June 16 & 17, 2017

Kansas City Airport Embassy Suites • Kansas City, Mo.

Rotarians in Missouri and Kansas USA Rotary District 6040, 6080 and 5710 are pleased to invite Rotarians from Africa Districts 9210, 9211, 9212, 9350, 9370 and 9400 to enjoy fellowship and celebrate the centennial of the Rotary Foundation.

On Friday evening, June 16, 2017, there will be a Reception to become acquainted and begin building friendships.  Local Rotarians will serve as Hosts to the visiting African Guests and together they will have dinner in nearby restaurants.  The African Guests’ accommodations will be at the Kansas City Airport Embassy Suites Hotel and the Hosts will provide companionship and transportation.

On Saturday, the Guests will accompany their Hosts to selected local tourist attractions through the morning and again following lunch.  A list of attractions is listed on the web site and the African Guests will be given an opportunity to select from the list or suggest other attractions.  Midday, there will be a luncheon at the Rotary Youth Camp sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kansas City.

The dinner and program on Saturday evening will be a celebration of the Rotary Foundation and the 100 years of enabling Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Why is Kansas City the location of the Out of Africa event?

Russell Greiner, a member of the Rotary Club of Kansas City who served as Rotary International President in 1913-1914, was good friends with Rotary International President Arch Klumph and organized a collection of funds for a gift for him as President Klumph left office in 1917.  After buying the gift, the Rotary Club of Kansas City had $26.50 remaining which they deposited in a savings account in the Union Trust Company of Chicago and, as they say, the rest is history – this account became an endowment fund which grew into the Rotary Foundation that 1.2 million Rotarians support today.  It started in Kansas City.  How wonderful to celebrate the Foundation’s 100 years of “Doing Good in the World” in Kansas City.