This Week at the Clubs

On January 22, the Clubs held their 2009 Annual Meeting at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. 200 guests, including Club youth, volunteers, and community leaders, gathered to celebrate the successes from 2009. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver was named the 2009 Role Model of the Year - an honor voted on by the Club youth. In addition, a new award, the James Lee Ragsdale II Exemplary Service Award, was created this year in memory of staff member James Lee Ragsdale II, who passed away in 2009. The award will be given to a staff member each year in a service-related position who has provided exemplary service to youth and other staff. And James' family voted on and announced the inaugural winner - Brent Perry. Congratulations to all of our 2009 honorees!

RBI Winter Workouts are under way each Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at the Thornberry Unit through February 28. The youth work on baseball and softball skills to prepare for the 2010 season under the watchful eye of the RBI staff and coaches. On January 17th, however, the players and coaches received an extra special surprise when Kansas City Royals pitcher and MLB AL Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke stopped by for a visit. Thanks to Ben Aken and the Kansas City Royals for arranging this exciting surprise!

Team GKC held its first USA Weightlifting sanctioned meet of 2010 on Saturday, January 16. The members competed in the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk. Competitors in the meet came from St. Joseph, Springfield, and even St. Louis. The Clubs were thrilled to have the opportunity to host the meet at the Thornberry Unit. The team will now travel to St. Joseph on February 13 for another meet at the Wesley Center. Good luck for all those involved! And a special thank you to Board Member Jim Rose for helping provide new weightlifting shoes for the team - just in time for the meet!

Wyandotte County Unit teens Charity Anderson, Ravin Hill and Shanee Howard were recently accepted as Youth Advisory Committee members with WIN for KC in 2010! This will serve as a great chance for these young ladies to network with WIN officials and meet female athletes from all over the city, along with many more opportunities. We are very proud of our girls!

After a date change due to inclement weather, the 2010 National Fine Arts Exhibition and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on January 14, 2010 on the Country Club Plaza at Kansas City Upholstery/Interior Designs. This was a great opportunity for the public to view the fabulous work of our Club kids, both locally and nationally!

Two RBI youth are making a splash heading to college. Ryan Lasneske signed a letter of intent on January 26 to play college baseball at Baker University next year. And Jacob Gansert is not only on his way to college to play baseball, but was also a Missouri State Swimming Champion. We are very proud of these two youth and look forward to their many more successes in college!

Thank you to Acosta, who recently donated five bicycles (as well as a monetary donation) to the Clubs! We appreciate your generosity!

Don't forget to use GoodSearch.com for your online searches and GoodShop.com for your online shopping to benefit the Clubs. Just enter "Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City" as the charity you want to support!