Speaker: Patti Mellard, Founder and Treasurer of CAAHT - the host club of EFOH
Topic: Understanding Rotary Grants and the Foundation
Patti has been a Rotarian for over 30 years and has served in many District Rotary leadership roles, including District Trainer, Assistant Governor, Membership Chair, District Conference Chair, District Peace Chair. and currently serves on the District Global Grant Committee.
Patti received the Rotary International "Service Above Self" award in 2009, is a Rotary benefactor and major donor.
Patti is owner and CEO of Key Staffing and Premier Employment Solutions in Topeka and Manhattan, KS and was a 2015 inductee into the Topeka Business Hall of Fame.
Patti’s favorite pastime is fishing and spending time with her 16 grandchildren.
Guest Speaker: Roger Aeschliman, Rotary International District 5710 District Endowment and Major Gifts Chair
Topic: Endowment Fund & Donations
Roger T. Aeschliman is a Senior Vice President and Trust Officer at CoreFirst Bank & Trust providing comprehensive and caring, personal and financial assistance to customers of all ages and backgrounds. CoreFirst Bank & Trust is the largest family-owned bank in northeast Kansas because it has maintained a focus on customer service and meeting customers’ needs. Prior to banking Roger Aeschliman was a Kansas government executive in customer-focused programs including unemployment insurance and workers compensation. His early career was as an award-winning newspaper reporter for the Topeka Capital Journal. Roger is a retired from the Kansas Army National Guard as Colonel with extensive command experience. He volunteered for two combat deployments and was awarded the Bronze Star for his tour of duty in Iraq and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his tour in Kosovo. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State and a Master's degree from KU. He and his wife Robyn are community leaders working through the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Rotary, Junior League, First Baptist Church and many other education and military organizations. Roger is a published author; his Iraq memoir is titled “Victory Denied: Everything You Know About Iraq Is Wrong.” He enjoys hard manual labor, especially cutting firewood, and loves Oreos and beer equally but not at the same time. Roger and Robyn have two adult children and one perfect grandson.
