2016 Sumner Alumni : July

SUMNER ALUMNI NEWS

Newsletter of the Sumner High School Alumn i Association of Kansas City, Kansas, Inc.

INSPIRING WORDS FROM THE ACTING PRESIDENT, Thomas H. Gordon Greetings to the Sumner High School alumni and friends. It is again time to share with you brief tenets and eternal optimisms as they relate to the future of SHSAA. Sumner High School Alumni Association members remain steadfast in their commitment to the ongoing growth and development of our organization; several upcoming events reflect such commitment.

Vol. 7 Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2016

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honestly assess your abilities and skills as they relate to carrying out the duties of that office

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leadership is visionary; it is not legendary

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leaders must encourage the active participation of all members, recognizing that each member functions at varying levels of understanding and against the backdrop of diverse life experiences

For beneficiaries of the service of others  respect and support those who have accepted “the call,” remembering that they are voluntarily giving of their time and talents for the greater good

The annual scholarship fundraiser, our jazz event, will be held October 8, 2016. That committee’s tireless work has resulted in plans for an absolutely fantastic encounter!

Excitement steadily mounts as the Capital Campaign Steering Committee continues its efforts to ready SHSAA for acquisition of a facility suited to the permanent housing and showcasing of Sumner High School artifacts and, perhaps, expanded to provide our organization permanent meeting space.

Thoughts about even the 2020 Convention have been expressed. When duty calls, Spartans are sure to answer and highly consequential “calls to duty” will hallmark 2016---this is an election year. Who will accept “the call;’ who will give of their time?

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remember that the tongue is a powerful instrument, capable of building or destroying

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we all are charged to make contributions that bring excellence and integrity to the work at hand

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many hands make light work

Time is a nonrefundable commodity. Whether serving in an office or regularly attending SHSAA meetings, we are voluntarily giving of our time which, once expended, cannot be recaptured. As we look toward our organization’s upcoming election, let us spend time in sober thought about our individual contributions of clarity, integrity, accountability, and compassion and respect for others.

There are a few basic tenets that those who are willing to serve in an office and those of us who will be the beneficiaries of their service ought to keep in mind.

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” 2016 may be your season to retool for accepting a new role in SHSAA. 2016 may be your time to redirect your thinking, feeling and overt action as a mighty, mighty Spartan!

Thomas’ Tenets For those who are willing to serve  honestly examine your motives for seeking a particular office

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Capital Campaign Payment Coupon Booklets are now being prepared for distribution---there’s one available for a mailbox near you! With one coupon accompanying each payment you make, your Payment Coupon Booklet will facilitate your own record-keeping of your financial contribution toward acquisition of our own building. Again, we thank Mr. Joe Jennings who couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about the Capital Campaign, and so submitted his $1,000 way back in December, 2015. We are excited that we have many alumni who are positioned to make very sizeable financial contributions toward our Capital Campaign, and we certainly implore those SPARTANS, Sabres and others to purpose to make such contributions.

SHSAA Capital Campaign Capital Campaign Update --- July, 2016 Methodically dotting every “i” and crossing every “t,” the Capital Campaign Steering Committee tenaciously continues its work toward acquisition of a facility that will serve as a showroom for Sumner High School artifacts and as a site for SHSAA meetings and as community service facility. Pieces are steadily being put into place and, Spartans, the project is being meticulously put together! We sincerely thank the 30+ Sumnerites who pledged their $1,000 for this 2016 year. Special thanks to Mr. Joe Jennings who has been the FIRST to make his $1,000 pledge a reality! To those of you who did make the 2015 ALLSUMNER Convention and who will also help by your participation in this important legacy project, we do need you to do so. Any amounts that you are able to pledge and deliver will help direct our efforts.

We have firmly established that monies earmarked for the Capital Campaign shall forever be used exclusively for the acquisition, maintenance and operation of the location secured by SHSAA. While the Sumner High School Education Foundation will receive Capital Campaign contributions, this undertaking will establish its own Financial Secretary who will function in tandem with the Foundation’s financial officer, allowing the tax-deductible status for your contributions.

We’ve secured legal counsel with a law firm that specializes in not-for-profit organizations and the preliminary work that the firm has done on our behalf to date has been done pro bono. We are happy to announce that the Capital Campaign is legally “sure-footed.”

With enthusiasm...optimism...excitement...first-datelike-anticipation...Sumner High School Alumni The Real Estate Task Force, headed by Howard Association’s Capital Campaign Committee thanks Townsend, secured input regarding the minimal you who will step up to offer your financial features and/or amenities the building we acquire contributions. And now borrowing the tag line of Mr. should contain. Based on the data gathered, the first W. Michael Rogers, the Sumner Foundation set of interior renderings is currently being drafted--- Chairperson, be assured that “the best is yet to again, pro bono. From its extensive investigation of a come!” number of properties, the task force will soon be prioritizing its list of preferred existing structures and The Capital Campaign Steering Committee (CCSC), is even investigating the possibility of new therefore, hereby issues a call for Sumner alumni--construction. This task force is leaving no stone Spartan and Sabre---who have professional unturned in its examination of all kinds of bookkeeping or CPA experience or who have possibilities! affiliation with professional CPA-type entities to offer service as “Capital Campaign Financial Secretary.”

Persons interested in serving the SHSAA in the bonded role of Capital Campaign Financial Secretary should contact Veda J. Monday, Capital Campaign Committee Chair, at: vedamonday@sbcglobal.net or call 913-281-3193.

CONTACTS Thomas H. Gordon………………….....816--506-3295 Acting President

Debra Jones-Norman ……….…………913-544-4199 Corresponding Secretary

Sandra Wayne Campbell………………..816-260-0749 Recording Secretary

Shirley Webster Howard …...…..…….....913-788-7765 Financial Secretary

Geraldine A. J. Hopkins………………..816-522-7872

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Sell The House Out! Plans for the 2016 Fundraiser for Scholarships are well underway. The Jazz and Blues Event Committee has been meeting since January to plan this activity.

Delano Lewis, distinguished graduate of Sumner High School has agreed to serve as Honorary Chairperson for the event.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8th! Join us for a late afternoon of food, fun, Silent Auction, and live entertainment, provided by local jazz ensemble, OaSIS. Cost for the event is $45.00 and includes Heavy Hors D’oeuvres and a complimentary beverage. A Cash Bar will be available.

Promotional Materials and Tickets are available for distribution at our July 30th Association Meeting.

This will be our 4th Annual Jazz event. Please save the date and join us for this festive occasion in raising funds for our Scholarships which benefits graduating High School Students who are currently attending schools in the Kansas City, Kansas District 500.

For Tickets: Contact: Naomi Baker Evans Nabaker2600 @gmail.com 913-269-3955

For Silent Auction Items and Financial Concerns Contact: Robert D. Brady, Jr. Sumner Classes 1940-1978 are asked to participate in rbrady1122@sbcglobal.net making this event a success by supporting this event. 913-558-1962 We are asking each class to purchase at least one table of ten seats for the event. Additionally, we are For Souvenir Journal Items asking each class to donate a Themed Basket of Contact: Judy Hams Easterwood Goods worth $50.00 or more for the Silent Auction; jeasterwood2@kc.rr.com place your Class Picture in the Souvenir Journal for a nominal cost of $60.00 and secure Patrons for the For More Information journal at $10.00 per line. The class who sells the Contact: Gerri-Ann J. Hopkins most tickets and patron lines will be declared, Class gajettes@kc.rr.com of the Year by the Event’s Committee and will have 816-522-7872 special recognition in the Souvenir Journal.

Help us, “Sell the House Out!” GREETINGS AND OUR SINCEREST THANKS to all Sumner High School alumni who were gracious and supportive enough to attend our annual Sumner Sunday service on June 26th. We had a good time in the LORD. We have seen many of you before and look forward to seeing you in the years to come on the 4th Sunday of June. The awesome Sumner Class of 1966 were the winners in attendance for 2016 with 42 class members!! Congratulations to them and as one thoughtful and anointed Spartan alumni stated "Thank GOD we woke up with a sound mind to make it to the church house.” All classes represented were winners, victorious in the eyesight of our Lord and Savior. Thank GOD we are still here" and that is phrasing the gathering and camaraderie quite appropriately. You could have easily gone elsewhere or attended your very own churches and we thank you for worshipping with us at Trinity AME. Your presence makes each year bigger, better and anticipated eagerly.

It is an honor to give recognition to Sumner High School's rich legacy and pride. We also would like to thank the officers and members of Trinity AME for being the gracious host church as you always are. We truly apologize for not having a proper tally of the 2nd and 3rd place winners at the time of announcing the winners but they are as follows:

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2nd place – Class of 1974 3rd place – (5 Way Tie) Classes of 1960, 1962, 1967, 1968 and 1970 .

Sumner High School Alumni Association, Inc. P.O. Box 17-2013 Kansas City, Kansas 66117

NONPROFIT PRST U.S. POSTAGE PAID KANSAS CITY, KS

Return Service Requested PRESEASON LEAGUE BOWLING STARTS NEXT THURSDAY July 21, 2016 12 Noon KC Bowl at 82nd & State Ave, - KCK

SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP

2016 MEETING SCHEDULE STANDING COMMITTEES

EXECUTIVE BOARD Thomas H. Gordon Acting President Rev. Sandra Wayne Campbell Recording Secretary

CHAIRPERSON Executive Thomas H. Gordon Budget/Finance Robert D. Brady, Jr. - Shirley Webster-Howard Constitution and Bylaws Tiel Sanders

Debra Jones Norman Corresponding Secretary

Membership and Communications Edith Turnipseed

Robert D. Brady, Jr. Treasurer

History, Archival and Alumni Room Granvile O’Neal - Carolyn Mitchell

Shirley Webster-Howard Financial Secretary

Scholarship and Awards Robert D. Brady, Jr., - Beverly Hooks-Scott

Chester C. Owens, Consultant

Tiel Sanders Parliamentarian

Program and Special Projects Marie Williams-Morris - Georgia Thomas-Taylor

Joan Gipson Johnson Chaplain

Social Action Brenda C. Jones - Howard Berry

Captola Taylor Harris Sergeant-at-Arms ~~Members-at-Large~~ Dr. Deloris Strickland Pinkard Morris N. Campbell, Sr. Marie Williams Morris

Courtesy and Hospitality Vacant Nominating Morris N. Campbell, Sr.—Robert D. Brady, Jr. Memorial Marker Adrienne Williams-Patterson-Roselyn Elmore Bailey Alumni History and Archives Bettye Maddox and Patricia Baker

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Association Meetings will be scheduled for the 5th Saturday in the months containing 5th Saturdays except as noted due to holiday periods. Meeting time is from 1:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m. unless otherwise announced. Executive Committee will meet prior to each Association meeting—as scheduled by the Association president. Executive Committee Meetings will be called as needed to conduct Association business between general Association meetings. Location of all meetings for 2016, unless required by external circumstances and announced by the president, will be at the KState Wildcat Room, 1200 N. 79th Street, Kansas City, KS.

2016 July 30 October 29 December 17 Visit us at sumnerhssalumnikck.org And/or Facebook: Sumner High School Alumni Association