Minutes for May 23, 2016
Posted by Liz Becher
on May 23, 2016
The Casper Rotary Club
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Rotary Club of Casper WY
Meeting Summary
5/23/2016
President John Starnes called the meeting to order promptly at 12:25, and welcomed everyone to the club meeting. We had an extra-large turnout to hear our guest speaker today, and extra tables were set up.
Inspiration, Pledge, 4-Way Test:
David Simonson
Greeters:
Diane Treick and Martha Rakestraw were the greeters today, and Martha introduced the members who brought guests:
First, Visiting Rotarian and DGE, Barb Redder (Casper Five Trails);
- Brian Deurloo introduced Nicol Kramer (attorney);
- Richard Schwahn introduced his daughter, Madi;
- Martha Rakestraw introduced Nancy Andrew;
- Jason DeWitt introduced Brian Helling (All State Insurance);
- Lisa Hubbard introduced Tim Schenk (GSG Architect);
- Mary Koerning introduced Lisa Scroggins (NCPL Exec. Director) and Janie Edgens (wife of new U.W./CC Director);
- Kevin Christopherson introduced his wife, Ruth;
- Pinky Ellis introduced his wife, Jackie;
- Michel Skaf introduced his wife, Maguy;
- Dennis Jack introduced Tim Anderson (American National Bank)and Eve Stahl (RMOC);
- Bill Mortimer introduced Brae Smith (Red Cross);
- Peaches Lynch introduced Pamela Schumacher (Transportation Credit Union);
- All of the guests of the U.W. President were introduced – Ben Blalock (U.W. Foundation Director), Meredith Asay (Advisor to the U.W. President), Keener Fry (U.W. Alumni Director), Emily Cain (U.W. Alumni Association), and Jeff Edgens(U.W./CC Director); and of course,
- Elise (our fabulous exchange student)!
Song and Merriment:
Dennis Lower cracked us up with a couple of “clean” jokes, and then Gary Pehrson led us in singing “Cowboy Joe” – in honor of our guest speaker.
Student of the Month:
Max Hanson was recognized as a graduating senior from Roosevelt. He has 2 days left in his senior year. He told the club members that he would like to pursue a fire science degree in San Diego. He recognized his mother (Sylvia Hanson) in the audience for her support, and thanked
Susan Griffith for being an inspirational teacher to him.
Family of Rotary:
Bill Mortimer announced that the service for Red Nickerson’s wife, Missy, will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church today at 2:00 p.m. Deb and Gene Theriault announced that their daughter, Anne, was married in Florida and their son, Stephen, is engaged. Sheryl Foland announced that her nephew has gotten an acting career started in California. Mike Sullivan announced that Joe Schickich, Mary Lynne Shickich’s dad, has passed.
Rotarians of the Week:
Tim Monroe nominated Brian Deurloo for being a finalist in the U.W. Business Technology Institute competition. Rick Reimann nominated Susan Griffith for the great article about her in the paper.
Club Announcements:
- President John did a recap about the District Conference for the club members. He thanked all of the Rotarians who had attended from our club – 21, and added little snip-its about each Rotarian, in typical John fashion…..
- DGE Barbara Redder and AG Liz Becher showcased the 2017 District Conference video to the club. The Conference will be held in Casper June 1-3, 2017. AG Liz is the chairman of the conference. DGE Barb will become DG on July 1st (38 days from now). She and Liz then presented Paul Harris Society certificates and chevrons to Brad Cundy and Jim Ruble.
- Dave McNulty announced a vocational service opportunity for club members to speak about their careers/vocations to 8th grade students at CYJH on Tuesday, June 7th from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- Hal Hutchinson announced that the next Highway Clean-up will be Thursday evening, June 9th at 5:30 p.m. Information sheets and sign-up forms are on the tables.
- Bill Schilling and Brian Deurloo announced that they need help from the club to meet with residents in the Garden Creek area about the amphitheater. There is quite a bit of opposition forming for the conditional use permit hearing before the County Planning and Zoning Commission in June. Our club will host an informal BBQ with the neighbors on Wed. June 1st at the Rotary Park site to answer their questions.
- Eric Easton announced that he still needs volunteers for the Rotary aide station at the Casper Marathon on Sunday, June 5th. Tucker LaPrade also chimed in and talked about the handout on the tables for sponsorships of Casper Rotarians who run in the Marathon. The funds will be used for our Panama project, and raise awareness for Rotary in our community.
Program (Dr. Laurie Nichols, U.W. President):
Susie McMurry introduced our speaker for today. Dr. Nichols is the first female president for the University, and the 26th president of the University. Her first day in the position was May 16th so she has been very busy getting around the State to meet alumni, supporters, students, and parents. She has visited about 10 communities in the first 7 days in this position. Dr. Nichols is originally from South Dakota, and came to U.W. from South Dakota State University. She is married to her husband, Tim, and they have two adult daughters. Dr. Nichols acknowledged U.W. Trustee, Dave True, in the audience, and also shared that she has previously been involved with Rotary – as a Rotary young professional in the Netherlands, and also with hosting youth exchange students. She shared some of her goals, observations, and pleasures about the University with the club members and alumni in the audience.
Dr. Nichols believes in a strong working relationship with community colleges. U.W. is hosting the community college presidents in a summit this fall. She discussed the articulation that the University has with Casper College, and how it ensures that credits will easily transfer to U.W., program to program. Casper College is hosting an alumni association open house from 4 – 6 this afternoon where Dr. Nichols will be the featured speaker.
She is thrilled about the upcoming completion of the Rochelle Athletic Center and High Altitude Performance Center, funded through financial gifts from Mick and Susie McMurry. She is
determined to learn the words to “Cowboy Joe” by the first football game.
Dr. Nichols stated that she loves the agriculture focus in Wyoming; it makes her feel at home with her South Dakota roots. She is learning about the energy industry in Wyoming and believes that U.W. can provide research for the industry. She is focused on looking at U.W.’s enrollment and studying “who” the students are, how they chose U.W., and what the University can do to serve their needs. Residence life will be a future focus of the University.
Dr. Nichols did address the current financial challenges at the University. U.W. is dealing with a $41M budget shortfall from the State, and internally reallocating $9M. She is working on a 2-year budget plan and will address adding more efficiency into the University system and reducing some academic programs/services.
Her upcoming projects will involve working with communities and economic development partners on workforce needs; supporting the Tier 1 Engineering effort with a new engineering school proposed for construction; increasing the quality of undergraduate curriculum programs in the Sciences; ensuring K-12 teacher preparation in the School of Education; and, raising the percentage (currently 34%) of higher education in the State to help drive the economy. She was asked if the Hathaway Scholarship would stay, and she replied “Yes” - but the revenue stream that supports it will need to diversify.
Dr. Nichols is delighted to be in Wyoming and pledged to elevate the University under her term.
President John thanked Dr. Nichols for speaking and informed the members that she would stick around after the meeting to take additional questions.
Next week’s program will feature our exchange student, Elise. The meeting adjourned at 1:33 p.m.
