Our Speaker this Week is Bill Kort, Former Investment Executive and Investment Blogger. His topic is "The Secular Bull Market and Where We Go From Here."
Bill Kort is a 1968 graduate of the University of Wisconsin (BBA Marketing). He has been investing in stocks for over 50 years. He began his career in the brokerage business as a retail stockbroker in 1970 with a Kansas City based regional firm. That firm was acquired in 1978 by Kidder, Peabody. This marked a turning point in Bill's career as he moved his business to the institutional (wholesale) side of the firm, selling the firm’s equity research and syndicate products to banks, investment advisors, insurance companies and mutual funds. In 1990, Bill joined St. Louis based A.G. Edwards as one of their first hires in the development of a fledgling institutional business. Seventeen years later Edwards was sold to Wachovia. The following year, in the depths of the financial crisis, Wachovia was taken over by Wells Fargo. In 2012, Bill retired from Wells Fargo to manage his own money, try his hand at blogging and enjoying life with his wife of 48 years, his children and grandchildren.
You can join this week's program on your computer or iPad with this link:
Meeting started with greetings from Pres David Hanzlick. David introduced a video from our past which helped us all reminisce on what life was before and what we can look forward to when this pandemic is over. The video was Bob Lager singing with Carl Bolte at the piano from a past rotary meeting with the song “Oh Danny Boy”. The video also had, then president Chuck Eddy introducing them. Pledge lead by president David Hanzlick. Invocation by Jerry Cooke who shared that “Everything we have is a gift from God, including Rotaty. “
Todays Guests were Jackson Granstaff, who was invited by Tony Andresen. Brandon Callaway, past presenter from GIFT was here. It was great to see Carl Bolte who was with Charlie on zoom.
Jared Campbell introduced our guest, Brian Platt who is the City Manager for KCMO. Under our Council-Manager form of government, the city manager is responsible for the city ’s day-to-day operations. He leads a staff of more than 4,500 employees and his mission is to make city services run efficiently and economically.
Since Brian started in December, he has developed new programs and policies, with an eye for innovative use of existing resources. The City now has a more aggressive snow removal plan and a new equity plan to create a culture of inclusion while reducing discrimination. He has tackled homelessness by opening the region’s largest emergency warming center. Brian has also recommended a balanced budget for the next fiscal year that prevents layoffs, furloughs, and any reductions in essential city services. His targeted initiatives will create a more efficient and fiscally prudent city government while maintaining, even increasing, funding for certain critical infrastructure and services.
Brian previously served as City Manager for Jersey City, New Jersey. He has served as Jersey City's first Chief Innovation Officer and established the City's Office of Innovation in 2015. His previous work experience includes management consulting with McKinsey & Company and serving as a kindergarten teacher with Teach for America. Mr. Platt earned his Master of Public Administration Degree at Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy at Emory University.
Brian shared the first 100 days in KC. Decades of challenges he is looking at are addressing restructure organization and operations. Addressing key concerns: Snow removal, Street repair and Safety and quality of life to improve the way we do business. It has been a challenging year because of economic challenge of COVID $70 million shortfall this year.
One example is LED street light conversion which deals with 13 million per year to repair current lights. Conversion to LED would save 40% per year in energy and repair. No reduction in quality of service but an easy adjustment. Customize color and comfort of light.
He hopes we are noticing current improvements that help. We need the stimulus funding from FED to help. Key use of stimulus is to ensure our budget is made whole to pay bills. Cash reserves have been used. Set aside contingency. It is hard to predict need because data is not here to forecast. Help people pay their bills and to small businesses and other groups who need help. We want to return to a thriving KC.
Member Q & A:
Barney Allis parking garage at 12th and Broadway is an ongoing discussion. Need to repair. Capacity is low until it could be used for parking or other usages. Is there something else to build on this sight? Design process is going 60 to 80 million.
What will be short after the cuts? Hotel and convention taxes will be down. We are making the best forecasts we can make. We hope it is a once in a lifetime occurrence to recover. We are not looking to drop essential city services.
Block building is still scheduled to be built but we don’t know the tenant. Possible change from single to multiple tenants.
Bartle hall usage for the homeless is closed. Zero deaths and serious medical problems for our homeless after we were able to secure warm spaces. Connected the people with other options is what is happening now. The challenge is the low amounts of affordable housing availability to low-income housing. One project from the city is proposal to sell land bank property for $1 if the new owner will rehab the property and make it affordable housing. For homeless or below medium income. Over 100 homes that are vacant in the land bank that are In areas of violence, etc. But we need 1000 homes available to meet the need. City is doing a study and investigating right now to see if they are interested. Some only want housing, some want services. We will not force what they do not want in their neighborhoods. We will discuss over the next month or two and then send out an RFP.
Restaurants have had success with outdoor seating. It may continue but safety and benefit to the community will be reviewed to see if it will continue.
What in NJ was good that could be brought to KC? What does KC offer that NJ could use?
KC has a better environment for growth than NJ. Crime and gun violence here is the number of guns on the street is more in KC than NJ. Record low murder and gun violence rate which is 1/20th of KC per capita. In NJ it was gang related and we could find the people. Here in KC there is domestic and random violence, so it is hard to find the culprit and why. In KC, We have a productive council and neighborhoods are proud and want to make thoughtful development. Improvements are easier to promote because there is more land here in KC than in NJ.
The city is managing a rental assistance program of about $15 million. We will help to pay those bills. Working with nonprofits to help distribute these funds. Since March of last year.
How do you determine road repairs? Asphalt needs to be resurfaced every 15 to 20 years. Here we have 6000 lane miles of street. 300 miles per year to keep up. In past only done 12 miles. This year 100 will be done, but that will still put us behind. Need to set aside funding. NJ had $15 million on resurface. Last year $17 million was spent in KC. Infrastructure is a budget issue and challenge. The Water department is doing a great job to keep up with utilities. Trying to keep up with other utilities as well to make sure they properly repair as the streets are open and return the street to quality pavement when done. President David thanked Brian for his presentation.
The ZOOM meeting ended with a send-out to the breakout rooms, where we had to share if we had a tattoo and why or why not?
Club Anniversary is Connor Goedert, 1 year
Announcements shared: Jan Armstrong ecology committee: She has 3 potential speakers for future meetings. KC railway sight for monarch station has been visited. Garden at camp for monarchs identified and grants are available. Submitted one.
Evie Craig downtown committee: Location and partner for portable hydration has been found. Streetcar authority will be the partner and location NE of 5th and Walnut by mid- July.
David McCaughey greater KC day: A good meeting with the Monarchs and May 18 is opening day and we will sell a pennant. Kick off for clubs April 6. Volunteer game identified TBD. Monarchs will give 2 tickets to any game as a gift for purchase of a pennant. Selling on our own. Not street selling this year.
Our dedicated Shoe shoppers, Brad Kleindl, Mary Bright, and Diane Scott, are doing an outstanding job. Thus far, 541 pairs of shoes and 1,370 pairs of socks are purchased and donated.
To celebrate the 20th year partnership with Buckner International, our District Shoe Cheerleader, Larry Lundsford, has set a goal for the District to donate 20,000 pairs of Shoes. We are keeping our fingers crossed that Club 13 will deliver 2,000 pairs of shoes to the District Shoe Roll Call on May 22nd.
Thank you for the generous donations from Sally Bibb, Bob Lager, Lonnie Lawton, Carl Bolte, Dennis McKeehan, Mary Kingsley, Marc Horner, Kermit Bright, Dr. George Gordon, Brad Kleindl, and the Greater Kansas City Foundation.
You can still donate to this worthy cause until May 12th. Please make your checks payable to the Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation and note in the memo line, “Shoes for Orphan Souls.” Please mail your check to our Shoe Chair, Linn Mills, 147 NW Pointe Drive, Kansas City, MO. 64116.
Your gift can be the first step out of poverty. New shoes put children on a path to Health, Education, Hope, and Opportunity.
For additional information, please free to contact Linn Mills at lfrenchnc@aol.com or call 505-402-6630.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group on Zoom for the discussion of the book The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia. The book is available by mail order through the Rainy Day Books web site or call the store for curb-side pickup. The discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome.
Event: Rotary Book Discussion Group
Date: Monday, April 19, 6:30 PM
Zoom Meeting
About the book:
In tiny Merinac, Kansas, Chicken Mimi’s and Chicken Frannie’s have spent a century vying to serve up the best fried chicken in the state – and the legendary feud between their respective owners, the Moores and the Pogociellos, has lasted just as long. No one feels the impact more than thirty-five-year-old widow Amanda Moore, who grew up working for her mom at Mimi:s before scandalously marrying Frank Pogociello and changing sides to work at Frannie’s. Tired of being caught in the middle, Amanda sends an SOS to Food Wars, the reality-TV restaurant competition that promises $100,000 to the winner. But in doing so, she launches both families out of the frying pan and directly into the fire.
We've Been Here Before: the Polio Epidemic Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. Live online (Zoom or Facebook Live), register at https://bit.ly/2PgymSV
Seven neighboring public libraries, in partnership with the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS), will host the second in a series of “We’ve Been Here Before” programs, which examine historical events that have lessons to teach us in the midst of this pandemic. The upcoming program is a moderated discussion about the Polio vaccine.
Mass vaccinations in the 1950s helped eradicate polio from the United States. Learning about how we conquered this crippling disease seventy years ago can help us put our current situation in perspective.
The panel of experts for the polio discussion includes:
René F. Najera, Dr.PH, Editor, History of Vaccines, College of Physicians of Philadelphia
Chris Crenner, M.D., Ph.D., Hudson-Major Professor and Chair at the University of Kansas Medical Center
Carl Chinnery, a Past District Governor from District 6040 and member of the Lee’s Summit Rotary Club
Jim Arnett, Rotary District 5710 Polio Chairman and spouse of a polio survivor of Kansas City's 1946 Polio Epidemic
This program series is a partnership of the public libraries in Atchison, Basehor, Bonner Springs, Lansing, Leavenworth, Linwood, and Tonganoxie, as well as NEKLS.
supplies/clean fans /beds/screens/carts/trashcans/mattress repair or replace
May
powerwash comfort station floors
2
powerwasher/squeegees
May
mulch tetherball area/hang tetherballs
2
mulch/gator/tetherballs
May
install screen doors on cabins
2
gators/screen doors/door pins
May
Move picnic tables to marked areas
4-6
trucks/gators/placement map
May
We meet Thursdays at Noon
The Kill Devil Club
31 E. 14th St.
Kansas City, MO 64105
*We are currently meeting virtually via Zoom*
@rotaryclub13
@rotary13
@rotaryclub13
By David Hanzlick
Woody’s question just before the start of the Club meeting last week reminded me that we needed to share the results of the recent poll. Members were asked when they would be willing to attend in-person meetings again. While expert opinion on the safety of in-person gatherings is the guiding force in these decisions, the thoughts of the members were as follows:
43% not sure
23% June 1
34% May 1
In response, the board has tentatively set July 1 as the date that the Club will return to in-person meetings, depending on circumstances at that time. The July 1 meeting will be the changing of the guard at the camp. The entertainment committee is hard at work planning safe, outdoor, socially-distanced events in the meantime. The first one will be a parking lot party at Bibb & Associates on April 22. The annual memorial service and family picnic will be held at the camp on June 5.
Please also mark your calendars for Greater Kansas City Day on May 18 in cooperation with The Kansas City Monarchs Baseball Club and HyVee. Details will be announced soon.
I would also like to remind everyone of the opportunity for service and fellowship through ‘Front Porch’ projects at Camp. The Club board will have a work day on April 3. Women of Rotary has two scheduled two workdays. I encourage other groups and committees to schedule work days as well. Laurie has provided a list of projects that can be found elsewhere in the Buzz Saw.
Have a great week and remember, “Rotary Opens Opportunities!”
Spring has sprung at the Rotary Youth Camp and we are busy busy busy! From camp outs and cook outs, to service projects, yard clean up, and construction we are seeing so much activity on our grounds! Our weekend camping has resumed, bringing new campers to experience nature and our wonderful facilities. This weekend our campers held an “Iron Chef” style cooking competition, utilizing potatoes, onion, muffin mix, pheasant, and Rice a Roni. The campout concluded by cleaning up sticks and leaves around camp. On the camp improvement side, our Monday Volunteers were able to break ground and begin adding concrete pads outside the cabins, so campers have a safe place to eat during the summer! We are working hard to ensure we offer life-changing experiences to the youth we serve!
The Satellite Club will meet on Tuesday, March 23rd, 5:30 PM via Zoom with Eryn Realmuto serving as Moderator. Following networking, Sarah Taylor will give an update on upcoming Rotary Leadership Institute sessions and then Michelle Biondo of the Seton Center will speak on Offering Help, Giving Hope. The Seton Center is a social services organization located in the urban core and provides dental services, a food pantry, rent and utility assistance, a thrift store, and older adult services for neighbors in need. The meeting will end with a discussion on Rotary Youth Camp Front Porch projects and the group will select a project and date to go out to the Camp.
Bowling News
By Tim Tholen
Winding down our season, only a few weeks left. Been a great year so far, with many new faces and many improved bowlers.
200 plus games:
Del Karmeier-215
John Lawrence-213/204 Peter Ho-204
Kenny Addison-219/208
Joey Grimsley-23
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Our dedicated Shoe shoppers, Brad Kleindl, Mary Bright, and Diane Scott, are doing an outstanding job. Thus far, 541 pairs of shoes and 1,370 pairs of socks are purchased and donated.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group on Zoom for the discussion of the book The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia. The book is available by mail order through the Rainy Day Books web site or call the store for curb-side pickup. The discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome.
@rotaryclub13
@rotary13
@rotaryclub13
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