Our Speaker this week is District Governor Kent Shelman.
Kent has been active and engaged in Rotary since 1992, when he joined the Lee’s Summit club, and served as Club President in 1999-2000. He served three-year terms as Assistant Governor, District Grants Chair, District Strategic Planning Chair, and is a Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Facilitator. He attended the Centennial Rotary International Convention in Chicago in 2005. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Bequest Society Member.
Professionally, Kent started in the title insurance field in 1977 as a delivery boy and was president of Kansas City Title for 10 years. He is currently senior vice president/commercial for Coffelt Land Title.
Kent has been married to his wife, Janet, for 34 years. They have two children and one granddaughter. He enjoys spending time with family, watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals, playing golf and participating in Rotary activities.
After President Eric Bubb called the meeting to order, we were led by Bob Lager with Carl Bolte on the piano in God Bess America, followed by Eric leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Invocation by Tom Cochran (new Salvation Army member). Mandy Sheldon, Executive Director, took the microphone around the Gallery for introductions of seventeen guests brought by members. {Good Job Members !} We also recognized Club Members with September birthdays [George Gordon, Liz Ross, Duane Benton, Chris Meikel, Bill Popplewell, Michael Dehner, Woody Davis & Evie Craig].
Club Anniversaries were noted as follows: Kim Beatty, 4 years – Sept 14, Barbara Dolci, 15 years – Sept 6, Kara Barnett, 13 years – Sept 10, Martha Voight, 13 years – Sept 15, Jack Ryan, 3 years - Sept 10, Michael Dehner, 3 years - Sept 10
Announcements:
Thank you Greeters – September Birthdays, Sherri Hahn presented each of us an opportunity to spend 30 minutes a week in the LEAD TO READ KC program. Marc Horner told us of September 22nd’s speaker Innocent Magambi, Refugee and Author “Helping Refugees in Africa Find a Place Called Home”.
Tony Andresen reminded us of the Rotary Regatta Event, September 24th, at Lake Jacomo, as a fund raiser for the Camp. This will be our inaugural year and will eventually with other programs become part of a Rotary Youth Camp Challenge.
Upcoming Events – Save the Date(s) !
9/9 - Rotary After Hours at Brookridge Country Club
9/24 - Monarch Boxcar / 60,000 Tree Challenge event at Union Station from 1:00 to 4:00
9/27 - Rotary After Hours at the KC Zoo 4:00 to 7:00, dinner at 6:00 at the Tropics Tent
10/23 - Pickleball Tournament for Shoes for Orphan Souls.
PROGRAM: Past President, Tony Andresen, introduced our speaker, Gerald J. Seib, now retired as of May 2022, but formerly a journalist with the Wall Street Journal for almost 45 years, serving as the WSJ’s Executive Washington Editor and wrote the weekly “Capital Journal” column for 29 years. Mr. Seib attended his first presidential convention in 1980 and thereafter attended 17 more. He has moderated three presidential debates. He has won a Pulitzer Prize, a William Allen White Foundation(2005) national citation, the National Press Club’s award (2009) for political analysis, the Merriman Smith award for presidential coverage, the Aldo Beckman Award for White House coverage, the Gerald R. Ford Foundation Prize and has been a commentator on CNBC, PBS’s Washington Week, CBS’s Face the Nation, Fox News Sunday and NBC’s Meet the Press. Mr. Seib has served as a resident fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics and currently is a resident fellow at the Dole Institute at KU. AND there is more. So, Mr. Seib has studied American politics “first hand” and is WELL respected for his insights
Back to current discussion: Mr. Seib, as a Dole (Institute) Fellow has several upcoming engagements with the Dole Institute in Lawrence, KS:
Sept 14th - An Overview of the 2022 Midterm Landscape, 21st - Political Polarization and How It Affects This Year’s Races, 28th - The Kansas Picture,
Oct 19th - Election Integrity, 9th - An Instant Look at the Results, 26th - Key Senate Races, 16th - How the Outcome Will Change Washington
These sessions will be guided conversational in nature versus a straight lecture series, Nov 2nd - Can Democrats Prevent a Tidal Wave
Thoughts: Generally if you want something done locally, your local civic clubs (Rotary for example) are your best shot - don’t wait for Washington DC to come in and fix the problem.
Why should anyone be an Optimist? Afterall the political landscape has become polarized. We have political shouting versus debate. The Democrats and Republican speak only to their own “tribe”. We have Russia’s activities including the current war and India (the world’s largest democracy) seemingly supporting Russia.
The Genius of American Democracy is its ADAPTABILITY. American Democracy renews itself, but it can get messy with Disruptive Periods.It has renewed/changed itself over the years from the end of slavery, to the industrial revolution (& migration from country to cities // rural to urban), moving from an agricultural based economy to industrial; from Isolationism to World Political Dominance; and from Liberal leaning to Conservative leaning.
NOW our “two party’ system has become almost a four political party system: Trump supporter, Alexlandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) type Democrats, Reaganomics Republicans, Joe Manchin (W. VA), more centrist Democrats.
Solution or goal is in the middle, not on the political wings. For Political Realignment -- Four Steps are required:
Emergence of new lawmakers – who reach out & discuss issues
Reviving the Political Center with the aid of reducing Gerrymandering. (If you are only responsible to your own “tribe”, you’re less likely to work towards the middle.)
Bipartisan Agreement is needed on the system for Casting & Counting Votes. Everybody must feel comfortable with the system and thus the political system’s results.
Voters need to reward, not punish, law makers that favor discussion versus shouting, that favor a more centrist middle position. This ties in with moving away from gerrymandering political districts.
Aside from your position on Abortion, the recent KS ballot issue caused voters to get engaged and involved. There was a surge in Independents’ voting (not Dem vs. Rep). We also need younger voters because they tend to be more idealistic and they are starting to show to vote.
So Democracy is alive because it is adaptive. When asked, in the recent poll, whether the USA is still the greatest country in the world? 75% agreed – yes.
From the Q & A section various statements or propositions arose:
Currently candidates argue about Who you are instead of what you do.
Red / Blue (Republican / Democrat) state designations can (and have) change
Social Media encourages Polarization (voters are only hearing what your side says)
Change needs to come from the Center not from the “wings”
Our political/election Primaries tend to favor the political wings
We need to Look to candidates with Solutions versus Political Party affiliation
Our government acts more sensibly when the power in Wash DC is split (neither party holding the House of Representatives, Senate, and the Presidency). When power is split, the Political Parties must compromise. When power not split, the outside party becomes disinterested & does not want to take blame for govt action – legislation.
Younger voters are more idealistic and are starting to show up (vote) more
Example for optimism is Bob Dole, when he was the head of the RNC he was a harsh slasher BUT Bob Dole went on to be a great legislator, compromiser and statesman. If Bob Dole can change there is Hope.
TODAY’S QUOTE: Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope” Martin Luther King JR.
President Eric Bubb wrapped up the meeting with the Four Way Test.
[ as an ongoingscrivener’s note: our local Club 13 Rotary organization has at least three main legs (like a three legged stool) KCRClub 13 with its various committees; KCRCFoundation (primarily to support the Rotary Youth Camp); and the Rotary Youth Camp, [each with its own separate board].
Also: our Rotary Youth Camp is theoldest continuing Rotary project in the world !!
The 2022 Rotary Club 13 Golf Championship has come to an end and we have a new champion. There were 16 players who participated and we hope to expand the field next year. This year's players were: Julio Dotel, Peter Ho, Steve Sopinski, Martha Voight, Sherri Hahn, Robert Thompson, Dennis McKeehan, Blake Frye, Tom Woolwine, Lon Lawton, Bill Popplewell, Tucker Clark, Joe Privitera, Dan Nenonen, Richard Atlas and Eric Bubb.
Julio Dotel and Peter Ho made it to the final round. Their match was played on September 9th at Brookridge Country Club and Julio Dotel is this year's winner! He is a phenomenal golfer and will look to defend his title in 2023. Congrats Julio!
Several golfers and Rotarians celebrated with a Rotary After Hours Event at the end of the final match. It was the perfect setting overlooking the 18th green at Brookridge Country Club. We would like to extend a big thank you to Steve Sopinski for chairing the golf championship and for hosting us at his club. It truly was the perfect day!
We hope to see more of you on the links next year!
The First Rotary Youth Camp Regatta will be Saturday, September 24th. We are excited to be doing this with both the Jacomo Sailing Club and Jackson County Parks & Recreation. This is our first year; so it will be a smaller affair, a warm up if you will, for next year.
The JSC is hosting a club regatta with 15-20 Sweet 16 sailboats, and we are sponsoring a BBQ dinner and beverages following the racing. The racing begins around Noon, and we plan to host the reception for racers starting at 4:00 to set up, and serving between 5:30-7:00pm.
It is the same day as the Monarch Butterfly event at Union Station, but it is later in the afternoon so you could potentially be involved in both.
We have seven sponsors so far that include Bass Pro, Tom Van Dyke and members of our committee.
This is the first of several events you’ll be hearing more about as the club embarks on new sources of funding for the Youth Camp. In total we’re calling it the “Annual Rotary Youth Camp Challenge”, and we are interested in developing ideas you may have to help supplement what has been Greater KC Day.
If you are interested in being part of this event, please contact Tom Woolwine or Mandy.
In 2001 – 2002, Carolyn Shadid Lewis was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar sponsored by Rotary Club 13 and studied in Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland. Carolyn writes “Rotary had a profound effect on my life. While I have not had a chance to join a Rotary club, I have taken the importance of civic engagement and community involvement with me throughout my life and career.”
Today, Carolyn lives in Boston with her husband, the musician, Jason Lewis of namelessnumberheadman and Selma, their 7-year-old storyteller and animator-in-the-making. She is an interdisciplinary artist, filmmaker, and educator whose oral history work tells personal stories of belonging. Drawing inspiration from her family’s military history and her Irish and Lebanese ancestry, Carolyn’s work explores how memory passes down through generations to shape individuals, families and nations.
Carolyn’s first feature length documentary will be screened at the Kansas City Underground Film Festival on September 17th, 12:30 – 2:30 pm at the Charlotte Street Foundation, 3333 Wyoming Street, KCMO. The film InterGeneration is an animated oral history film between a group of Boston teens and elders. At the start of the 2020 pandemic, Carolyn worked with eight inner-city teens to animate the memories of seven Boston elders. Her cross-generational creation is a playful and imaginative journey through the city’s past and present. A glimpse into an educational process, InterGeneration celebrates the beauty and strength of Boston’s neighborhoods of color and the multicultural fabric that can hold community together. To learn more about the film, go to intergenerationfilm.com.
Rotarians throughout North America are honored to join forces with Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific, GATX and NASCO for the “Save the Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Boxcar Tour” and to regenerate vital pollinator habitat from Windsor to Michoacán. The biological corridor of the monarch butterfly has been fragmented by global warming, deforestation, urbanization and excessive pesticide use. At each stop of the Monarch Boxcar, local Rotarians will sign a Pollinator Pledge highlighting actions that will be implemented to protect monarch and other pollinators throughout North America. On September 24th, the four District Governors from Districts 6040, 6080, 6110, and 5710 will meet and sign a Pollinator Pledge.
Club 13 planted a milkweed garden at the Rotary Youth Camp and continues to support this pollinator habitat. Milkweed is extremely important to the monarch butterflies. The adult monarchs can feed on most any nectar producing plant as can other species of butterfly but the various species of milkweed are absolutely essential to the survival of monarchs. They lay their eggs only on milkweed plants and the caterpillars eat only milkweed leaves. No milkweeds, no monarchs.
PLAN TO ATTEND the “Save the Monarch Butterfly 60,000 Tree Challenge North American Boxcar Tour” event on Saturday, September 24th, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM in the Haverty Family Yards outside Union Station KCMO. There will be a Pollinator Pledge ceremony plus musical and dance performance on stage and also numerous Exhibitors.
Click here to watch ashort film on the threats to monarch butterflies and the role of butterfly ecotourism in the fir forests of Mexico's Central Highlands.
Rotarians and Families are cordially invited to a Celebration of Life honoring Sheila and Denny Bolte. It will be held at the Carriage Club (5301 State Line Rd, Kansas City, MO 64112), Tuesday, October 4th from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
Bowling News
By Tim Tholen
Hello Rotary Club 13!
I am happy to report that our 2022-2023 Rotary Bowling season started last week! We are really excited to get going this year. We are fielding 13 teams of 3 this year, up from 11 last year. So that's great!! And it is especially awesome that Carol Retrum and Kay Roscoe are bowling, so happy to see them!
As expected, we are all a bit rusty, well all but one. John Lawrence banged out a 233 and a 224, setting his average for the year pretty high. And Mike Messner scored a 4/10 split. As always, we are on the look out for more bowlers, so if you are interested, email me at timtholen@gmail.comor stop me at lunch!
Rotary Youth Camp Update
By Laurie Mozley
The camp hosted it’s first off season group this past weekend. The weather was perfect for the Cub Scout family camp out Friday night into Saturday morning. This next weekend we are hosting a Boy Scout troop camp out and Court of Honor awards ceremony. We have campers here at the Rotary Camp almost every weekend throughout the school year.
Book Discussion Group
Please join the Rotary Book Discussion Group on Zoom for the discussion of the book We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride. The book is available at Rainy Day Books and the discussion will be led by Vivien Jennings. All Rotarians and guests are welcome.
Event: Rotary Book Discussion Group
Date: Monday, October 17, 6:30 PM NEW DATE Rescheduled from Sep. 26
Meet in person at Rainy Day Books but Zoom will also be available
About the book:
Avis thought her marriage had hit a temporary rut. But with a single confession in the middle of the night, her carefully constructed life comes undone. After escaping a tumultuous childhood and raising a son, she now faces a future without the security of the home and family she has spent decades building.
Luis only wants to make the grandmother who raised him proud. As a soldier, he was on his way to being the man she taught him to be until he woke up in Walter Reed Hospital with vague and troubling memories of how he got there. Now he must find a new way to live a life of honor.
Every day, young Bashkim looks forward to the quiet order of school and the kind instruction of his third grade teacher. His family relocated to Las Vegas after fleeing political persecution in their homeland. Now their ice cream truck provides just enough extra income to keep them afloat. With his family under constant stress, Bashkim opens his heart to his pen pal, a US soldier.
When these lives come together in a single, shocking moment, each character is called upon to rise. “You’ll be thinking about these characters long after you finish this haunting, heart-wrenching, and hopeful book” (Houston Chronicle).
Tuesday, Sept 27
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Picnic dinner and program at 6:00 pm at the Tropics Tent!
The First Rotary Youth Camp Regatta will be Saturday, September 24th. 
In 2001 – 2002, Carolyn Shadid Lewis was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar sponsored by Rotary Club 13 and studied in Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, Ireland. Carolyn writes “Rotary had a profound effect on my life. While I have not had a chance to join a Rotary club, I have taken the importance of civic engagement and community involvement with me throughout my life and career.”
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