Accomplishments

THE TOUR OF MISSOURI PRO CYCLING RACE

The Tour of Missouri began as an idea passed along to a friend. The friend with the idea was Cary Sommers of Springfield Missouri and the friend he was speaking to was Missouri Governor Matt Blunt.

Sommers, an avid cyclist, suggested that his boy-hood friend take a look at bringing a state-wide professional cycling race to Missouri. The wheels were now rolling. After a few days of thought, Governor Blunt called on Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder to ask him to be the point man for the project and research the idea of a bike race. Kinder who serves as the Chairman of the Missouri Tourism Commission, and served as the President Pro-Tem of the Missouri State Senate, was a natural choice to explore the benefits and procedures of bringing a race of this caliber to Missouri.

A committee was formed, and after many months of research and discussion, Governor Blunt declared his support for the proposed Tour of Missouri and asked the Missouri Division of Tourism to help provide the seed money to help fund the race. With past examples from California and Georgia as to the economic benefits a race of this type generates, the Missouri Division of Tourism embraced the opportunity to help expand tourism, Missouri's second largest industry.

"The Tour of Missouri was an exciting way to showcase the beauty of our state," said Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder. "I believe this race captured the imagination of the entire State of Missouri. The race created the potential for millions of additional tourism dollars being pumped into the local economy's of Missouri cities as well as our smaller rural communities."

State and local officials plus race organizers announced the cities that played host to starts and finishes for the inaugural world-class professional cycling race, the Tour of Missouri, September 11-16, 2007.

Patterned after the famous Tour de France, the race featured point to point racing in six stages, as more than 120 world-class cyclists traversed west to south to east through nearly 600 miles of the Show Me State.

The cities of Kansas City, Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, St. Charles, and St. Louis were selected to play host to either a start and/or finish of the inaugural race.

THE MISSOURI MENTOR INITIATIVE

Missouri Mentor Initiative was established by Governor Matt Blunt on April 11, 2007. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder is responsible for coordinating and managing the initiative. Under the initiative, up to 200 full-time employees of the state of Missouri are eligible for one hour per week of paid approved work to mentor in Missouri public primary and secondary schools for up to 40 hours annually.

Lt. Governor Kinder introduced the "Mentoring-The Missouri Model" at the National Lieutenant Governor's Association's 2007 Annual Meeting and Convention. Kinder gave a presentation titled, "The Missouri Mentoring Tri-fecta to his fellow Lieutenant Governor's and encouraged them to that the idea back to their states. The Missouri Mentoring Tri-fecta covered the key ideas behind the program.

  1. Systemic Partnership with Missouri Department of Corrections.
  2. Missouri State Employees Receive Paid Time Off to Serve as Mentors and,
  3. The State of Missouri Provides State Funding for Amachi Missouri.

Lt. Governor Kinder sponsored a Resolution that was passed unanimously by the NLGA, to encouraging other states to adopt similar programs and bring the idea of mentoring to children all across America.

THE MISSOURI MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND

In June of 2005, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder signed legislations to create The Missouri Military Family Relief Fund. The Fund was established as a state administered fund to assist Missouri Resident Guard and Reserve personnel. The fund offers assistance to qualifying Guard and Reserve families with unique financial needs, who have been deployed for the Global War on Terrorism.

"By creating and implementing this Fund, we affirm our commitment to our citizen soldiers and our National Guard and Reserve families, and that we will honor your service and sacrifice to our country" said Kinder. "The Missouri Military Family Relief Fund will provide real help to the children and spouses of our Guard and Reserve members who are serving their country far from home. I also want to educate Missourians about this much needed program and I urge them to contribute through the check-off program on their Missouri state tax forms. I will continue to lead the effort to raise money for the fund."

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PETER KINDER'S SENIOR SERVICE AWARD

Shortly after taking office, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder created the Senior Service Award to promote and highlight the positive accomplishments that Missouri's senior citizens continually provide their local communities. Each winner receives an official declaration from the Lt. Governors office, a Senior Service Award Lapel pin, and special recognition at the State Capitol from Lt. Governor Kinder. Nominees for the Senior Service Award must be at least 60 years old and volunteer a minimum of 40 hours over the past year in their community. Senior volunteers can be nominated on a quarterly basis by filling out a brief form available on Lt. Governor Kinder's website at http://www.ltgov.mo.gov. Letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination forms.