Our Speaker this Week is Valerie Nicholson-Watson, Harvesters CEO. Her topic is "Hunger in the Midst of a Pandemic."
In July 2013, Valerie Nicholson-Watson became the fourth person to lead Harvesters—The Community Food Network, the regional Feeding America food bank serving 26 counties in northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas.
Valerie has a long history with Harvesters and the issue of hunger relief. From 1999 to 2004, she was Harvesters’ director of community services, responsible for the food bank’s agency relations, advocacy, communications, nutrition services and volunteer program. She also served on the agency’s board of directors from 2007 to 2013.
Prior to re-joining Harvesters, Valerie was a leader in the local nonprofit community as the president and chief executive officer of the Niles Home for Children. The agency in 2008 was one of two agencies nationwide awarded the “Innovative Practices” Award from the Council on Accreditation (COA) for its Hip Health initiative.
She also has held communications positions at Gateway, Inc., and the Kansas City, Mo., School District and worked as a journalist for the Kansas City Globe and The Kansas City Call.
Valerie is president of the Missouri Food Bank Association (d.b.a. Feeding Missouri), is the immediate past president of the board for Nonprofit Connect and treasurer for the W.E.B. Dubois Learning Center board of directors. She is also a member of the US Bank Community Advisory Board.
Under Valerie’s leadership, Harvesters was recognized in 2018 with the Support KC Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award, and in 2017 the organization was named a Refuel Topeka Champion by the City of Topeka, KS.
Valerie has a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from Webster University. She lives in Lee’s Summit, Mo., with her husband, Mark Watson. They have two sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons.
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.
Following the small group breakout session and after President David Hanzlick called the meeting to order, we were led by Charlie Huffman with Carl Bolte on the piano Happy Birthday to America the Beautiful, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by David Hanzlick, a thoughtful Invocation by Glenn Crawford.
Club Anniversaries: Charlie Huffman, 19 yrs, April 4 - Robin Wells, 8 yrs, April 4 - Perry Atha, 20 yrs, April 5 - George Gordon, 15 yrs, April 6
ANNOUNCEMENTS: [Report]
Tom Woolwine andAllison Kelly: CAMP SUSTAINABILITY TASKFORCE PRESENTATION: We rapidly went through a series of slides to go through an overarching project and concern for the club, i.e. the CAMP:
Overview of Taskforce (its members and compact history);
Objectives: Assess the Camp’s financial needs; create a plan; utilize Enterprise Risk Mgmt for NFP; and consideration of creating additional sources of Camp revenues
Project Work Plan: History of the Taskforce’s meetings arriving at an action plan to recommend to the three boards (Camp/Club/Foundation)
Conclusions: 2021 Camp Budget approved at $354,050, 2021 Foundation’s “spending plan funds” available to the Camp = $160,026, 2021 funding shortfall for Camp budget of $194,024, Effective budget shortfall mitigation action plan $200,000, -increased Fdtn distribution above the policy spend rule, -innovative expense reduction strategies, -New fundraising and engagement initiatives
Recommendations: Follow the broad outline of the shortfall mitigation action plan with the General & specific “how to’s”
Next Step: Develop action plan with Camp/Club/Foundation leadership to implement the Taskforce’s three key recommendations
Next we saw the Video: Securing the Future of Rotary Youth Camp, created as a fundraising video platform that can be adjusted for the particular viewing audiences or the individual presenter. The video presents the Camp & its financial need in different segments or facets: the Camp Story, the Camp Experience & its History, the Camper(s)’ Story, the Staff’s Story, Camp Milestones [1925; 1957; 1975; 1988 Grtr KC Day]; What Now ( our Needs Statement); Sponsor the Rotary Youth Camp packages are shown as suggestions for differing size businesses, other clubs, or individuals & families.
The second Announcement dealt with upcoming Club 13 events:
4/22 Parking Lot Party, 4/24 Geeks for Kids Build Day, 5/3 MindDrive Rally, 5/18 Greater Kansas City Day, 6/5 Memorial Meeting & Family Picnic at Camp, 6/12 Sleep in Heavenly Peace, 7/1 Changing of the Guard at Camp
TODAY’S PROGRAM:
Eric Bubb introduced our speaker, Dr. Ted Higgins, who provided us with insights on his involvement with people of Haiti and their medical needs, culminating in the creation of the Higgins* Brothers Surgical Hospital. (* Named after Ted’s father, Edward Higgins MD, and his uncle, Paul Higgins, MD. Both served as doctors in WW II.) Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola (the second largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba). The Dominican Republic is relatively prosperous and organized. Haiti is not. Haiti has a population of approximately 11 million and roughly 3.5 million Haitians lives within a 15 mile radius of the hospital. Haiti as a country and Haitians as individuals are financially poor, and there is no medical insurance, so individuals have to pay for their medical care. The people pay what they can, but they are not turned away for economic reasons.
Ted, originally from upstate New York, while in his fourth year of general surgery residency at Yale in 1981, did a three-month rotation at Hospital Albert Schweitzer in DesChapelles, Haiti. Ted started operating in a borrowed clinic in 1992. Ted, still had his medical practice in KCMO. Ted involvement has grown to include training the local doctors, nurses and medical staff. In 2010 Haiti was hit with a severe earthquake. Ted was working with various organizations to create a modern hospital – surgical center, but the timing was not right for those organizations. So in 2016 Ted set out to start the hospital and seek funding on his own. In 2018 his dream became a reality. Plans are underway to expand the hospital – surgical center. In addition, restorative dentistry has been added. They now have a full service E.R. We saw slides of Haitians getting medical care and their unique stories as well as projections of expansion of the medical facility. It was and continues to be a very uplifting story.
History: What we know today as the Auxiliary was founded in 1929 as the “Amity Club”. The name was changed to “Wives of Rotarians” in 1933. With the admission of women to Rotary in 1987, the organization was renamed the Auxiliary. For more than 90 years, the organization has supported the work of Club 13 and now raises funds for the Camp.
Quote of the Week: “I have sworn an oath upon the alter of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Benjamin rush, September 23rd, 1800. (Contributed by Leland Shurin).
President David Hanzlick wrapped up the meeting with the Four Way Test.
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. 9 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.
The Liberty Invitational will feature the Electrathon America*-sanctioned, Touchstone Energy EletroRally and the MINDRIVE Drone Challenge in concurrent events. The ElectroRally races will circle Memorial Drive and the Drone Challenge will be held on the East lawn toward the north.
Staging/pit area will be in the parking lot on the west side. Registration tent, food truck(s), water station, port-a-potties and EMS will be situated on the east side facing/on the auxiliary drive toward the central-south end of Memorial Drive.
Mask mandates, social distancing and any other COVID-related restrictions will be expected and respected as dictated by city policy at the time of the event. While this event will not be publicized specifically by MINDDRIVE, as it is a “public park”, we will have little control over the number of walk-ins/curious observers.
Click here to view volunteer opportunities. Contact MANDY to sign up.
In six weeks and three days, 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, Richard, and Sarah Beyer.
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.
It is less than two months until the District 6040 Foundation Celebration – Saturday, May 22nd, 2021. The event will be virtual-only, via Zoom – which gives every Rotarian in the District the opportunity to attend from the safety and convenience of their own home!
A great program is in the works, featuring club and individual recognition and awards, a spotlight on the Kimbrough Challenge – which funded some outstanding District and Global Grant projects, our keynote speaker – Brenda Creesey, the first female Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair – and more.
Very importantly, we’ll be raising funds for the Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Annual Fund-SHARE, which is the source of funding behind many of our great works in the District and around the world.
Also, please visit the District 6040 Facebook page. The first of a series of very short videos supporting the event has been posted.
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group on Zoom for the discussion of the book The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia. The book is available by mail order through the Rainy Day Books web site or call the store for curb-side pickup. The discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome.
Event: Rotary Book Discussion Group
Date: Monday, April 19, 6:30 PM
Zoom Meeting
About the book:
In tiny Merinac, Kansas, Chicken Mimi’s and Chicken Frannie’s have spent a century vying to serve up the best fried chicken in the state – and the legendary feud between their respective owners, the Moores and the Pogociellos, has lasted just as long. No one feels the impact more than thirty-five-year-old widow Amanda Moore, who grew up working for her mom at Mimi:s before scandalously marrying Frank Pogociello and changing sides to work at Frannie’s. Tired of being caught in the middle, Amanda sends an SOS to Food Wars, the reality-TV restaurant competition that promises $100,000 to the winner. But in doing so, she launches both families out of the frying pan and directly into the fire.
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
Spring for Club 13 will be busy. The Club will hold a parking lot party on April 22 at Bibb & Associates. Please click here for complete details and registration.
Greater Kansas City Day will have a new look and a new partner – The Kansas City Monarchs. Rotarians will sell Monarchs’ pennants on May 18 – the Monarchs’ opening day. Watch for more information.
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!
In addition to these events, numerous service opportunities are coming up in the next couple of months.
‘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, go to this link. Contact Eric Bubb to sign up for a volunteer slot!
The Venture Fund is also supporting the Sleep in Heavenly Peace project that provides beds for children in need. A build date and sign up will be announced shortly. To learn more about this project, visit this link.
The Rotary Youth Camp also offers opportunities for service. Women of Rotary, the club board, and other groups and committees have held workdays recently. The Monday Morning crew holds a workday every Monday. Please contact Laurie Mozley for the list of projects that still need to be completed.
Linn Mills, the indefatigable champion of the Shoes for Orphan Souls project is still collecting shoes, socks, and cash donations for this important Club and District project. To learn more about the Shoes project – now in its 20th year – watch the video here.
Finally, I would like to note that April 19 is the birthday of two great Rotarians. The first is my wife, Janee’ Hanzlick. Janee’ is the immediate past president of the Overland Park Club. She shares a birthday with none other than Rotary Founder Paul Harris, who would turn 153 year old. Happy birthday to Janee’, Paul, and all Rotarians with April birthdays.
Have a great week and remember, “Rotary Opens Opportunities!”
Some Cub Scouts came out in the rain to help put Rotary stickers in the books donated for the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit’s Little Libraries. The weather cleared later and they had a great camp out.
Our baby eagles are getting big! We love having such diverse nature and wildlife on our grounds! Giving our campers an affinity for nature and the world around them is one of our goals- and is such an important part of the life-changing camping experience we offer.
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 13!!
Well, we made it through the 2020/2021 season! The roll off for club champion is Wednesday the 14th, please feel free to come on down and cheer.
200 games-
Will Patrick-221 and 236
Chris Grimsley-210
Amazing split was hit by Chris Grimsley, a 1,2,4,6,7!!
Following the small group breakout session and after President David Hanzlick called the meeting to order, we were led by Charlie Huffman with Carl Bolte on the piano Happy Birthday to America the Beautiful, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by David Hanzlick, a thoughtful Invocation by Glenn Crawford. 
Eric Bubb introduced our speaker, Dr. Ted Higgins, who provided us with insights on his involvement with people of Haiti and their medical needs, culminating in the creation of the Higgins* Brothers Surgical Hospital. (* Named after Ted’s father, Edward Higgins MD, and his uncle, Paul Higgins, MD. Both served as doctors in WW II.) Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island of Hispaniola (the second largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba). The Dominican Republic is relatively prosperous and organized. Haiti is not. Haiti has a population of approximately 11 million and roughly 3.5 million Haitians lives within a 15 mile radius of the hospital. Haiti as a country and Haitians as individuals are financially poor, and there is no medical insurance, so individuals have to pay for their medical care. The people pay what they can, but they are not turned away for economic reasons.
The Liberty Invitational will feature the Electrathon America*-sanctioned, Touchstone Energy EletroRally and the MINDRIVE Drone Challenge in concurrent events. The ElectroRally races will circle Memorial Drive and the Drone Challenge will be held on the East lawn toward the north.
.png)
It is less than two months until the District 6040 Foundation Celebration – Saturday, May 22nd, 2021. The event will be virtual-only, via Zoom – which gives every Rotarian in the District the opportunity to attend from the safety and convenience of their own home!
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group on Zoom for the discussion of the book The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia. The book is available by mail order through the Rainy Day Books web site or call the store for curb-side pickup. The discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome.
@rotaryclub13
@rotary13
@rotaryclub13
.jpg)
.png)
.png)