Posted by Joseph Bast
Shawnee Mission Club had a busy and fun Holiday Season and kickoff of the new year. We began with the energizing ring of the Salvation Army bells as a cheerful call to their donation kettle. In a Mid December meeting, Matt Henderson, Director of Business Development for BRR architects, discussed his personal growth into the architecture arena, as well as insight into the process of how ideas become projects for creative design companies. The Club followed Matt’s presentation with Christmas gift wrapping and delivery of presents for a local family though Mission’s Adopt a Family program – a ‘smile’ activity for everyone. We finished December with our Club Holiday Party, complete with wonderful family fellowship of members, a delicious Italian Buffet, and an always fun, devious, and strategic ‘White Elephant’ anonymous gift “exchange” in which any worthy sea pirate would be proud of the prowess displayed by these Rotarians to achieve a successful ‘find’!
January returned to Service Above Self when Denise Lester, Founder and Exec. Dir. of Rended Hearts (RH), enlightened our Club about RH’s much-valued and caring activity of supporting victimized women caught up in Sex Trafficking in the KC metro area. RH was a recipient organization, along with Veronica’s Voice in KC, of the Warm-Kit Assembly of duffel bags containing clothing and some cold weather survival gear. Our Kit Assembly in Mission was accomplished by 25 Rotarians between two Clubs with the valued partnership of Steve Nettles’ volunteers from the Lenexa Rotary Club. Both of our Clubs were eager participants in Patti Mellard’s multi-Kansas-clubs District Allocation Grant submitted by her CAAHT Club.
January ended with an interesting presentation, and informative discussion, led by Stoney Bogan of the NorthEast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce activities to promote local businesses, as well the potential for interaction with Rotary Clubs. We look forward to sunny days of Rotary regardless of how freezing our butts might be!