This week's speaker is Lindsey Rood-Clifford, President/CEO, Starlight. Her topic is: "The Future of Starlight in Kansas City."
In April 2023, Lindsey Rood-Clifford became the first woman to serve as President and CEO for the Starlight Theatre Association of Kansas City, Inc, an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that presents nationally touring and locally produced Broadway and a national concert series each summer. Prior to her current role, Lindsey served as Chief Operating Officer and Starlight’s Vice President of Philanthropy, leading philanthropic efforts for Kansas City’s oldest and largest continually operating performing arts venue, and stewarding donor and stakeholder relationships. Under her leadership, Starlight’s philanthropy revenue expanded by more than 50% and the organization launched its first major capital campaign in more than 20 years. A longtime arts advocate, Lindsey believes that access to meaningful arts experiences is critical for students and adults, and loves being a part of the vibrant artistic community in Kansas City that includes her favorites such as the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival.
Prior to her current role, Lindsey served in senior roles for Starlight’s for-profit subsidiary as a consultant for nonprofit and corporate clients on their events and fundraising plans in the Greater Kansas City region and across the country.
Lindsey is the President for the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; Secretary of the Centurions Alumni Board; a Vice President of the Board of Directors for In the Name of GRACE, a foundation dedicated to providing safe sober housing; and a past chair of Kansas City’s National Philanthropy Day. She is a 2017 graduate of the KC Chamber’s Centurions Leadership Program and was named by the Business Journal as one of “20 Nonprofit Leaders to Know” in 2022.
Lindsey is a graduate of the University of Kansas and lives in Olathe, KS with her husband. She has three children, including two grown stepdaughters and a 14-year-old son.
WEAR YOUR CHIEFS GEAR THIS THURSDAY IN SUPPORT OF OUR AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME THIS WEEKEND!
On another frigid day, President Tom Davis, welcomed all to the Club with the Camp for Kids at the warm environs of the Kill Devil Club. We stood for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer of “unity through service” by Rick Beyer. Tom thanked the Board of Directors for serving as greeters and recognized the following Club anniversary: Mark McCombs (2 years). Tom led us in expressing our collective sympathy to Mandy Sheldon on the passing of her mother, Kay Steed. It was also announced that former Rotary International President, Ray Klinginsmith, has died. He was a member of the Kirksville Rotary Club and the first ambassadorial scholar (to South Africa) to serve on the RI Board.
Kara Bennett, the Chair of the Entertainment Committee, announced that instead of spending the 5th Friday in February (the 29th) at Minsky’s, we will meet at the Camp for a western-themed Rotary Roundup where we will be joined by the Lee’s Summit Rotary Club, a big supporter of the Camp. The Fireside meetings are back and will take place at the residences of Linn Mills (February 1), Jane Lee (February 6), and Pete Sotta (February 8). Sign-up now!
Marc Horner then introduced our guest speaker, Jenea Oliver, the Chief Development Officer for Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH). Jenea has served since 2013 and during that time, annual fundraising has increased from $16M to $60M. CMH has been a part of the KC metropolitan community for 126 years and is currently the fourth largest employer with 8000 employees, including 700 medical specialists trained to treat children. By specializing in the treatment of children, CMH is able to diagnose conditions more quickly and accurately and is a world leader in that regard. Jenea focused her presentation on the mental health crisis facing children. One in five children suffer from a mental health condition. With the number of children requiring treatment increasing at an alarming rate, there is an acute shortage of beds generally and at CMH. CMH recognizes the need and has instituted an aggressive 5-year plan to provide a more expansive network to quickly diagnose and treat children suffering from mental illness. Mental health risks are more pronounced among black, Native American, and LGBTQ children, and needs are greater in lower socio-economic areas. After showing a gripping video of one child’s challenge with mental disorders, Jenea discussed the 5-year plan, ILLUMINATE, which calls for funding of fourteen programs at a cost of $275M. The programs fall into four areas: (1) early intervention focused on embedding mental health specialists in pediatric clinics and schools; (2) increasing the number of specialists in the areas of eating disorders, ADHD, anxiety, and depression and opening more clinics dedicated to the treatment of these conditions; (3) expanding hospital care by building an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Olathe (slated to open later this year), integrating mental health into physical treatment, and providing for more responsive emergency room experience for those needing help; and (4) research into the proper use of drugs to more quickly abate symptoms and help with long-term healing.
After the compelling presentation, President Tom read a quote from Dr. Rand Olson “Among the most sacred gifts you can give your child is the gift of health. This gift is best given by example.” We said the 4-Way Test together and the meeting adjourned.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group for the discussion of the book West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. The book is available at Rainy Day Books and the discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome. The group will meet at J. Wilbur Company; however, Zoom will be available for those you cannot attend in person.
Date: Monday, February 5, 2024, 6:30 PM
Location: J. Wilbur Company
3242 Roanoke
Kansas City, MO 64111
About the book:
Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.
It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.
Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.
Happy Monday to everyone, GO CHIEFS!! Our bowlers met up last week for another go, and we had some stellar games!
200 games
Peter Ho-202, 227
Matt Ho-214, 204
Will Patrick-217, 219
Chris Grimsley-209
Curtis Grimsley-222
Splits and spares:
Will Patrick-3/6/7/9/10
Del Karmieier-5/7
Have a great week and see everybody on Thursday.
Rotary Youth Camp Update
By Laurie Mozley
From the Camp Year End Report 1957:
Crippled Girls Session
I acceptance of our invitation the Kansas City Girl Scout Council adopted our special session for crippled girls and made it a definite part of their camping program. The types of handicaps included were: cerebral palsy, post polio, muscular dystrophy and deafness. This was a twelve day period extending from August 6-17, 1957.
Highest praise from all sources has been showered upon the Director, Miss Eleanor Powers, a District Executive, and her staff chosen by the Girl Scout Council to operate this session. They did a terrific job. Comments from campers indicate that they were very much pleases to have this privilege of attending a real Girl Scout camp.They did much advancement work during this session which applies toward further achievements in their own troops.
This was the ninth year in which a special session for handicapped girls has been held at Rotary Camp, and the switch to Girl Scout leadership has been a wonderful improvement. (I can say this in all sincerity because I served as director of the girls session for seven seasons and am fully cognizant of the fact that it is better for the Rotary Club to utilize the leadership resources of the Girl Scouts in conducting this session than to handle it on the previous basis).
Submitted by Sidney B North, Chairman of Youth Service Committee.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group for the discussion of the book West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. The book is available at Rainy Day Books and the discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome. The group will meet at J. Wilbur Company; however, Zoom will be available for those you cannot attend in person. 
Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.
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