Every Monday at 1 p.m., after the last lunch plate has been cleared and the speaker has left the podium, a group of Downtown Rotary members head out into the gardens of Botanica for a new tradition: the Walk and Talk.
“When I learned that our Rotary meeting rental included day access to the gardens, I started taking short walks after our Monday lunches, usually just making catch-up phone calls after the meeting ended,” said Mike Paulson, Director of Business Development at Basis Consulting Engineers, and Rotary member.
What started as a personal post-lunch habit turned into a regular opportunity for members to connect and get some fresh air.
“Walking is my therapy, physically and mentally,” Paulson said. “I thought, why not invite others to walk, too?”
Paulson made a simple graphic, shared it with the club, and began inviting other members to join him. Within a few weeks, the Walk and Talk became a tradition. Fellow Rotarian Suzy Chapman, Account Executive at Lamar Advertising Company, is a regular walker and recruiter for the initiative.
Beyond enjoying the beauty of the gardens and getting some fresh air, walking after the meeting also offered members a chance to get to know each other beyond quick conversations at the table during lunch.
“That was really the heart of the idea,” Chapman said. “Building community and deepening relationships.”
The idea itself isn’t revolutionary, but the impact has been undeniable. Paulson has noticed that more people stick around after lunch to participate in general now––some to go on the walk and some to chat with others in the room. Members have also reported feeling calmer after the walk. One even shared that he now ensures he has a free afternoon to make time for it.
“We’re often stuck inside all day,” Chapman said. “Just 10 minutes in the sunlight can make a great difference for the rest of the day.”
There’s no formal program, attendance list, or spreadsheet tracking how many people join each week or how far they walk. And that’s intentional.
“We’re not trying to hit a step count or burn calories,” Chapman said.
“We could have the best walk and only go 300 feet,” Paulson added.
Rotary guests are welcome to join the post-walk lunch after the meeting. If interested in being a guest, Chapman and Paulson invites people to reach out to them or the Rotary directly at office@wichitarotary.org.
While they’re hopeful more and more Rotarians will join the Walk and Talk, they also want the idea to spread beyond the club.
Paulson believes there’s power in slowing down, avoiding the distractions, and truly making a connection with others. And a walk is the perfect opportunity to do just that. So he encourages companies, organizations, boards, faith groups, and neighborhoods to steal the idea and make it their own.
As he puts it: “You’d be surprised at what comes out of it.”
Sometimes, the simplest ideas have the greatest power to connect us. The Walk and Talk is a refreshing reminder that a little fresh air and a good conversation can go a long way.
