Our Speaker this Week is Angie Babbit, Monarch Watch. Her topic is "Bring Back the Monarch Migration - What can citizens do to conserve monarchs?"
Angie has been with Monarch Watch since 2014 and handles much of the communications with the public about monarchs and milkweed. She administers the Milkweed Market and the Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits grant. In the spring and fall, Angie distributes about 1200 flats of milkweed through partner nurseries in five states. In her spare time, she is a photographer, relief printmaker and advocate for the tall grass prairie ecosystem. In January, she moved to a smaller, 1950s-era house in Lawrence, KS, and is dreaming up ways to turn her new yard into habitat for insects.
The monarch butterfly migration has been in decline and has reached all-time lows in the last 5 years. Angie Babbit of Monarch Watch will discuss what has contributed to this decline, and what citizens can do to help conserve the species in their area. She will also explain the phenomenon of the migration, or rather FOUR annual migrations, of the monarch butterfly in the eastern United States.
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.
President David Hanzlick welcomed all to the Club with the Camp for Kids. After members were sent to breakout rooms where the question “What do you typically eat for breakfast” was discussed, the meeting continued with a rendition of “The Birthday Song” followed by “My Country Tis of Thee” by Charlie and Carl. We then said the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence for long-time Club 13 member, Tom Davidson. Al Tikwart then delivered an invocation. Dallas Ziegenhorn showed a video and encouraged all to volunteer for the MindDrive event, which Club 13 is sponsoring, on May 3 at Penn Valley Park. Jessica Block then presented another Club-sponsored event, “Sleep in Heavenly Peace,” at which volunteers will build 40 beds for children in need. The event will take place on June 12.
Linn Mills updated the Club on the District’s Shoes for Orphan Souls project which is entering its 20th year. Over 1,000 shoes and 1,370 pairs of socks have been purchased by Club 13 thanks to the highest level of donations in the last 5 years. President David then reviewed several events around the corner: May 18 (Greater Kansas City Day); June 6 (Family Picnic at the Camp); and July 1 (Changing of the Guard at the Camp).
Sally Bibb then introduced our speaker, Valerie Nicholson-Watson, the CEO of Harvesters, the amazing food bank and distributor serving 26 counties in NW Missouri and NE Kansas. In her thoughtful manner, Valerie spoke about the immense challenges Harvesters experienced in March, 2020 at the onset of the pandemic and how it overcame the extreme difficulties to serve the “food insecure” population. Or, as she put it, Harvesters was “tested” and then experienced the “testimony.” At the beginning of the pandemic, Harvesters had a significant food shortage as donations plummeted. It was forced to purchase food, but with very slow delivery times across the nation and numerous order cancellations, Harvesters was not meeting the great need. Used to having around 6,000 volunteers/month, the volunteer population became virtually nonexistent overnight. But, the “testimony” is the funders responded allowing Harvesters to purchase $800,000 to $1M of food/month to make up for lost donations and hire temporary workers to make up for the lost volunteer corps. Over 90% of the agencies and pantries vital to Harvesters’ distribution maintained operations. Harvesters found alternative methods of distributing food through large mobile distribution events at Arrowhead and other sites. The Mahomes Challenge, the CARES Act, the KC Police Department, and the Kansas and Missouri National Guard all combined to help Harvesters deliver more than a million pounds of food more per month over the last year. 387,000 individuals are now served each month by Harvesters. Assuming the recovery continues, Valerie believes it will take about two years for the most vulnerable in the work force to recover a semblance of normality and become less food dependent.
President David adjourned the meeting with the reading of the Four Way Test and his reminder that “Rotary Opens Opportunities!”
Club 13 will be helping sponsor and volunteer for the upcoming Electrathon Rally which was postponed from last April due to Covid 19 protocols. Volunteers will be needed throughout the day. This event will be fun, working with 10 schools, 16 race teams and 60 to 80 students. Races will take place between 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM.
Click here to view volunteer opportunities. Contact MANDY to sign up.
Geeks For Kids design and build custom, electric ride-on cars for kids with movement limitations. We have the opportunity to help at the Build Event on April 24th as part of new Venture Fund Project. Social distancing will be practiced and masks are required.
We need to give them our roster of volunteers by 4/19.
The High-Tech Build is from 12pm-4:30pm. FOUR volunteers needed (No special skills needed. Anyone can help and they will find something for us to do.)
The Build Event will be held in their workshop in the Downtown Underground. 1501 W. 31st Street, Suite 419, Kansas City, MO 64111; the Downtown Underground cave complex is just west of Penn Valley on the west side of downtown and just off I-35.
It is important that we have names, emails and phone numbers for all participants prior to the event. Follow up emails will be sent with details and access information. Please contact Eric Bubb at ericbubb@reecenichols.com with any questions and to sign up.
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, and outside the Monarchs Stadium at the Legends Shopping Center in Kansas City, KS. We need 10 volunteers at each location. If you would like to purchase a bundle of pennants to sell at your place of business, that would be welcomed as well! We are also offering $500 "Groundbreaking" Sponsorships, which includes 2 pennants, 4 ticket vouchers and a personal guided tour of the Negro Leagues Museum.
Please click herefor the sign-up information, or contact Mandy for bundle sales and sponsorships. All proceeds will go directly to the Rotary Youth Camp!
In five weeks, the 2021 "Shoes for Orphan Souls" project will be complete. Our dedicated shoppers have purchased 1001 pairs of shoes and 1370 pairs of socks due to your generous contributions.
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, Richard, and Sarah Beyer.
Looking for volunteers to help on May 20th with the transportation of Shoes to the Shoe Caravan stop in Liberty.
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.
Today, the beginning of Earth Day Week, the ecology committee kicks off the sales promotion of milkweed plants and a selection of nectar producing plants offered by Suburban Lawn and Garden as part of Club 13's partnership with the Monterrey, Mexico Rotary Club, KCS Railway Company and Suburban Lawn and Garden to help save the rapidly diminishing populations of the monarch butterflies. Rotary members will be receiving a flyer via a separate email explaining how to order plants for your own monarch-friendly garden.
Thomas L Davidson - July 15, 1931 - April 13, 2021 Tom Davidson was born in Des Moines, Iowa on July 15, 1931 to Rosiland and Hy Davidson. He was known as Tom, Tommy, TD, Dad, Pop Pop and Poppa Tom. He was fond of saying, "Call me anything but late for dinner". Tom was a devoted husband to his wife of 65 years, Lois. He always told everyone that the most important sale he ever made was convincing her, when she was 19 years old, to marry him and leave Beverly Hills to move to Kansas City. He loved his family, appreciated traveling/ cruising around the world, and enjoyed spending winters in Palm Springs. He was passionate about playing golf and was an avid reader who often read two or three books at a time. He loved to tell a good story and enjoyed sharing a drink and a meal with family and friends. He was a runner in the 1960's before it became a popular fitness craze, and was an active tennis player for 40 years. He had a regular lunch group every day of the week except Wednesday for over 30 years. If you wanted on his calendar, you knew to schedule on a Wednesday.
His family moved to Kansas City in 1935 to help run Davidson's Furniture on 12th and Grand Avenue. Tom graduated from Southwest High School in 1948 and from The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania in 1952, where he was a member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. Tom eventually purchased Enterprise Wholesale Furniture Company which transitioned into Davidson Furniture and Interiors. His final business venture was Davidson Archives. He conceived this idea and developed the business from the ground up in his furniture warehouse. He eventually built the company into a thriving archival storage facility which Iron Mountain purchased from him in 2002.
Tom never met a stranger, loved the art of selling and truly enjoyed people and being a part of the community in which he lived. He served on the Boards of Bacchus Foundation, Central Industrial District of Kansas City, Civic National Bank, The Community Blood Center of KC, The Jewish Community Center, The Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, The Menorah Medical Center, The Merchants Bank, The Mercury Club, Oakwood Country Club, The Prairie Village Art Commission, The National Wholesale Furniture Association, Rockhurst College (Honorary Board Member), The Rotary Club of Downtown Kansas City, the Teel Institute and the Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health Recovery Services.
He was proud to have established the Davidson Interior Design Award which honored an outstanding designer each year and funded an interior design course at the KCAI. He helped establish and then chaired the Prairie Village Art Fair for several years. And was the Board Chairman of the Teel Institute which focused on guiding educators in the area of teaching self-esteem.
He was an active member of The International Wine and Food Society, The Kansas City Club, The Mercury Club, The New Reform Temple, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Society of Fellows, Oakwood Country Club, and The Rotary Club of Downtown Kansas City, and Tamarisk Country Club in Palm Springs, California.
He leaves behind his loving wife Lois and his children Gregg Davidson (Sirenna), Andie Weisz (Keith) and Joy Davidson, and his grandchildren Annie Davidson, Ben Davidson, Allison Kipke and David Kipke. The family thanks everyone at Claridge Court Skilled Nursing for their outstanding care. Their devotion to Tom has meant a great deal to us.
A private service will be held graveside but you can watch by requesting a link at this email address, zoom1@louismemorial.com.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to The Rotary Youth Camp for the Disadvantaged and Disabled online at rotaryyouthcamp.org or by mailing a check to 22310 NE Colbern Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64086, or any charity of your choice.
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
A frequent theme of these columns has been my gratitude for the depth and breadth of service that Club 13 provides to the community and world. It is a privilege to be part of an organization that does so much good for so many. I would like to again express my thanks to everyone who makes this level of service and engagement possible.
If you take a look at the list of upcoming events on the website – www.club13.org – you will see numerous opportunities to change lives in the community for the better over the next few months.
These opportunities include:
April 24 - ‘Geeks for Kids’ car building project is on April 24. The project assembles electric cars for local children with movement disabilities. These modified cars give the children the freedom to explore, learn, and interact with their peers. This project offers morning and afternoon volunteer opportunities. The project is supported by the Venture Fund. To learn more about Geeks for Kids, click here.
May 3 – The Mind Drive Rally – Volunteers are needed for various shifts from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Learn more about this organization the provides hands-on STEM education for Kansas City youth. https://minddrive.org/
May 18 – Greater Kansas City Day to raise funds for the camp. GKC Day is now a partnership with the Kansas City Monarchs and HyVee. Details on sign ups, shifts, and locations will be announced shortly. This event raises funds for the Rotary Youth Camp.
June 12 - The Sleep in Heavenly Peace project provides beds for children in need. Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to noon. To learn more about this project, visit: https://www.shpbeds.org/
Every Saturday – The Bagel Run!
The Club will also have several opportunities for safe, socially-distanced, social events starting this week with the parking lot party this Thursday, April 22, at Bibb & Associates. Please click here for complete details and registration.
The annual memorial service and family picnic will take place on June 5 at the Camp – watch for details.
The Changing of the Guard will be held on July 1 also at the Camp. Regular weekly meetings are scheduled to resume in July at The Gallery!
And please remember that the Rotary Youth Camp also offers opportunities for service. Please contact Laurie Mozley for the list of projects that still need to be completed.
Have a great week and remember, “Rotary Opens Opportunities!”
Our volunteers have been putting in lots of hard work to get the camp ready for our summer sessions! Summer camp officially begins in June this year, and we are very excited to welcome campers back to our grounds!
And welcome to our newest member of the Monday Morning Crew: Tony Andresen!
The Satellite Club will meet on Tuesday, April 27th, 5:30 PM on the Patio at the Brickhouse, 400 East 31 Street, Kansas City, MO. with Amelia Ahluwalia serving as Moderator. Following networking, Jessica Block will speak on the “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” project. The project includes building and delivering beds to disadvantaged youth in the Kansas City area and will receive a contribution from the Club 13 Venture Fund. A work day is scheduled for June 12. The meeting will end with a discussion on future service projects and The Four Way Test. All Club 13 Rotarians are welcome to attend.
Bowling News
By Tim Tholen
Hello Rotary Club 13!!
Well, we made it thru another year of Covid bowling, and we finished in fine fashion! Last night was the roll off between Eric Bubb's team, which includes his son Stephen and Ted Middendorf, and the team of Chris Grimsley, which includes Karl Roscoe and Joey Grimsley. And what a duel it was! The format is best of 3 games, Eric took the first, Chris the second, setting up a must win situation for both teams. Some notable achievements during all three games:
Chris with a 4,7,9 split, and Karl with and 2,7 and a 3,10. Karl by the way, came to battle, rolling like he was trying out for the PBA! And Ted went on a tear in the 2nd game, rolling his final 5 balls all strikes!!! It was impressive to watch for sure.
Watching the games was thrilling, with the cheering section supporting both sides. In the end however, someone must win and someone must lose. And it was Chris and his team that prevailed in the end. Congratulations to 2020/2021 Rotary bowling champs 4 Balls and a Split!!
Our end of year banquet is scheduled for May 6th, where awards will be handed out. We are already looking forward to next year and hope to encourage more Rotarians to come out and roll with us!
Sally Bibb then introduced our speaker, Valerie Nicholson-Watson, the CEO of Harvesters, the amazing food bank and distributor serving 26 counties in NW Missouri and NE Kansas. In her thoughtful manner, Valerie spoke about the immense challenges Harvesters experienced in March, 2020 at the onset of the pandemic and how it overcame the extreme difficulties to serve the “food insecure” population. Or, as she put it, Harvesters was “tested” and then experienced the “testimony.” At the beginning of the pandemic, Harvesters had a significant food shortage as donations plummeted. It was forced to purchase food, but with very slow delivery times across the nation and numerous order cancellations, Harvesters was not meeting the great need. Used to having around 6,000 volunteers/month, the volunteer population became virtually nonexistent overnight. But, the “testimony” is the funders responded allowing Harvesters to purchase $800,000 to $1M of food/month to make up for lost donations and hire temporary workers to make up for the lost volunteer corps. Over 90% of the agencies and pantries vital to Harvesters’ distribution maintained operations. Harvesters found alternative methods of distributing food through large mobile distribution events at Arrowhead and other sites. The Mahomes Challenge, the CARES Act, the KC Police Department, and the Kansas and Missouri National Guard all combined to help Harvesters deliver more than a million pounds of food more per month over the last year. 387,000 individuals are now served each month by Harvesters. Assuming the recovery continues, Valerie believes it will take about two years for the most vulnerable in the work force to recover a semblance of normality and become less food dependent.
Club 13 will be helping sponsor and volunteer for the upcoming Electrathon Rally which was postponed from last April due to Covid 19 protocols. Volunteers will be needed throughout the day. This event will be fun, working with 10 schools, 16 race teams and 60 to 80 students. Races will take place between 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM. 
Today, the beginning of Earth Day Week, the ecology committee kicks off the sales promotion of milkweed plants and a selection of nectar producing plants offered by Suburban Lawn and Garden as part of Club 13's partnership with the Monterrey, Mexico Rotary Club, KCS Railway Company and Suburban Lawn and Garden to help save the rapidly diminishing populations of the monarch butterflies. Rotary members will be receiving a flyer via a separate email explaining how to order plants for your own monarch-friendly garden.
Thomas L Davidson - July 15, 1931 - April 13, 2021
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