This week's speakers are Clint Ashlock, Artistic Director, KC Jazz Orchestra & Bob Harvey, Educational Rep. for Meyers Music. The topic is: "Jazz in Kansas City."
In honor of the long-time Rotarian Tony DiPardo and the recognition of the Tony DiPardo Music Foundation Scholarship Recipients, musicians Clint Ashlock and Bob Harvey will give a presentation on Jazz in Kansas City.
Trumpeter, Composer, and bandleader, Clint Ashlock grew up in the Kansas City area. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance at Fort Hays State University, received two Masters degrees in Jazz/Studio Music and Music Composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He spent 14 years teaching at a number of area universities and colleges and is an enthusiastic music educator. Clint has served as the Artistic Director for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra since August 2013.
Bob Harvey earned degrees from Missouri Western State University and Michigan State University. He has been Principal Trumpeter in the St. Joseph Symphony for 30 years. He taught in the Lee’s Summit School District for 29 years, and served as an adjunct for Missouri Western and Ottawa Universities. He frequently serves as clinician, adjudicator and/or soloist for area Jazz Festivals. Bob is an Educational Representative for Meyers Music and he is a founding member of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra.
President Tim Tholen welcomed all to the Club with the Camp for Kids at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. We stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. Scott Holsman delivered an articulate invocation of gratitude. The “Happy Birthday Song” was sung to the June celebrants. One guest was introduced. The following Club anniversaries were recognized: Fred Drummond, 49 years; Pat Bolin, 34 years; Tom Terry, 34 years; Dan Nenonen, 18 years; Bill Madsen, 16 years; Keith Roney, 16 years; Sean Putney, 7 years; and Eric Burger, 6 years.
President Tim thanked the greeters, the June birthdays. Tom Davis announced the new “Step Up to the Plate” partnership with the KC Royals and got a show of hands of those attending the game on June 15. Jan Long announced the annual Dragon Boat races on Saturday, June 21, taking place from the starting line at the Brush Creek boat deck (adjacent to the Jack Stack restaurant). If you can participate either as a paddler or a helper, please contact Jan or just show up. The paddlers can use all the crowd support then can get! The “Happy Bucks” returned, and several shared some good developments in their lives. President Tim then announced that the 4th meeting of the month on June 26 will be a social gathering at the Granfalloon beginning at 5:30 p.m. A Program Committee meeting will take place on July 10 and the Commodore’s Lake Jacomo Regatta kick-off party will take place on July 20.
Chris Boland, a long-time business resident of the West Bottoms, then introduced our speaker, Tom Esselman, the President of the Historic West Bottoms. Tom was previously an executive with Hallmark and has been involved with several West Bottom non-profits, Surplus Exchange and Connecting for Good. Tom is clearly drawn to the West Bottoms, its history, and its future. Aided by a Power Point presentation titled “Physical History and Human Studies of Resplendence, Resilience, and Redevelopment,” our speaker guided us through the interesting history of the Bottoms. The area where the Kaw and the Missouri Rivers merge was believed to be a perfect location for a transportation hub, and commercial activity began there in the 1860’s. With the construction of the Hannibal Bridge in 1869, the first railroad bridge over the Mighty MO, rail transportation westward from east of the Missouri River was finally opened up. In 1871, the stock yards moved from the KS side of the river to the West Bottoms. In 1878, the largest railway building west of NYC, opened in the West Bottoms.
The first of two devastating floods occurred in 1903 with 90% of the businesses and residents wiped out and required to start over. In 1905, the American Royal, an exhibition of farm animals and a horse show, commenced and marked the comeback from the flood. In 1910, the Livestock Exchange Building opened. In 1915, a viaduct from 12th Street to Quality Hill was built. In 1951, the second flood occurred, and the losses were worse than the first since the number of buildings, businesses, and residents had grown considerably since 1903. This marked the beginning of the economic downturn of the West Bottoms as the risk of further flooding signaled the need to move the commercial center of KC. In 1965, the new American Royal building was built coinciding with the rebuilding of the 12th Street viaduct. In 1975, Kemper Arena was constructed and hosted several major sports events, including the NCAA Final Four in 1988, only to soon be replaced by larger arenas. Before that occurred, Kemper hosted the Republic National Convention in 1977 and, of course, the annual American Royal World Series of BBQ featuring hundreds of teams from around the country. Since 1990, the West Bottoms has featured Halloween destinations such as The Beast and The Edge of Hell, antique shops, First Fridays of “quirky shopping,” coffee houses, and the repurposing of the Kemper to the Hy-Vee Arena. The Historical West Bottoms is working on improvement of the infrastructure, public safety, murals, and environmental enhancement including planting of more trees, community garden, and an orchard. There is much hope for the Rock Island Bridge project and the $527M investment to be injected in the West Bottoms by developer, SomeraRoad.
President Tim then read today’s quote by Hank Aaron: “My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” We said the Four Way Test and the meeting was adjourned.
Since last Monday we have had 2 different groups at the Rotary Youth Camp. iCare was new last year and works with campers with a variety of disabilities. Joy KC is new this year and they also work with teenagers and young adult with disabilities. Both groups had great weather and a wonderful time! They can’t wait until next summer!!! The new percussion area was a big hit as was the pool of course. Gillis Center is at camp right now, they are a part of Cornerstones of Care.
BAGEL RUN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need volunteers for July 5 and July 26.
I have created a Bagel Run Google Spreadsheet that everyone can access and edit (just type your name in the Volunteer column). It is for the entire year, so feel free to sign up beyond the next two months. Click this link to sign up.
@rotaryclub13
@rotaryclub13
