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This Week's Meeting
January 16, 2025
 
Our speaker this week is Taylor Obersteadt, Director, WIN for KC.
Taylor joined the Kansas City Sports Commission team as the Director of WIN for KC in January of 2024. In this role, Taylor is responsible for implementing the strategic goals and objectives of WIN for KC to advocate and promote the lifetime value of sports and fitness for women and girls in Kansas City!

Taylor spent the most of her professional career working for Special Olympics, first with Special Olympics Florida- Miami Dade and most recently with Special Olympics Kansas. While with Special Olympics Kansas, Taylor served as the Director of Inclusion overseeing the Unified Champion Schools strategy that promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without disabilities to create accepting school environments. Taylor also oversaw the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy. One of her most proud accomplishments with Special Olympics Kansas is partnering with the Kansas State High School Activities Association to bring its first inclusive interscholastic sport, Unified Bowling. 

Taylor was a student athlete at both Kansas State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and on the basketball team at Barry University where she received her master’s degree in sport, exercise, and performance psychology. Taylor recently completed her second master’s degree from the University of Kansas in Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

In Taylor’s free time, she enjoys spending time reading lots of books, going to the gym, eating, and snuggling with her husky lab Lola!

Last Week's Meeting
Jan. 9, 2025
 
President Tim Tholen called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Henrik Andersen thoughtfully provided us with our Invocation. We had a moment of silence for Ed Knisley, who passed away on December 24th, 2024.  Tom Woolwine lead us in signing Happy Birthday to the January birthday members(Jim Porter, Mary Kingsley, Tony Andresen).
 
Club Anniversaries  :    
John Miller - 55 yrs, Jan 1, Jim Porter - 51 yrs, Jan 1, Keith Smith - 48 yrs, Jan 1, Matt Meyer - 28 yrs, Jan 2, Christy Chester - 34 yrs, Jan 3, John Gillis - 13 yrs, Jan 5, Joe Privitera - 13 yrs, Jan 5, Tom Van Dyke - 20 yrs, Jan 6, Jane Lee - 16 yrs, Jan  8
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
This week’s Greeters were the January birthday Club members.
 
Harvesters – Marc McCarty announced our Harvesters Packing Project for Thursday, Jan 30th from 6 to 8 pm as 3801 Topping, KCMO.  It is an enjoyable event and good for bringing a friend (i.e. a possible new member opportunity). Open Position:  We need a Social Media Committee Chair and/or Co-Chair. The Membership Committee requests additional ideas – see Neil Barnett. Club Finances:  DUES O/S!  We have nearly $7,000 in outstanding dues (over 90 days).  Please pay your dues ASAP.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS: BRING A GUEST !
Jan 23: 4th Thursday at Granfalloon on the Plaza (not Minisky’s)
Jan 30: Harvesters service project (Thursday  6 to 8 pm at 3801 Topping, KCMO)
Feb 8: Geeks for Kids Build Day
March 13:Rotary Roundup at the Youth Camp
 
UPCOMING MEETINGS:  Bring a Guest:
Jan 16th -Taylor Obsersteadt,  KC Sports Commission & foundation, “Win for KC”    
Feb 6th -Tom Tivol, Tom Tivol Jewels, “Natural vs. Lab-grown Diamonds: What’s the difference?”
 
PRESENTATION:    Tony Andresen introduced Linda Hughes.    Linda Hughes, a life-long educator, early in Columbia, Missouri and then Kansas City, is the community outreach program manager with Lead to Read KC, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to support the social, emotional and reading skills that are foundational for student success by advancing our literacy platform and mobilizing community volunteers.
 
Reading is fundamental. Question to audience > types of reading? Online, bills, e-mails, newspaper, bible, daily devotions . . .   We all did it matter-of-factually without recognizing how important (dare I say critical) to our daily lives and occupations.  Individuals need fundamental reading skills for fulfilling lives.  Our (Lead to Read KC) mission for our 1,700 volunteers is to help others develop those reading skills.   Our volunteers spend 30 minutes per session in one on one reading with his/her “reading buddy”.   We currently serve the following school districts: KCMO, KCK, Center & recently Hickman Mills.  LEAD TO READ KC – 13 years of creating a community of readers, one lunch hour at a time.
 
The Challenge:  Only 21% of third-grade students in the Kansas City public and charter schools are ready proficiently.   Lead to Read KC’s  Four Key Programs, addresses different facets of the reading crisis:
1.   Reading & Mentoring      2.   Wellness-based Author Visits   3.  Personalized Tutoring    and
4.   Community Book Distribution
 
Reading Mentoring: connecting trusted adult volunteers with students in classrooms for 30 minutes of one-on-one reading and mentoring each week.  Our program increases reading time by 50% in just one school year.  The early grade levels focus on educational skills, primarily reading.  The SHIFT: After 3rd grade, the focus shifts from how to read to content (subject matter) based education.  [i.e.  shift from learning to read  to  reading to learn.]
 
Personalized Tutoring:  providing personalized virtual tutoring with an experienced, certified teacher 3 times per week though a partnership with Hoot Reading.   98% of children improved their reading skills and it lightens the load of local teachers.
 
Author Visits:   Lead to Read KC’s author partnership program encourages children to use books and reading to problem solve, discover and self regulate.   28 schools were served. 
 
Book Distribution:  “Reading is Everywhere” is Lead to Read KC’s community book distribution program, which strategically places baskets of free books throughout the city.  61% of families in under-resourced neighborhoods have NO children’s books in their homes.  There are now 78 partner locations, including social service agencies, salons, barbershops, and more.  34,661 children’s books were distributed during the 2023-24 school year.
 
OUTCOMES:   First graders in the Reading Mentoring program made significantly larger gains in reading scores than control group students.  Second graders in the Reading Mentoring program grew significantly more on sight word accuracy than the control group students.  98% of students in the Tutoring program improved their ready skills.  Further, connecting with caring adults directly contributes to better student conduct, as documented in comparison studies of children involved with reading programs and those not involved.
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO:  Be a Reading Mentor; or Sponsor a Student; or Collect Children’s Books; Other ways (sign up to sort book donations; shop our Amazon wish list; buy (& wear) our T-shirt; volunteer at a community event; attend our events; and/or follow  @leadtoreadkc.
 
Today’s Quote: "Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together." – Vesta M. Kelly
 
Tim  Tholen wrapped up the meeting with the Four Way Test
 
[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!)
Geeks for Kids Build Day - Feb 8

Our next Geeks for Kids Build Day is February 8. We need many volunteers for this Build Day!

No tech skills are necessary for many tasks. Physical therapists check our designs to make sure they suit each child’s specific needs. Seamstresses help us cut out and sew seat cushions and make seat belts. Folks from all walks of life help with tasks like wrapping hard, plastic wheels with rubber tread, pulling LED lights through plastic tubing, installing license plates and cushions, and more. 

There are lots of jobs for our technically-minded folks, too.  The techies can pitch in and help our Design Team build drive systems that make it possible for kids to drive using only their hands, or their feet, or just with a flick of the finger or the press of a cheek.  They also help us assemble other assistive devices.  They create wiring harnesses.  And, they modify steering assemblies and ready safety systems for installation.  

There is lots of work for every skill set and interest. And, no one has to "go it alone."  One of our experienced team leaders supports every team.

There are two shifts on February 8, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm and 11:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please click here to sign up (scroll down under Events and select your shift on Feb. 8).

We meet Thursdays at Noon

Crowne Plaza KC
1301 Wyandotte
Kansas City, MO 
 
 @rotaryclub13
 
 @rotaryclub13
Upcoming Events
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy Lanes
Jan. 22, 2025 4:30 p.m.
 
Bagel Run
Jan. 25, 2025
 
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy Lanes
Jan. 29, 2025 4:03 p.m.
 
Harvesters Packing Event
Harvesters
Jan. 30, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
 
Bagel Run
Feb. 01, 2025
 
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy Lanes
Feb. 05, 2025 4:30 p.m.
 
Bagel Run
Feb. 08, 2025
 
Geeks for Kids
The Downtown Underground
Feb. 08, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
 
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy Lanes
Feb. 12, 2025 4:30 p.m.
 
Bagel Run
Feb. 15, 2025
 
View entire list
Speakers
Jan 23, 2025
4th Thursday Social at Granfalloon
Jan 30, 2025
Feb 06, 2025
Natural vs. Lab-grown Diamonds: What's the difference?
Feb 13, 2025
Up From Dust, How the World is Changing Around Us
View entire list

Bowling News
 
Good morning Club 13!!
 
The bowling team resumed weekly bowling last week. Due to the frigid temps a few couldn’t make it.  But, the rest of us had the usual good times!
 
200 games:
Will Patrick-209, 288, 257 for a 754 series!
Brady Clark-207
 
Splits and spares:
None!!!
 
Have a great everyone!!

We are scheduled to volunteer at Harvesters on Thursday, January 30 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Please click the link below for more info and to sign up for this event!
 
The Volunteer Engagement Center is a vital part of Harvesters’ mission to mobilize the power of our community to create equitable access to nutritious food and address the root causes and impact of hunger. In this area, volunteers sort and repack food, which assists Harvesters in feeding more than 226,000 neighbors each month. 
 
Youth Camp Update
Laurie Mozley, Camp Superintendent
 
This week we had a special visitor. One of the Joshua Center campers wondered what the camp was like in the snow, so his mom brought him by. He walked around looking at all the buildings, seeing what his cabin was like in the winter and checked out the pool. We have a snowman in camp as a thank you for allowing him to satisfy his curiosity! 
Centennial Memory
The impact of time at the Rotary Youth Camp is shown in the smiling faces and heartfelt letters.  Camp is Life Changing!

 
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