Upcoming Events

August 29th - Kidz Konnection outing sponsored by Bluegrass Rotary and Kentucky RIVERKEEPER.  Day of fishing, art work and picnic for children

                     Ft. Boonesborough State Park, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

September 11-13th - Pottery Festival at Irvine McDowell Park, Richmond, Kentucky

October 10th - Celtic Festival, Paddy Wagon, Richmond, Kentucky

November 14 - Tailgating at last EKU Football Game

November 21 -  Denim and Diamonds Gala - co-hosted by Bluegrass Rotary and Richmond Rotary Club

                       Meena Mohanty and Elizabeth Luxon, Co-Chairs

                       This gala event will be held at the Goody's store, Richmond Center, which will be transformed for the evening

                       Cocktails, silent auction, dinner and dancing to live music! 

Past Events:

June 30th - 5:30 p.m.  Ft. Boonesborough State Park Beach and stream.  Photos for Rotary Article, and collect bugs and fish for living water table (aquarium) 

                                 at the Kentucky River Museum

                 6:30 p.m.  Ft. Boonesborough State Park Shelter.  Annual picnic with Rotarians and family members.  Planning meeting for Kidz Konnection Event

                                 in August.

                                 Installation of 2009-2010 officers and awards

Kentucky RIVERKEEPER Twilight 5K - Earth Day 2009 

RACE RESULTS

April 22, 2009 at Fort Boonesborough State Park.   Registration from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.  Race begins at campground entrance at 6:30 p.m.

Race Registration Form:  Scanned One Page Race Registration Form 2-26-09.pdf

Course route:  2009 Earth Day Course Layout.jpg

Directions to Park:  http://www.fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org/html/campground.html

Other Earth Day Events will take place at the Park that day, including the unveiling of the Kentucky RIVERKEEPER living water table at the Kentucky River Museum, which is near the river in the park, at 4:00 p.m.

History of this race:

In 2003 the Bluegrass Rotary Club decided to have a race on Earth Day to help raise funds for a project involving water, or more specifically, providing a source of clean water for a community in Haiti.  With a matching grant and the funds raised during the Bluegrass Rotary Club's Race for the Planet a water well was built and provided this source of clean drinking water to the people of Ranquiette, Haiti.

During the 2003 event one of our members, Meena Mohanty, was sitting under a tree with Pat Banks, the Kentucky RIVERKEEPER.  As they spoke they realized that they were part of a community of good people.  These people had diverse backgrounds in Business, University, Professions, and as Artists and Students.  Some of these good people formed connections.

The Center for Appalachian Studies at EKU was formed to study the region and to provide a community forum for their service region;  the Kentucky RIVERKEEPER was born on the idea that swimmable and fishable water was a good thing;  the Gallery on Main was formed to give artists a voice and a forum for their work;  and the mission of Bluegrass Rotary is to provide service to others, promote high ethical standards, advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

The Bluegrass Rotary Club decided that since one main issue Rotary focuses on is water and providing clean drinking water that it would be good to support Kentucky RIVERKEEPER with the proceeds of an annual a 5K Run, and this would be a great partnership and outreach to our broader community.  We would use the run to educate and empower people about issues concerning the Kentucky River and our community.  We would also use this opportunity to talk about goals that we all share and… it would be a lot of fun!  

In 2004 the second race was labelled EKU Earth Days in the Cumberlands.  In 2005, 2006 and 2007 the race was labelled Kentucky RIVERKEEPER 5K.  In 2008 the race was held as an evening event and was named Kentucky RIVERKEEPER Twilight 5K.  These 6 races were all held on the beautiful campus of Eastern Kentucky University.  This partnership has grown and prospered.  It has become a celebration of Earth Day and the hopes and dreams of our communities for future generations.

This year we are moving it to Ft. Boonesborough State Park. We will be close to the river we are running to save!  The prizes and sponsorships have made this a fun race with virtually everyone who participates, from serious runners to the walkers, all winners!  There are great award prizes and everyone gets a T-shirt to wear, a tree to plant in honor of Earth Day and snacks to refresh both body and mind!