Recognition Luncheon

President Lori Miller Barnes concluded her term as president in an official ceremony. Barnes passed the title of president to Bill Squires. Squires is one of several new board appointees. Congratulations to our new board members.
  • President - Bill Squires, 
  • President-elect - Patrick Harrington,
  • Past President - Lori Barnes Miller, 
  • Secretary - Bill White, 
  • Treasurer - Kelly Danielson
  • Board member - Chelsey Bode
  • Board member - Brandon Dake
  • Board member - Robin Gann
  • Board member - Lisa Odom
  • Board member - Rusty Worley
Img 6758 960x960
Img 6757 960x960
Img 6750 copy 960x960
Img 6747 960x960
Img 6740 copy 960x960
Img 6746 copy 960x960
Img 6735 960x960
Img 6734 960x960
Img 6733 960x960
Img 6725 960x960
Img 6722 960x960
Img 6718 960x960
Img 6758 960x960

Welcome New Member Abby Akin

Welcome New Member Abby Akin
Abby was introduced by Angela Smith on June 14th. Her co-sponsor was Lori Barnes Miller. Abby works at ADsmith Marketing and Advertising doing Media Analysis and Operations Management. Her focus has also been on community outreach, with experience working with many local non-profits.
She graduated from Drury University with a major in both Advertising and Public Relations.
Abby grew up in Springfield. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her husband, Trevor, and their daughter, Gwen, enjoy volunteering at local non-profit events together.

Welcome New Member Amy Blansit

Welcome New Member Amy Blansit
Amy was introduced by Linda Ramey-Greiwe on May 24th. Her co-sponsor is Lori Barnes Miller.
Amy has her PhD in Health Services and she teaches at MSU.  Amy is also the founder and president of the Drew Lewis Foundation which has partnered with MSU and Drury to lead the Northwest Project.  The SE Rotary Club helps prepare and serve meals for the participants in the Northwest Project and we have been working with Amy and her nonprofit organization for the past two years. Amy also founded Soley Jolie, a company that produces a water-free solution to keep make-up brushes clean and clear.
In her spare time, Amy likes to run and do home improvement projects.
 

Rotary Volunteers Nominations Form

Doc
The Rotary Volunteer of the Year Award is our local club’s highest honor. This year’s award will be presented at our June 21 luncheon.

The award recognizes outstanding and long-term community service that is performed outside of Rotary – that is, service other than Rotary service.

Nomination forms are available on-line at our club’s website and hard copies are available at the House Table. The form includes a listing of previous honorees, for your reference. Nominations may be made by a fellow Rotarian, a family member, or an organization that has benefited from the nominee’s service. It is also perfectly acceptable to self-nominate.

Please feel free to contact one of the Rotary Volunteer Committee members, if you have questions or need additional information.

Committee members are Barbara Lucks, Chair, Doug Nickell, Tom Slaight, Dan Emrie, Anne Soots, Tammy Mast, Cindy Howell, Austin Garrett, and Carol DeHaven. These names are also listed on the Nomination Form, for your convenience.

Nominations will be accepted until June 7, 2018.

Download "SER-2018-Rotary Volunteer of the Year Award Nomination 5-2018.doc"

Welcome new member Jon Taylor

Welcome new member Jon Taylor
David Sims introduced him on May 3. His co-sponsor is Bob Newell.

Jon is a native of Springfield. He went to Hillcrest High School, where he participated in cross country running, golf and basketball. He also met his future wife, Hilary, there. Jon then received a degree in Business Administration at Drury University.

Jon has been a security consultant at Atlas Security for nearly five years He also owns, operates and works out at Republic Warrior Sports. He trains for and trains others for Ninja Warrior Sports. He was a competitor two years ago on season 8 of the NBC television show, "American Ninja Warrior." His motto is "Security by day, Ninja by night."

Jon's hobbies include snow skiing and golf. He and Hilary have two daughters, Ashlyln, 12, and Isabella, 10.

What "Rotary" Really Means

Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast president, Lori Barnes and incoming president, Bill Squires discuss what people should know about Rotary and why it matters. 
What "Rotary" Really Means

Rock 'n Ribs 2018

Hundreds of volunteers and barbecue competitors hosted thousands of guests on April 20 - 21 to raise money for seven nonprofit organizations that serve children in the Ozarks.

This was the 19th annual Rock'n Ribs BBQ Festival. The Rotary and Rotaract clubs of Springfield plan and run the event but the nonprofit organizations that receive the funds also provide hundreds of hours of volunteer time to make it a success. Over the years, Rock 'n Ribs has raised just under $2 million for children of the Ozarks.

Click on each photo to make it bigger.

(Photos by Rick Gilmore, Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast. Many more of Rick's photos are in a gallery on the club's Facebook page.)
Dsc 041820180425 19257 gveq6y 960x960
Dsc 044120180425 19239 ixfa5x 960x960
Dsc 066020180425 25624 wtv3jx 960x960
Dsc 063920180425 19251 1ke2abw 960x960
Dsc 064720180425 25619 16cjf8a 960x960
Dsc 041620180425 19251 1llcgfk 960x960
Dsc 048720180425 25624 1t3dux9 960x960
Dsc 061820180425 25619 3qerxg 960x960
Dsc 072520180425 19239 8vn650 960x960
Dsc 044420180425 19251 tk6bw5 960x960
Dsc 069420180425 19251 9lhryk 960x960
Dsc 044720180425 25619 mn3u14 960x960
Dsc 067720180425 25624 106ahzg 960x960
Dsc 076920180425 19239 iu0w6 960x960
Dsc 045420180425 25621 1tlatc9 960x960
Dsc 046320180425 19251 1ue29h5 960x960
Dsc 045820180425 25624 tlm56j 960x960
Dsc 049220180425 25621 1lsrq05 960x960
Dsc 045320180425 25624 7eqs07 960x960
Dsc 044820180425 19239 peov9s 960x960
Dsc 043820180425 25624 voo6mv 960x960
Dsc 044620180425 25621 14bgvhb 960x960
Dsc 041320180425 19239 97tv0c 960x960
Dsc 042120180425 25621 rcld9h 960x960
Dsc 039120180425 25624 z5pa0a 960x960
Dsc 034620180425 25621 qrotts 960x960

Welcome new member Jim Wilson

Welcome new member Jim Wilson
Ken Schwab introduced him on April 12. His co-sponsor is Jon Baker.

Jim moved back to Springfield in January 2017 from Houston, Texas. He is a principal at Ingress Investments, a private investment company focused on B2B services and technology, commercial real estate and hospitality and dining. He also is an owner of a software platform for building services companies that is being marketed in China and Canada, with other locations under consideration.

Jim and two partners recently formed JJJ Development, which has a building under contract with plans to open a bar and restaurant if the transaction is completed.

Prior to founding Ingress, Jim was a business lawyer for more than 20 years. His practice focused on corporate finance and securities, with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions and public offerings. His international experience included Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, The Netherlands and the U.K.

Jim has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” as well as a “Texas Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly. He has also been listed as a leader in international mergers and acquisitions by The Legal 500.

Jim has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU) and a law degree from University of Houston. He's been on the Board of Trustees of the MSU Foundation since 2012 and on its executive committee since last year. He's also on the Executive Advisory Board of the MSU College of Business since 2010, was on the Funding Task Force for the MSU Visioning Project in 2014 - '15, is on the planning committee for the annual MSU Volunteer Leadership Conference since 2016, a member of the Founders Club since 2011, and a member of the President’s Leadership Circle since 2012.

Jim was in Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at SMSU and now is chairman of this chapter's Alumni Advisory Board and a member of the Executive Committee for its Alumni Association.

Jim has twin sons, one attending Wharton School of Business and the other attending Princeton University. Both sons have won Fencing National Championships. Jim’s wife is Ginger.

Springfield Southeast Rotary service

The Hands-On Committee planted trees and perennials, and replaced old mulch, on Friday afternoon, April 6, at Lutheran Family and Children's Services on North Glenstone Avenue. The service project was scheduled for Saturday morning but was moved up to Friday because of the forecast for snow and ice. Jennifer Baker, Carl Hutchinson and David Pomerenke definitely represented the club well!

Photos by Barbara Lucks
Rotary service b20180409 25447 1d5ipjw 960x960
Rotary service d20180409 18218 nkosj0 960x960
Rotary service c20180409 23207 iq8or 960x960
Rotary service a20180409 16578 1fopokn 960x960
Rotary service f20180409 18218 eu9szq 960x960
Rotary service e20180409 18686 4gboba 960x960
Rotary service g20180409 16578 45ba1x 960x960

Rotary Fellowship Lunches

When Paul Harris started the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905, he and three other men rotated as the host of the weekly meetings, with the others going to the host's office for lunch. To honor those meetings that gave Rotary its name, Springfield Southeast has fellowship lunches twice a year in which about six members host other club members for lunch at a site away from our regular meeting site.
 
One of those fellowship lunch days was April 5. These photos are from two of the six sites: the Creamery Arts Center in Jordan Valley Park across Sherman Avenue from Hammons Field (those are the photos in the brick room), and Homemade Delivered, 1330 E. Cherry St. Irwin Cohen, president of the Springfield Symphony board of Directors, and Ashley Walden, executive director of the Springfield Ballet, hosted members at the Creamery Arts Center. Denise LeBolt, owner of Homemade Delivered, hosted members in her commercial kitchen.
 
Photos by Dan Emrie (at Homemade Delivered) and Agnes Sawyer (at Creamery Arts Center)
Rotary lunch away c20180409 25447 cl78jx 960x960
Rotary lunch away b20180409 31466 h3u220 960x960
Rotary lunch away d20180409 18218 whz8il 960x960
Rotary lunch away a20180409 31466 slfo1q 960x960
Rotary lunch away e20180409 31466 144okbg 960x960
Rotary lunch away f20180409 18218 1qc6svx 960x960
Rotary lunch away j20180409 16578 sfq996 960x960
Rotary lunch away g20180409 23207 1ep13do 960x960
Rotary lunch away i20180409 18686 bbk9a9 960x960
Rotary lunch away h20180409 18218 74goja 960x960
Rotary lunch away m20180409 18218 1py6p3n 960x960
Rotary lunch away o20180409 16578 1p6xdq2 960x960
Rotary lunch away n20180409 23207 1i4ycgs 960x960
Rotary lunch away l20180409 18218 1lek3e8 960x960
Rotary lunch away t20180409 18218 kwaqmb 960x960
Rotary lunch away r20180409 18218 11vzrl4 960x960
Rotary lunch away q20180409 25447 1826sv1 960x960
Rotary lunch away p20180409 18686 130lr93 960x960
Rotary lunch away s20180409 16578 1gi3bfa 960x960

Springfield Rotary clubs plant trees in Jordan Valley Park

Rotary International President Ian Riseley asked the 1,230,399 Rotarians in 35,784 clubs worldwide to plant a tree by Earth Day, April 22, 2018, to raise awareness of the critical issue of worldwide deforestation.

The five Springfield Rotary clubs and Springfield Rotaract Club embraced the request. City Utilities of Springfield donated trees for the Clubs’ joint projects and the Missouri Department of Conservation made seedlings available to the 500+ local club members.

To celebrate the completion of this project, a Rotary Grove was planted in a ceremony at Jordan Valley Park on Wednesday, April 4. The public was invited to attend the celebration.

Rotary organizations include:
 
Partnering organizations include:
 
The project also included educational presentations at each club. It is anticipated that nearly 200 trees will be planted as a result of the combined efforts of the clubs and the partnering organizations.

Click on each photo to make it bigger. 

Photos are by Dan Emrie.
Rotary tree planting e20180405 16996 c4goxk 960x960
Barbara Lucks of Springfield Southeast Rotary Club helped the Rotary and Rotaract clubs of Springfield plan Rotary Grove in Jordan Valley Park, and led the kickoff ceremony.
Rotary tree planting c20180405 2092 15opd3g 960x960
Rotary tree planting a20180405 2092 hrmhkm 960x960
Rotary tree planting d20180405 2031 1992eqm 960x960
Rotary tree planting b20180405 2031 1ydvgl4 960x960
Rotary tree planting f20180405 2092 zazcap 960x960
Rotary tree planting g20180405 2034 tvarq0 960x960
Springfield Mayor Ken McClure, a member of Springfield Rotary (downtown) Club, talked to the crowd at the establishment of Rotary Grove in Jordan Valley Park.
Rotary tree planting i20180405 2034 1hwhk5n 960x960
Rotary tree planting h20180405 16996 ti8k19 960x960
Leaders of the Rotary and Rotaract clubs, plus representatives of the City of Springfield and other partner organizations, turned the first dirt for Rotary Grove in Jordan Valley Park.
Rotary tree planting j20180405 2031 1t6gcxv 960x960

Welcome new member Brett Sheets

Welcome new member Brett Sheets
Jim Towery introduced Brett on March 29.  His co-sponsor is President Lori Barnes Miller.

Brett and Jim have been business partners for 20 years as co-owners of Steelman Transportation and Group One, which they sold in July 2017 but continue to manage.  Brett is president of the two companies.

Brett grew up in trucking, as his father was an independent contractor for more than 45 years. Brett began his transportation career as a truck mechanic in 1984 and was then a dump truck driver for an asphalt company.  He then took an entry level mechanic’s job with a truck dealership in Kansas City and worked his way up to a Journeyman 1 Mechanic.  He then became a sales representative and then a sales manager in a 12-year career with that company.

Brett in 1998 became co-owner and vice-president of Steelman Transportation, overseeing sales and the Oversize Division, among other duties.

Brett has served on an advisory board for the Missouri Department of Transportation for improving State Oversize Permit Regulations.  He has also worked closely with local DOT officers and the State Highway Patrol as an advisor on key issues.  He's also been involved in the Springfield Area Motor Carriers Club, Missouri Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, and Machinery Haulers Association.

Brett joined Springfield North Rotary club in 2005 and had 11 years of perfect attendance.  He is a past president of that club.  He has also been a board member for more than 10 years and a three-year chairman of the board for Rock'n Ribs Barbecue Festival.

For 16 months in recent years, Brett let his hair grow to more than 12 inches so he could donate it to Locks of Love for wigs for cancer patients.

Brett has been married to Lorri for 27 years.  They live in Pleasant Hope with two Boston terriers.  Brett is an instrument rated pilot who enjoys flying and taking trips in his RV.


 

Welcome new member Josh Hartman

Welcome new member Josh Hartman
David Pomerenke introduced Josh on March 1.  His co-sponsor is Bob Hammerschmidt.

Josh moved to Springfield from Chicago in 1979.  He attended Immaculate Conception Elementary and graduated from Springfield Catholic High School in 1981.

Josh attended University of Notre Dame, where he earned a BA in Communications and Philosophy.  He then attended the American Conservatory Theater’s Master of Fine Arts program, where he learned with multiple artists who have gone on to win Tony, Emmy and Oscar awards.

Josh worked at Merrill Lynch’s Office of General Counsel as a document editor and at Andersen Consulting as a change management consultant.   He then worked at Springfield Remanufacturing as he worked on his MBA; he says he learned open book management and how to use an impact wrench at SRC.  Josh has been in wealth management since 2007 and now works at Commerce Trust.

Josh has volunteered for several local organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks, Notre Dame Club of the Ozarks, Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and Springfield’s Police and Fire Retirement System board.  Josh was selected for Leadership Springfield Class 21 and SBJ’s 40 under 40.  He also volunteers time at his church and children’s schools.

Josh is married to Dawna (Baker) Hartman, a former MSU golfer and a former head coach for women’s golf at Drury University.  They have two children, Kate, 6, and Charlie, 4.