President Neil Barnett, called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mary  Kingsley provided us with a  prayerful, non-partisan invocation in now the post-election period.   We welcomed two guests, both making applications for Club 13 membership: Dave Schmidt and Jeri Ann Farley.   Tom Woolwine led us in signing Happy Birthday to the November birthday bunch.

 

NOVEMBER  CLUB  ANNIVERSARIES:                 Andy Sprehe  1 year  November 1^st

            Steve Burger  37 years;        Bob Heckler     37 years;      Bob Mumford  36 years; 

            Peter Ho         26 years;        Brent Worley    21 years;     Ted Higgins     6 years.

           

Club 13 Holiday Party: Thursday December 3, 2026; 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Crowne Plaza Kansas City Club Lounge – 26^th Floor;  Heavy Hors d’Oeuvres (no meal); check email from Kandi to register.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing:  There are still a few spots open (https:signup.com/go/xTrigFa)

Saturday Nov 21^st at Barnes & Noble on the Plaza and at Oak Park Mall;

Saturday Dec 5^th Barnes & Noble - Plaza; Ace Hardware at Ranch Mart ( 95^th & Mission Road)

and at Sam’s Club – North Oak Trafficway

Saturday Dec 12^th at Barnes 7 Noble – Plaza;  Union Station

Westside CAN Annual Toy/Coat Drive: Pete Sotta asked for volunteers for the 12/5/2026 event.

Happy Bucks:  There were several, including Tim Tholen’s recent wedding.  Congrats!

The Foundation Dinner is coming November 6^th.

 

PROGRAM:  Wade Freeman introduced our speaker, Ms. Abby Yellman, Library Director & Chief Executive of the Kansas City Public Library, since August of 2024,  along with Ms. Courtney Christensen.  Abby has an extensive history of public service as the Deputy City and County Manager for the City & County of Broomfield, Colorado.  Prior to that Abby held several library leadership positions including Director of Library Services and Cultural Affairs, Director of People and Innovation, and as well as Assistant City & County Manager.  Her work spanned library administration, organizational development, and local government leadership, giving her broad experience in organizational leadership, civic leadership, civic engagement, and community-focused public service.  Throughout her career, Abby has championed libraries as critical civic infrastructure that connects people with knowledge, opportunity, and one another.

 

Abby shared with us that over the next 18 months there are New Strategic Plans and Facilities Plans with New Visions.

Three Big Priorities:

1          Supporting all learners at all reading levels. There are a number of people who never learned to read and are now illiterate. KC Public Library advocates for early literacy and school readiness. The KCP LIBRARY has Programs for:  Reading generally, Financial matters, Health matters, Community Learning Readiness, and one on one helpers.  We have Programs & Resources for health & wellness; telehealth classes; Friday Nights for Families to spark the joy of reading and creating spaces for curating that spark.

2          Fostering Community Pride.  Our KC Public Library materials (including pictures) become imbedded in the community such as the Rock Island Bridge or Union Station for example.   Many are from the Missouri Valley Collection. 

3          Facilitating Inclusion Experience.  We can get new books available for patrons upon request before they are entered into the system (up to 3).  Additionally there is the Book Bag Program for book clubs, allowing up to 10 copies of the same book with longer use times of up to 8 weeks.

 

Planning for the Future of our library spaces:  Our goal of upgrading the library facilities faces the challenge of funding.  The facilities’ goal is for $170 million.  We realize that we need to be good stewards of the finances and transparent.  As a 2027 Legislative Priority, we are seeking an  additional $1 million to $1½ million annually for the next three years.  KCPublic Library is 96% funded by property taxes.  Revenues may rise by 3%, but costs rise by 7%.  The KC Public Library is one of the Best Values in KC tax dollars.  Also noted the KC Public Library assists with passports by appointment.  Currently there is the 1951 Flood Exhibit.

                       

The Kansas City Public Library is committed to FOSTERING COMMUNITY PRIDE:

The library brings people together to celebrate local culture, share community stories, collaborate, and strengthen civic connection.   How this helps residents:  1.Community conversations and public forums;   2. Local history and archives;  3. Cultural programming and author events; 4. Partnerships with community organizations; 5. Spaces for people to gather and connect

 

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR LIBRARY SPACES:

Comprehensive Facilities Plan: a 10-year roadmap for welcoming, accessible, future-ready library spaces to guides facilities’ investment over the next 10 years.   The PLAN will: 1. Create welcoming, accessible, and flexible spaces; 2. Align systemwide priorities with neighborhood needs; 3. Evaluate opportunities to expand or realign services; and 4. Address aging infrastructure through thoughtful, long-term stewardship and investment.

 

YOUR LIBRARY CARD  is one of the Best Values in Kansas City. You can 1.Borrow books, e-books, and audiobooks;   2. Access computers, Wi-Fi, and technology;  3. Attend programs and events;   4. Make passport or notary appointments;  5. Explore local history; 6.  Reserve meeting

spaces; 7. And so much more.

 

Events:

Nov 6              District 6040 Foundation Dinner

Nov 11            Board of Directors Meeting

Nov 21^st / Dec 5^th / Dec 12^th :  Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Dec 3               Holiday Party -    NO  LUNCH  MEETING

 

Speakers/Meetings:

Nov 12^th          Chelan David – Stories from the Phog: 40 Years of KU Basketball

Nov 19^th          Grant Armstrong – Youth Civic Challenge  /  YC2

Nov 26^th          Thanksgiving  (no meeting)

Dec 3^rd            No Lunch meeting  (Holiday Party)

Dec 10^th          Jessica May with Kemper Museum

President Neil Barnett wrapped up the meeting with the Four Way Test: 

            Is it the TRUTH ?  

                        Is it FAIR to all Concerned ?     

                       Will it Build GOODWILL and better FRIENDSHIPS ?                        

                        Will it be BENEFICIAL to all Concerned ?                          

[as an ongoing scrivener’s note: our local Club 13 Rotary organization is comprised of at least three interrelated groups (like a three-legged stool), each with its own separate board, officers & primary focus.  KCRClub 13 comprised of various committees and weekly luncheon meetings with speakers;  KCRCFoundation  primarily focused on financially supporting the Club 13’s Rotary Youth Camp; and the Rotary Youth Camp*, near Lake Jocomo, at 22310 NE Colbern Road, in Lee’s Summit, MO 64086]  (* Rotary’s  oldest continuous ongoing project in the world!)

 

As a separate note -  a CALL  FOR HELP:  the Scribe Committee is down to three scribing members and soon down to two.  We could use at least one (or more) additional scribe(s) to spread the dates and provide some depth if a particular scribe has a scheduling conflict with work, illness or travel.  Please consider joining up or talking to any of three current scribes, Pat Donnelly, Lee Brumitt or John Gillis for more information.  [There may come a meeting when none of the three current or later two scribes are available and hence no BuzzSaw meeting minutes.]