President Jared Campbell called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. David Hanzlick led us in prayer after thoughtful comments on our day & age.  

GUESTS:  Sally Bibb introduced guests, Jennifer Russell and Mark Russell.  Mark will be joining Rotary Club 13 as new member.  Another guest was Adam Kinsinger, whom the Board just approved as a new member.   More about Adam and Mark in future meetings.  Our speaker, Kyle Mead introduced his guest and member of his organization, Shaney Escobedo.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Get registered for the upcoming District Conference at the Rotary Youth Camp on April 24^th and 25^th.  (Two anonymous club members have offered to pay the registrations fees for two new members who have been in the Club for 2 years for less.  Contact Duane Benton, if interested.)

REMEMBER:  The DISTRICT CONFERENCE April 24 & 25 to be held at our Rotary Youth Camp with a special concert on April 24^th !  starting Friday night and continuing Saturday morning. Theme:  One District - One Weekend – One Powerful Impact.  Friday (4/24/26) night’s “Jukebox Heroes - Tribute to the 60’s-80’s” entertainment with Kansas City’s very own Rock Orchestra. This event’s location will be 1901 NW Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit, MO 64065 (at Unity Village) beginning at 7pm with the doors opening at 6 pm.    Saturday’s Grand Finale will be the 25^th Anniversary Shoes for Orphan Souls’ Shoe Roll Call, scheduled for 4:15 pm, featuring future Rotary International President, Larry Lunsford, of the KCMO – Plaza Club.   

APRIL 30^th  5^th Thursday – 6pm to 8pm at Harvesters on April 30^th.  Contact Pete Sota for questions.  Note: sign up is through the Harvester’s portal.  (It is a good opportunity to help and enjoy Rotary camaraderie.)    Harvester’s   Address  is  3801 Topping Avenue, KCMO  64129.

Friendship Exchange App – Ms. Jillian Coonce, a high school junior, spoke briefly on behalf of the Business/Project Management Class at Summit Technology Academy.  They have worked with the International Business & Project Management entity, active in over projected to be 76 countries, to help those in need around the world.  The local works with or as an Interact Club with almost 20 years of international experience, working closely with local Rotary Clubs as well as business professionals and organizations.   Rotary hosts international visitors all the time through the Rotary Friendship Exchanges and Group Study Exchanges.  Through research and interviews, the group found that reducing culture shock is the best way to make guest feel welcome.  This flows into the expected 600,000 international visitors coming to metro KC for the World Cup.  How Their App Helps:  They designed the App specifically for Rotary.  The App gives convenient access to cultural insights and tips for our international guests.  They have worked closely with the Rotary and other classes at Summit Technology Academy to create a professional and curated app.  The app is “hostreadyapp.com”.   This was pretty impressive from a high school junior.

Happy Bucks:   Several members had uplifting quick happy bucks comments or moments to share, including Peter Ho’s bowling team winning the local championship in a roll off. 

PROGRAM:   President Jared Campbell introduced our program speaker, Kyle Mead, President at Heartland Center for Behavioral Change, founded in 1982 by Shirley Johnson, as the Kansas City Community Center. Heartland, a nonprofit 501c3 behavioral health and substance use disorder provider serving Greater Kansas City and the Springfield/Branson Areas with 14 clinics, services mostly uninsured/underinsured/indigent individuals. Heartland is CARF* Accredited (*Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).  With dual roles of criminal involved persons, Heartland receives some funding from the Missouri Department Corrections for Western Missouri. In 2012 Heartland expanded their operation to serve substance abuse individuals.  Their Mission is to provide behavioral healthcare and substance use disorder treatment services to help individuals lead healthier, happier, more productive lives. Heartland is a small not-for-profit operation focusing on Stewardship to provide access to care and the capacity to provide it.   Their Core Services: (1) 24 Hour medically monitored withdrawal; (2) Residential and Outpatient Treatment; (3) Community residential unit; (4) Disease management outreach; (5) Medication assisted treatment; (6) Court mandated services: and (7) SATOP Classes Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program.  Their Impact By the Numbers in 2025: (a) 6,197 clients served; (b) 56% abstinence rate; (c) 94% client satisfaction rate; and 41,610 bed nights made available to the community.  Their Current Initiatives: (1) Expanding services in our Southwest Region to include inpatient treatment; (2) Capital improvement to our Kansas City clinic; (3) Expanding services to offer Withdrawal Management Services in Eastern Jackson County; and Focused fundraising for Capital Improvements to their 1514 Campbell location (new chiller, energy efficient window replacement, elevator repairs, and more…). How You Can Help:  Join them for their 2^nd Annual golf Tournament (7/31/2026).   Hold a hygiene or snack drive to provide those items to their clients.  Help provided a bed night for a client by donating  - click on  https:/www.heartlandcbc.org/donate and it the donate button.  Refer friends or family who can benefit from their services. Like them on Facebook@Heartlandcbc !  Help Break the Stigma – keeping talking with your friends and family to end the cycle.

UPCOMING MEETINGS  & EVENTS:  Bring a Prospective Member

April 24^th & 25^th - The District Conference at our Rotary Youth Camp

April 30^th - Harvester Service Project, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

May 9^th - 8am Work day at the Youth Camp 

Jared  Campbell  wrapped up the meeting with an Act of Kindness suggestion :  Give out 10 compliments

and the Four Way Test:  

                    1.  Is it the TRUTH 

                    2.  Is it FAIR to all Concerned 

                    3.  Will it Build GOODWILL & better FRIENDSHIPS 

                    4.  Will it be BENEFICIAL to all Concerned

  JOHN  GILLIS