Club President Ron Auxier
"You don't need more time. You need fewer distractions."
District 6040 Governor Jodi Sundaram
Zones 30/31 Director Brian Hall
Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo
Saint Joseph Rotarian Susan Campbell shares her life and Rotary story during the meeting on June 10. Originally from St. Louis, Susan met her husband Josh (married in 1998) while studying at Missouri Western State University. Always into writing, she has gone on to create a marketing company and served as our club's president in 2011-2012. Susan joined Rotary in 2001.
The Rotary Club of Saint Joseph met with a great crowd of about 33 present this Wednesday, June 10 at the beautiful Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art. Visiting Rotarian Amy Powell from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, as well as Jean Paul and Darrin Powell (our program speakers).
June 10 was National Iced Tea Day, so we of course had iced tea. Spanky and Buckwheat's catering provided a hot dog and hamburger bar. An interesting observation about Rotary food... the Lee's Summit club actually puts their menu in their bulletins ahead of time, not after the fact... perhaps they don't have to wait until taking a bite to identify the menu... but on the flip side... their club does pay $21 per meal for their lunches.
Black Bowls donations for this quarter (4/1 to 6/30) go to Camp Geiger Scout camperships. These support Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Scouts to attend summer camp, with campership awards reviewed by a committee based on financial need. Members can contribute on our Square site online or bring the cash to meetings.
The Anniversary Dinner is NEXT THURSDAY, 6/12!!! Gonna be great. Matt Porter is the Emcee, meaning we FINALLY get to hear about the vacation he took recently to the Hutchinson salt mines. Food at the dinner will be provided by Chaun's Catering.
Meals on Wheels delivery assignments:
June 18 will be Nick Gertsema with Kirby Brooner and Oakley Coleman with ???
Shoes for Orphan Souls Update (for 2026-2027 Campaign):
We have approximately 100 pairs of shoes so far, unofficially. Walmart has some fair deals lately... if you are so inclined, stop by and pick up a few pairs for our campaign.
Wednesday, 6/17: Rotary Club meeting at Noon at the AKMA... speaker is Brandon Johnson, Chair of the St. Joseph Human Rights Commission
Thursday, June 18: Rotary Club of Saint Joseph's 114th Anniversary Party at Parkway Distillery
Wednesday, 6/24: Rotary Club meeting at Noon at the AKMA... speaker is Rick Lipira of Pivotal Point
Save the date... Friday, November 6: District 6040 Rotary Foundation Dinner at the Carriage Club in Kansas City... event chair is Saint Joseph Rotarian Shelly Hulet
The Annual Fund-SHARE exists to empower Rotary clubs and districts with implementing impactful district grants, global grants, and scholarships.
Participating in the Rotary Foundation board is an easy way to contribute as we close out the 2025-2026 Rotary year. Our club will match up to $144 per Rotary year for all members who contribute.
Or if you prefer to send a check, we can assist with the details of this. Please talk to Don or Erik if you have any questions.
The final results are in for the 2026 Purple Pinkie Polio Eradication Fundraiser, and I am thrilled to share that together we raised $1,200,788 for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.
Every dollar will support the fight to eradicate polio worldwide. Thanks to the dedication of Rotary members, partners, and supporters, we are now down to just two endemic countries. The finish line is in sight.
Over a dozen Rotarians from Argentina arrived in Kansas City for the FIFA World Cup as part of a friendship exchange program through the international organization.
Rotary families from KC metro clubs are opening their homes as part of this program
The travelers were greeted by their host families at Kansas City International Airport, where the reunion was anything but a meeting of strangers, despite many coming face to face for the first time.
The Rotary Club of Saint Joseph's 2025-2026 District Grant project has been to install an accessible outdoor area for the new Day Program at Life Unlimited's St. Joseph location.
Update on the Rotary Foundation Board. As of today, we have sold 185 of the 200 squares and have just 15 remaining. Last chance to get squares!
1 Square is $50. 3 squares are $100. 7 squares are $200.
The pot is up to $5,750. 1/2 goes to the winner (drawn at the 6/18 Anniversary Party, need not be present to win) and the other 1/2 goes to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund in the names of the purchasers.
Please let Erik know if you would like to purchase any squares or any additional squares. We can bill you or you can bring funds to Rotary.
Square Number
Purchaser- 1 for $50, 3 for $100, or 7 for $200
1
Ryan Dowell
2
Bill McCammon
3
Don Gladhart
4
Mary Beth Revels
5
Ryan Jones
6
Shelly Hulet
7
Shelly Hulet
8
Tim Curry
9
Jim Ingle
10
Ryan Swafford
11
Tim Curry
12
Ryan Jones
13
Erik McGuire
14
Dana Matt
15
Heather Shearin
16
Dana Matt
17
Dana Matt
18
Bill McCammon
19
Jim Ingle
20
Tim Curry
21
Tim Curry
22
Ryan Jones
23
Ryan Jones
24
Hod Symes
25
Tim Curry
26
Faith Parker
27
Shelly Hulet
28
Jim Ingle
29
Oakley Coleman
30
Hod Symes
31
Kirby Brooner
32
Kirby Brooner
33
Don Gladhart
34
Mary Beth Revels
35
Marci Bennett
36
Jodi Sundaram
37
Dianne Dewey
38
Hod Symes
39
Dianne Dewey
40
Dianne Dewey
41
Marci Bennett
42
Joan Brewer
43
David Bolander
44
Ryan Swafford
45
Mark Sundet
46
Skye Pournazari
47
Jim Ingle
48
Heather Weddle
49
Heather Weddle
50
Heather Weddle
51
Kirby Brooner
52
Oakley Coleman
53
Erik McGuire
54
Ryan Jones
55
Joan Hickman
56
Ryan Jones
57
Greg Smith
58
Faith Parker
59
Marci Bennett
60
Jim Ingle
61
Heather Shearin
62
Oakley Coleman
63
Susan Campbell
64
Louie DeLeon
65
Doug Schmitz
66
Julie Walker
67
Don Gladhart
68
Ryan Jones
69
Louie DeLeon
70
Ron Auxier
71
Ron Auxier
72
Julie Walker
73
Louie DeLeon
74
Susan Campbell
75
Janice Keith
76
Ron Auxier
77
Louie DeLeon
78
Julie Walker
79
Joan Brewer
80
Jim Ingle
81
Heather Shearin
82
Ryan Swafford
83
Hod Symes
84
Jim Ingle
85
Shelly Hulet
86
Doug Walter
87
Doug Schmitz
88
Doug Schmitz
89
Susan Campbell
90
Ryan Dowell
91
Amy Spaeth
92
Amy Spaeth
93
Marci Bennett
94
Ralph Schank
95
Erik McGuire
96
Ryan Jones
97
Ralph Schank
98
Heather Shearin
99
Jodi Sundaram
100
Skye Pournazari
101
Amy Spaeth
102
Hod Symes
103
Hod Symes
104
Hod Symes
105
Ryan Jones
106
Ryan Jones
107
Shelly Hulet
108
Ralph Schank
109
Ralph Schank
110
Matt Porter
111
Matt Porter
112
Matt Porter
113
Heather Shearin
114
Amy Spaeth
115
Jodi Sundaram
116
Hod Symes
117
Hod Symes
118
Hod Symes
119
Hod Symes
120
Hod Symes
121
Hod Symes
122
Hod Symes
123
Hod Symes
124
Hod Symes
125
Hod Symes
126
Ralph Schank
127
Shelly Hulet
128
Ryan Jones
129
Ralph Schank
130
Amy Spaeth
131
Ralph Schank
132
Erik McGuire
133
Erik McGuire
134
Erik McGuire
135
Ryan Jones
136
Tammy Killin
137
Bill McCammon
138
Tammy Killin
139
Amy Spaeth
140
Shelly Hulet
141
Tammy Killin
142
Ryan Dowell
143
Ryan Jones
144
Skye Pournazari
145
Heather Shearin
146
Susan Campbell
147
Louie DeLeon
148
Louie DeLeon
149
Louie DeLeon
150
Janice Keith
151
Ryan Jones
152
Ryan Jones
153
Susan Campbell
154
Joan Brewer
155
Susan Campbell
156
Skye Pournazari
157
Susan Campbell
158
Skye Pournazari
159
Mark Sundet
160
161
Ryan Jones
162
Ryan Jones
163
Heather Shearin
164
165
Alan Van Zandt
166
Bill McCammon
167
168
169
Mark Sundet
170
171
172
Skye Pournazari
173
Ryan Dowell
174
175
Janice Keith
176
177
Faith Parker
178
179
180
Amy Spaeth
181
182
183
Bill McCammon
184
Bill McCammon
185
Bill McCammon
186
Louie DeLeon
187
Louie DeLeon
188
Louie DeLeon
189
Louie DeLeon
190
Louie DeLeon
191
Louie DeLeon
192
Louie DeLeon
193
194
195
196
Skye Pournazari
197
Ryan Dowell
198
Ryan Dowell
199
Ryan Dowell
200
Mary Beth Revels
The following Rotarians shared Happy Bucks at this week's meeting:
Josh Middendorf actually went to correct location for Rotary this week
Erik appreciates Matt Porter's printing efficiency
Marci Bennett raised Erik's praise of Matt's printing prowess
David Bolander had a wedding anniversary and recently took a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains with his son
Kirby Brooner had a fun time fishing in Ontario
Hod Symes reported that his cardiologist said everything looks good after his annual visit
Micah Carter's little with Big Brothers Big Sisters was recently baptized at Mid City Excellence
Jeanne Chavez shared that her health is doing much better
Susan Campbell was happy that nobody has stolen the rest of her roof
Lee Ann Smiley reported that Cub Scout Pack 43, where her grandson attends, recently had a campout at Pony Express Conservation Area and they are now on summer break
Shelly Hulet for her husband Scott's artistic talent with yard decorations
Matt Porter for getting to chaperone his son's senior trip to Cancun, for his kids helping out with muscular dystrophy camp, and for the snapping turtle on his farm surviving an encounter with something
This Week's Program
Shout out to Rotarian Skye Pournazari of the News Press for featuring this week's program about Hearts, Hands, and Hope for Africa in the paper.
Here is the full article: https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/local-educator-nonprofit-helps-with-education-for-african-children/article_68e33fd3-f290-416b-94ca-d8e1fd6a214f.html
Excerpt from the article:
"A connection made at a St. Joseph school and the sharing of a difficult experience led to the establishment of a local nonprofit with the goal of helping educate African students.
Hearts Hands and Hope for Africa is a nonprofit organization established in January by former St. Francis Xavier Elementary School Principal Darin Pollard, who serves as the nonprofit’s president; George Ballah, vice president; Jean-Paul Mundungu, secretary; and Rob Pyatt, treasurer.
Pollard told the Rotary Club of St. Joseph on Wednesday at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art that it was a fateful meeting between him and Ballah, who now works as a janitor at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, that initially began the effort to help students in Liberia."
