This week's meeting is the Business Executive of the Year Presentation.
Jeffrey J. Jones II, CEO, H&R Block
Jeff Jones is president and chief executive officer of H&R Block. Jones brings 28 years of executive management, innovative leadership and operational excellence to the company after having held key roles at top companies in the retail, consumer products, agency and technology industries.
As Uber’s first president of the global ride sharing business, he had accountability for a $20 billion-plus business and operations in over 450 cities and 70 countries. Before Uber, Jones was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Target and served as a senior member of the company’s four primary operating groups: core business, strategy and innovation, talent, and risk and reputation. Additionally, he helped lead the brand and business back from the 2013 data breach and launched a variety of major initiatives that drove traffic, brand affinity and loyalty.
Prior to Target, Jones held executive and leadership roles in various sales, agency and marketing roles with iconic brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, Gap and Leo Burnett, where he served General Motors, MillerCoors and Procter & Gamble.
Jones serves on the board of directors of Advance Auto Parts and is a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Over the years, he has advised Brit+Co, The Mayo Clinic, GSK Consumer Heathcare, and other early-stage technology companies including Zoove, Curious Sense and Point Inside; and served various non-profit and industry organizations including Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, Durham Academy, The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics at Fuqua Business School, and the Association of National Advertisers. Jones has been named “One to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal, “Marketer of the Year” by Mass Market Retailer, “2016 Power Player” by AdAge, and his work has been profiled by Harvard Business Review and in numerous business books. He speaks regularly on business transformation, creating modern organizations, connected leadership, and crisis management.
Jones is a graduate of the University of Dayton and Fork Union Military Academy.
A Zoom link for this meeting will be emailed to members, if you would like to visit as a guest, please email Executive Director Mandy Sheldon.
The meeting was held via Zoom with Rotarians and guests participating from their homes and offices in various time zones.
President David brought the group to order at 12:01 with words of welcome. Participants quickly transferred to Zoom breakout rooms or round-table discussions, where the conversation question entailed the middle names of Rotarians.
When all returned to the combined session after five minutes, President David called for the playback of Charlie Huffman and Carl Bolte singing American the Beautiful recorded at Carl’s home. Followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, Dennis Chapman’s invocation highlighted the National Day of Prayer with thanks for divine support and encouragement.
Meeting guests included Merna Gill of the Tulsa, OK club and Spencer Andresen of Chicago (but Zooming from Kansas City).
President David identified five individuals with club anniversaries this week: Brad Kleindl, 8 years; Mary Kingsley, 16 years; Sandra Benton, 8 years; Arlinda Vittetoe, 12 years; and Joanna Sebelien, 18 years.
Announcements for the meeting focused on Greater Kansas City Day, which is May 18th. Volunteers are still needed for pennant sales at three locations—see Mandy for details. Sponsors for the day are sought at the $500 level. Additionally, there will be a Foundation Watch Party at Rotary Youth Camp on May 22nd; Tom Davis is the organizer.
Future calendar dates include the Memorial Camp Picnic on June 5th and the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Build on June 12th.
Tony Andresen introduced our guest speaker, Travis Boley, Manager of the Oregon-California Trails Association since 2003. Mr. Boley is a member of the Independence Noon Rotary Club; Lexington, MO is his hometown. He is a distance runner, and is married with four children. Before joining the OR-CA Trails Association, he worked at the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph. His academic training came from UMKC and KU, making him as cross-border as possible in the Kansas City metro area. His last appearance before Club 13 was about two years ago.
The trails association was founded in 1982, and despite being headquartered in Independence, MO, there are 11 chapters all across the USA. Mr. Boley therefore travels frequently for work. (When time allows, he enjoys running along historic trails.) The association has used the pandemic slowdown to develop a resource-rich website at www.trailshead.org. He demonstrated the pulldown menus of the site to the club. They include:
Discover the Trails—the landing page
Interactive Map—full of location markers for notable buildings, monuments, etc.
MO or KS Trail Markers—an inventory of trail highlights organized by state
Education—information and resources for teachers of history
Merrill Mattes Collection—primary documents of trail pioneers, including diaries and maps
The website will be a great benefit to the mission of the association, and to promoting a general awareness of trail history among Kansas City residents. Mr. Boley went on to show a sample from the association’s YouTube page, which recounted ‘This Day in History’, May 12, 1841. The first wagon train to California set out from the Kansas City area on that day; 32 persons total completed the trip.
Mr. Boley fielded a range of questions on the Potawatomie Trail of Death, cycling between trail markers (workable in some locations, but harder in Kansas City proper), and the death of James Polk.
President David thanked Travis Boley for his comments and presented the customary Club 13 pen to him in appreciation.
Next week, our guest speaker will be the Business Executive of the Year, H & R Block’s CEO Jeffery Jones.
In Rotary History, on May 4, 1987, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Rotary clubs may not exclude women from membership for reasons of gender alone. Rotary subsequently issued a policy statement to welcome women applicants.
President David concluded the meeting by referencing the wise words of Bill Buckner: “If you don’t do something, nothing happens.” The 4-Way Test closed the session.
Greater Kansas City Day is Tuesday, May 18! This year we are partnering with the new Kansas City Monarchs. We are very excited for this new opportunity to be a part of Kansas City History. Our major fundraiser for the event will be selling commemorative pennants on opening day, May 18 - the Monarchs have also include a voucher for two game tickets with each pennant!
We have two locations that we will be selling at: the Negro Leagues Museum at 1616 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108, the Roasterie Factory and Sutherlands on 72nd. Please click herefor the sign-up information, or contact Mandy for bundle sales. All proceeds will go directly to the Rotary Youth Camp!
2021 Greater Kansas City Day
Groundbreaking Sponsorship
$500
Join us this year in kicking off a brand new Greater Kansas City Day! Your 2021 Groundbreaking Sponsorship will set this fundraiser up for success for many years to come. Make history, and be the first ever sponsor of Greater Kansas City Day with the Kansas City Monarchs.
Groundbreaking Sponsors will receive: • Social media recognition through all channels • Scoreboard recognition on Rotary Day at Legends Field • Negro League Baseball Museum Tour by Bob Kendrick • (2) 2021 Monarchs Pennants with (4) ticket vouchers included
In eight days, the 2021 "Shoes for Orphan Souls" project will be complete. HELP!! The committee will need three volunteers to help with packing shoes on Saturday, May 15th at 10:00 a.m. We will be meeting at the home of Linn Mills.
Thank you to donations from Sally Bibb, Bob Lager, Lonnie Lawton, Carl Bolte, Dennis McKeehan, Mary Kingsley, Marc Horner, Kermit Bright, Dr. George Gordon, Brad Kleindl, Woody Davis, David Hanzlick, Marianne Sportsman, Lee Brumitt, Neil Barnett, Howard Mick, Jan Armstrong, Tony Andresen, Richard Helmuth, Barbara Dolci, Jerry Cooke, Richard, and Sarah Beyer.
Our transportation date and location have changed. Looking for volunteers to help on May 22nd with the transportation of Shoes to the Shoe Caravan stop in North Kansas City.
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 For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. 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, May 17, 6:30 PM
Zoom Meeting
About the book:
For Whom the Bell Tolls is set near Segovia, Spain, in 1937 and tells the story of American teacher Robert Jordan, who has joined the antifascist Loyalist army. Jordan has been sent to make contact with a guerrilla band and blow up a bridge to advance a Loyalist offensive. The action takes place during Jordan’s 72 hours at the guerrilla camp. During this period he falls in love with María, who has been raped by fascist soldiers, and befriends the shrewd but cowardly guerrilla leader Pablo and his courageous wife, Pilar. Jordan manages to destroy the bridge; Pablo, Pilar, María, and two other guerrillas escape, but Jordan is injured. Proclaiming his love to María once more, he awaits the fascist troops and certain death.
We have had many volunteer groups working hard to get the Rotary Youth Camp ready for summer campers. Even the wildlife have taken to inspecting the grounds- ensuring we can offer the best possible experience to all who use us. I think we got the Raccoon’s seal of approval over the new gardening.
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
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@rotaryclub13
By David Hanzlick
I had the pleasure last week of volunteering with other Club 13 Rotarians at the Mind Drive Electro Rally at Liberty Memorial. I have a t-shirt to prove it!
The Rally featured electric car and drone races – all sanctioned by a national governing body. High school students from as far away Louisiana and Scott City, Kansas, participated. Thank you to Jessica Block for coordinating volunteers, Dallas Ziegenhorn for his longstanding advocacy of the project, and the Venture Fund for a grant in support of this event. Learn more about Mind Drive athttps://minddrive.org/
In late April, the Club also participated in building electric cars for children with mobility challenges. Club members and the Venture Fund were instrumental in making the lives of these children better. Click here to learn more about Geeks for Kids.
The common denominator here is the Club’s dedication to serving the children and youth of the community, which I’m pleased to highlight during May which is Rotary Youth Service Month.
We are all well aware, of course, that the Club’s signature project – the biggest and oldest ongoing youth service project in the Rotary world – is the Rotary Youth Camp.
Speaking of the Camp, May 18 is Greater Kansas City Day. Club members and other area Rotarians will sell Monarchs pennants at many locations around town, including at the Negro Leagues Museum, to raise funds for the camp. GKC Day is now a partnership with the Kansas City Monarchs. To sign up to sell pennants, please go tohttps://rotary13.org/
Finally, I want to highlight the 111th anniversary of the Club’s founding on May 16, 1910! Few organizations have done more for their community than has Club 13. And we’re just getting started!
Have a great week and remember, “Rotary Opens Opportunities!”
Thank you to our "Groundbreaking" Sponsors for the 2021 Greater Kansas City Day
Terre & Tony Andresen
Jan Armstrong
Kara Bennett
Bob & Sally Bibb
The Bubb Team - ReeceNichols
Citizens Bank & Trust
Woody Davis
Barbara & Larry Dolci
Equity Bank
Janee' & David Hanzlick
Leawood Rotary Club
Rusty & Cathy Macy
MarkOne
Linn Mills
Next Level Performers
Power Partners
Schleicher Law Firm
Thoughtful Care Inc.
Terry & Debbie Westlund
Joletta & Tom Woolwine
ContactMandyif you would like to be a sponsor for this year's Greater Kansas City Day!
With a focus on Action, the Satellite Club is planning to either organize or participate in a service project each month. On Saturday morning, May 22, they will be working at the Rotary Youth Camp on a Front Porch Project. The project includes weeding/mulching the daylilies by the pool and planting flowers in the containers at the end of the dining hall. Front Porch Project is a Club 13 initiative to foster Rotary service and fellowship and provide Rotarians an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with OUR Camp for Kids and help Director Laurie with the multiple projects that need to get done to ready the facilities for Campers. The benefit of these work groups is first of all to accomplish the tasks that Laurie has outlined for the Youth Camp but it is also an opportunity for Rotary fellowship. Satellite Rotarians are People of Action and welcome an opportunity to do service.
The meeting was held via Zoom with Rotarians and guests participating from their homes and offices in various time zones.
Tony Andresen introduced our guest speaker, Travis Boley, Manager of the Oregon-California Trails Association since 2003. Mr. Boley is a member of the Independence Noon Rotary Club; Lexington, MO is his hometown. He is a distance runner, and is married with four children. Before joining the OR-CA Trails Association, he worked at the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph. His academic training came from UMKC and KU, making him as cross-border as possible in the Kansas City metro area. His last appearance before Club 13 was about two years ago.
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@rotary13
@rotaryclub13
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