History
Way back in 1982, seven members of AA formed a planning committee for the very first Sunflower Round Up. These members included Bob T., Larry T., Dwight M., Ray H., George B., Fr. Linus M., and Tom S. The very first Sunflower Roundup was held in February 1983 at the Regency Park Resort and Conference Center at 9200 Metcalf in Overland Park KS. Due to the continued growing attendance, the next move was in 1984, to the DoubleTree Hotel at 10100 College Blvd in Overland Park. In 1985 we moved to the Overland Park Marriott Hotel where we stayed until 1989. We then moved to the Constitution Convention Center at 500 Minnesota Ave in Kansas City. Eventually that Convention Center became known as the Jack Reardon Civic Center, and we remained there until. In 2021, we were forced to cancel the Roundup due to Covid. The proposed demolition of the Reardon center forced us to move to our new home at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City just around the corner from the Jack Reardon Civic Center. Memorial Hall has giving us the opportunity for growth and attendance as well as other amenities.
The Sunflower Roundup has been a staple within the Kansas City area since 1983 and is unique in many ways including having never repeated a speaker, the spirit of cooperation with Alanon and Alateen, as well as the Central Office. Our Sobriety Countdown is also something extra special, as well as our Oldtimers Meeting for our local AA Members with over 40 years of sobriety. Attendance has always included locals but many traveling from other states attend every year also.
The Sunflower Committee, since 1983, has dedicated themselves to provide one of the best conferences for everyone and with God as our guide, we will continue to welcome you all every year. Our future is bright!
Click below to hear one of the speakers from the very 1st Sunflower Roundup in 1983
1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Planting The Seed”
1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Growing More In 84"
1985. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Coming Alive In 85"
1986 . . . . . . . . . . . "Our Harvest Of Gratitude"
1987. . . . . . . . . "The Road Of Happy Destiny"
1988. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "A Vision For You"
1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "I Can't . . . We Can"
1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . "Celebration Of Sobriety"
1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Let It Begin With Me"
1992. . . . . . . . . . . . "Ten Years Of Fellowship"
1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Courage To Change"
1994 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Love In Action"
1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Our Goal Is Recovery"
1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Keep It Simple"
1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Carrying The Message"
1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . "A Rewarding Freedom"
1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . "Happy Joyous and Free"
2000 . . . . . . . . . "Recovery Unity and Service"
2001. . . . . . . . . . . . . "It Works - It really does"
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Language of the Hearts"
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Freedom from Fear"
2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Citizens Again"
2005 . . . . . . . . . "If You Want What We Have"
2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . "We Are Not A Glum Lot"
2007 . . . . "25 Years of Experience Strength & Hope"
2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Came To Believe”
2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . “Full and Thankful Heart”
2010. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “We Were Reborn”
2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Rule 62”
2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Keep Coming Back”
2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “There is a Solution”
2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Pass it On”
2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “What a Deal”
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “A True Fellowship”
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "We Have to Live It”
2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . “On The Broad Highway”
2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “The Great Fact”
2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “I Am Responsible”
2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Beyond Human Aid”
2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Ain’t it Grand”
2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “No Matter What”