SPEAKERS
Page/speakers
April 23, 2015 • Jason Rohlf, The Armory, A Shared Workspace
Jason invested in the space and renovated the area located in the old train depot on Railroad three years ago. He has about 20 members month-to-month, who pay to use the space for 1-4 days a week.
He said it is a great way for individuals to network, share information and sometimes find ways to work for one another. "These are people passionate about connections," he said. The clientele, he said, is "tech-heavy" -- web developers, video game creators, and others who are creative but independent. "It is a quiet, productive work space," he said. Members bring their work gear with them and leave with it. there is a conference room for 8-10 people and some people just rent that for meetings. It rents for $15 an hour.
April 16, 2015 • Bob Campagna, Photographer
Today, he said, everyone is a "photographer" because in this digital age, people can take pictures and have instant results with their phones. Often the artistry of photography is lost because of this. His theory is that "Art has to be discovered rather than mass-marketed." Using the very traditional method and shooting blank and white is artistry in itself as the black and white allows for interpretation, texture and shadow lighting. Using silver-based printing, black and white has an archival quality and can last a couple of thousand years, he said.
For years, Bob has taught a gifted and talented photo class at Thompson School District. He recently did some documentary photography for the communities of Evans and Lyons after the floods. And, he passed around a "hot off the press" book of black and white photography.
April 10, 2015 • Melissa Esposti, Project C.U.R.E.
Project C.U.R.E: Melissa Esposti is the grant manager for this organization, which collects and disperses medical supplies all over the world. Its web site says the organization “Delivers Health and Hope to the World.” She called the project “Colorado’s best-kept secret” as it started in 1987 when an accountant visited Brazil and met a doctor who revealed how desperate Brazil was for medical supplies. He returned and began collecting supplies and that started one of the largest and most efficient NGOs (nongovernmental organization) in the world. Project CURE has 23 employees and 17,000 volunteers with warehouses in Denver, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston and Nashville. She said the organization spends only 1% of its funds on administration and demonstrates a 20:1 benefit for its giving per dollar spent. For instance, they spend about $20,000 to send a 40-foot semi tractor-trailer filled with $450,000 worth of supplies. They have $5 million in cash reserves; $53 million of in-kind service and supplies and work with 130 developing countries to provide necessary medical products. They send about 140 of these semi loads a year!
A CSU graduate, Melissa said she has been visiting service clubs in Northern Colorado to make them aware of this great project, which has received Rotary International matching grants. While most of the donations come from medical facilities and supply companies, individual donations are also accepted but there is not yet a location for donations in this area.
To learn more about Project C.U.R.E. go to www.projectcure.org
April 3, 2015 • Austin Fragghi
Austin Fragghi, a communications and public speaking instructor for Front Range Community College, gave an interesting presentation on the importance of Communication. He believes Oral Communication Education, known as Oracy, is as important as literacy and numeracy. He feels there is not enough focus on it in the classroom, especially in these days of social media, where kids are not speaking, but phrasing to others. Too many lack communication skills, which can hurt them when they apply for jobs and when they work with others. He said communication is lacking in both quantity and quality. He noted that students should be engaging in speech in all subjects and not just in response to questions!
As someone who found his way through debate class and public speaking, he sees-first hand in his classes that students lack skills that can carry them much farther in life. He said we are the first Rotary he has spoken to but wants to continue these presentations to bring this issue to the forefront.
March 26, 2015 • Dana Guber
Dana, is the director of the Growing Project, a nonprofit started in 2009 by a group of volunteers interested in educating about, producing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income families and other at-risk populations. She noted that the Larimer County Food Bank has had a 41% decrease in fresh produce, while there has been a 40 % increase in need. The group has been involved in starting several community gardens, helping groups get started, with them eventually assuming all responsibilities. They also collected and delivered more than 12,000 pounds of produce last year, picking up unused or slightly damaged produce and delivering it to places that can use it such as the Food Bank, and other organizations. They have also worked with programs for at-risk students such as the Center for Family Outreach and the Remington House to educate kids about growing food. You can learn more about the Growing Project at www.thegrowingproject.org
March 12, 2015 • Phil Murphy, District Governor
Phil gave a presentation on the Rotary Foundation and how to become a Paul Harris Fellow:
Paul Harris was kicked out of boarding school and his first college, then spent a year at Princeton, only to leave to care for family members. Eventually, Paul Harris graduated from law school and began a firm in Chicago. It is there where he helped start the first of what became a world-wide organization that today boasts 1.2 million members.
The foundation supports giving in four areas: The Annual Program; the Polio Program; the Endowment; and the Peace Center. Clubs and individual members support annual giving. This year, our club pledged to provide $2007 to the foundation and we are more than halfway there. Phil said 100 % What clubs give in a district is invested in the foundation for three years, then half is returned to the district, where it can be used “to do good” through grants and other projects.
The polio fund is the second project and he said by 2018, the world will be –polio-free. Countries must be without new cases for three years before they are considered polio-free. Nigeria, Afghanistan and India have reported no new cases in months and Pakistan has just cleared the way for vaccinations to be administered. The endowment is for people who leave money to the foundation and the Peace Center provides scholarships for a Peace Scholar every year.
As members, what we give through the Annual Program and the Polio Fund as individuals is captured and in honor of Paul Harris, everyone who gives $1,000 to these funds is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Our club has 17 Paul Harris Fellows. Some are Paul Harris Fellows PLUS – for every additional $1,000 they are a Paul Harris Plus 1 or 2, etc. In our club’s existence, we have given $81,000 to the Rotary Foundation and have earned 16,000 points to award to members or people in the community that we may wish to honor as Paul Harris Fellows. Each point is worth $1, so we have potential for 16 recognitions!
The Loveland Habitat is part of an international nonprofit organization that provides affordable houses to low income families who assist in the construction through “sweat equity.”
Since 1987, the local Habitat has provided 121 families with homes. Families pay approximately 28 percent of their income as mortgage, he said. To qualify, families go through an application process that takes about three month.
He noted that Colorado is 4th in the country in rent-burdened families who pay at least 30% of their income for rentals. Loveland is second highest in the state next to Aspen for rent burden percentage.
He said family members put in at least 250 hours of sweat equity into building their home, plus they take courses and learn about budgeting and other things that will assist them as new home owners. For information about Habitat, visit www.lovelandhabitat.org
February 26, 2015 • Wendie Robinson
Wendie is excited to take on the challenge of sustaining and growing the organization, which engages at-risk youth in gardening activities as well as community service, discipline, and leadership qualities. Just last year, the group gave 27,000 of produce to the Larimer County food Bank!
To learn more about LYG go to www.LovelandYouthGardeners.org
February 19, 2015 • John Kinkade
April 23, 2015 • Jason Rohlf, The Armory, A Shared Workspace
Jason Rohlf presented on his co-working space, which is part of a national movement where entrepreneurs, freelancers and start-up companies rent shared space for work space. He first experienced shared space at Iowa State University where architects shared a space and the Armory is named after that location.
Jason invested in the space and renovated the area located in the old train depot on Railroad three years ago. He has about 20 members month-to-month, who pay to use the space for 1-4 days a week.
He said it is a great way for individuals to network, share information and sometimes find ways to work for one another. "These are people passionate about connections," he said. The clientele, he said, is "tech-heavy" -- web developers, video game creators, and others who are creative but independent. "It is a quiet, productive work space," he said. Members bring their work gear with them and leave with it. there is a conference room for 8-10 people and some people just rent that for meetings. It rents for $15 an hour.
Other clubs have evolved within the work space, such as the Loveland Open Coffee Club, where mostly tech entrepreneurs get together and have speakers. Others are the Java Script Club for coders and the Made in Loveland Club.
For more information: thearmoryworkspace.com
For more information: thearmoryworkspace.com
April 16, 2015 • Bob Campagna, Photographer
Campagna has worked from a studio at Artworks since 2012, where he has a darkroom (remember those?). Originally from Iowa, he traveled back and forth as an artist-in-residence both here and in Iowa where he has conducted some 100 workshops and worked with 1,100 students, teaching them the rudiments of traditional black and white photography using film and silver print-making. Finally, he moved here 8 years ago.
Today, he said, everyone is a "photographer" because in this digital age, people can take pictures and have instant results with their phones. Often the artistry of photography is lost because of this. His theory is that "Art has to be discovered rather than mass-marketed." Using the very traditional method and shooting blank and white is artistry in itself as the black and white allows for interpretation, texture and shadow lighting. Using silver-based printing, black and white has an archival quality and can last a couple of thousand years, he said.
For years, Bob has taught a gifted and talented photo class at Thompson School District. He recently did some documentary photography for the communities of Evans and Lyons after the floods. And, he passed around a "hot off the press" book of black and white photography.
Project C.U.R.E: Melissa Esposti is the grant manager for this organization, which collects and disperses medical supplies all over the world. Its web site says the organization “Delivers Health and Hope to the World.” She called the project “Colorado’s best-kept secret” as it started in 1987 when an accountant visited Brazil and met a doctor who revealed how desperate Brazil was for medical supplies. He returned and began collecting supplies and that started one of the largest and most efficient NGOs (nongovernmental organization) in the world. Project CURE has 23 employees and 17,000 volunteers with warehouses in Denver, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston and Nashville. She said the organization spends only 1% of its funds on administration and demonstrates a 20:1 benefit for its giving per dollar spent. For instance, they spend about $20,000 to send a 40-foot semi tractor-trailer filled with $450,000 worth of supplies. They have $5 million in cash reserves; $53 million of in-kind service and supplies and work with 130 developing countries to provide necessary medical products. They send about 140 of these semi loads a year!
A CSU graduate, Melissa said she has been visiting service clubs in Northern Colorado to make them aware of this great project, which has received Rotary International matching grants. While most of the donations come from medical facilities and supply companies, individual donations are also accepted but there is not yet a location for donations in this area.
To learn more about Project C.U.R.E. go to www.projectcure.org
April 3, 2015 • Austin Fragghi
Austin Fragghi, a communications and public speaking instructor for Front Range Community College, gave an interesting presentation on the importance of Communication. He believes Oral Communication Education, known as Oracy, is as important as literacy and numeracy. He feels there is not enough focus on it in the classroom, especially in these days of social media, where kids are not speaking, but phrasing to others. Too many lack communication skills, which can hurt them when they apply for jobs and when they work with others. He said communication is lacking in both quantity and quality. He noted that students should be engaging in speech in all subjects and not just in response to questions!
As someone who found his way through debate class and public speaking, he sees-first hand in his classes that students lack skills that can carry them much farther in life. He said we are the first Rotary he has spoken to but wants to continue these presentations to bring this issue to the forefront.
Dana, is the director of the Growing Project, a nonprofit started in 2009 by a group of volunteers interested in educating about, producing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables for low-income families and other at-risk populations. She noted that the Larimer County Food Bank has had a 41% decrease in fresh produce, while there has been a 40 % increase in need. The group has been involved in starting several community gardens, helping groups get started, with them eventually assuming all responsibilities. They also collected and delivered more than 12,000 pounds of produce last year, picking up unused or slightly damaged produce and delivering it to places that can use it such as the Food Bank, and other organizations. They have also worked with programs for at-risk students such as the Center for Family Outreach and the Remington House to educate kids about growing food. You can learn more about the Growing Project at www.thegrowingproject.orgMarch 12, 2015 • Phil Murphy, District Governor
Phil gave a presentation on the Rotary Foundation and how to become a Paul Harris Fellow:
Paul Harris was kicked out of boarding school and his first college, then spent a year at Princeton, only to leave to care for family members. Eventually, Paul Harris graduated from law school and began a firm in Chicago. It is there where he helped start the first of what became a world-wide organization that today boasts 1.2 million members.
In 1917 the first Rotary Foundation was created with $26.10 and a mission “to do good in the world and spread world peace.” It wasn’t until 1947, when Paul Harris passed away, that the foundation began to gather momentum to become what it is today – one of the most highly rated foundations in the world. The recognition given to supporters is named after Harris and are known as Paul Harris Fellows.
The foundation supports giving in four areas: The Annual Program; the Polio Program; the Endowment; and the Peace Center. Clubs and individual members support annual giving. This year, our club pledged to provide $2007 to the foundation and we are more than halfway there. Phil said 100 % What clubs give in a district is invested in the foundation for three years, then half is returned to the district, where it can be used “to do good” through grants and other projects.
The polio fund is the second project and he said by 2018, the world will be –polio-free. Countries must be without new cases for three years before they are considered polio-free. Nigeria, Afghanistan and India have reported no new cases in months and Pakistan has just cleared the way for vaccinations to be administered. The endowment is for people who leave money to the foundation and the Peace Center provides scholarships for a Peace Scholar every year.
As members, what we give through the Annual Program and the Polio Fund as individuals is captured and in honor of Paul Harris, everyone who gives $1,000 to these funds is recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Our club has 17 Paul Harris Fellows. Some are Paul Harris Fellows PLUS – for every additional $1,000 they are a Paul Harris Plus 1 or 2, etc. In our club’s existence, we have given $81,000 to the Rotary Foundation and have earned 16,000 points to award to members or people in the community that we may wish to honor as Paul Harris Fellows. Each point is worth $1, so we have potential for 16 recognitions!
Every Rotarian, Every Year is a way of encouraging members to donate whatever they can each year so that a club has 100 percent of its members giving to the foundation, whether it is $1 or $100 or more! Phil said that of all the money the foundation collects, 92% received goes toward giving while 8% is for administration.
March 5, 2015 • Vince Deely
The Loveland Habitat is part of an international nonprofit organization that provides affordable houses to low income families who assist in the construction through “sweat equity.”Since 1987, the local Habitat has provided 121 families with homes. Families pay approximately 28 percent of their income as mortgage, he said. To qualify, families go through an application process that takes about three month.
He noted that Colorado is 4th in the country in rent-burdened families who pay at least 30% of their income for rentals. Loveland is second highest in the state next to Aspen for rent burden percentage.
He said family members put in at least 250 hours of sweat equity into building their home, plus they take courses and learn about budgeting and other things that will assist them as new home owners. For information about Habitat, visit www.lovelandhabitat.org
February 26, 2015 • Wendie Robinson
Wendie Robinson, executive Director of the Loveland Youth Gardeners, a group we have supported for years. Wendie was formerly director of the Larimer county Food bank for several years. She replaces Joanna Rago, who founded the organization in 1996.
Wendie is excited to take on the challenge of sustaining and growing the organization, which engages at-risk youth in gardening activities as well as community service, discipline, and leadership qualities. Just last year, the group gave 27,000 of produce to the Larimer County food Bank!
To learn more about LYG go to www.LovelandYouthGardeners.org
February 19, 2015 • John Kinkade
John Kinkade’s first brush with Rotary was when he was 12 and he spoke to the Greeley Club about a camp experience. His well-delivered speech earned a compliment from the city’s district attorney who said he hoped when he grew up that John would marry his daughter. And John did. He and his former wife raised three children: a son who is in Japan, and two daughters who live in Loveland. He initially went to school to become an architect but was not accepted into the program because he was color blind. He ended up with a degree in history and political science, then graduated from law school from University of Denver. Returning to Greeley, he joined Rotary at 26, became heavily involved in the community, including a seat on the City Council. He was the driving force behind the fundraising and construction of the Union Colony Center; was a key player in installation of the path system between Greeley and Fort Collins; and was instrumental in creation of the still-existent Centennial Village in Greeley.
His Rotary service in Greeley continued and eventually became president of the Greeley Club, where his impish irreverence raised some hackles, but he insists he had a blast. In 1991 he moved to Loveland to embark on a new chapter in his life “doing what I wanted to do.” With seven local sculptors, he started the National Sculptor’s Guild as a platform to move the local sculptors to “the next level” and raise awareness of large sculptures in public spaces. Since that time, the guild, which now is housed in his Columbine Gallery on Taft Avenue, has installed $35 million in public sculptures around the country. He also used his legal skills to create the National League of Artists’ contract for art in public spaces. John travels with sculptors and their pieces to cities around the country to install work. He also is a public art consultant for seven cities.
He thought his Rotary years were behind him until he hooked up with the Thompson Valley Rotary Club in Loveland, which characterizes itself as the Club with a Heart … and a dose of irreverence. John has found his Rotary home!
For more information about National Sculptor's Guild and Columbine Gallery please visit: www.columbinensg.com or Columbine Gallery
February 5, 2015 • Lu Ball
Our speaker was Lu Ball, who is the director of the Loveland Community Kitchen, which serves up to 75 people a day. The Kitchen works jointly with Meals on Wheels, which prepares nutritious meals at about $3/person. The Kitchen works on an annual budget of about $180,000, with revenues coming from grants, individuals and churches. Lu is the only paid staff member and she is paid for 20 hours per week. All others are volunteers. She said last year, they served 23,000 meals. The organization has been in existence since 1996 when people would fix meals out of their homes and take them to downtown locations. When Meals on Wheels purchased its current building on Garfield and 5th Street, the kitchen partnered with them to prepare meals and use space for serving the meals. The kitchen also serves a continental breakfast and prepares snack packs for people.For more information visit: www.lovelandcommunitykitchen.org/
January 29, 2015 • Chief Mark Miller, Loveland Fire Authority
For some of us old-timers, Mark is a familiar face as he was fire chief in Loveland for 25 years from 1979 on. In 2005 he moved to moved on to a position in Vermont, then to one in Vail, before returning to Loveland this year. He focused his talk on “Our Family helping Your family.” He said much has changed in the time he was gone and the LFA continues to grow and improve. Originally, the department was volunteer but as the community expanded, the number of calls increased, as did the intense amount of training needed. Volunteers were no longer practical because of the time and effort required to be a firefighter. LFA now has 72 full-time positions, 12 part-time and seven volunteers. Miller said he is proud of the level of service provided by his department and of the support it receives from the community.
January 22, 2015 • Katy Little
Katy Little is a story teller -- an applied anthropologist who weaves truthful tales relating to a person’s legacy in life.
Her talk today was about her own legacy. Born during WWII, she absorbed her grandmother’s legacy that was “Keep a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart.” Later, her parents passed on their legacy of truthfulness and respect. Later, when she divorced and wanted to go to college at age 42., her mother bought her a red hat, red sweater and red shoes to boost her confidence, telling her: “Don’t be afraid to stand out.”
Before settling coming to Fort Collins to go to school, she traveled the world with her children and her former husband, learning from other cultures. Now, she shares her applied knowledge from those experiences to encourage people to find their legacies.
January 8, 2015 • Harry Devereaux and Leah Johnson
Harry and Leah spoke to our Club about the planning behind Loveland’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Leah is a downtown business owner and DDA committee spokeswoman. Harry is President/CEO of Home State Bank and was a member of Rotary.
Harry talked about how other communities have benefited from by having a DDA; he mentioned the positive financial and community experience in Fort Collins and other urban areas. Harry explained that downtown-redevelopment proponents formed the Loveland Downtown Partnership (LDP), and that the Loveland City Council approved $5 million in funding over the next 10 years for the partnership. The LDP nonprofit would serve as an umbrella organization for downtown efforts and the DDA, if approved, would collaborate with the partnership.
The proposed DDA would cover the City’s core, the area between where Rte. 287 splits into two one-way streets near 20th Street on the north and, on the south, at approximately SE 8th Street, and a few blocks going east and west.
The proposed DDA would manage redevelopment projects in this area, using monies from the City and from tax-increment financing (TIF), and eventually from the expected growth in property values. Each year the DDA would apply for the $500,000 and the expectation is that this would be renewed each year.
Harry talked about how other communities have benefited from by having a DDA; he mentioned the positive financial and community experience in Fort Collins and other urban areas. Harry explained that downtown-redevelopment proponents formed the Loveland Downtown Partnership (LDP), and that the Loveland City Council approved $5 million in funding over the next 10 years for the partnership. The LDP nonprofit would serve as an umbrella organization for downtown efforts and the DDA, if approved, would collaborate with the partnership.
The proposed DDA would cover the City’s core, the area between where Rte. 287 splits into two one-way streets near 20th Street on the north and, on the south, at approximately SE 8th Street, and a few blocks going east and west.
The proposed DDA would manage redevelopment projects in this area, using monies from the City and from tax-increment financing (TIF), and eventually from the expected growth in property values. Each year the DDA would apply for the $500,000 and the expectation is that this would be renewed each year.
Owners of property within these boundaries will vote, and business owners also are eligible to vote for the DDA in February. It is estimated that 1,100 individuals in this area will be eligible to vote. Ballots must be received at the Loveland clerk’s office by February 10th as the City Council will have establishment of the DDA on their agenda that day.