As Earl Sargent use to say every morning on KWFT, 1290AM, back in the 60’s and 70’s, “It’s a pretty good kinda day in the great Southwest,” and it sure was today at Rotary! Pres Elect Cara opened the meeting at the Downtown Boys & Girls Club in a beautiful meeting room that she and her staff had gone to great lengths in setting up to make us feel comfortable. She went on to welcome us, pray for us and then she led the music by singing “If You’re Happy,” and I believe we are all happy, especially if you didn’t have Past Pres Noros singing at your table.
Visitors were introduced and Pres Elect Cara presented a check from Rotary to Kris Gossom, Executive Director of Interfaith Outreach. Ms. Gossom informed us that the check would help a great deal since Interfaith had helped 3000 families since January. This included 74,000 pounds of food.
Past Pres Benay brought us up to date on Rotary Park. She told us that Stage 4 was almost completed and she was looking forward to Stage 5. She also passed on a good deal of the credit for the park to Rotarian John Deason.
The club was made aware of the death of a long-time Rotary member Frank Tate. Our prayers went out to his family.
After a wonderful meal set up by Bistro Express we headed out to the new Boys & Girls Club being built behind the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Of course, the purpose of the meeting today was to be the first group to tour the new facility serving young people. As Cara reminded us, our Rotary Club has been involved with B&G Club since the early 1920’s and then when Dr. O. T. Kimbrough became president of Rotary in 1928-29, we opened our first facility on Sixth Street, where we met today. It doesn’t look like an almost 100-year-old facility, does it? The first club is still the shining example, but the new facility is magnificent. Designed by former Rotarian Dick Bundy and his company, this twenty thousand square feet facility is the dream come true for many in this community who have worked so hard to see its completion. Former Executive Director, now retired, Randy Cooper met us at the door and led us on a tour of the entire facility. With workmen still on the premise we could still envision what this would provide for young minds with a desire to learn. Extra high ceilings, large windows to allow plenty of light, a computer room with twenty laptops for study and homework, and large rooms for each age group beautifully painted which added to a feeling of comfort and peacefulness will go far to build a positive foundation for future citizens. Randy talked about the hard work and vision that Mr. and Mrs. Bob Gunn had for the building, and he expressed his gratitude to two ladies with us today, Nancy Marks and Gayle Richardson, for their hard work. Randy also informed us about the contract with Wichita Housing Commission that would help B&G Club over the next 75 years. Randy closed his tour by leading us into the new basketball court with all new maplewood flooring, it was very impressive. He went on to say that Meals On Wheels and the Food Bank will help with feeding these youngsters and that there will be dance classes as well as art training provided. He estimated that about 100 kids a day would participate in this new facility which he hoped would open in January. This project did not happen overnight and it came with a sizable price tag, which Past Pres Benay reminded us that our Rotary Club contributed $5,000.
It was a beautiful day, shared with friends who take the time to participate in their community and work so hard to make positive things happen, especially for young people who are our future.