Bulletin #8
February 25, 2026

 
 
"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." Club President Ron Auxier and John Lennon
 
Photo Albums
Life Unlimited Garden Bed Work Day
The Rotary Club of Saint Joseph today at the beautiful Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art.

There was a great crowd of around 36 in attendance today. We had a couple of our newly approved prospective members, Micah Carter and Joan Brewer, at the meeting, as well as a guest of Natalie Newville. 

The lunch spread this week was garden salad with ranch dressing cups, baked beans, potato salad, bratwurst, hamburger, and some fixins. Not bad. Lots of choices. 

The fun committee reported that a ton of fun was had at the Bunker Club last Thursday at the social. Kirby dragged everyone over to the Mexican restaurant next door and card games ensued. Sounds like it was great. 


Please be sure to submit any lunch orders and sponsorships with logos to Oakley by no later than this coming Monday, March 2, so that we can order the supplies in time and print placemats.

Be sure to turn in any ticket sales money to Oakley. A spreadsheet with the volunteer assignments will be sent out soon as well. We have over 25 volunteers at this point to assist with the dinner. 

The dinner tickets are $15 for all you can eat spaghetti, breadsticks, salad, and delicious desserts. Kids are $7, 5 and under are free. Carry-out lunches are $8 each and include a meatball sub, chips, and cookie. Anyone can walk in to the dinner and purchase a ticket at the door. 

Customers and businesses can purchase tickets for lunch, dinner, and sponsorships online at https://rotary-club-of-st-joseph-east.square.site/
 
 
Black Bowls donations for this quarter (1/1/26 through 3/31/26) go to the Care Portal. which connects churches with people in need to make a difference. Contributions to Black Bowls may be made at meetings with cash or check, or online at our club's Square site. 

Meals on Wheels delivery assignments for 2/26 will be Josh Middendorf with Bill McCammon and Dana Matt (solo). 

3/5 will be Ron Auxier with Amy Ryan and Ralph Schank with Tim Curry. 

Club's website is: www.stjosepheastsiderotary.org and we are working on a post-merger refresh.

The club's Facebook page has been updated and can be found at https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubstjosephmo
Upcoming Key Rotary Dates:
 
  • March 4:  Regular club meeting at the AKMA... program is the Interact Club from St. Joseph Christian School's 4 Way Test Speech contest... we have 2 contestants this year  
     
  • Friday, March 6:  43rd Annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser at Ashland United Methodist Church- carry out lunches and dine-in or carry out dinners 
     
  • Saturday, March 7:  Sleep in Heavenly Peace lumber cutting and staining work day at MWSU at 9 a.m. 
     
  • March 11:  Regular club meeting at the AKMA... speaker is Past Rotary International Director Elizabeth Usovicz, presenting on the Rotary Peace Fellows program and updates from Rotary International's Senior Leadership 
     
  • March 18:  Regular club meeting at the AKMA... speaker is Tonya Ball presenting about the Care Portal
     
  • March 25:  Regular club meeting at the AKMA... Rotary Blend candle orders and money are due by 3/25 
     
  • Friday, 4/24 and Saturday, 4/25:  District Conference at the Rotary Youth Camp (Shoes for Orphan Souls Roll Call on 4/25)
     
  • Wednesday, 5/6:  Rotary scholarship luncheon for our 5 high school scholarship recipients at Noon at the AKMA
     
  • Wednesday, 5/13:  Offsite club meeting at Life Unlimited to see the District Grant project
 

Have you ever been to a Rotary International Convention? It is a treat!

Ryan Dowell's great-grandfather, Russell Peck, is a Past President of our club, having been a Rotarian from the 1920s-1950s or so.

Here is a gem from the archives that Ryan brought to Rotary today, from the 1942 Rotary International Convention in Toronto:


 
 

Sergeant Ryan Jones collected Happy Bucks today:

  • Matt Porter for horses on the loose at his house this morning and his business closing on the 36th/Messanie location
     
  • Erik McGuire for Ben Martin agreeing to serve as the director for A Candle Against the Dark for World Polio Day 2026 in St. Joseph in October
     
  • Nick Gertsema for going to a conference (this is more of a feat than one might think)
     
  • Tim Curry for a great Florida vacation 
     
  • Josh Middendorf for attending a great conference with his wife Shannen and meeting the creator of Care Portal there 
     
  • Amy Spaeth for her youngest son turning 16 and getting his driver's license 
     
  • Micah Carter for his 5th niece being born 
     
  • Ryan Dowell for the upcoming District 6040 Conference at the Rotary Youth Camp 4/24-25 and the Shoes Countdown... a group of Saint Joseph Rotarians are getting a nearby hotel if anyone wants to join the party 
     
  • Don Gladhart for a great Arizona Valentine's Day trip and the amazing Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix 
     
  • Ryan Jones for a great work day on Saturday and no injuries occurring 

Rotarian Matt Porter presented today's member spotlight.

 

 

Matt has been a Rotarian for around 12 years. This photo was from his induction into the club. Matt owns Midwest Data Systems and has been a "Xerox Guy" for 25 years. 

He and his wife Kristen and their 250 or so rescue animals of all types, to include horses, peacocks, cats, pigs, and more, live in Western Wyandotte County, and together, Matt and his first wife have Riley, Blake, and Mason. 

Matt joined Rotary largely to network, but has stayed because he loves the people and the work that the club and Rotary does. 

How about a social/fun committee gathering some time at Matt's place, with his rescue animals?  

Today's program was presented by Natalie Newville, President of the St. Joseph Catholic Academy.

The St. Joseph Catholic Academy began as a loose partnership of the local Catholic schools, but formalized 4 years ago into a structured organization. 

Natalie has been here about 2.5 years. Her husband and fellow Rotarian Kenney is a graduate of Bishop Leblond High School. 

Each of the participating schools has its own board, but the coordination of the SJCA allows for standardization of curriculum, uniforms, promotion of enrollment, extra-curricular clubs, fundraising, and more. 

The schools are St. Gianna early learning, St. James grade school, Cathedral grade school, St. Francis Xavier grade school, and Bishop Leblond High School.

To learn more about the St. Joseph Catholic Academy, please visit https://www.sj-catholic.org/
 
Shoes Cheerleader Amy Spaeth reports that we have 1031 shoes so far in the warehouse. We are anticipating adding a healthy amount soon from Tim Curry's stash.  

Our goal is to exceed 2,000 pairs this year. To that end, we have a special Rotary Blend Candle Fundraiser available for anyone who would like to participate. Members have through 3/25 to turn in their candle orders to Erik. Depending on volume, all candles should be ready by early April. 

To purchase candles or reed diffusers, members may use the order forms or visit our online store here at to order online. 

Members who want to donate to the club to purchase shoes may also do so, or simply bring a few pairs of shoes each week as you are able.