savor / River House!

Download the full press release HERE. ***Our next Rotary University session will follow our meeting***

The buffet menu will be Creamy Pesto Pasta w/Chicken, Sauteed Root Vegetables, Caesar Salad, Rolls, Assorted Pastry Bars and tea/coffee for $25 with advance reservation. There will be a cash bar open from 11:30 until noon, and also following the meeting. We have 10 seats remaining to reach our capacity of 175 for this meeting; email rotary@rotary45.org if interested.

There are 42 parking spaces in the fenced lot at Joe’s and more in the gravel lot they own next to the club (both marked with yellow checkmarks below). There is also plenty of parking along both sides of Jefferson Street and 19th Street. If you are driving west on I64, just take the 9^th Street exit (#4) and turn right on Jefferson Street. Joe’s is on the right between 18^th and 19^th. Google still shows it as "The Palm Room" - that is the correct spot. There will be cones out front to allow for drop offs; a security officer and Rotarians will be on hand to help direct folks. The back door (from the JPR parking lot) will be open until the meeting begins; if arriving after that or parking in other locations, you will need to enter via the front.

We are excited to team up with Metro United Way to host the Wealth Gap Simulation in place of our regular meeting on September 22nd. Rotarian Steve Jester will be hosting us at Second Presbyterian on Brownsboro Rd. This will be a longer than normal meeting, from 11:00am until 1:00pm - please feel free to arrive at 10:30am for networking.

Please RSVP HERE; boxed lunches can be ordered in advance for $15.

More than 3,000 individuals have participated in this simulation that takes people and organizations on a historical journey to wealth building in America, pausing on 13 federal policies that most powerfully accelerated or impeded progress based on race. It is helpful in understanding the impact of laws that have determined access to opportunity, resources, and power for generations, and highlights what we can do to change them. In partnership with Bread for the World, Metro United Way developed this training in the fall of 2019 and trained its staff to execute the simulation and offer a safe, confidential and engaging space to help elevate the conversation around policies that have been in place for decades that have affected generations of families in our community.

Please consider volunteering some of your time and expertise to support our signature service project - mentoring Rotary Honors Scholars at Western High School, Iroquois High School and/or the Western High School students attending Early College at Jefferson Southwest Campus this year.

We will supply you with our newly updated Mentoring Manual (thank you Linda Bartrom-Moore!). Our Scholars look forward to a year of life skills coaching too. I'm taking over the leadership role this year and will do my best to continue this great program that President Walt has led for the past several years. We need mentors for our three September dates listed below.

• Wednesday, September 14 from 7:40am - 9:15am at Iroquois High School, 4615 Taylor Blvd
• Friday, September 16 from 8:15am - 9:00am at Western High School Early College at JCTC Southwest Campus, 1000 Community College Dr, SOAR Room, Building A
• Tuesday, September 20 from 8:15am - 9:15am at Western High School, 2501 Rockford Ln, Shively

Click Read More below for future dates. Please contact me at cmooney@bosseconstruction.com to volunteer or with questions.

Read More

Many of you are aware of the important role that Canopy and the new Canopy Certification launched in June play in putting Kentucky on the map in the good business movement. You will have a chance to hear first hand about the progress being made and from some of the first businesses to obtain certification, as well as meet Canopy supporters (and potential Rotarians!). Register for this free Business Synergy event at Independence Bank on September 27th HERE.

The Community Impact Committee is asking for volunteers (you don’t have to be a member of the CIC) on a one-time basis to contact members of the Metro Council and ask each to support the request of the Rotary Club of Louisville for an allocation of $1 million dollars to support our signature West Louisville Housing Initiative. The more that we can show the members of the Council that there is widespread support for our initiative within the Club, the better our chances will be to confirm the allocation. It’s easy - all we’re asking you to do is send a simple email (we’ll provide a draft email for you to use and email addresses) to each member of the Metro Council. We expect to begin sending these emails within the next couple of weeks. If you can help out, please contact me at lbschmidt@lbschmidt.com or 502.718.6342.

Through our alignment with Louisville City FC, Lynn Family Stadium will be bathed in purple to mark World Polio Day on October 24 from 9pm until midnight. Why purple? It comes from the purple dot painted on the fingers of children, who have received the potentially life-saving polio vaccination. It's a growing trend for iconic buildings to be illuminated in purple to recognize the work of Rotary International and partners in the fight for a polio-free world. As long as polio exists anywhere, it is a risk to children everywhere...it is only a plane ride away. Save the date and if you are in the area that evening, take a photo and help us spread awareness about Rotary's impact.

If you are new to Rotary and/or haven't completed these orientation sessions, or just want to join in the fun with some of our new members, please mark these dates on your calendar. We will meet IN PERSON following the regular lunch meetings at Joe's Palm Room, 1821 W. Jefferson St.

September 15 - Service Projects / Grants (Steve Eggers / Alice Bridges)
October 6 - Rotary Honors Scholars (Thom Crimans / Craig Mooney)
November 10 - New Member Celebration

All members are welcome. For more info or questions, contact Chris Manzo at cmanzo@sndbx.design.