Thank you to all that attended our District Conference last weekend. We had a fun Friday evening with rain, but we had a good time in the Dining Hall at the Rotary Youth Camp. The evening was sponsored by the Lee’s Summit Rotary Club, and the Kansas City Club provided the Smores. Great food was provided by Duetzel’s Catering and the drinks from Embrace the Grape, both companies owned by Rotarians in the Lee’s Summit Club. We did 2 Service Projects, one being hygiene kits for kids for Coldwater and we also did some greeting and Birthday cards were made for the campers coming to the camp this summer. The Camp is for Special Needs kids and used all summer, and also different organizations, like Boy and Girls Scouts who use it during the other months of the year. We also got to see the second-round draft pick of the Chiefs, so that was exciting!
On Saturday we had our meetings at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence. Amazing facility with all the new renovations they have done. We had Opening remarks from Rotary International Director Elizabeth Usocivz. We heard from the Deputy Director of the Library, Kelly Anders, about the things they have done to the library and all the History in that building. Jeff Romine from the Kirksville Club gave us an update on Youth Exchange. Jennifer Rodgers from the Liberty Club then introduced Leila Potocnik from Lee’s Summit North High School. She won the District Scholarship of $1,000.00 on the 4 Way Test Speech Contest. She gave her speech and it is was terrific and well deserving of being the winner. Beth Franklin from the Independence Club gave us an update on District Grants from last year and also the new schedule for this next Rotary Year. We had our first Shoes Roll Call presented by Larry Lunsford, Rotary International Trustee Vice Chair and Shoes Cheerleader, and was it was amazing how many shoes, shoe laces , socks and funds were raised. We then heard our Guest speaker Les Norman from 810 Sports “Breakin the Norm” show. Gave a touching story of personal experiences about leadership. So glad he was able to attend and give us that information. We then heard from District Governor Elect Randy Steinman who gave us an update on his events and goals for the next Rotary year 2023-2024.
Would like to thank David Gale from the Lee’s Summit Sunrise/Sunset Club, Tonya Parker from the Lee’s Summit Club, Kandi Kos our District Executive Secretary, Laurie Mosely from the Rotary Youth Camp, my Lees Sumit Club and many more that helped to make our Conference a successful event.