Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast

Giveaway Day 2026

The Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast presented checks totaling $35,000 to eight local non-profit organizations on May 21, 2026. The Springfield Southeast Endowment, now grown to $800,000, made it possible to support nonprofits serving children, foster families, and those in recovery.

“This isn’t just a ceremony — it’s a celebration of impact,” said Dr. Steve Rice, chair of the Endowment Board. “These grants are such a blessing for the recipient nonprofits, and every dollar goes to truly changing lives in a positive way, right here in the Ozarks.”

Grant recipients this year include:

$5,000 to The Kitchen – Housing placement costs, including transportation, for homeless youth
$5,000 to CASA – Replace worn basketball goal; install gates & lights at CASA Clubhouse playground
$5,000 to Child Advocacy Center – Curriculum & student materials for school-based prevention education
$5,000 to Discovery Center – Purchase dinosaur sculptures, filled with concrete, for permanent protective barriers
$5,000 to ARC of the Ozarks – Purchase platform to support therapy goals related to strength & balance
$4,400 to Shady Dell Early Childhood – Provide STEM opportunities & activities in the outdoor classroom
$3,600 to Cross Trail Outfitters – Purchase ADA accessible outdoor blind for use by individuals with disabilities
$2,000 to Women’s Medical Respite - Purchase of chair lift for use by convalescing homeless women at a shelter in Springfield

Launched in 2016, spearheaded by then- President, Rick Van Pelt, with the goal of providing perpetual funding to combat poverty, hunger, abuse, and inequality in our region, the Springfield Southeast Rotary Endowment annual grant cycle now serves as both a giving tradition and a reminder of Rotary’s commitment to building a stronger, safer Springfield.

Members and recipients filled the room with cheers and the percussive rattle of "clappers" as representatives for each nonprofit came forward for its check. A bonus $500 went to whichever recipient brought the most creative celebration to the moment—judged by President Jennifer Baker, Past President Brent Dunn, and Jim Towery.

Presenting the checks were Past Presidents Lisa Blumenstock, Dr. Steve Rice, and Rick Van Pelt. Luke Westerman kept the program moving as Master of Ceremonies, while Jason Hynson brought his signature energy as "Court Jester"—nobody rallies a room quite like Jason. Brent Dunn closed out the evening with a look ahead at where this milestone could take us.

The participants in the program, including the grant recipients, gathered for a photograph afterwards. [Photo and text by Dan Emrie]

Welcome new member Shane Cowger

Rusty Worley introduced Shane on May 7. His cosponsor is Jennifer Baker.

Shane has been president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank’s Springfield region since December 2025. He’s been with Arvest for 27 years, beginning in Joplin before moving to Miami, Okla., then Siloam Springs, Ark., and then Springfield in July 2011.

Shane graduated from Missouri Southern State with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He was a member of Joplin Sunrise Rotary Club from 2000 – 2003. He serves on the boards of the Barnabas Foundation, United Way Ozarks Region, and Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement (LORE), which is a nonprofit organization that brings together business and civic leaders to address critical challenges across Southwest Missouri, focusing on workforce attraction, community quality of life, and regional identity.

Shane and his wife, Toni, live in Battlefield and will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this November. She is a community nurse for the Springfield - Greene County Health Department. They have four children: Kori (married to Josh McCutcheon), Maggie, Davis, and Josie. Kori and Maggie are both teachers at Bingham Elementary, Josh teaches at Kickapoo High, Davis finished his freshman year at Missouri State University in May, and Josie is a sophomore at Kickapoo.

Shane is an avid golfer and a member of Hickory Hills Country Club. He has also been a soccer referee for 12 years, officiating at both the high school and collegiate levels.

Welcome new member Sam Blaine

Luke Westerman introduced Sam on April 23. His cosponsor is David Compere.

Sam has been the general manager for the Springfield office of Atronic Alarms, a company based in Lenexa, Kan., since March 2026. He previously worked for Security Equipment, Inc., in Kansas City for three-and-a-half years and for Atlas Security Service for 23 years, starting as a technician, then sales, and then sales manager.

Sam was born in Springfield, graduated from Hillcrest High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Drury University.

Sam’s community service includes working with children in Kidstreet at High Street Baptist Church, and volunteering with One Sole Purpose, which provides shoes for children, Convoy of Hope, and the Child Advocacy Center. He is a previous member of Springfield Southeast Rotary Club and has belonged to two other clubs in different cities.

Sam and his wife, Natalie, have been married since 1999 and live in east Springfield. They have four children:
Drew and his wife, Cori; Pete, and his wife, Ashley; Emily; and Lewis, and a grandson, Scottie, born in late 2025. He loves to hang out with friends and family, being outdoors hiking and exploring, playing soccer, Chiefs football, watching movies and various shows.

Welcome new member Nikki Rorabaugh

Lauren Southern introduced Nikki on April 23. Her cosponsor is Carrie Henry.

Nikki is the Membership Development manager for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, where she’s worked for nearly five years. She’s in charge of membership recruitment and retention. She’s also worked as a travel planner for Magical Vacations, director of development at Central Christian School in St. Louis, associate director of development at Washington University in St. Louis, membership director for the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce in Montana, and as a training consultant and instructor for Dale Carnegie Training in Bozeman and St. Louis.

Nikki has lived in Springfield for 20 years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences at Central Methodist College in Fayette.

Nikki’s community service includes church mission work and serving as a worship leader at Northside Christian Church. She’s also volunteered with Special Olympics, her neighborhood social committee, and the Ozarks Lyric Opera Board of Directors.

Nikki also recently appeared in a local production of The Sound of Music. She enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking, and takes advantage of any opportunity to go cross-country skiing when there’s enough snow. Nikki and her husband, Jared, have two children, Maya and Bryce.

Dr. Doug McNeal is 2026 Volunteer of the Year

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Our 2026 Volunteer of the Year, Dr. Doug McNeal, has given freely of his time, talents, and treasure. He’s a stellar community leader and has been engaged in volunteerism for many years.

Doug dedicated his life to pediatric medicine, both as a doctor and as a volunteer. He’s been unwavering in his passion to help children with special care needs. He is currently a developmental physician with the Autism Evaluation Clinic at Burrell Behavioral Health.

Doug has helped children for decades. Here are some examples:

Springfield Public Schools volunteer, giving two half days a week at Delaware Elementary where students with disabilities attend. This is a complex care classroom where every child has a feeding tube, trach, wheelchair or is non-verbal.
Medical Volunteer at the Paralympics
Volunteered for Cerebral Palsy Athletes
Volunteer for the National Disability Sports Festival
Conducted Medical Missions
Volunteered for the Senior Age Agency
Volunteered through the “Give Five” program
Advocacy for Children with Complex Medical Needs
Volunteers for CASA
Mayor’s Commission on Children
Executive Committee for Advocacy, part of the Missouri Alliance for Home Care
Served on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Children with Disabilities

Doug’s pattern for helping those in need is clear. His medical expertise walks hand-in-hand with his servant's heart. And, as a military veteran, we also recognize his service as a doctor during the war in Indochina.

“Extracting details about his volunteer work was not easy,” wrote Dan Emrie in his nomination. “Like many in our club, (he is) uncomfortable talking about his volunteer service. They simply arrive where help is needed, do the work, and disappear before gratitude can find them.”

The Springfield Southeast Rotary Club Volunteer of the Year Award has been presented nearly annually since 1999. It’s our club’s highest honor, recognizing community service rendered outside Rotary activities. Nominations are submitted by club members and others, with final selection being made by the Rotary Volunteer Committee. This year’s committee members include: Co-Chairs Cindy Howell and Barbara Lucks, Tammy Mast, Dan Emrie, and Brian McDonough.
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This citation was adapted from Brian McDonough's presentation at the club meeting on April 16, 2026. The photo of Doug and his wife, Susan, was taken by 417 Magazine at the Springfield Symphony's 2024 Gala.

Welcome new member Jessica Kolde

Ron Bogart introduced Jessica on March 12. Her cosponsor is Logan Aguirre.

Jessica has worked remotely for an Atlanta-based company, CRH, since 2022 in its Americas Building Products organization. She now serves as vice president of Supply Chain for the fence, deck, and rail division. If you’d like to talk about tariffs or trucking, Jessica’s your person.

Jessica grew up in Kansas and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering at Kansas State University. She then worked for Nestlé for 11 years, during which she lived in St. Joseph, Mo., Atlanta, Iowa twice, and St. Louis. After Nestlé, Jessica joined a startup food company in Mankato, Minn.

When Jessica was offered a position near Springfield, she declined as she and her family were trying to get out of the Midwest and explore a bit, though they did like the idea of being closer to family. When the opportunity came around again eight years ago, they gave Springfield a chance and quickly fell in love with the community. Jessica became active in the community through the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and The eFactory. In 2020, she earned a Master of Business Administration from University of Arkansas.

Jessica and her husband, Chad, have two daughters, ages 12 and 14, who attend Central High School, one in the International Baccalaureate program and the other in Scholars. The family stays busy with Scouts BSA, where Jessica is a leader, and martial arts, in which Jessica earned a black belt to keep up with her daughters. The family attends Christ Episcopal Church.

The family enjoys spending time at Table Rock Lake, hiking and camping in the Ozarks, snow skiing, and watching Kansas State football, including several losing-effort bowl games and a game in Ireland in the summer of 2025. She says she loves to play golf despite being terrible at it. She claims to make the best margarita you’ve ever had, and says she can assemble a charcuterie board at a moment’s notice.

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Welcome new member James Bureman

Dan Emrie introduced Jim on March 6. His cosponsor is Steve Rice.

Jim retired from his optometry practice in 2016 but volunteers at the Veterans Administration clinic in Springfield. He established Missouri Eye Institute, a joint practice with other optometrists & ophthalmologists at which he was the managing partner, in 1988. Dr. Bureman was honored as Missouri Optometrist of the year and an American Top Optometrist by the Consumer Research Council. He also served as chairman of the Missouri State Board of Optometry.

Jim is originally from the North County area of St. Louis, where he was the Senior Class president of Hazelwood High School. He attended Central Methodist University in Fayette on scholastic and football scholarships and earned a degree in Biology. He then studied at Illinois College of Optometry on an Army Health Scholarship. He entered the Army Medical Service Corps in 1980 as a captain. He served three years in Germany and one year at Ft. Riley, Kan., receiving two Army Commendation Medals. Jim completed his military service in the Missouri Army National Guard as a lieutenant colonel in 2000.

Jim met his future wife, Sherry, at Ft. Riley and they moved to Springfield in 1985 to begin his optometry practice. They have two adult children: Chase is a Marine pilot flying the Osprey Tilt Rotor Aircraft and Kirsten is a Rotarian in the San Francisco Bay area and was the president of the first Springfield Interact Club. Jim was a former member of Springfield Southeast Rotary and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

District 6080

Springfield, Missouri