All the Rotary Clubs of Springfield were honored on Friday, June 10, 2022, at the Springfield - Greene County Park Board meeting for their numerous contributions to the community through the Park Board over the years. The Board acknowledged the clubs’ contributions to Jordan Valley Park through projects such as K-man, the shades, the rock climbing structure, the wagon, and peace pole.
Rotary sponsored projects at Miracle Field were also highlighted, as well as scholarships provided to kids for parks activities through Rotary donations. Chairman of the Board Sidney Needem and Director Bob Belote recognized all clubs with plaque presentations. You can watch the recognition of the clubs through this link: https://cityview.springfieldmo.gov/.../boards.../park-board.
(Photo and text provided by Lisa Blumenstock.)
Fellowship Picnic at Jordan Valley Park
A group of Rotarians enjoyed a cook-out/potluck picnic and games at Jordan Valley Park.
Golf'toberfest 2022
Annual golf tournament fundraiser.
New Member Orientation
Experienced Springfield Southeast Rotary Club members met with new members on Sept. 27, 2022, at Pitch Pizza and Pub to provide an overview on club operations and programs. (Photos provided by Lori Johnson Murawski)
Shrimp feed 2022
Our annual club assembly, at which we do some planning and get some feedback on club operations, was July 14 at the home of Past President Pat Harrington. Before the serious stuff happened, club members enjoyed a meal of boiled shrimp, salad, and buttered toast. New members from the past year helped with the preparations, under the guidance of some of our experienced chefs. (Photos by Dan Emrie)
2022 - '23 Officers
President - Lori Johnson Murawski President-elect - Michael Wehrenberg Past President - Lisa Blumenstock Secretary - Steve Brooks (first year of two-year term) Treasurer - Greg Beck (second year of two-year term) Directors - Meredith Bosso (Club Service Avenue), Jason Hynson (International Service Avenue), Candice Reed (Vocational Service Avenue), Margo Spilde (Community Service Avenue), Ashley Walden (New Generations Avenue) Sergeant-at-arms: David Compere
Photo: Back row, left to right: Brooks, Blumenstock, Beck, Murawski, Hynson, Walden, Wehrenberg; front row, left to right: Spilde, Reed, Bosso
Annual Celebration and Installation banquet
Springfield Southeast Rotary on June 30, 2022, celebrated its 2021-22 program year and installed new officers for 2022-23.
District 6080 Governor John Horton, a past president of our club, also took his oath of office for the coming year. Past district governors were on hand to pass the torch to John and to offer their support.
Club President Lisa Blumenstock highlighted the Club's accomplishments and contributions this past year. She thanked Sergeant-at-Arms Brent Dunn for enlivening the meetings and thanked her husband, Dan, for his support during her term.
Lori Johnson Murawski is our new club president for 2022-23. Her father is Rex Johnson, a longtime member and club president in 1984-85. Lori is our first second-generation president. Rex shared some stories and funny moments about Lori before she was installed.
Past club presidents, starting with Founding President Sam Hamra, passed the ceremonial gavel to Lori.
(Photos by Dan Emrie)
Lori, Lisa and John
Lori and Rex
Lori and husband, Randy
2021-'22 Gov. Joan Kramer
John accepts a symbol of his office
Lisa celebrates the past year
Lori and Rex share a special moment
Sam starts the gavel-passing.
Club honors two outstanding volunteers
Springfield Southeast Rotary Club honored our Volunteer of the Year and gave a Lend A Hand Award on June 23, 2022.
The Volunteer of the Year award is our club's highest honor and is given for exceptional volunteerism that a Rotarian provides to organizations outside our club projects. This year's award went to Judy Bilyeu for her many contributions of time, talent and treasures. The award was presented by Cindy Howell and Barbara Lucks, who are members of the Volunteer Committee chaired by Tammy Mast, with additional members Dan Emrie, Doug Nickell, Anne Soots, and Carol DeHaven.
Judy has shown a particular passion and commitment for helping those among the most vulnerable in our community who seek the most basic of services. This commitment is evidenced by her long-term leadership roles as a board member and as president of The Kitchen Foundation Board and of the Children’s Foundation of Mid-America’s Regional Girls Shelter, both in Springfield. Through her service to these and other organizations, our community and those served by these organizations have received the benefits of these much-needed services.
The Lend A Hand Award is given periodically to a club member who gives extraordinary time and energy to Springfield Southeast Rotary's projects, operations and/or commitments to serving the community and world. This award went to Jeff Cumley for his above-and-beyond help with Miracle Field and K-Park projects. Lori Barnes Miller presented Jeff with the award.
The Volunteer of the Year Award has been presented since 1999. Previous recipients are:
2021 Mark Walker
2020 No Award
2019 Mark McNay
2018 Charlie O’Reilly
2017 Angela Smith
2016 Irwin Cohen
2015 Doug Nickell
2014 Steve Rice
2013 Gordon Elliott
2012 Kirk Elmquist
2011 Dennis Whaley
2010 Gerry Lee
2009 Rick Hughlett
2008 Gary Deaver
2007 Bob Hammerschmidt
2006 Doug Pitt
2005 Anne Brown
2004 Todd Parnell
2003 Joy Lamberson Klock
2002 Steve Scott
2001 Barbara Lucks
2000 Mac McCartney
1999 Bill Reser
(Photos by Dan Emrie)
Past President Barbara Lucks, 2022 Volunteer of the Year Judy Bilyeu and VOTY Committee member Cindy Howell
Past President Lori Barnes Miller, President Lisa Blumenstock and Lend A Hand Award winner Jeff Cumley
Float trip
The club's annual float trip was on June 17, 2022, on the Niangua River. (Photos supplied by David Hamm)