Shrimp Feed 2025

This year's Springfield Southeast Rotary Club "John Simpson Shrimp Feed and Fireside Chat" was July 10. Many thanks go out to Rex Johnson and Gary Leonard's cook crews; Cindy Howell's toast and salad crew; and all the Southeast "newbies" who set up, served and cleaned up. A special thank-you also goes to Patrick and Kim Harrington for once again graciously offering their home for our decades-old tradition.

[Photos and text by Dan Emrie] [Click on a photo to enlarge it.]

Springfield Citywide Rotary Clubs annual meeting

April 30, 2025 - The five Springfield Rotary clubs: (Springfield Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast; Sunrise Rotary Club; Springfield Metro Rotary Club, and Springfield North Rotary Club), plus the Springfield Rotaract Club, met at the DoubleTree by Hilton for their annual luncheon highlighted by guest speaker, Jack Stack. (Photos by Dan Emrie) [Click on a photo to enlarge it.]

Hands-on Service: Whitewashing Victory Mission

Several Springfield Southeast Rotarians spent time on Tuesday, March 25, on a Hands-on Service Project. They painted a Victory Mission building and had a good time while they were at it.

Victory Mission serves people trying to leave behind poverty. The painting project will impact clients seeking clothing and church services, as well as others from the Commercial Street District. This is Victory Mission’s main building for operations, women's ministry, and outreach events at 1715 Boonville Ave.

The group painted over a green room to match the white walls another group helped paint last year. Rotarians who painted are Joe Piatchek , Greg Horton, Richard Baker, Jim Robinette, and Jason Hynson, Victory Mission’s director, along with Richard's wife, Sara, and their son, Micah.

(Photos by Jason Hynson) [Click on a photo to enlarge it.]

New Member Orientation

The Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast held a new member orientation meeting at The Pitch pizza restaurant on East Sunshine Street on March 25.

Past President Bill Squires began the evening with a question and answer quiz in which correct answers won fabulous prizes. President David Compere followed up with an overview of club functions, the importance of lanes and committees, plus important dates to mark on calendars.

President-elect Jennifer Baker discussed the many committees that are under her lane. Andrea Bishop spoke about her International Service lane and Elizabeth Brooks did likewise with her New Generations lane.

Following the presentations, a question and answer session completed the orientation and the attendees had pizza and a time of fellowship.

Hands-on Service: Pittman Elementary School's Good Dads Program

Four Springfield Southeast Rotarians helped with the Good Dads program at Pittman Elementary School on Feb. 7, 2025. The volunteers are Dan Emrie, Kyle John, and Doug McNeal. President-elect Jennifer Baker, founder and director of Goods Dads, also was there.

Dan, Kyle, and Doug helped with the program by greeting dads and kids, handing out raffle tickets, putting on stickers and generally helped people feel welcome. They also handed out supplies, helped serve breakfast (coffee and donuts), and did a little cleanup.

Our volunteers plan to return to Pittman at the next Good Dads program there on April 11. We hope to recruit three or four more Rotarians who could help from 7:00 - 8:00 that day.

(Photos by Dan Emrie. Click on a photo to enlarge it.)