ESpoke for May 7, 2025 (May 06, 2025)

THIS WEEK'S MEETING

May 7, 2025, 11:30 am

DoubleTree Hotel

Sedona Room

This week's speaker is Jeff Stewart, Executive Director, JCPRD.

With 30 years of professional parks and recreation services experience, Jeff Stewart currently serves as the Executive Director for Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Johnson County, Kansas. The agency employs 330 full-time and 1,400 part-time staff that manage over 10,000 acres of park property and welcomes over 10 million visitors and participants to its parks, facilities, programs, and events each year. JCPRD is nationally acclaimed as an accredited agency and having received the National Gold Medal Award twice.

Previously Jeff served as the Deputy Director for Johnson County Park & Recreation District for three years and the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Gardner, Kansas for 16 years. Jeff is a graduate of Kansas State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation Administration. Jeff is a certified professional (CPRP) who has dedicated his entire career to providing citizens a top quality of life through parks, trails, recreation programs, facilities, special events and activities. His efforts have been recognized by being awarded the KRPA Distinguished Professional Award and KRPA Administrative Branch Leadership Award. Mr. Stewart continues to be a leader in the field of parks and recreation. He is Past President for the Kansas Recreation Park Association and serves on the KRPA Professional Development Committee.

Jeff has served three terms as a board member for the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association, Chairperson for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area Parks and Recreation Directors Association, member of the Midwest Regional Council Board of Directors and as a member of the Kansas Recreation Park Association Administration Branch Committee.

Overland Park Rotary Foundation 2025 Spring Grant Application

The Overland Park Rotary Foundation on behalf of the Overland Park Rotary Club plans to award one $5000 grant to a community organization or agency in the Kansas City metro that provide human services/human need to members of our communities, with preference given to organizations that benefit residents of Overland Park and Johnson County.

The following is the official application and guidelines that would pertain to all Overland Park Rotary Club members and outside requests which was adopted by the Overland Park Foundation Board.

An application must be from an Overland Park Rotary Club member in good standing or from a community organization or community agency that must be sponsored by an Overland Park Rotary Club member in good standing. An organization or agency who has received funding from the Overland Park Rotary Foundation within the past five years will not be eligible for a Spring 2025 grant award.

The application for a $5000 grant from the Overland Park Rotary Foundation Board should submit in writing the nature of the request to include/address the following:

An explanation reflecting the alignment with objectives of the funding to provide human services/human need or relief within the Kansas City Metro
A specific description of how the funds will be used
A timeframe describing when and how the funds will be used
A description of the organization or individuals receiving the funds

Note: The Grant Recipient is expected to provide a written report to the Overland Park Rotary Foundation Board, as well as a presentation to the Overland Park Rotary Club, on the impact those funds had within 12 months from receiving the funds.

Each submitted grant application must include the name of the Overland Park Rotarian who is serving as the sponsor. Grant applications for 2025 must be submitted on or before May 30, 2025. Questions can be directed to Molly Camis at mollycamis@ gmail.com or 913.696.8884

Complete applications can be submitted to Molly Cams via email at mollycamis@gmail.com or they can be mailed to:

Overland Park Rotary Foundation
Attention: 2025 Spring Grant Application
PO Box 7558
Overland Park, KS 66207

Upon review by the Overland Park Rotary Foundation Board, applicants will be notified of decisions after June 11, 2025. Those who are selected to receive grants will be awarded funds on Wednesday June 18, 2025, during the Foundation Annual meeting of the Overland Park Rotary Club (8am meeting) and hopefully the recipient can attend the meeting for acknowledgement.

CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

The SignUp Genius is ready for the 2025 Crawfish Festival. Please click here to view the online sign-up sheet and register for any and as many volunteer opportunities you would like.

We are also looking for team leaders in the following areas:

BBQ Team
Equipment Retrieval Team
Lights and Power
Setup Team
Crawfish Team
Front Desk Team
Food Prep Team
Food Service Team
Table Service Team
Beverage Team
Cleanup Team
Event Support Team
Fund Raising Team
Financial Controls Team
Promotional Team
Event Photographer

Team leaders essentially serve as a coordinator and central point of contact for other volunteers in their group. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer as a team leader, please reach out to Glenn Bates at gbates51@gmail.com or Barry Rogers at brogers@americanindustrialgroup.us.

MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE

Posted by Marc Shaffer

Our District 5710 Million Dollar Challenge is in full swing, and we need your support to reach our goal by the end of the year! This initiative is a tremendous opportunity to make a lasting impact through the Rotary Endowment, ensuring that our work in service and philanthropy continues for generations to come.

Bekiw, you'll find more details about how you can participate. Whether through outright gifts, estate planning, or other giving strategies, every contribution brings us closer to our goal.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can be part of this legacy, feel free to email me at marc@searcyfinancial.com. Let’s make a difference together!

Yours in service,

Marc Shaffer

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

THE MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE

1 – Rotary International is racing the clock to increase the RI ENDOWMENT FUND to $2.025 BILLION by the end of 2025.

2 – There is about $180 MILLION remaining on that goal.

3 – District 5710 has agreed to raise $1 MILLION – hence the MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE!

4 – Every club is challenged to participate by naming a Foundation Chairman and Committee, by doing two programs about the Rotary Foundation and Endowment annually, and by asking your members if they would please consider making an endowment gift in support of this campaign.

5 – See the attached Million Dollar Challenge giving pyramid; this is the major donor portion of the Challenge. Later this year we will be asking every District 5710 Rotarian who has not already participated to make some endowment gift in any amount.

CONTACT: Roger Aeschliman, 785-267-8782 or raeschliman@corefirstbank.com