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THIS WEEK'S MEETING
Overland Park Rotary
October 29, 2025 at 4:30 pm
NO BREAKFAST OR LUNCH THIS WEEK!
 
Join us for a Rotary Social Hour
October 29 at 4:30-6:00 pm
 
Barley's Kitchen and Tap
11924 W. 119th St., OP
 
Complimentary Appetizers
5:30 Gift Card Drawing
Holiday Shopping with KidsTLC
Holiday Shopping with KidsTLC
Walmart at 15700 Metcalf
December 1, 2025
4:30-8:30 pm
We are again partnering with Walmart (157 & Metcalf) to sponsor a Holiday Shopping night with KidsTLC on Monday, December 1st from 4:30 to 8:30 pm.  As in the past, members and spouses of our club (along with members of the TLC Staff) will assist the Kids from TLC in shopping and wrapping gifts for others in their families.  Each will have a budget/limit of about $75, depending on how many come to shop (expecting 70 plus).
 
More details will be provided at upcoming meetings and through this Newsletter.  In the meantime, please follow this link to sign up for as many of the four 1-hour shifts that night as you can…or stay for the entire evening as so many have in the past.
 
After shopping, we will help them wrap their gifts in the break room.
 
The plan is for the kids to come in four groups at 4:30; 5:30; 6:30 and 7:30 pm to make things more manageable for TLC and, hopefully, give the Kids a better shopping experience (each group to have about 15-20 kids).  Please consider signing up for at least two of the four shifts starting at 4:30; 5:30; 6:30 and 7:30 pm.
 
Questions?  Contact Mark Parman 913.827.7143 or Bill Morton (913.706.2582)
NOVEMBER SERVICE PROJECT
The November Festival of Trees, a fundraising event held November 19–23 at the Kansas City Holiday Boutique in the Overland Park Convention Center. This event raises essential funds to help provide warmth and support during the winter holiday season to low-income families in Johnson County, Kansas. The proceeds directly support the JCCB organization and help fund the Holiday Shop in December. Additionally, as Rosann Newcomer & Nina Kimbrough will discuss at one of your upcoming September meetings, the Johnson County Christmas Bureau offers other volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
 
Here is an outline the current volunteer needs. Generally, we need volunteers to engage with shoppers, assist with bidding, and help with package pick-up during shop hours.  Most shifts are between 3 and 4 hours.  Average of 4 shifts daily with around 20 openings per shift daily.
·       Wednesday, November 19th (VIP event): 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm
·       Thursday, November 20th: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
·       Friday, November 21st: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
·       Saturday, November 22nd: 8:30 am – 7:00 pm
·       Sunday, November 23rd: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
 
All volunteers will receive a free ticket to shop at the Holiday Boutique—a fantastic opportunity to enjoy this exciting shopping event. The JCCB FOT also partners with the Johnson County Young Matrons, who provide volunteers to staff the Coat & Baggage Check, which represents additional shift needs beyond the roles listed above.  Organizing this fundraising event truly requires a community effort, and we would be very grateful for the support and assistance of the Overland Park Rotary Club.
 
Update on the Rotary Million Dollar Challenge 🌎💙
 
Posted by Marc Shaffer
Fellow Rotarians,
 
Our District 5710 Million Dollar Challenge is gaining great momentum. Rotary International is working to grow the Endowment Fund to $2.025 billion by the end of 2025, and our district has pledged to raise $1 million toward that goal. We’re getting closer every day, and your participation can help us finish strong.
 
So far, more than $820,000 in gifts, pledges, and bequests have been fully documented, with additional commitments in process that could more than double that total. Many Rotarians have discovered that they had already included Rotary in their estate plans but had not documented it with The Rotary Foundation. This campaign is helping uncover those hidden legacies.
Every club is encouraged to participate by:
  • Naming a Foundation Chair and Committee
  • Hosting two programs each year about the Rotary Foundation and Endowment
  • Asking members to consider making an endowment gift in support of this campaign
Our goal is simple but powerful: to ensure that Rotary’s work continues to change lives for generations to come. Gifts can be made through outright donations, estate plans, or other giving strategies. Every contribution helps build a lasting legacy of service and impact. If you would like to learn more about how to participate or document an existing gift, please reach out to me at marc@searcyfinancial.com. Let’s continue spreading awareness and make this campaign a success.
 
Yours in Service,
Marc Shaffer
Instrument Cleaning Day
We’re excited to invite you to Instrument Cleaning Day on Saturday, November 22nd at Meyer Music Blue Springs (1512 SW Hwy 40, Blue Springs, MO 64015).
 
Volunteer Shifts:
10:00am – 12:30pm
12:00pm – 2:30pm

Volunteers can sign up for one or both shifts here:
 
This is a fun, hands-on event where we prepare instruments donated by the community for our Band of Angels students. Highlights include:
  • Tours of the Meyer Music instrument repair shops
  • Instrument Presentation
  • Hands-on volunteer activities to get instruments ready for donation
Bring your friends — it’s a “more the merrier” event!
Happy Halloween!
Speakers
Nov 05, 2025
Startup Rewind
Nov 12, 2025 11:30 AM
Jennifer Berquist, KU Athletics
Nov 19, 2025 7:15 AM
Maria Wilson, Polio Plus
Nov 26, 2025
No Meeting
Dec 03, 2025
Holiday Social
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Holiday Shopping Night with Kids/TLC
Walmart
Dec. 01, 2025
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
 
Holiday Social
Overland Park DoubleTree
Dec. 03, 2025
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
 
View entire list
Save the date: OP Rotary Club will host a Holiday Social on Wednesday, December 3rd from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the DoubleTree Hotel. Spouses or significant other guests are welcome. Guest charge is $25.00. The Holiday Social will replace our normal breakfast meeting. 
Habitat for Humanity Service Project
The OP Rotary Team participated in the Habitat for Humanity build on Saturday. (not pictured Laurie McCormack)
FUTURE OF HOPE
 
The Future of Hope Committee will meet on Wednesday, 11/5, immediately after the club meeting to disperse this year's remaining grant funds. All club members are welcome to attend! 
Gleaning at Johnson Farms Plants and Pumpkins
17701 Holmes Rd,
Belton, MO 64012
November 8, 2025
10 am to 3 pm
 
Apples will be the main crop to harvest on the 8th. There probably will be some cabbage and winter squash that will be available too, however due to the unusually warm fall weather there doesn’t appear to be much of an abundance left of other vegetables. 
 
Appropriate clothing for the conditions of the day should be worn by each gleaner - think layers, boots, hats, gloves, and sunscreen. Closed toed shoes are required. Johnson Farms will provide palletized bins, picking baskets & some short step ladders (however, most of the picking can be done from the ground). Johnson Farms will also provide have plenty of bottled drinking water and is working on lunch details for the crew. (It probably will be chili and vegetable soup).
 
All gleaners must complete a waiver prior to attending. The waiver can be found at this link. 
 
Polio Plus is the Winner!
Thanks again to all who helped us in our efforts to raise funds for Polio Plus.  Our four individual winners, based on the scores at the end of the first three quarters and game follow:
 
1Q -    Casey McCarthy
2Q -    Sara Lissauer
3Q -    Ryan Wilkerson
Final - Stacy Schultz 
 
The BIG Winner is Polio Plus with $600 being raised to be matched with $1,200 from the Gates Foundation. Please consider giving separately to the Polio Plus fund and your dollars will also be matched 2 for 1. Help us in the eradication of Polio.
Help Us Grow Our Social Media Presence!
 
We’d love for you to share your photos, events, and updates with us! Please email them to anyone of these emails:
📧 overlandparkrotary5710@gmail.com
📧 destinywhite-dixon@bandofangels.org
📧 rotary5710exec@gmail.com
 
Also, make sure to follow us and engage with our social media to help grow our club and community presence:
📸 Instagram: @overlandparkkansasrotary
📘 Facebook:
Overland Park Rotary Club
 
Please like, comment, and share our posts — it really helps us grow!
 
If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for content you’d like to see, feel free to reach out to me anytime:
📧 Destiny White-Dixon
 
Thank you for helping make our club stronger and more connected! 💛❤️
 
Birthdays
Ed Eilert, 10/29
 
Anniversaries
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Club Anniversaries
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