This week's Speaker is Sharice Davids, US Representative, Kansas 3rd District.
(Please note - due to scheduling, Rep. Davids will speak from 12:00 - 12:30. The business portion of our meeting will follow.)
Representative Davids was raised by a single mother, who served in the Army for 20 years. After graduating from Leavenworth High School, she worked her way through Johnson County Community College and the University of Missouri-Kansas City before earning a law degree from Cornell Law School. As a first generation college student who worked the entire time she was in college, Rep. Davids understands the importance of quality public schools and affordable higher education. It is that foundation that allowed her to go on to a successful career, focused on economic and community development, which included time as a White House Fellow under President Barack Obama.
When she was sworn into the 116th Congress, Rep. Davids became one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress. Rep. Davids has centered her work in office on putting Kansans first, fighting to limit the influence of special interests and make health care more affordable and accessible to everyone. She is a resident of Roeland Park.
We will be meeting in person this week at the Gallery, however a Zoom link for this meeting will be emailed to members who cannot attend in person. If you would like to visit as a guest, please email Executive Director Mandy Sheldon.
President Tony Andresen welcomed all to the Club with the Camp for Kids and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. But not before the singing of the Woody Guthrie-penned, “This Land is Your Land,” led by Charlie Huffman and accompanied by the timeless Maestro, Carl Bolte, on piano. The same Mr. Bolte then reported that The Shepherd’s Center has recognized our own, Christy Chester and Madaline Walters, for many years of service to that community. Tom Van Dyke delivered a prayer of Rotary fellowship. We welcomed four guests and those attending via Zoom. President Tony thanked the Tyros for greeting today and recognized the following Club Anniversaries: Doug Nelson (20 years), Rusty Macy (19 years), Duane Benton (13 years), and Kael Martin and Eryn Realmuto with Truman Medical Center (1 year). President Tony then encouraged all to take part in the Purple Pinkie Donuts project by purchasing a box of 10 donuts for $25 to help fund the continuing fight to vaccinate the entire world against polio
President Tony reported that Charlie Rogers is recuperating at home from hip surgery and Jerry Cooke’s wife, Helen, continues to battle a case of shingles. Keep all in your thoughts and prayers! Phil Kinney then took the podium and presented on behalf of the Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation. Phil emphasized how important our contributions are to meet the current annual Camp budget of $330K and how we can get more bang for our bucks by contributing $800 and getting $200 in matching funds from an anonymous donor. Linn Mills then reported on the District 6040 Foundation Dinner to be held at the Hotel Kansas City (former KC Club) on November 5.
Eric Burger introduced our speaker, artist Jason Harrington, who is known by his working alias, Rif Raf Girrafe. Jason was born and raised in Kansas City and is the grandson of former Club 13 President, John Harrington, a second generation owner of Quality Roofing. He is a graduate of Shawnee Mission South and attended college at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago before returning to live in the KC Crossroads District in 2013. That change of residence spawned Jason’s mural painting career. While in Chicago, Jason had practiced with spray paints on train cars but his art career didn’t take off until the move to the Crossroads. After several commission murals and solo gallery shows, he began traveling to other cities to expand his interest in mural art. One of the most influential trips took place in 2015 when Jason traveled to the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami and was inspired by a neighborhood of colorful murals and the positive effect they had on the community. In 2017, he and his wife, Ami, organized the first of several mural festivals in the Crossroads. Since 2017, the local festival known as Sprayseemo has produced 150 murals in KC and expanded to Miami and this year to Los Angeles, where the artist and his wife now make their residence. Along the way, Jason has connected with well-known artists whose work can be seen across Kansas City. Jason and his wife travel extensively to attend festivals and events in Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Memphis, to name a few. Jason explained some of the difficulties involved with mural painting including managing city ordinances and regulations. Jason had a nice PowerPoint presentation showing several examples of interesting, colorful murals which can be found in Kansas City and other cities. If interested in taking a KC tour and seeing the 150 murals for yourself, go to sprayseemo.com.
President Tony read an apt quote from Christian Guemy a/k/a C215, “Urban art is nothing else but urban poetry that catches someone’s eye.” We adjourned after the reading of the Four Way Test and exited south through the Crossroads on the way home or back to work.
PDG Marc Horner and the 6040 GE team of Lindsay Jarquio, Therese McGill and Engoma Fataki departed for Africa on October 7 and spent the first days of their 3 week adventure in Malawi. They visited many projects and participated in social events with the local Rotarians.
The second part of the trip through District 9210 was in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Kansas City Rotary Club Foundation contributes to the Camp’s operating budget and assures the future of the Camp. The Camp has existed for over 90 years and through that time, tens of thousands of children with handicaps and disadvantaged youth have experienced fresh air, playing outdoors and experiencing nature at our beautiful Camp. The Camp staff does a terrific job in managing costs but meeting the yearly budget is a concern. The Foundation covers shortfalls in the budget and assures the future of the Camp for the children in our community.
Now more than ever, the Foundation needs your support. Many thanks to the existing Foundation Fellows and Sustaining Members for your past support. Hopefully, you will give again this year. If you are not a Fellow or a Sustaining Member, please consider contributing now and take advantage of a special “matching” offer until October 31st for new donors. Contribute $800, an anonymous donor will pay $200, and you’ll be a Fellow! Begin as a Sustaining Member at “half price,” as the anonymous donor will match $1 for $1 –up to $200!
If you have questions or want to make a donation, please contact foundation President Phil Kinney at kinneyinkc@hotmail.com or 816.941.9015 or Foundation Resource Development Chair Sally Bibb at Sallybibb@aol.com or 816,835.2088.
All members of Rotary District 6040 are encouraged to attend the upcoming “Foundation Dinner” on Friday, November 5, 2021, at the Hotel Kansas City, once known as the Kansas City Downtown Club and the original meeting location of Rotary Club 13. Two years is too long not to come together in person with District 6040 Rotarians to celebrate the accomplishments of our individual District Clubs.
The guest speaker will be Tiffany Ervin, award-winning keynote speaker, spokesperson, and television personality, the Past District Governor of District 7670.
Fun-filled evening to include a Silent Auction and Special Raffle. Stay tuned to the District Website for additional information regarding hotel reservations registration and sponsorships.
Well this past week was a bit less than the week before, in terms of 200+ games and notable splits. However, we always have fun and a few went to dinner after together, something that has not been done in a few years. However, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams are all bunched together with 11 wins each, with the Bigelow Bowlers a 1/2 game ahead. First place is Will Bowl for Beer with 14 wins so far.
200 games:
John Lawrence-223
Will Patrick-236
Splits:
Henrik Andersen-4/7/10
St Louis reached out to talk about resuming the Columbia competition, so that seems to be moving forward. We are looking forward to that!
Cheers!!
Rotary Youth Camp Update
The Rotary Youth Camp Monarch Waystation is in the ground!!! After many delays this garden is the result of an Eagle Scout project and an Ecology Committee volunteer day. Thanks to: Scout Troop 195, Jan Armstrong, Bill Madsen, Dennis McKeehan, Sean Putney, Paul and Carla Searcy, Wade Freeman, George and Suzanne Gordon, and special thanks to John Reynolds for clearing for clearing the sod and moving dirt.
Construction Update
The Chiefs are the only ones with a rain delay! The wall forms started to go up last week and hopefully they can be finished and poured this week.
Congratulations!
Christy Chester and Madaline Walter on being named to the 2021 Class of 70 over 70 Honorees. The 70 Over 70 Awards Celebration honors those who have made significant contributions and achievements in their respective endeavors and includes community leaders and builders, business owners, entrepreneurs, volunteers, environmentalists, and arts and cultural leaders.
Eric Burger introduced our speaker, artist Jason Harrington, who is known by his working alias, Rif Raf Girrafe. Jason was born and raised in Kansas City and is the grandson of former Club 13 President, John Harrington, a second generation owner of Quality Roofing. He is a graduate of Shawnee Mission South and attended college at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago before returning to live in the KC Crossroads District in 2013. That change of residence spawned Jason’s mural painting career. While in Chicago, Jason had practiced with spray paints on train cars but his art career didn’t take off until the move to the Crossroads. After several commission murals and solo gallery shows, he began traveling to other cities to expand his interest in mural art. One of the most influential trips took place in 2015 when Jason traveled to the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami and was inspired by a neighborhood of colorful murals and the positive effect they had on the community. In 2017, he and his wife, Ami, organized the first of several mural festivals in the Crossroads. Since 2017, the local festival known as Sprayseemo has produced 150 murals in KC and expanded to Miami and this year to Los Angeles, where the artist and his wife now make their residence. Along the way, Jason has connected with well-known artists whose work can be seen across Kansas City. Jason and his wife travel extensively to attend festivals and events in Hawaii, Mexico, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Memphis, to name a few. Jason explained some of the difficulties involved with mural painting including managing city ordinances and regulations. Jason had a nice PowerPoint presentation showing several examples of interesting, colorful murals which can be found in Kansas City and other cities. If interested in taking a KC tour and seeing the 150 murals for yourself, go to sprayseemo.com.
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