Our Speaker this week is Abigail Swafford, Executive Director, HopeKids KC.
Abigail has been with HopeKids KC since 2021, first as a Program Manager before becoming the Executive Director in 2024. Prior to joining HopeKids KC, Abigail was a Special Education teacher. She has a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and a Master of Education from DePaul University. When not working, Abigail is involved with the Junior League of KCMO as a Community Endowment Committee Member.
President Jared Campbell welcomed all to the meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Matt Palcher delivered an invocation for service. Tom Woolwine led the singing of the Happy Birthday Song to the November celebrants. Two guests were introduced and welcomed. The following Club anniversaries were recognized: Peter Ho, 25 years; Brent Worley, 20 years, and Terry O’Toole, 22 years.
President Jared thanked the lone greeter, Fred Drummond, a November birthday boy. Neil Barnett’s name was picked from the spinning October Perfect Attendance wheel, and he won a much-needed spa package. Pete Sotta, Chair of the Community Services Committee, introduced this year’s holiday giving to benefit those served by Westside CAN Center. Toys for toddlers through teens are due by the end of the month. You may ship or deliver appropriate toys or a check payable to “Westside CAN Center,” 2038 Jefferson, Kansas City, MO 64108. If giving cash, please provide as soon as possible so that Westside CAN has time to purchase toys. Tony Andresen then approached the podium ringing bells signifying it is Salvation Army Bell-Ringing season. Tony detailed several dates and spots still. A few slots are still available on November 22. Especially open were slots on December 6. Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/YJFoawYKara Bennett, Chair of the Entertainment Committee, announced the Rotary Holiday Party on December 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 on the top floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The cost is only $25 per person featuring heavy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, and Rotary fellowship. A short Happy Bucks session took place with a few expressing recent good news.
Brad Kleindl then introduced our speaker, Forest Rong, President of the KC Chinese-American Association (KCCAA). Forest is an immigrant from China. He attended grad school in Canada and moved to Overland Park as a single person in 2001. He is a professional electrical engineer, gainfully employed at Kiewit, and has a family of five, two of which are in college. KCCAA is the largest not for profit serving the Chinese/American population in the KC area numbering between 10,000 and 15,000 people from mainland China and surrounding areas. KCCAA’s mission is to celebrate Chinese heritage, provide local community services, and promote understanding through charitable activities. The association is run completely by volunteers with a 13-person Board of Directors, an Executive Committee, and eight functioning committees. Forest highlighted the two biggest cultural events, the Chinese New Year Gala at Yardley Hall, Johnson County Community College and the Cultural Fair which takes place the afternoon before the Gala. The Gala features a huge variety show with 200-300 performers. The KCCAA also sponsors educational seminars for students focusing on things like college prep, financial planning, and voting. Several community service projects take place during the year, and an a celebratory Community Service Award banquet for school students is held. Our speaker discussed an exchange that took place in 2011 with the KC Friendship School in Shaanxi Province, China. Several students from Brookridge Elementary traveled to the school and more than 60 Chinese students learned various topics such as English, science, geography, music, and origami from the American students. Chinese students then traveled to Kansas City and taught students here about Chinese oral and written language and culture. The Youth Hope Fund is a completely student-run organization that raises funds through, among other things, a silent auction to help feed, clothe, and educate kids in need around the world. Forest was asked about Taiwan and its current relationship with China, and he related that Taiwan and China were one until 1948 when the countries divided leaving families separated. While the countries themselves are divided, family relationships still endure.
President Jared announced upcoming meetings and then revealed this week’s Act of Kindness – make a playlist for a friend that reminds you of them. Upcoming meetings were reviewed, we said the Four Way Test, and the meeting was adjourned.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group for the discussion of the book When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen. The book discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings and all Rotarians and guests are welcome.
Date: Monday, November 10, 2025, 6:30 PM
Location: J. Wilbur Company
3242 Roanoke
Kansas City, MO 64111
About the book:
Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he’s got left. These days, his quiet existence is broken up only by daily visits from his home care team. Fortunately, he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten to keep him company. . . though now his son, with whom Bo has had a rocky relationship, insists on taking the dog away, claiming that Bo has grown too old to properly care for him. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotion, leading Bo to take stock of his life, his relationships, and the imperfect way he’s expressed his love over the years.
Park 39, formerly Westport Middle School | 300 E 39th St, KCMO 64111
Let’s change the literacy story of Kansas City, together.
Lead to Read KC and Rainy Day Books are teaming up to create a one-of-a-kind experience designed to spark generosity, uplift community, and rewrite the literacy narrative in Kansas City. At Story by Story: The KC Book Fair, local leaders, families, and readers will come together for a curated book buying, giving, and storytelling event with every dollar supporting literacy, mentoring, and book access for students across our city.
Hosted at the iconic old Westport Middle School, Story by Story: The KC Book Fair is designed to feel like Kansas City itself: full of warmth, energy, and purpose with a little something new waiting around every corner.
Guests are invited to experience the evening as a journey, where each station offers something different to discover:
Grab a Drink
Sip on a handcrafted cocktail from Made in KC while you browse the event space and our featured collection of books.
Have a Bite
Enjoy small bites from rotating local vendors, spaced throughout the evening.
Meet an Author
Join us between 2:30 and 4:00 P.M. to meet Adib Khorram, the local author behind Darius the Great Is Not Okay and other great titles!
Shop Around
Explore a curated selection of books and gifts from Rainy Day Books to buy for yourself, friends and family, and children in our community.
Mix It Up
Take a break from shopping to enter our raffles for incredible KC-themed prizes, including a signed Mahomes jersey and gift sets from local businesses.
Enjoy the Music
Stay into the evening as our DJ from Fernando Productions brings the event to life with music, movement and momentum from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M.
We need your help with a collection of 50 toys by Monday December 1st! You can bring them to Rotary or deliver directly to Westside CAN.
Here are the needs:
Age 3 to 5: 5 Female and 5 Male = 10 total
Age 6 to 8: 5 Female and 5 Male = 10 total
Age 9 to 11: 5 Female and 5 Male = 10 total
Age 12 to 15: 10 Female and 10 Male = 20 total
Please purchase new toys and no gun toys such as nerf guns, water guns, etc. Also, we know sometimes it is difficult to find toys for the older kids so we ask if possible to consider a gift card from Walmart or Target with a gift receipt please.
This year for Giving Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the camp is asking for donations to build a “Splash Pad” on the west side, just past the swimming pool. This will allow our campers who cannot utilize our pool but still want to enjoy water play and cool off. In the past we have set up lawn sprinklers to serve these campers, but would like to establish a permanent place. The cost will be around $200K. Currently we have $110K pledged or in hand. We have begun our Giving Tuesday drive on Facebook, so please like and share our posts. We would like to have this up and running by the summer of 2027.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group for the discussion of the book When The Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzen. The book discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings and all Rotarians and guests are welcome.
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