In our final activity of the 2022-2023 season, club members and spouses were delighted by the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, President Neil Wakefield, as he spoke eloquently about what we have accomplished this past year.
We met at the home of Matt and Trisha Watkins last night to celebrate a great year of achievement while recognizing some members and sponsors for their contributions of time, talent and treasures towards the good of the local community.
Among the many activities Village West Rotary engaged in this past year were planting and harvesting at the Rotary Community Garden and the distribution of dictionaries to 3rd grade students in Edwardsville, Bonner Springs and Kansas City, KS.
Fundraisers included Christmas-time bell ringing for the Salvation Army. Our Pints for Polio event raised awareness and money for the international fight against polio.
Brews Bags & BBQ (BBB), which included a silent auction, cornhole tournament and 50-50 raffle raised money for Hillcrest Transitional Housing.
We also awarded scholarships to nine (9) deserving local area high school students.
A check for $3,263 from proceeds of the BBB event (see above) was presented to Tom Lally, President of Hillcrest Transitional Housing.
Dr. Russell King, long time Rotarian, has spearheaded annual planting, cultivating and harvesting of produce in the Rotary Community Garden efforts over the years. This past year’s harvest was estimated at between 2,000 and 2,500 pounds worth of produce. The fresh vegetables and greens were donated to Cross-Lines for their community kitchen and food pantry.
We heard from seventeen (17) speakers over the past year, with topics ranging from Rotary foundation programs to coaching football, commercial construction planning in the area, the new Homefield Resort/Athletic Project, Kansas state government, book authors, Salvation Army, community food kitchen, transitional housing and an inspirational talk on the meaning of Memorial Day that included the Kansas State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution color guard flag ceremony.
Member and sponsor award presentations were made to the following.
Paul Harris Fellow (gifted by Neil Wakefield for outstanding services rendered):
Clayton Hunter
Tom Lally
Robert Lofthouse
Rotary Garden Certificate of Appreciation:
Dr. William Russell King
Fundraising Talent and Leadership Certificate of Appreciation:
Cathi Hahner
Sponsorship Certificates of Appreciation
Larry Becker
Craig Gaffney, Country Club Bank
Michelle Hereford
Clayton Hunter
Tom Lally
Jack Manahan
Benjamin McAnany, McAnany Construction
Karen Orr, Providence Medical Center
Matthew Watkins, Reece Commercial
Mary, Nathan & Aaron Weiser, Outfield Beer Company
Engraved, Personalized Pens:
David Anderson
Glenn Harte
Clayton Hunter
Robert Lofthouse
Jack Manahan
Matthew Watkins
After bestowing the foregoing recognition on club members and fundraising sponsors, President Wakefield handed over the gavel to his successor, Clayton Hunter.
President-Elect Hunter takes over on July 1st and as a final act in his current role, presented a plaque of appreciation from the Village West Club to outgoing President Wakefield for all his efforts to organize the above-mentioned club activities.
Good time enjoyed by all and we're looking forward to building off our 2022-2023 success! More to come on that in our first meeting of the new year, July 13th.
We hope you’ll join us and learn more about Village West Rotary!
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Service Above Self
Kansas City, KS 66109
United States of America