The Board met today. We started with follow up to our recent meeting with the Superior Club Board. The planning and fundraising have started.

 

Sad news from Deb. Her father, David Tommeraasen, passed away last week. She and Paul were cruising off of the coast of Africa when he passed. Deb had moved her parents to Aftenro to be closer to family. Skyliner Pastor David Norland has attended to their spiritual needs. 

 

Great news! Gus Olson who visited our Club two weeks ago as a potential outbound exchange student has now been accepted and will leave for Thailand in the Fall. It was a great effort by the District Outbound committee, the Olson family, and Skyline that could make this happen in such a short timeframe. We will see Gus and Jessica at the District Conference. 

 

Guests last week were: Proctor Student Rotarians Abbey Schunk and Carlie Blevins, and our speaker Dave Schaeffer.

Friday was International Women's Day. We are eager to welcome our second woman President of Rotary International. Women are the fastest growing demographic in Rotary around the world. 

 

We were very pleased to induct Jim Lewis into the Club and hear him speak about growing up at Chester Bowl and about joining the banking busines that his grandfather started. Welcome Jim! 

 

Mark introduced our speaker Dave Schaeffer who is the Executive Director of the Chester Bowl Improvement Club. He talked about the public/private parnership between the City and the Club that has helped to build infrastructure that then is used by the public and by the Club for their skiing and summer camp programs. The Club's mission is to promote sustainable quality programs for all users in a healthy and safe environment. As kids age through the programs they start as cadets and then junior counselors and finally as paid staff. Summer camp has 125 kids per day from 8-5 for 10 weeks. The Fall Festival has taken place and grown for 38 years. There is a summer concert series. The ski and snowboard program averages 1,900 season pass holders. They are very busy making a positive impact on our kids. 

Their current major capital project is the renovation and expansion of the Thom Storm Chalet. The expected total project cost is $2.7M. They are hoping for a 2026 or 2027 construction start. To learn more visit growingupchester.org   

 

Club Planning is underway for attending the District Conference in Fargo on April 11-13th. For first time District Conference attendees the Club will pay their $170 registration fee. We are looking at housing sharing and ride sharing. Plan to make a decision before  March 15th when the cost goes up $50. Registration is now open so go to the rotary5580.org website, register, and then submit the expense to Judy Harrison.  

 

March is Rotary International Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Month. Our Club received a WASH grant to provide the water well system and the waste system for the medical clinic built with our partners, Equal As One in Nigeria. There can be no good health if there is no clean water to drink and sanitation system to prevent the spread of disease. 

 

March is also Women's History Month