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The Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw
This Week's Meeting
May 19, 2022
Our speaker this week is David Young, US Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi.
 Ambassador David Young
David Young was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Malawi on March 3, 2022.

Ambassador Young has served in African posts for the past decade.  He served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia from 2020-2021.  He was Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa in 2019, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria from 2016-2019.  He also served in Zambia as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2013-2016.  He briefly served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in Khartoum, Sudan in 2012.

A Foreign Service Officer for 32 years, Ambassador Young previously served as Deputy Director of the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan; Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights; a Pearson Fellow in the House of Representatives; Public Affairs Officer at Embassy Guatemala; and Director of the Office of International Religious Freedom.  His other assignments include tours in Vietnam, Panama, the State Department Operations Center, and several country desks.

Ambassador Young graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.  He studied ecumenical studies at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship.  He received a Master of Divinity degree in social ethics and a Master of Arts in international relations from Boston University.

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Ambassador Young and his wife Diane Weisz Young have two grown children, Paul and Sarah.  He enjoys travel with his family, going to U2 and Coldplay concerts, and sports of all kinds, especially watching the Kansas City Chiefs football team.  He is passionate about leading teams, coaching, and servant leadership.

You can watch meetings Live on Facebook @RotaryClub13, Thursdays at Noon.
Last Week's Meeting
May 12, 2022
 
President Tony Andresen welcomed all to the Club with the Camp for Kids. We stood for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer by Alan Warne pondering what it means to be a “builder.” We sang the “Birthday Song” Acapulco-style, per our President, meaning without the usual piano accompaniment of our esteemed Maestro, Carl Bolte. A couple of guests of our members were welcomed. The following Club Anniversaries were recognized: Overton Durrett (22 years); Joanna Sebelien (19 years); and Rich Ambler (5 years). Phone calls, cards, and personal visits were requested for Karl Roscoe who is now residing at the Village at Mission.  
 
Eric Bubb announced the resumption of the Club 13 Golf Championship where Rotarians play each other at an agreed time and location in an effort to progress to the championship match. A handicap system will be determined prior to play beginning. The tournament will end with a championship round at Brookridge CC with throngs of Rotarians allowed to follow with the added incentive of a reception at the 19th hole.  It was then announced that one of our favorite Venture Fund recipients, Geeks for Kids, needs volunteers on June 4 from 12-5 at Aristocrat Motors to assist with its Delivery Day. Finally, there are still tickets for the KC Currents game on Saturday, June 18. Register on Club Runner.  
 
District Governor, David McCaughey, then introduced our speakers, Club 13 members and Camp stalwarts, Phil Kinney and Dan Nenonen, both of whom gave updates on the Camp. Dan took the mic first and with the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, tracked his highly successful 5 years as President of the Rotary Club Youth Camp Association. With the precision expected of the exceptional architect he is, Dan first tracked the history of the Camp, now in its 98th year! The Camp is owned by the Robert W. and Clara M. Gees Trust, and according to that Trust, the Camp will be a Club 13 asset in perpetuity. The Camp was once much larger but was reduced to its present 26 acres when part of Lake Jacomo was filled in by Jackson County. Keeping the land, 13 cabins, 18 additional structures, 2 auxiliary camps, and 2 fire circles maintained for free use by an estimated 3,750 kids/year is not easy. Dan traced the challenges encountered over his longer-than-usual tenure which included the pandemic, a dead tree falling on a cabin, and a damaging tornado and hail storm. With an annual operating budget of $385K, the Camp is funded by the proceeds of events such as Greater Kansas City Day, grants, individuals, and the Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation. Under Dan’s leadership, the Camp has made $3M in improvements, including the construction of the new Health and Administrative Building ($2.2M), substantial cabin improvements, sidewalk repair, and new pumps for the plumbing system. 
 
Following Dan’s presentation, Phil, a member of the Foundation Board for forever and a day as well as its retiring President, took the podium and described the interesting history and inner workings of the Foundation, which is a separate entity than the Camp Association and Club 13. It was formed in 1973 as part of “Project 50,” which, among other things, featured member assessments of $600/member to right what was then a deteriorated Camp under threats by the health authorities to make improvements or shut it down. In 1981, when the Foundation achieved its not for profit status, it held $250K in assets. Through stable money management by an Investment Committee, which oversees a long-term investment portfolio as well as a liquid operating portfolio, the Foundation has grown to over $7M in assets. Phil explained the role Greater KC Day has had on funding for the Camp. Due to the loss of the Royals and KC Star’s support for Greater KC Day, the Foundation has had to change the manner in which it has traditionally contributed to Camp operations. Instead using interest and dividends for the Camp, the Foundation has been compelled to contribute a percentage of its assets for the benefit of the Camp. As the Camp budget increases in this inflationary period and as the Camp works on reinvigorating its revenue sources, such as Greater KC Day, the percentage required has temporarily exceeded the percentage desired by the Foundation. Therefore, it is important for the Camp to start thinking “out of the box” to find new ways to fund its operations in addition to Greater KC Day. The more it does that, the less dependent the Camp will be on the Foundation. Phil threw up a cautionary flag in emphasizing the importance of making individual contributions to the Camp, including finding new streams of revenue and rebuilding Greater KC Day, so the Foundation can continue to grow to solidify the future of the Camp.
 
After the presentations, President Tony read a quote from Frank Lloyd Wright “Youth is a circumstance you can’t do anything about. The trick is to grow up without getting old.” The meeting ended after saying the “Four Way Test” together. We left a little later than usual, but we also left more educated on the Camp and its operations and thankful for persons like Phil and Dan who have dedicated so much time and effort to assure that the Camp and its vision to be the nation’s finest camping facility impacting as many youth as possible and be the trusted resource for organizations and individuals serving disadvantaged and disabled campers is fulfilled. 
Car Delivery Day - Geeks for Kids 2022 Finale
We have the opportunity to help with the 2022 Car Delivery Day! This is your chance to see what it is all about and why Geeks for Kids is so important. The children will receive their cars and get to drive them for the first time! You don’t want to miss this event!
 
Date: Saturday, June 4th
 
Time: 12-5pm
 
Location: Aristocrat Motors 9400 West 65th Street Merriam, KS 66203

Please sign up for the event at https://geeks.learnscienceandmathclub.org/schedule. It is very important that you register as you will receive follow up emails about the event. Please contact Eric Bubb at ericbubb@reecenichols.com with any questions. 
 
 
Shoes for Orphan Souls 2022
The Rotary District 6040 Shoes for Orphan Souls Caravan is underway. The Caravan did pick up the first load of Shoes and Socks on Thursday, May 12th. Club 13 is scheduled to deliver their donation to the Caravan location in North Kansas City on Saturday, May 22nd starting from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30.
 
Thank you to Rotary Club 13 for your support and generous cash contributions to Shoe Project 2022.
 
Thank you to Chris Boland for volunteering his warehouse for shoes and socks storage. Chris is on vacation in Ireland and requests not to deliver shoes until he returns on May 19th. Members who want to deliver boxed shoes and socks to the warehouse, do not hesitate to contact Chris to arrange a time and date at 816-694-3669. Remember to place shoes and socks in separate boxes. Mark each box on the outside with the total number of shoes and socks inside. If you have a question about packing details, contact Linn at 505-402-6630
 
Keep in mind that this is an essential District 6040 project to help underprivileged children to have a better life. In many countries, children walk dirt paths covered with rocks and glass every day. Proper shoes are necessary to keep them safe and healthy.
 
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Linn Mills at 505-402-6630, millsfrench27@gmail.com.
Book Discussion Group
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group on Zoom for the discussion of the book Ripple: A Long Strange Search for a Killer by Jim Cosgrove.  The book is available at Rainy Day Books and the discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings.  All Rotarians and guests are welcome.
 
Event: Rotary Book Discussion Group
Date: Monday, May 23, 6:30 PM
Meet in person at Rainy Day Books but Zoom will also be available
 
About the book:
For nine years, South Carolina officials struggled to identify “the boy in the woods,” whose body had been discovered in a fishing village called Murrells Inlet.  Meanwhile, 1,200 miles away in Kansas City, Missouri, Frank McGonigle’s family search for him at Grateful Dead concerts and in the face of every long-haired hitchhiker they passed.  Consumed with guilt for how they’d treated him, Frank’s eight siblings slowly came to understand that –like Jerry Garcia sang –he’s gone and nothin’s gonna bring him back.  Frank McGonigle was finally found and identified as “the boy in the woods.”
 
Four years later, the case still unsolved, Jim Cosgrove, a McGonigle family friend and investigative journalist, pick up the trail of Frank’s cold case and began uncovering connections to a ruthless local crime boss and blunders by the threadbare sheriff’s department.  When his research began to stall, a chance meeting with a straight-talking “energy reader” provided a metaphysical spark that reinforced his resolve.  Although trained as a journalist to be skeptical, Cosgrove could not deny that she had provided details about Frank’s murder that turned out to be freakishly accurate.  In 2019, he returned to Murrells Inlet with one of Frank’s brothers to dredge up some old leads and settle Frank’s case once and for all.
AAPIHM Celebration
We meet Thursdays at Noon
The Gallery
14 & Main
Kansas City, MO 
 
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Upcoming Events
Satellite Club Meeting
Tower Tavern
May 24, 2022
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
 
Memorial Meeting
The Gallery
May 26, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
Bagel Run
May 28, 2022
 
Bagel Run
Jun 04, 2022
 
Geeks for Kids Car Delivery Day
Aristocrat Motors
Jun 04, 2022
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Board of Directors Meeting
MarkOne
Jun 08, 2022
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Bagel Run
Jun 11, 2022
 
Women and Friends of Rotary
Pierponts
Jun 14, 2022
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
 
Bagel Run
Jun 18, 2022
 
KC Current Game
Children's Mercy Park
Jun 18, 2022
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
 
View entire list
Speakers
May 26, 2022
Jun 02, 2022
Rock Island Bridge: America's First Destination Bridge & Trailhead
Jun 09, 2022
What the Streetcar Expansion Brings to Kansas City
Jun 16, 2022
Ukrainian Refugees
Jun 23, 2022
Music Opportunities in Kansas City: Listening and Performing
Jun 30, 2022
View entire list

Youth Camp Update
By Laurie Mozley
 
Don't forget to RSVP for the Ribbon Cutting on Sunday!
We now have 4 eggs in the Killdeer’s nest!

Women of Rotary
The Women and Friends of Rotary met at Pierponts last week. Looks like they had a great time in Rotary Fellowship!
Mary Kingsley, Diane Scott, Jane Lee, Jessica Block, Evie Craig, Courtney Brooks, Jan Armstrong, Kara Bennett, Martha Voigt.

The Rotary 13 Satellite Club will meet on Tuesday, May 24, in the meeting room at Tower Tavern, 401 East 31st Street, KCMO, at 5:30 PM.  There will be a discussion on upcoming service projects and social events.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!

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