This week our speaker is Kelsyn Rooks, Founder & Board Chair, Center for Recorded Music
Kelsyn Rooks has over 30 years of corporate experience developing, marketing, and managing consumer and technology products at some of the world's largest technology companies including T-Mobile, Nokia, and Amazon. Along with his love of technology, he brings a lifetime of passion for music, in part fostered by his parent's ownership of The Music Exchange, Kansas City's premiere record store from the 1970s to the 2000s.
In 2015 Kelsyn launched Listyn KC, Kansas City's first curated record listening event. These shows consistently sold out their capacity with waitlists of people wanting to attend. In late 2018 Kelsyn began working with a small group of dedicated supporters to increase access to musical programming and experiences for more people. Out of the initial plans the Center For Recorded Music (C4RM) 501(c)(3) was born in 2020 and in 2024 we opened The Listyning Room in Leawood. Today, C4RM serves over 200 programs per year, 4-6 days per week, to thousands of visitors. C4RM is currently looking for a larger, permanent home in the KC Metro area.
Over the years, Kelsyn has traveled to 77 countries, been to 6 of the 7 continents (Antarctica someday), and has experienced a kaleidoscope of music in all forms and formats. Born and raised in Kansas City, Kelsyn graduated from Lincoln College Prep, attended UMKC, and now lives in Overland Park, KS with his wife, son, and three Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
Check out this great story about Rotary and the upcoming World Cup. There are a lot of references to RI President-Nominee Larry Lunsford, District 6040, and Kansas City!
The Monday Morning Gang has been working to get the camp ready for our summer campers. Now it is your turn! This Saturday is the Rotary Youth Camp work day! There are jobs for every ability, so come on out Saturday at 8:00 AM, have a donut and some coffee/juice and lend a hand. Don’t forget your gloves! There are some downed trees that need to be cut up, so if you have a chainsaw, bring it. There is cleaning, planting things big and small, setting up the pool furniture and making sure the cabins are ready. Hope to see you there!
May 1st represented the first billing cycle since Mandy left Club 13. I (Jared Campbell) sent out the invoices and/or charged your card on file for those who pay one of the monthly dues options. If something did not process like in months past or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know.
If you do not currently have a card on file and would be interested in providing one to the club so we can automatically pay your dues, I am happy to help collect that information.
Finally, I would ask that if you have any past dues or if you haven't paid your 2nd Quarter dues yet, please do so as soon as you can. Cash flow is important to the club, especially as we get closer to the start of a new Rotary Year and the need to pay RI dues.