Weston Rotary Club has been a valued part of the local community since 1945. As part of a global network of 1.4 million members worldwide, the club envisions a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change by providing service to others. From literacy and peace, to water and health, Rotary members, for the last 119 years, are always working to better their world – and stay committed to the end.
Lynn Johnson, president of Weston Rotary Club became a member 20 years ago and she is proud of the direction the club has taken.
“Up until a few years ago we were more of a ‘meet and eat’ club,” Johnson said. “Now we constantly have some of kind of activity going on.”
Weston Rotary has 29 current members and four of those have been added in the last six months.
Club members are involved in a number of activities, with the intent of helping community members. Even though the pandemic years restricted events, the club saw one of its most successful fund raiser golf tournaments.
Weston Rotary members sacking food for the elderly and needy at the West Platte Fire Protection District, from left, Kevin Harper, Jerry Adams, Lynn Johnson, Ryan Halling, Louis Smither
“Our club has held a golf tournament for 12 years, Rotary member, Lee Robertson said. “The tournament is played at Shiloh Springs Golf course in Platte City and we have between 120 and 136 golfers each year. The tournament is our largest fund raising event and makes it possible to do all of our service projects in the community.”
The club also funds a summer literacy program for West Platte Elementary School, picks up trash on JJ Highway twice a year for ‘Adopt a Highway’ and donates to school groups that have special projects.
Weston Rotary began participating with Feed Northland Kids to provide the BackSnack program for West Platte Elementary School several years ago. Weston Rotary funds 25 for the school.
Feed Northland Kids provides the local community’s children the nourishment they need to grow, learn and thrive. The BackSnack program is provided in partnership with Harvesters. Feed Northland Kids helps the one in seven food-insecure children in Platte and Clay counties. The organization began with late Rotary member and former county commission Diza Eskridge.
“During COVID many families were food insecure that had not been before,” Johnson said. “Our club volunteered to help West Platte distribute fresh produce. We then became aware of a program that Feed Northland Kids provided to needy families in the school district. We pack and deliver food to 16 families a month. Along with that our club provides groceries every month to 21 seniors in our community.”
Weston Rotary has also supported the The Heart of America Council, Boy Scout troop 249, Weston, “Day of Hope” spearheaded by Treasurer Ruth Nelson, and the Platte County 4-H show at the Platte County Fair, scholarships for West Platte graduating seniors, Shoes for Orphan Soles, and other community needs.
Club members’ service-above-self mission to help their community in any way possible can often lead to time-consuming commitment. Weston Rotary member, Louis Smither remembers when members restored two benches by the city bathrooms and main entrance to Holladay Park in Weston. They had to be completely taken apart and then taken to be power coated. “Putting them back together was a nightmare because each piece had a place to go,” Smither said. “We did not possess the blueprint to our pattern of dissection. It was no fun at all, but after hours the pattern was rediscovered.”
Weston Rotary members also are involved in the Rotary PolioPlus prgram, which provides support for polio eradication activities worldwide. Weston Rotary raised $1,000 from select Rotarians for Rotary Foundation’s efforts to eradicate polio from the world.
Rotary has contributed more than $1.61 billion for the elimination of polio.
Weston Rotary was a contributor to the public restrooms in Weston and the project has been a combined effort with grants. Rotary members, like most local residents view the public restrooms as a total necessity for a tourist town since they manage a huge amount of traffic.
Weston Rotary also chose to do a $14,000 grant for Ben Holladay Park. The grant was funded by $3,500 from Weston Rotary and $10,500 from the Rotary Foundation. A current grant project is also focused on the gazebo in Holladay Park to make it more bird proof, along with new lighting on the tennis court and playground equipment.
Weston Rotary has also participated in the funding of the African-American monument at Laurel Hill Cemetery to recognize 400 African-Americans in unmarked graves.
The Black Ancestors Awareness Campaign Charter Member Angela Hagenbach said Weston Rotary has embraced their mission every step of the way to bring awareness and understanding of the vital roles enslaved and free Black people brought to Weston and by helping to bring their stories to light.
“The Weston Rotary Club is truly living up to the Rotary Club pledge to ‘provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace and understanding,” Hagenbach said.
Several Weston Rotary members helped with the cleaning of nearly 200 Heritage bricks destined for the newly renamed Dinah Robinson Courtyard at the entrance of Weston’s Ben Holladay Park, which was in conjunction with BAAC’s Buy-a-Brick campaign.
For Johnson and other Rotary members it is rewarding to know that they are ableto provide specific needs that make a difference within their community.
“If someone is considering joining a Rotary Club, I would encourage them to do so,” Johnson said. “It is an avenue to get to know other community members you may otherwise not have an opportunity to meet. Many of us are lifetime friends. What we are able to do together is much bigger than we could do by ourselves.”