President Jared Campbell welcomed all to the meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Dr.Ted Higgins delivered an invocation of encouragement for Rotary service. One guest of our speaker was introduced and welcomed. The following Club anniversaries were recognized: Terry Kilroy, 34 years and Rick Kappa, 33 years.
President Jared thanked the Camp Board for serving as the greeters today. Ted Higgins then took the podium again to update the members on the Higgins Brothers Hospital in Haiti. At the present moment, there is very little help in Haiti from the international community. Nevertheless, the hospital continues to operate, but the reality is that gangs controlling transportation must be paid off to get supplies through the nine (9) stops from the capital, Port-Au-Prince, to the location of the hospital. The hospital sees 1,500 patients per month and 90 operations per month are performed. A quick “Happy Bucks” session was held.
Ted Higgins then introduced our speaker, Mike Fox, the founder of Go Project, a privately funded not for profit. The Go Project had its origins in 2002 with Mike and his wife attending a mission conference at their church where they were asked to host another couple from the Philippines for dinner. That dinner eventually led to a request from the missionary couple to help 17 kids living in a makeshift shelter in Thailand. A modest donation bought food for 30 days and a more sustainable living situation. In August, 2003, Mike found himself making a trip to Thailand, China, and the Philippines to observe the living conditions of orphaned children there. In August, 2004, Mike traveled to Haiti, where his life was changed for good. He called his wife and told her “I have been to the worst place in my life and can’t wait to take you there.” That led to the founding of Go Project, financial support from churches, the building of orphanages all over the world, and the commissioning of local churches to maintain and care for the orphanages. With UNICEF claiming there are 143 million orphaned children worldwide, the demand is great. By 2009, Go Project had constructed 75 buildings. At the dedication of a new orphanage, the site of a young woman with two children led Mike to the realization that in addition to the orphans, Go Project must also provide assistance to single mothers and struggling families. That led to the development of Go Ex, an apparel business in Haiti which provides work, decent wages, a daily meal, and health insurance to its employees. In addition, a phone app known as CARE Portal has been developed. CARE Portal is a collaboration of churches, government agencies, and families by which child welfare agencies identify needs of a single mother or family, and a request goes out through the CARE Portal network via the app. Churches, individuals, and families can easily provide the need via the Portal. The Portal is now used in 40 states. A similar tool, Strong Family has also been developed. Strong Family seeks to hire a church member or individual to help someone else with a specific need. In its roughly 20 years of existence, Go Project has served 650,000 children and has developed caregivers all over the world, In Kansas City alone, there are 2,733 in the foster care system, and 13,000 requests have been made via the CARE Portal with 75% of those requests met. Mike said Go Project is an expert on poverty in that ½ of the kids in the foster care system in the U.S. come from the poorest counties. Poverty is the single biggest contributor to a child being displaced from a family.
President Jared announced upcoming meetings and then revealed this week’s Act of Kindness – leaving a positive review for an establishment which you enjoyed. We said the Four Way Test and the meeting was adjourned.
Congratulations to Scott Boswell, who received the Service Above Self Award Saturday at the Rotary Regatta Dinner. The following is from Scott's comments while accepting the award.
"I want to begin by expressing my deep gratitude to Rotary Club 13 for this honor. To be recognized with the Service Above Self award is humbling—especially here at the Rotary Youth Camp, a place that embodies service in action.
I’d also like to introduce a few very special people with me tonight. First, Colonel Bill Singleton—my mentor in the Heart of America Council’s Mic-O-Say program, who has guided me in leadership and service. Paul and Julie Schleicher—whose family’s legacy of generosity through Rotary has touched this camp in profound ways. Their son Jon, whom they tragically lost just a couple of months ago in a rock climbing accident, completed his Eagle Project right here, leaving a lasting mark on these grounds. And most importantly, my wife Robin—my life partner. Robin has not only supported me, but enabled me to be a better husband, father, business leader, and community servant. Nothing I’ve done would have been possible without her.
Although I’m honored tonight, I must confess—I’ve never really been able to achieve “service above self.” No matter how hard I try, every time I give back, I receive far more in return. My work in the arts, in healthcare, in higher education, and in law enforcement has not only helped our community—it has enriched my own life and strengthened my family.
Nowhere is that more evident than in Scouting. As an Eagle Scout, I gained my first leadership experiences. Robin and I are proud that both of our sons are Eagle Scouts as well—one now serving in the U.S. Senate, the other as a First Lieutenant in the Army. My service as Scoutmaster, Council President, and in our honor programs like Mic-O-Say and the Order of the Arrow has always given me back more growth, joy, and purpose than I could ever give.
And that is what connects me so deeply to your mission as Rotarians. In my brief time as a Rotarian in Greenville, South Carolina, I saw firsthand the global reach of Rotary—like the fight to eradicate polio. But what you do here, with this camp, is just as extraordinary. The Rotary Youth Camp is a gift beyond measure for individuals with special needs and for organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. It’s a place where barriers fall, and only belonging remains.
Let me close with a story. Both of our sons spent years on camp staff—our oldest son, Senn at Camp Naish, and our youngest, Graham, here at Rotary. It was here that I saw Graham grow in kindness, patience, and understanding as he worked with campers who faced challenges greater than his own. He once told me about a camper named Jeff Borgmeyer.
Jeff was born on the Fourth of July and was, as Graham said, “the most patriotic man you’d ever meet.” Though older than most campers—and even many staffers—Jeff was never treated as anything but a beloved part of the Rotary family. He played basketball, sang “America the Beautiful” at flag ceremonies, and lit up the camp with joy. One summer Robin and I were visiting camp when Graham and Jeff walked up to us.. He quickly told us he had just had a birthday and was 56, Robin said that is great Jeff, I am 55. He and Graham then headed to the pool (where, during every visit, I would see Brent Worley in the lifeguard chair). Once there, Jeff held up one finger and proudly told Graham that he was “one year older” —beaming as if it were the greatest badge of honor.
When Jeff passed away, his funeral was filled with people from Rotary, his group home, and camp staff. His brother looked at the packed pews and called them Jeff’s true family. And that’s what Rotary gave him—not just a camp, but a community of love.
That is the essence of service above self. It’s not about titles or awards—it’s about creating places like this where people like Jeff are seen, valued, and loved.
So thank you, Rotary Club 13, for all you do. Thank you for this award. And thank you for reminding us all that when we serve, we receive the greatest gifts of all."
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group for the discussion of the book Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. The book discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings and all Rotarians and guests are welcome.
Date: Monday, September 8, 2025, 6:30 PM
Location: J. Wilbur Company
3242 Roanoke
Kansas City, MO 64111
About the book:
Remarkably Bright Creatures is about a widow and her unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus. After her husband’s death, Tova Sullivan took up night shifts mopping floors and tidying up at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Keeping busy has always been her way of coping, especially after her 18-year-old son Erik mysteriously disappeared on a boat in Puget Sound over 30 years ago. She becomes acquainted with Marcellus – a curmudgeonly giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. He knows more than anyone could imagine, but he wouldn’t lift any of his 8 arms for his human captors until he starts a friendship with Tova. Marcellus, ever the detective, deduces what happened the night of Erik’s vanishing, and he must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster in order to discover the truth before it’s too late.
Take a moment to sit down and write reviews for a few of your favorite local businesses. Reviews can have a significant impact. Helping these establishments thrive and gain the recognition they deserve. Your feedback can make a positive difference in your community and support the places you love!
The Eastern Independence Rotary has committed $50,000 from this year's WineFest to the Rotary Youth Camp for a Splashpad. Out club has been asked to help with volunteers on Sept. 13 from 3:00 - 6:00 pm. Please click here to sign up to volunteer. Thank you!
Youth Camp Update
By Laurie Mozley
ATTENTION!!!
YOUR HELP NEEDED!!!
Saturday, August 30 from 8 AM - noon, volunteers are needed to get the camp cleaned up and summer use only items put away. Fall camping weekends begin in September and the camp is booked through December.
Call Laurie at the camp to let her know you are coming. Donuts and coffee at 8!
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group for the discussion of the book Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. The book discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings and all Rotarians and guests are welcome.
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