International Officers 2019-2020

International President

Judy Weitkemper 

Email: president@cosmopolitan.org

Mo-Kan Federation - Columbia Show-Me, Columbia Breakfast Clubs, Columbia
Luncheon, Columbia, MO and St. Charles County Cosmo, St. Charles, MO
 
Judy became a Cosmopolitan in May,1999, by joining the Columbia Show-Me Club, and
has been a dedicated and active member with perfect attendance since joining. She is also
an active member of the Columbia Breakfast, Columbia Luncheon and the St. Charles
County Cosmo Clubs.

At Club level Judy has held numerous officer positions, including club president
three times, Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms, etc. At Federation level she was Mo-Kan Lt.
Governor, Governor-Elect then Governor of the Mo-Kan Federation. Some of the things
she is most proud of was being named International Cosmo of the Year and International
Governor of the Year and for Chartering the St. Charles County Cosmo Club in Missouri.
Judy was then honored to be elected on the CI Board as VP of Membership,
President-Elect and now highly honored to be your International President. Her theme this
year is “Together We Can.”

Judy is a native Missourian, residing in Columbia MO but has also lived in Emporia Kansas
and Joliet Illinois. She is retired from a career in Finance and banking management with
the last 16 years of employment as Senior Vice President of Finance with an insurance
company. She has a BA degree in Business Administration and English.

Judy and her husband Bill, also a member of two Cosmo clubs, recently celebrated 38
years of marriage and share 6 children and 17 grandchildren. They both share a passion for
diabetes and making their community a better place to live. Bill, an Eagle Scout, volunteers
with Boy Scout Troop 708 as Advancement Chair, keeping track of the scouts’ badges and
awards. Judy volunteers with various organizations including the Columbia Parkinson’s
Support Group and singing with a local band at nursing homes and the Senior Center.
They both enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren, traveling and enjoying
their second home at the Lake of the Ozarks.

 

President Elect

Art Brassard

Western Canada Federation - Prince Albert Club - Prince Albert, SK Canada
 
I joined the Prince Albert Club in October 1988. Since then I have held every office position in the club except secretary. This year (2019) I will be the president of the club, the third time that I have held this position. I was treasurer of the WCF for five years, 2001-2006, on the WCF board for five years and was the governor in 2016-2017.
 
In the Prince Albert Club, I have worked on all their projects and have looked after the club annual fishing trip for the past 25 years.  in 2016, with the suggestion from fellow Cosmo member Morris Hesje, that we look at doing a football pool to see if we could raise money for the club’s charity donation account. So, I developed this pool lottery using our CFL Saskatchewan Roughrider’s season games and the three CFL play-off games. This project is now in it’s third year and we have raised over $32,000 each year, with a profit of over $16,000.00 going into our charity donation account.
 
I was married to my wife Debbie for 42 ½ years, and have three children; Joeleene, Joey, and Corey. We have seven grandkids; Joshua, Brandon, Katie, Abbigale, Edward, Genevieve, Donald.  I lost my wife December 1, 2018 after a two-week illness.  I have been a professional drive all my working life. 33 years as Driver Instructor and now drive for a tour bus company in Prince Albert. This year I will reach the 3-million-kilometer mark of accident free driving.

 

Vice President of Finance

Keith Shepherd

Western Canada Federation - Wascana Club - Regina, SK
 
Keith Shepherd joined Cosmopolitan International as a member of the Regina Capital Cosmopolitan Club on September 18, 1983 and is also a charter member of the Wascana Cosmopolitan Club April 18, 1995.  He has served Cosmopolitan actively since joining the organization by holding various positions at the club, federation and the Cosmopolitan Diabetes Foundation of Canada Inc. (CFC) and now at the International level, having been elected as Vice President for Finance at the 100th Annual Cosmopolitan International Convention in Kansas City, MO. July 28, 2018.
 
Keith has worked for Dudley & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants since October 1975.  His work load varies during the year providing public tax and accounting services to individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations.  With Keith’s background it is no surprise that he has held positions as club, federation and CFC treasurer.  He has been club president on several occasions (international distinguished club president 2013/2014) and was WCF Governor 2014/2015.
 
He has attended most all WCF conventions and numerous International Conventions over this time.  He enjoys golfing, curling, fishing and hiking. He has attended approximately 17 annual Cosmopolitan fishing trips to northern Saskatchewan where they have had Cosmopolitan attendees from as far away as Austin, Texas.
 
Keith has been married to fellow Cosmo Karen Shepherd, current secretary of WCF, for 40 years and has three children; Christine (current WCF Governor Elect), Ryan and Raymond (Nicole) and two grandchildren (Cali and Lincoln).

 

Vice President of Marketing and Fundraising

Darin Hartman

Cornbelt Federation, Council Bluffs Club - Council Bluffs, IA
 
Darin joined Cosmopolitan International in May of 2015.  He saw a flyer for a upcoming Cosmo Fundraising evert and saw that is was a Diabetic Fundraising Club.  Darin has been a Type 1 Diabetic since he was a young child.  Since joining Cosmopolitan International, Darin has held the positions of Vice-President  and President at the club level and Governor –Elect and Governor at the Federation level.  With his new position as Vice-President of Marketing and Fundraising, Darin is afforded the opportunity to do what he likes best.  Spreading the word about Cosmo, and helping fight s disease that has hit very close to home for him.
 
Darin has been a Type 1 Diabetic since kindergarten, and has seen many advancements in resources available to Diabetics.  Beside himself, Darin’s dad, niece, grandmother and cousin have all fought Diabetes.  His mother has often told him that being the parent of a T1D is the hardest job she has ever had.
 
Darin’s professional career has led him through careers that have coincided with Diabetes.  From retail pharmacy, insurance agent, and a recruiter/trainer for Senior Sales in the Medicare field, Darin has never lost touch with the effects of Diabetes through all ages and types of Diabetes.  Darin has a wealth of knowledge in Healthcare, Marketing, Fundraising, and networking.  He seems to know someone in every field.
 

Vice President of Membership

LaVonne Hawking

Mid-States Federation - Aurora Club - Aurora, IL
 
I have been a member of the Aurora Cosmopolitan Club since 2004. I was invited to an Oktoberfest Cosmopolitan event at the last minute-hesitated on attending, but Okay, I'll attend, since I would know many of the people there. Walked in the door and it was also a MEMBERSHIP event. I thought, really? Well, stay away from those tables! As the event progressed and members were giving their testimonies, I felt the tug in my heart-This is something I could be involved-after all, I am free on the 3rd Thursday of the month-so I joined, much to the surprise of my friends who invited me. I was installed that evening by then International President Walter Alm. No regrets since.
I grew up on a dairy farm in southern Wisconsin and then lived in Madison, WI for six years (yes a Badger and Packer fan). We moved to Aurora in 1971. I ahve two adult children-Lisa (Windsor, CO) and is a member of our club-she has a son Patrick (Merideth) and their two boys Matthew (10) and Alex (4). My son Dan (Kari) live in Aurora, have three boys-Brandon (21), Jake (19), and Drew (16). I have spent many years on the baseball and football fields-basketball courts-and now with two younger great grandsons-the tradition continues.
 
I am involved in my church-serving on the Diaconate Board and help with various fund-raisers that we have. I was Secretary to the Principal of Aurora West High School for 12 years and then worked for 20 years at REED Machinery and Transportation. In the past, I have also worked part time at our local drug/alcohol outpatient facility. I did retire a few years ago, but now I work part time for Baum Property Management in Aurora (6-8 hrs/day--retired? LOL). For fun during those days, I also was a scorekeeper for boys basketball/baseball teams as well as a Girl Scout leader and Secretary for the Girl Scout Council. I am the clubhouse manager for the association where I live. Volunteer work is and has been a bit part of my life.
 
I love traveling and have been to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Dominican Republic as well as the inside passage of Alaska. I have attended 9 Cosmopolitan International conventions and I look forward every year seeing my 'extended Cosmo family.' I stress to my club members to attend-because you just don't know what you re missing and the friendships are priceless. Since I love to travel-I am going to parts of the U.S. and Canada that I would not have otherwise been to.
 
I have moved up the ladder so to speak as I have been Secretary for our club now going on 15 years. Club president the last 4 years and during that time, I was Mid-States Governor for two terms. Being asked to be BP of Membership was truly an honor.
 
My main goal for my club has always been increasing membership. We were down to 20 members and have increased our membership by 23 members in the last 10 years. My interest in membership has followed me through the years as I have invited 20+ friends/relatives to our events or meetings. Of the 20+, 20 have joined our club. I have found when talking to people and you mention diabetes, sending kids with diabetes to camp, and the Paws Saving Lives program-you have sparked their interest. Keep on talking-you never know what the result will be.

 

Judge Advocate

Jeremy Bridge

Midstates Federation - Rockford Club - Rockford, IL
 
Jeremy has been a Cosmopolitan since 2011 as a member of the Rockford Club.  Shortly after being diagnosed with Diabetes himself, Jeremy was approached to consider taking over as Judge Advocate. Jeremy decided that this was the time to become more involved with Cosmopolitan.
 
Jeremy R. Bridge is a shareholder and registered patent attorney in Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren’s Intellectual Property Practice where he provides legal services to business clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 100 companies. His background in mechanical engineering allows him to understand the special intellectual needs and challenges of his clients who are involved in the production of consumer and industrial products.
With over a decade of legal experience, Jeremy possesses the knowledge and skill to assist clients as they navigate the complexities associated with intellectual property matters. His background in mechanical engineering allows Jeremy to understand the technical aspects of complex products and methods in order to offer legal counsel that appreciates both the technical side as well as the legal sides of any issue. Clients appreciate his two-sided perspective, approachable nature, and practical approach to negotiations, but most of all: they appreciate his unwavering commitment to understanding and focusing on his client’s goals.
 
Jeremy’s practice as a patent attorney has him assisting his clients in understanding and navigating the often confusing and convoluted rules related to obtaining and enforcing patents.  It is his ability to interpret and explain these confusing and convoluted rules that will assist him in fulfilling his duties as Judge Advocate.  
 
Jeremy was a prior board member for the Winnebago County Bar Association as well as a prior board member for Habitat for Humanity of Boone County.
 
Bar/Court Admissions:
Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office