Our speakers will be Alejandro Hernandez, Imani Lemon, and Leah McIntyre. All are members of UMKC Enactus. As many of the Plaza Rotarians know, Enactus is an international social entrepreneurship organization that encourages students to create positive change using the 17 UN Sustainable Development goals as a guide. UMKC Enactus originally connected with the Plaza Rotary and became a Rotaract Club in 2017. This year, they have been working to re-establish and strengthen the relationship between our organizations.

 

In September, Alejandro, Imani, and Leah got the opportunity to travel to Ecuador with the Kansas City based nonprofit, Agua Viva International. On this culturally immersive trip, they supported Agua Viva's mission to provide purified water to remote communities and explored opportunities for UMKC Enactus to solve problems and create impacts internationally.

 

Lock It for Love – February 7 and 14

The Justice Committee, under the leadership of Nancy Shawver and Darron Story, will again organize the Lock it for Love fundraiser. On February 7 and 14, club members will be asked to donate $7 in honor of someone they love, and those funds will purchase a gun lock. The club foundation will match the amount of funds donated.

Vocational Service - First Fridays at Zhou B Art Center

Join us for First Fridays at Zhou B Art Center (1801 E. 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108) on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 5-8 p.m. Rotarians and their guests are invited on a self-guided tour of the new exhibition, Homage to the Hand, an exhibition that delves into the intimate relationship between creators and their materials. A cashless bar (bring a credit card) is available beginning at 5 p.m., and at 5:30 p.m., we will hear brief remarks from Allan Gray, Partner at Zhou B Art Center, and Izzy Vivas, Art Director.

Terri E. Barnes

An advocate for black girls and women, Terri is the Founder and President of The Nia Project. The Nia Project advocates for, celebrates, invests, and reimagines possibilities for black girls and women. For more than 15 years, Terri served as Co-Founder and President of Trace’s Place – A Community Resource for Girls and Women, an organization that focused on mentoring and personal development. She served 12 years as President and served for more than 22 years as a volunteer at the W.E.B. DuBois Learning Center. These two experiences provided up close and personal challenges that young people and families face, particularly girls, in simply trying to live their best lives.

The Nia Project is a way for her to commit her time and resources to be part of a solution.  In the summer of 2024, The Nia Project sponsored an 8 week summer camp for middle and high school girls that used a retail boutique service model to introduce entrepreneurship. As a result, The Nia Project is working to launch a full service program to be a resource for girls that need additional support. Terri is the convener of Black Women Get Fit, a series of health & wellness events led by local practitioners and designed specifically for Black women.  She is also the convener of the Black Nonprofit Leadership Symposium and creator of The Beloved Community – A Black Nonprofit Resource Directory.  Terri is a founding member of the Contending for Children Initiative, a faith-based response to illiteracy and mental health supports for children,  and was recently appointed Chair of the Mayors Commission on Reparations.

With more than 35 years of progressive leadership experience in financial service and healthcare organizations, Terri has a wide range of skills and expertise that have proved valuable in the work she does today.  

A lifelong Kansas Citian, she received her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Park University. Terri is married to Lee Barnes Jr.  and has a brilliant son, Lee Barnes III, who currently works and resides in New York. In her spare time she enjoys live music, exploring new restaurants and supporting efforts to help improve the living conditions of people in our most challenging communities, and uplifting the leaders and organizations that serve them.

Zoom Host Karyn Eppler

Dr. Brandon E. Martin began his tenure as Kansas City Athletics Director on December 3, 2018. Martin’s leadership has helped change the culture within Kansas City Athletics, as his positive energy, passion and strategic vision have helped elevate the Roos' momentum on-and-off the field.  Martin has been a visionary, focused on comprehensive excellence. Since arriving in Kansas City, he has orchestrated the transformational changes below:

• 95% Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and 3.35 GPA for all student-athletes.
• Launced the Roo Athletic Fund – Annual Giving Arm for Athletics, increased donor participation 380% and raised $3.5M since launch of new program.
• Increased department non-gift revenue 1,833% and all revenue 2,638% since December 2018.
• Completed new brand and identity for Kansas City Athletics in June 2019.
• Created Corporate Partnership. Program, increasing revenue 3,850%. Created Founding Partner program and successfully secured multi-year partnerships in health care and energy sector.
• Navigated conference realignment transition from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to The Summit League.
• Accomplished $1.5 million North Lobby Renovation Program at Swinney Center.
• Finalized enhancements in Swinney Center included new competition court, new graphics and installation of four new Daktronics videoboards.
• Completed Phase One Durwood Soccer Stadium, installing a $1M state of the new art turf pitch.

May 2020, Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal selected Dr. Martin as committee chair of UMKC Forward, a campus-wide Covid-19 strategic initiative aimed at re-envisioning UMKC regarding efficiency, growth, innovation and revenue-generation. As chair of the Community Outreach/Auxiliary/Events Committee, Martin assisted in identifying university-wide opportunities for innovation and investment that lead to revenue growth through auxiliary and external services to advance the mission of UMKC.

In September 2020, Dr. Martin was promoted to Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics. In this role, Martin paired his athletics department leadership with strategic initiatives on campus including leading a task force on retention and graduation for underrepresented, first generation, transfer students, and students of color at UMKC. Since arriving at UMKC in December 2018, Dr. Martin has been appointed Executive in Residence in three academic departments on campus: The Henry Block School of Management, School of Education, and Race, Ethnic, and Gender Studies. In each academic role, he assists with the strategic vision, course development, advising students, and recruitment. These roles also include teaching various courses related to higher education administration, sport management, and diversity and social issues in college and professional sports.

On a national level, Martin serves on the NCAA Division I Council and was appointed 3rd Vice President for the D-I AAA Association in 2022. Dr. Martin also serves as Co-Chair for the Black AD Alliance—an organization aimed at promoting the growth, development, and elevation of Black athletics administrators at the Division I level. He is also the Chair of the Summit League Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. In 2022, Martin was recognized by the Sports Business Journal as one of the top Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders in professional and collegiate sport. In that same year, he was also recognized by Ingram’s Magazine Missouri’s Business Magazine as one of the top 50 Missourians to know.

Kansas City PBS Event Details:

• What: Reel Black Film Fest
• Where: The Truman at 601 E Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64106
• Tickets: The event is free, but an RSVP is required.
• When: Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025
  • Doors and vendors open at 1:30 p.m.
  • Land of Opportunity Screening at 3 p.m.
  • The Potato King Screening 4:30 p.m.
  • Intermission at 5:40 p.m.
  • Diamond Jubilee Screening 6 p.m.

 Kansas City PBS is proud to invite the community to its first-ever film festival dedicated to showcasing local Black filmmakers from Kansas City. The Reel Black Film Fest will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m., at The Truman in downtown Kansas City.

The film festival will feature Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Nico Giles Wiggins, Jacob Handy and Kerry Rounds and their respective films:

Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance: Inspired by Richard Rothstein’s ‘The Color of Law,’ this film focuses on Kansas City’s U.S. Highway 71 project and reveals how the city’s urban renewal efforts displaced 10,000 families.

The Potato King: A Dynasty Built on Dirt and Dreams: Told from the perspective of local farmer Mike B. Rollen, this film tells the story of potato farmer Junius Groves and his pioneering journey to become one of the wealthiest men of his time.

Diamond Jubilee: A 75-Year Celebration of Carter Broadcast: In 1950, Andrew “Skip” Carter began operating KPRS as the nation’s first Black radio station west of the Mississippi River. Seventy-five years later, the Kansas City radio station is still alive and well, celebrating its Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

Merna Gill Bio and Session Description

Merna Gill has a Masters Degree in Education. Teaching HS Vocational Home Economics, then, Personal Finance and lastly a program called "Jobs for Americas Graduates". 

She still substitute teaches in Tulsa, Ok where she lives and mentors students all over the globe, thanks to Rotary.

It was her love for students that inspired her to join Rotary to work with Interactors and Rotaractors but it was speaking to Rotary Clubs about her Cuba travels that opened her eyes to Rotary's many missions.

Cuba actually brought Merna to Rotary. She's here today to share how Rotarians are working in Cuba today and the many efforts to re-establish Rotary there.

Merna Gill 480-686-6503

Courtney graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2001 with Bachelor of Arts degree.  She received her law degree from the University of Kansas in 2004.  

Immediately following her graduation from law school Courtney accepted a position with the Missouri State Public Defender System.  She left the public defender system in 2011 to begin serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the City of Kansas City.  In January, 2015, Courtney was appointed by the Mayor Sly James and City Council to serve as Kansas City Municipal Court Judge in Division 203, which has primary jurisdiction over all domestic violence cases filed in municipal court.  

As part of her commitment to offender accountability and victim safety she initiated the compliance docket, a specialized supervised probation docket for high-risk domestic violence offenders.  In October, 2017 the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Kansas City Domestic Violence Docket a mentor court grant.  The grant is used to instruct other courts from around the nation regarding best practices for offender accountability and victim safety.  Kansas City is the first municipal court in the nation to receive this honor.

In June, 2019, the domestic violence compliance docket developed a drug court track.  This specialized, supervised docket addresses high risk domestic violence offenders with substance use disorders.  The docket is designed to permit domestic violence offenders the therapeutic environment needed to recover from their substance use disorder while simultaneously holding them accountable for their battering behavior.  Kansas City operates the second drug court program specifically for domestic violence offenders in the nation.

In October, 2021 the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Kansas City Municipal Court a $1 million grant for two early intervention domestic violence programs.  The first is a class required as a condition of bond designed to increase domestic violence awareness with first time offenders.  The second is a Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) docket that provides targeted services for young adult intimate partner violence offenders and their intimate partners.  

In September, 2022, Courtney was appointed as presiding judge of the Kansas City Municipal Court.  Under her term as presiding judge the municipal court debuted it first ever evening and weekend dockets.    

Courtney is Past President of the board of directors for Sheffield Place and currently serves on their advisory board.  She is an ex-officio member the board of directors for the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City.  She is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.  She is a mentor with the Association for Women Lawyers Foundation Denise Henning Connections Program. 

Hilari Holt is a Kansas City, Missouri born and raised actor, comedic performer, as well as the founder and Executive Director/Producer of Black Comedy Fest KC. She specializes in comedic improv performing, and is an instructor & coach. There are many facets to her interests and skills but performing & creating shows & events are at the top of the list.

Special meeting to review member questionnaire, to guide the committee's next steps. Please join for this important discussion. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87926755104

Meeting ID: 879 2675 5104

John Proctor has arranged for a spring, urban hike for club members.  With more than 30 points of interest, we will learn about the rich ethnic history of KCK. We will see the beautiful homes of Strawberry Hill, vantage points, the Wyandot Burial ground & hear stories of courageous enslaved people who escaped to freedom. We will also enjoy beautiful murals, hills and see plenty of hidden gems . 4-5 miles 3-3.5 hours

Meeting spot: 

Splitlog Coffee  548 Central Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101

**Meeting Place- Back Patio of Splitlog

Link to book your spot $32 a person+ booking fee ($5 discount for seniors 65+ and veterans)

Considerations: 

Please use street parking

There is one steep hill at the beginning, the rest of the time there are small hills 

Restroom stop halfway through

Community Service - April 10th from 1 to 4pm.  

Volunteer with Veterans Community Project and learn more about their mission to fix Veteran homelessness.  We will be serving ALL who have served.  Please use this link to sign up and reserve your individual spot: vcp.volunteermatters.org.  Note - closed toe shoes required.  Click here for location and contact details. 

Boxing for Shoes for Orphan Souls - 

Please save the date, April 12, 8420 High Dr., Leawood, KS 66206.  Time:  Morning, specific time to be determined.  Please bring medium sized, sturdy boxes.  Moving boxes, liquor boxes, apple boxes from the grocery store, and boxes from the recycling center are great.

Zoom Host Karyn Eppler

Happy Hour with TJ at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 22, at the Urban Restaurant, 3420 Troost, to continue the conversation. 

I joined Heart to Heart Int’l in 2014 after 30+ years in the pharmaceutical industry. I’d spent over two years as a teenager living in Ethiopia (my parents were missionaries.) Part of that time we lived deep in the bush, far from any type of medical support. I was drawn by the mission of HHI, including supplying medicines and medical support to areas in need, like places I had lived. I also felt my background in pharmaceuticals was a great fit.

 

After a few years leading HHI, including some fairly intense responses (e.g. Ebola in Liberia, Cholera in Haiti, hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico) I realized that we were not doing as much for people in our own country as I would have wished. Hence the idea to start a nonprofit Patient Assistance Program, bringing high cost medicines to elderly and low income patients in the U.S. by contracting with pharmaceutical companies who would donate the medicines.

 

The HHI board approved the idea in Dec 2018, and in 2019, I began shifting HHI leadership to our COO, who became the CEO. Meanwhile I started RegaloRx, a nonprofit PAP, which launched late that year. It was designed to compete with for profit PAP’s, earn a profit and turn those profits over to HHI.

 

In retrospect, launching a new business right before the pandemic began was the worst possible timing imaginable. We quickly pivoted to a virtual operation and remained that way even after the pandemic subsided. We also had to borrow money to fund the startup expenses, so the profits we started to earn were all going to debt repayment and servicing. It was going to be several years before we paid off the debt and could start funding HHI. By that time we were helping 40,000+ patients across the U.S., providing them free medicines and shipping them from our contracted mail order pharmacy.

 

In 2022, we were approached by a for profit company to buy our operation. In 2023, with the agreement of the RegaloRx Board, we decided to seek other potential acquirers since the value of the company needed to be verified. An obvious question is “how can you sell a nonprofit”? It can be done by selling the assets inside the entity but of course not the 501c3 itself. (I will describe this in the presentation.)

 

In late 2023, we sold all the assets of our nonprofit operation to a for profit company for $7MM, repaid all our debts and obligations, had approximately $900,000 left over (which belongs to HHI) and the pledge by the new  owner to support HHI for up to 7 more years based on certain milestones. No employee lost their job as a result of the acquisition. I remained another year (as a requirement of the deal) to run the new Regalo. I retired from the company at the end of September 2024.

See the groundbreaking film Beyond the Bridge, followed by a powerful panel discussion with experts, filmmakers, and local leaders dedicated to ending houselessness in Kansas City.

Event is Free, but registration required. Details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-and-panel-discussion-of-beyond-the-bridge-tickets-1236338946069?aff=oddtdtcreator

Featured Panelists:

• James Mathy: Milwaukee County Housing Administrator & architect of their homeless response system
• Don Sawyer: Producer/Director of A Bigger Vision Films
• Tim Hashko: Cinematographer/Editor at A Bigger Vision Films
• Additional Kansas City experts

Zoom Host Karyn Eppler

Contact Ralph Foiles, rfoiles@processprotection.net

The conference is coming up on May 30 and 31 at A.T. Still University in Kirksville and online registration is open at  https://rotary6040.org/events/district-conference-rotary-district-6040/.

The early fee of $100 runs through 4/15, after which the fee goes to $125. The fee includes tons of great programming, as well as 4 meals, including a very special prime rib dinner on Saturday, 5/31. The dinner will be accompanied by a unique performance of A Candle Against the Dark. 

We have a ton of great Rotary programming lined up, as well as many fun and social activities, for all Rotarians across the district at this conference. Highlights include a Keynote address from PDG Duane Benton, the Shoes for Orphan Souls Roll Call, highlights of the recent nursing service project in Rwanda from Cassy Venters, a word from our District Governor-elect Jodi Sundaram, Kirksville community activities, a concert by Grammy-award winner Rhonda Vincent, and breakout sessions about:  community service, membership, leadership development, youth programs, small clubs making a big impact, public image and social media, and club fundraising. 

Kansas City Municipal Court Tour - June 9

Lindsay Jarquio, Vocational Service Chair, says, "Join your fellow Rotarians for a tour of the Kansas City Municipal Court (511 E. 11th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106) on Monday, June 9 (morning, time to be confirmed). "We will observe the urinalysis lab, the courtroom, and the fingerprint lab. Judge Courtney Wachal, a previous Rotary speaker, will be stepping out of court to greet us and answer any questions. This tour takes approximately one hour. You are encouraged to observe a court hearing on your own.   More information can be found below.

• The Domestic Violence Court is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. or 12 p.m., with the busiest dockets typically being on Mondays. The high-risk DV supervised probation docket is on Tuesday afternoons. The young adult DV diversion docket is on Monday afternoons.
• Wellness Court handles cases for defendants diagnosed with a serious behavioral health condition by a medical service provider, as noted by Judge Wachal. This court is every Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

More details about the tour to follow. If you would like to attend, please email Lindsay Jarquio at lindsayjarquio@gmail.com.

NEW DATE for the June meeting of the Justice Committee -- moved to Tuesday to allow participation in the Municipal Court tour on Monday (our regularly scheduled time). 

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82772298380?pwd=AEiSw5WD2Axv4b5LJwVMKvcsMcXiHk.1

Join ADVOCACY & AWARENESS GROUP OF JOHNSON COUNTY for its annual Juneteenth Peace Rally and March.  The March starts in downtown Overland Park and takes a 1-mile route to Thompson Park for the rally, which includes speakers, entertainers, and fun activities for the family. 

Learn more at: https://www.aagjc.org/general-8

Zoom Meeting

Meeting 7:30-9:00AM 

See the most recent newsletters for a summary of changes.  Contact President Lucy Betteridge for a copy of the bylaws.  They were distributed to every member via email on June 9.

Ned Seaton is a career journalist and publisher from Kansas. He grew up in Manhattan, went away to college at Harvard, then worked at newspapers in Arizona, California and Florida, as well as the Associated Press's Kansas City bureau, before returning to Manhattan, where he's the fourth generation newsman in this family. 

Karis Harrington is a Kansas City native currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board Member for Kansas City G.I.F.T., as well as the Executive Director of The Next Paige Talent Agency.

In addition to her leadership roles, she serves on The Soul of Santa Board of Directors and actively contributes to the Board of Directors for More2 and the fundraising committee at The Melting Pot Theater.

With over 20 years of experience in business development, Karis is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities, supporting small businesses, and strengthening the Black economic ecosystem in Kansas City. Her passion for this work has made her a sought-after speaker and a recognized advocate for economic development. She has advised mid-sized businesses, consulted with C-suite executives, and delivered impactful presentations to city and county leaders.

Prior to her current roles, Karis served as the Senior Business Development Officer for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.

Karis holds an undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University, a graduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), and also pursued law studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

The ADVOCACY & AWARENESS GROUP of JOHNSON COUNTY holds its 2nd annual Birthday Bash at the InterUrban Art House, 8001 Newton Drive, Overland Park.

Fee is $75 for live music, live art, gourmet food bites, cigar rolling, raffle prizes and more. This is a family friendly event, offering fun and fellowship for all.

Visit: https://www.aagjc.org/bdaybash for more information. Use code COUPLE for discount on event tickets.  

2025 Changing of the Guard

On Thursday, July 10, the Kansas City Plaza Rotary will celebrate our 2025/2026 President, Ralph Foiles, the new board of directors, and thank Lucy Betteridge and the 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Join us for this auspicious occasion and enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Plaza Rotary member TJ Jolly has graciously offered to host the Changing of the Guard at one of his renovated homes. You may recall TJ's presentation a few weeks ago about how his organization, Integrity Capital Management, is revitalizing historic parts of Kansas City.

In addition, Ralph asks members to bring donated items for Uplift to distribute to the homeless community. In the summer months, they need:

·      shorts (can be used; all sizes)

·      underwear 

·      canned goods

July 10, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

307 Bellefontaine Avenue, Kansas City, MO

$25 Per Person

Please bring a check to a meeting or send payment to the club Venmo account, @KCPlazaRotary2021. Contact Therese McGill for more information at theresemcgill@icloud.com.

Justice league holds its regular monthly meeting. For details, check with Erik Dickinson or Nancy Shawver. 

David Nelson is a coach, teacher, and founder of The Human Agenda.

David’s area of expertise, “appreciative inquiry” helps provide an intentional framework of listening and sharing diverse points of view to help us build on what’s right, (and what we have in common) instead of focusing on what’s wrong (and different) to live a fully human life.  This is especially important today, as we live in times of division, and instability around the world.

Contact Karyn Eppler for meeting information.  eppler.karyn@gmail.com

David Naster was a theater/psychology major in college. He soon realized he’d rather make fun of people instead of helping them. That’s what lead him to becoming not just a comedian, but an internationally, well-known comedian. Naster was the only American Comedian to open for Celine Dion’s World Love Tour. He has been a headline act for Norwegian Cruise Lines for 29 years, and he has received awards from colleges and TV for his comedic talents.

Yet, underneath all of the laughs, David discovered that humor and laughter could heal the deepest emotional and physical pains. That led him back to his psychology roots, creating You Just Have To Laugh.  This one-of-a kind brand and applicable philosophy inspires, encourages and brings joy to millions of people. By using real examples of real life from real people, David Naster speaks to professional and private organizations worldwide. 

David is an award winning author and filmmaker. His books and films have been implemented at the Stanford Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Institute. 

In his 40th year of making people laugh, David’s passion and purpose is simple “To Help Heal the World, One Laugh at a Time.”

Matt Mayer is the Kansas City Market President for Busey Bank (formerly CrossFirst Bank), a $20B financial institution headquartered in Leawood, Kansas with location in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Florida and New Mexico.  Mr. Mayer joined CrossFirst Bank in August 2019, and was promoted to Market President in January 2023.  Mr. Mayer is responsible for all lines of business, including Commercial & Small Business Banking, Commercial Real Estate Banking, Community Development, Treasury & Payment Solutions, Private Banking and Retail operations.  Mr. Mayer is a graduate of the University of Kansas and resides in Olathe, KS with his wife and two children.