District 6080

The Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast Endowment Board held an appreciation event on Oct. 16, 2023, for the 52 members who donated to the Give Greater Campaign.  The board was working toward its goal of $500,000 in donations, of which the capital would remain intact and profits would benefit those in need.

The event was called Thanks A Half Million and was at The Vineyard Market. Complementary wine and beer were served with Napa Charcuterie courtesy of The Vineyard Market.

Dinner consisted of filet mignon, mushroom cream linguine, served with garlic cream hasselback potatoes, and balsamic roasted Brussel sprouts. Kentucky bourbon bread pudding with buffalo trace caramel drizzle was served for dessert.

The chairman of the the Endowment Board, Past President Steve Rice, served as the master of ceremonies.  Brandon Welch was the main chef providing us with an incredible dinner!  Prizes were also drawn for a bourbon and cigar basket, bottle of wine and a Cayman wine tasting.

Rick Van Pelt handed out special Rotary pins to the assembled that have "SE ENDOWMENT" inscribed on them. Rick was the originator of the endowment during his year as club president. Bill McNeill's efforts as chairman of the annual Golf'toberfest event were also recognized. Bill reported the tournament netted us about $22,000 for the endowment in 2023.

Special recognition was given to all of the Endowment Board for their hard work and continuing efforts to reach the $500,000 goal.  They are: Steve Rice, Chair; Barbara Lucks, Treasurer; Lisa Blumenstock, Jason Brown, David Compere, Brent Dunn, Greg Horton, Bill McNeill, Rick Van Pelt (Emeritus), Mark Walker, Brandon Welch and Luke Westerman.

(Photos and text by Dan Emrie)
 

The Southeast Rotary Club Shrimp Feed Crew was busy on July 12, 2023, preparing extra large shrimp for the annual John Simpson Memorial Shrimp Feed the next day.  The event, which serves as the annual Assembly for gathering programming and operational ideas, has been held every year since 1974 except for 2020 during the pandemic.  The club members are treated with shrimp, salad and toast, after which a 'Fireside Chat" is held.  The event was held at Past President Patrick Harrington's home once again.

Shrimp Cook Crew consists of: Gary Leonard, Rex Johnson, Harry Price, Bill White, Rick Gilmore and Dan Emrie. (photos by Dan Emrie)

June 20, 2023 at the Peace Pole installation near the Peace Through People Pavilion at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park on South Scenic Avenue:

May peace prevail on Earth.  Across the five Peace Poles in Springfield, 30 languages will be represented.   Poles currently are at K Park, Miracle Field, and near the Springfield Botanical Gardens.  Dickerson Park Zoo and Sequiota Park are the future locations in process.  These are projects of all the Rotary clubs and Springfield Rotaract Club.

-- Posted by Lori Johnson Murawski

A couple of times each year, our club participates in blood drives at critical times for Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.  Here are photos from the drive in June 2023.  Donors got tasty treats, Springfield Cardinals shirts, and free tickets to a game!  Oh -- they each also helped 3 medical patients.  Not bad for an hour.

Twice each year, the club holds Fellowship Lunches away from our regular meeting spot at work places of several of our members.  Members choose which location they want to attend and learn more about that business or nonprofit group.  On June 8, 2023, the lunches were at Gold Mechanical, Missouri Association of Manufacturing, Whitaker Publishing (417 Magazine), and Chicken Salad Chick.   Here are some of the photos from those lunches.

Our club gives recognition annually to our Police, Fire and Sheriff officers who have made extraordinary contributions to the citizens of Springfield and Greene County. This year's recipients, honored at our meeting on June 1, 2023, are:
●From The Springfield Police Department - Detective Kirk Broberg for his work reducing area auto thefts
●From Greene County Sheriff's Dept. - Detective Joey Fletcher for his critical role in finding and arresting predators of children and of child abuse

Our club celebrated becoming a 100% PHF Club with a reception at Highland Springs Country Club on June 1, 2023.

The Fellowship Committee organized an informal get-together at Architect Coffee Company on May 23, 2023.

The Fellowship Committee hosted a joint laughs and lager event with the Springfield Rotaract Club at Billiards of Springfield on May 10, 2023.

Our club prepared and hosted a shrimp feed for the District 6080 Conference on May 3, 2023.

Continuing a long tradition, the Hands-On Service Committee recruited members to serve and cleanup a free community dinner at The Fairbanks on the third Thursday of every month.  These photos are from April 20, 2023.

Our meeting on April 6, 2023, was off-site at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. Christy Wilder, with the Watershed Natives educational greenhouse project, gave a talk about the project and student participation from nearby Hillcrest H.S.  We got to interact with the students involved to see the benefits of our District Grant in action firsthand.  After the discussion and meeting we toured their greenhouse and, as an added treat, visited the Budweiser Clydesdales.