Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 Top Stories Speaker: Adam Winkler, professor of Constitutional law, University of California at Los Angeles, “Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms” In Remembrance of John Trantham Verden Forms Subcommittee to Help Salvation Army Your Nominees for Rotary Leadereship 2011-2012 Snow is Golf Champ
Committee Meetings Foundation—Burgundy Room, Oct. 27, 11 a.m. Membership C&Q—Lester Young B, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. New Member Orientation—Jay McShann A, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. New Member Involvement—Jay McShann B, Nov. 3, 11 a.m. Community Service—Table in meeting room, Nov. 3, 11 a.m.
Greeters The Board of Directors will serve as our greeters this week Invocator Kara Bennett
Welcomer David King
Upcoming Speakers and Events Nov. 3: Speaker—Robert Morgan, author, “Lions of the West: Heroes and Villains of the Westward Expansion” Nov. 5: Rotary Foundation Dinner with Past Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith, 5 p.m. @ KC Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Dr. KCMO 64129 Nov. 17: Speaker—Bob Hatch, chairman, FINCA International and Chairman/CEO, Cereal Ingredients, “Village Banking: Serving the World’s Low Income Entrepreneurs” Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 “Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms” Adam Winkler, professor of Constitutional law, University of California at Los Angeles Adam Winkler is a specialist in American constitutional law. His work has been cited and quoted in landmark Supreme Court cases, including opinions dealing with the Second Amendment and with corporate political speech rights. His book for W.W. Norton titled “Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America,” is slated for publication in 2011. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Adam went to the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University intending to join the CIA. But after graduating in 1990 he decided instead to go to law school. He earned a law degree from New York University in 1993 and moved back to Los Angeles to practice law. In Adam’s first case out of law school, he assisted in the representation of the late Michael Jackson in a highly publicized child-molestation case. Adam was also part of the defense team that initially represented O.J. Simpson in the football player’s infamous murder trial.
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Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 In Remembrance of John Trantham From the Kansas City Star:
John W. Trantham, 81, of Prairie Village, KS, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. Services were held at noon Friday, Oct. 21, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. John was born on July 18, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Frank M. Trantham and Erma (Nadler) Trantham. He grew up in Kansas City and graduated from Central High School and the University of Kansas with a degree in Political Science. Upon graduation from college, he was recruited by the CIA. In 1957, he returned from a tour in Germany, resigning from the agency to pursue a career in mortgage banking. He worked for the Travelers Insurance Company as a field loan representative and appraiser. In 1962 he joined First Mortgage Investment Company as vice president and staff appraiser. In 1981 he became president, having served as executive vice president and director for the previous 15 years. In 1982, he bought the company from United Central Bancshares and subsequently merged the company into Mager Mortgage Company of Oklahoma. In 1988 he established Residential Mortgage Corporation, a mortgage banking company originating residential loans in the greater Kansas City area. He was a founder and a past president of the Kansas City Mortgage Bankers Association, which awarded him with a lifetime achievement award in. He was a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America and a real estate broker in Kansas and Missouri for over 40 years. He was also a veteran, having served in the USAF and having reached the rank of Captain. He was active in many civic and service organizations in Kansas City, including the Downtown Rotary Club 13, American Royal Board of Governors, Honorary Directors of Rockhurst University, and Development Board member of Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries. He was a member of The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah, its Brotherhood, and the R.O.M.E.O's. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a descendant of Edward Doty, a passenger on the Mayflower. He had some Native American ancestors and was proud of his Cherokee heritage. He was predeceased by his wife Rita Trantham, sister Edna Ness, and son Tim Trantham. He is survived by his son Daniel Trantham, of Chicago, IL, brother Frank Trantham of Kansas City, MO, step sons Craig, Jeff, and Jack Glazer; step grandsons Jake and Alex Glazer; nieces Karen Brigham and Johanna Harman; and nephews Marc and Eric Trantham. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations made in John's memory to The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah, Hospice, or to a charity of your choice . Online condolences may be shared at the Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211 www.louismemorialchapel.com.
Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 Bowling News Dick Retrum
Avid bowlers John & Dee Reynolds left for a trip to Portugal and Spain that will include a river cruise. Isn’t it amazing the sacrifices some people make to miss two weeks of bowling? A post card would be nice. Our high games: A rare occurrence for Bob Weir (well, for anyone) who rolled 205 & 209 (589 series), Kay Roscoe had a clean 203 (no open frames), and Wesley Gill pulled out a 201 in his third game with a turkey in the tenth. Congratulations. The drinks are on Bob. Heard on the lanes today: Rick Crouch said, “It isn’t necessary to see a good strike, you can hear it.” Ted Middendorf said, “If winning isn’t everything, why do we keep score?” Kent Verden said, “When it comes to bowling, I don’t believe in miracles. I rely on them.” Correction: Bill Buckner is not injured as mentioned in last week’s column. He is playing tennis at the same time we bowl on Wednesday. So technically he can still join his team sometime down the road.
Subcommittee Formed to Deliver Bagels to Salvation Army Kent Verden I began working with the Einstein Brothers Bagel company in Kansas City and Prairie Village as a means to “give back,” as my Father-in-law Jim H. Shultz would say. To date there have been over 29,000 Bagels and over 1200 lbs. of cream cheese delivered to the Kansas City Salvation Army. For the past 10 months, I’ve had the assistance of the Rotary Club 13 Community Service Committee. Now, with Marc Horner's direction, I was able to form a sub-committee and make this a regular Club 13 service project. Tyros, this is a fun way to earn Tyro Points for 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon. Last Saturday, Clarence Draper, director of kitchen operations for the Salvation Army ARC said, “These bagels are so wonderful, I know they’ll all be gone by tomorrow morning.” I guess you could call this the Jim H. Shultz Memorial Bagel Run. In April 2007, a member of my family was incarcerated for his second DWI and looked like he might have to spend time in jail. I asked Jim for help, and he immediately called Colonel Dalberg of the Salvation Army to have my family member released from jail and placed in the wonderful Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center program for Alcohol and Drug Dependency. That family member today has not taken an alcoholic drink in 4 1/2 years.
Rotarians Chris Boland and Dick Retrum with staff to help deliver bagels
Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 Last Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 Pete Burgess Last Thursday was the first fall day that temperatures dipped below freezing. The day warmed nicely, and the sky was cloudless as we returned to the Muehlebach’s Trianon Room where October-born Rotarians stood to greet us. President Marc Horner opened the meeting and thanked the birthday greeters. Marc invited Alan Corbet up to salute October birthday members with a chorus of “Happy Birthday.” Alan then led the singing of “God Bless America” accompanied by Concert Carl Bolte on piano. John Jespersen delivered the invocation, and Jan Armstrong welcomed six visitors and one visiting Rotarian from the Denver club. President Marc gave the sad news that John Trantham passed away at St. Joseph Hospital Oct. 15 after a battle with cancer. His funeral and burial was Friday, Oct. 21 at Rose Hill Cemetery. Several members are in Recovery Bay. John Platt goes into St Luke’s South on Tuesday for knee replacement surgery. Ken Beardsley had a stroke after surgery and is at Claridge Court in Prairie Village. Bob Eltonhead is mending after open heart surgery at KU Med Center, and Janet Ellis had out -patient surgery to help speed up the healing process for her birthday celebration Oct. 23. Bob Hagans came up to present the new golf trophy to Mark Snow. Tom Davis took the podium to announce the Nov. 5 Rotary Foundation Dinner is at Arrowhead Stadium. Kent Verden is interested in help for his weekly 2-hour Saturday project that delivers bagels to the Salvation Army. Tony Andresen launched the annual holiday’s bell ringing sign-up to help fund the Salvation Army. Be tough, all the spots are outside this year.
Congressman Kevin Yoder addresses the Kansas City Rotary Club
Jerry Clark introduced our speaker, Congressman Kevin Yoder from the 3rd Congressional District in Kansas that includes Johnson County, Wyandotte County and part of Douglas County. After a 19 percent margin of victory in 2010, he is in his freshman term in the 112th Congress. He gave a “Congressional Update” that decried the dysfunction in Congress and cited 10 topics needing long term solutions. These topics ranged from control of government spending to the necessity of a balanced budget amendment needed to avert national bankruptcy. In between the bookends were the need to prioritize national commitments and the need to reform regulations, stop unfunded mandates, reform banking, define a domestic energy policy, reform immigration, and set trade agreements. Several questions flew back from the floor about Yoder’s take on the Department of Education; term limits; the borrow-and-spend culture; health care costs; and finally who he likes for president. The capstone and big applause line came when he emphasized that he is tired of the “blame game.”
Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 Reflections on Leadership Bob Lager Well, here we are again. Club 13 is at the doorstep of its annual ritual: election of officers. In my experiences as a member of the Boy Scouts; a college fraternity; the Jaycees; PTA; choral organizations; churches; Masonic organizations; 22 years in Rotary; and as a human resource professional, I continue to find it interesting and amusing to watch people who are in, or aspire to, leadership. First, there are the natural leaders. They go quietly about the business of the group, have good ideas, cooperate with the leadership and rise through the ranks to the top, because members know and appreciate who and what they are. Then, there are those who hurl themselves into activities and work hard. They don't appear to have any ambitions but for the success of the organization. That is also recognized by the members who see elevation to leadership as a reward for hard work. Finally, there are the wannabes who gain position by pushing and shoving, stepping on toes, back-biting and back-stabbing while smiling all the way. They couldn't lead a thirsty horse to water. The organization would not be better for it. My advice to the members of any organization is to know who you are asked to vote for and their ability to contribute to the overall good.
Your Nominees for Rotary Leadership 2011-2012 President-elect: Ron Trachsel
Dick Retrum
Treasurer: Marla Svoboda
Evie Craig
Board of Directors: Tom Davis
Duane Benton
Mark Snow
Bill Moran
Dick Harmes
Steve Sopinski
Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 Snow is Golf Champ Bob Weir As is typical for Club 13’s Annual Golf Tournament, we almost went into “spring”er but managed to determine the 2011 champion before the “snow flies,” or maybe I should say “snow did fly,” as Mark Snow defeated Ryan Springer at Falcon Ridge last week. It was an exciting match as you might expect from our club’s two best golfers. Ryan came from 3 down to within 1 only to see Mark win the next 3 holes. The 6-packs helped, or hindered. On a Par 3, Mark just got on the green out of sand trap and was faced with a 20-foot putt to tie Ryan’s gimmie; he did it to close out the match and claim this year’s championship. Special thanks to Bob Hagans, last year’s champion, who presented the new golf trophy to Mark at our lunch last Thursday. The old one was covered with the names of past winners, so Bob will donate it to the Club so future champions will have a beautiful bragging exhibit to display during their triumphant year. Mark Snow is the first name, the rest of us know there is always next year.
Mark Snow, Club 13 Golf Champion 2011
Seton Center Needs Leftover Halloween Candy for Christmas Julie Cogley Seton Center is planning to put small bags of candy in its Christmas Sharing food boxes for the first time this year. We distribute food, clothing, blankets, coats, and a gift for each child to approximately 600 families each year. It occurred to me that if we can gather candy leftovers, we might begin to build candy inventory for the Christmas distribution. If you could, please save leftover Halloween candy for Seton Center’s Christmas Sharing. Contact me at 816-581-4722 or email jcogley@setonkc.org
Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42
Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw This Week’s Meeting—Muehlebach Hotel, Noon, Royal Hall, Oct. 27, 2011 Literacy Trip to Honduras Sally Bibb For the past several years, Rotarians have joined together with Friends United on literacy mission trips to Honduras. Friends United is a not-for -profit organization that supports teachers in developing countries by providing teacher resource centers and educational seminars. Club 13 Rotarians Jan Armstrong, Sally Bibb and John Miller have traveled on past trips with Friends United. Friends United is sponsoring a working tour to Honduras from Jan. 25 to Feb. 5, 2012. The group will visit several resource centers and participate in formal delivery of materials to three model schools and five kindergartens. They will also meet and plan with Rotarians in Tela for the next resource center. A trip to Copan Ruínas to visit the famous Mayan ruins is included. A $200 deposit is due Nov. 1, 2011 with the balance due Dec 1, 2011. The estimated cost is $1,700 unless there are special needs such as a private room. The cost includes air fare from Kansas City, ground transportation, hotels and some meals with the final cost to be determined after the Nov. 1 deadline.
Honduran children at a Rotary literacy mission
Buzz Saw Office Hours Monday—Thursday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Friday—Sunday: Closed For comments, questions or suggestions, please contact Stephen G. Nichols, interim managing editor of the Buzz Saw, 913.486.4177, buzzsaw@rotary13.org
Rotary Club 13 Office - 1219 Wyandotte - Kansas City, MO 64105 - 816-842-2322 www.rotary13.org VOL. XCV / No. 42