This week's speaker is Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Carlos Gomez began his duties with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and with the Hispanic Collaborative (Foundation of the Chamber) on Jan. 29, 2007. Carlos’s focus for the Chamber is to ensure the Chamber is meeting the needs of the Small Business Community(in particular the Spanish Speaking Business Owner), lobbying for Small Business Legislation, Comprehensive Immigration Reform and to connect Corporate America, Government and others to the Hispanic Business Community and the Hispanic consumer.
Mr. Gomez graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas with a double degree, a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and a B.B.A. in Management. Carlos has extensive branding experience from the Retail Sector, working for Electronic Retail Giant Best Buy in Management for 18 years.
Under Carlos’s Leadership the Chamber is now the 11th Largest Chamber in the Kansas City Metro out of 40 plus Chambers/Business membership organizations according to Ingrams and is the 15th Largest Chamber in the Region according to the Kansas City Business Journal. The Hispanic Chamber has implemented a very successful Small business Contracting Program, “Procurement One on Ones” which now take place quarterly matching small businesses to Corporate, Government, Medical, & Educational buyers. Carlos also serves as the Executive Director of the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Collaborative which is the 501c3 sister organization to the Hispanic Chamber. Four programs comprise the Collaborative, KC Bizfest, the Latinos of Tomorrow, the Young Latino Professionals and The Latino Leadership Institute which was established to teach Hispanics and Women how to serve on boards and commissions. The Chamber has also launched a Series of workshops and Seminars that are facilitated in Spanish to serve the needs of the growing Spanish speaking business Community.
President Tom Davis, welcomed all to the Club with the Camp for Kids. We stood for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer for peace by Xavier Montenegro. We welcomed two visiting Rotarians from the Chula Vista Rotary Club in San Diego after Tom Woolwine led us in singing a harmony-filled Happy Birthday Song to the October celebrants. We recognized the following Club anniversary: Duane Benton (15 years in Club 13 and 35 in Rotary overall).
President Tom thanked those with October birthdays for serving as greeters. Tucker Clark announced that the Pickle Ball tournament for Shoes for Orphan Souls set for Sunday, October 22, needs more teams. Skill level is of no importance but fielding a team which can pay the entry fee is! Other upcoming events include the Project C.U.R.E. community service event from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, October 19. We need more participants for this event so please consider signing up to help! November 2 will serve as Guest Day at Club 13 as author David Von Drehle will be our guest speaker. Start thinking about who you can bring and call Mandy to register them for the meeting. The District Hoop-La event for the Rotary Foundation is set for November 2. There is still time to sign up.
Our guest speaker, Kristin Robinson, was then introduced by Francis Karanu, a member of the Satellite Club. Kristin is the Executive Director of Project C.U.R.E. Kansas City. The primary mission of Project C.U.R.E. is to bring health and hope to under-developed countries and regions by distributing medical supplies and equipment. Kristin started her presentation by highlighting the stark difference between the medical treatment and resources she received during a difficult pregnancy and the medical treatment or lack thereof which a young mother in Ethiopia, Isha, would receive. In Ethiopia, mothers and/or their babies have a 50/50 chance of surviving birth, and the equipment is antiquated, inadequate, or simply nonexistent. Project C.U.R.E. believes and is driven by the philosophy that where you live should not determine whether you live, and all are entitled to the same resources for healthcare.
Project C.U.R.E. has delivered 2,784 cargo containers of medical goods with a value of over $1 billion to more than 135 countries. In times of humanitarian crisis, C.U.R.E. works with partners throughout the world to deliver supplies and equipment. Such areas have included the war-torn areas of Ukraine and now Gaza, as well as clinics and hospitals needing PPE in the United States during the Covid pandemic. Headquartered in Denver, there are seven distribution facilities in the U.S. with only 37 total employees. Project C.U.R.E. depends heavily on volunteers to help prepare and execute shipments. C.U.R.E. has received 270 Rotary grants totaling $2.1M from over 100 Rotary Clubs in the U.S. and is currently working on a global grant to ship supplies to Zambia. Supplies and equipment for the Kansas City distribution center are donated by regional medical systems such as St. Luke’s and KU Medical Center. Project C.U.R.E. works with partners in developing countries to prepare needs assessments in clinics and hospitals and then organizes and ships containers based on items that can be secured from the donating hospital systems. Each container costs $25K to ship but contains $400K of medical relief. Heart to Heart partners with Project C.U.R.E. Where Heart to Heart primarily distributes medication and pharmaceuticals, C.U.R.E. focuses on supplies and equipment.
After the presentation, President Tom read a quote from Douglas Jackson, President and CEO of Project C.U.R.E. “We know from science and psychology that helping others increases good hormones like dopamine and endorphins (happiness) and reduces bad hormones like cortisol (belly fat). We know that it is important to invest in things that outlive our earthly bodies, and that humanity advances only when we build on our ‘cathedrals’ that will last for generations.” We said the 4-Way Test together and the meeting adjourned.
Did you know you can change lives at our Rotary Youth Camp by making a donation to our Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation.
The Foundation contributes to the Rotary Youth Camp every year to keep it running. Without the financial support we would not be able to provide so many “firsts” for our campers. “Many of our young campers live with physical, mental or emotional challenges. We provide a place to grow, laugh and experience life’s first as their authentic self”, according to the Rotary Youth Camp Facebook site.
Through the month of October there is the Annual Fundraising Campaign for the Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation. In honor of the Rotary Youth Camp’s 100 year anniversary, the goal of this years’ campaign is 100% participation of the Club. In other words, all Rotary Club 13 members would become either a Foundation Fellow or a Foundation Sustaining Member.
There is a special discount through the month of October for new donors - contribute $800 and you’ll be a Fellow! If you prefer to be a Sustaining Member and make a series of smaller contributions over a period of time until reaching the $1,000 Fellow level, there are two options. The traditional option is to donate a minimum of $100 per year until you have reached $1,000. There is now a second option; that is, to use the Donate Now button on the Rotary 13 web site and contribute a minimum of $10 per month until you have reached $1,000
All contributions to the Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
If you have questions or want to make a donation, please contact foundation President Marc Horner at mhorner@aol.com or 816.985.8766 or Foundation Resource Development Chair Sally Bibb at Sallybibb@aol.com or 816.835.2088.
Do you want to make a difference? Please make a donation today!
Come help us prepare medical supplies for shipment to hospitals and clinics in need. Tasks involve sorting, packing, and warehousing medical supplies. This will be a fun, engaging, and hand-on experience.
Project C.U.R.E. was founded in 1987 to help meet the need for medical supplies, equipment and services around the world. Project C.U.R.E builds sustainable health care infrastructure by providing the medical supplies and equipment that medical personnel need to deliver health care to their communities. Since its inception, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered medical relief to needy people in more than 130 countries.
Club 13 volunteers will be organizing newly arrived inventory, sorting supplies in our sort area, pulling and loading containers as needed, and whatever else needs to be accomplished for the day. This will be a fun, engaging and hands-on experience.
Thursday, October 19 at 5 PM - 7 PM (2 hours)
8800 N.E. Underground Drive, Pillar 364 Kansas City, MO 64161
Our guest speaker is David Von Drehle, author, The Book of Charlie. The book tells the story of Von Drehle’s remarkable neighbor, Charlie White who for one hundred and nine extraordinary years spent as a doctor, musician, vagabond and bon vivant. Charlie grew up in—and along with—our city. It's a story about thriving through change.
Rotary Bowling League
By Tim Tholen
Happy Monday, Rotary 13!,
Last Wednesday, the Rotary bowlers met up for another spirited night of camaraderie, fellowship and, of course, bowling!
Kind of a slow night in terms of 200 games and splits😢
200 games:
John Reynolds-226
Peter Ho-207
Matt Ho-213
Henrik Andersen-202
Have a great week!!
Rotary Youth Camp Update
By Laurie Mozley
The camp is starting to show off it’s autumn colors! Girl Scout Service Unit 649 was out at camp this weekend to enjoy some spooky fun!
Did you know you can change lives at our Rotary Youth Camp by making a donation to our Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation.
All contributions to the Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
Come help us prepare medical supplies for shipment to hospitals and clinics in need. Tasks involve sorting, packing, and warehousing medical supplies. This will be a fun, engaging, and hand-on experience. 
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