May 4, 2022 • Rotary Club of Missoula, Montana • Chartered May 2, 1917
New Member Orientation held
Two of our newest members -- Mark Lawhead and Rebecca Colman -- attended new member orientation on April 30, held at the Comfort Inn University Missoula, thanks to President Dean Fiedler who hosted the event. In addition to the new Rotarians, board members attending along with Dean included Director of Vocational Service Donna Upson, PE Royce Engstrom, PEN/Director of International Service Rick Oncken, and AG/IPP Victoria Emmons Bouzina. PP Andrew George attended as Mark's sponsor. If you know a friend with whom you might share Rotary, invite your friend to a luncheon meeting and open up a new door for him or her. We welcome all new members to join our club. Nine new members have joined us this year and we'd like to share Rotary with even more!
INSPIRATION
“When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go.” -- Carol Burnett
Journalist and author Ed Kittrell will be our speaker at this week’s meeting, attending via Zoom from his hometown of Glenview, IL.
Kittrell has a masters degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He has been a newspaper reporter and magazine editor in Chicago, and a writer for various organizations and institutions. He is the co-editor of "Down Time: Great Writers On Diving."
Kittrell's most recent book entitled "Solo into the Rising Sun: The Dangerous Missions of a U.S. Navy Bomber Squadron in World War II" was published in 2020 and features a chapter about US Navy LCdr. H. Glen Box, father of Rotarian Victoria Emmons Bouzina. The author will speak about his years-long research to write the book and what he learned along the way.
Missoula Rotary donates auction basket to District 5390
Thanks to the creative spirit of Rotarian Diane Dawson, the Rotary Club of Missoula will once again be represented well at this year's District Conference May 6-7 in Fairmont Hot Springs. The annual auction held at the conference helps support the District Foundation which offers grants to fund ours and other club projects around the state. Diane not only graciously assembled the basket of Montana-themed items, but she also donated all the basket's contents which will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Anyone interested in bidding on the basket, contact Victoria Emmons Bouzina to place bids for you.
The “I ❤️ Montana” basket
Everything you’ve ever wanted from Montana is packed into this lovely basket, including two bottles of Ten Spoons Winery’s dessert wines — Glacier Lily and Swenson Red Grapes; Evening in Missoula tea from Montana Tea & Spice Co.; This is Living towel from Montana life; two wooden plaques — 406 MT and Montana mini-bear — from Knotty Pine Woodworks; a bear claw serving set from Rock Creek Trading; Montana cork coasters; Montana wine stopper; 406 wine stopper; Montana favorites wild huckleberry taffy and wild huckleberry jam from Huckleberry People; Bequest sea salt caramels; and scratch art note card by Lindsey Nielsen of Bigfork, MT. Total value: $142
Congratulations to Chris Nowlen who was recently elected to serve on the board of directors of the Missoula Rotary Foundation (MRF). Chris will complete the three-year term started last year by Jim Hutcheson who stepped down from his position on the board for family reasons.
Chris is a former member of the Rotary Club of Missoula board of directors, having served a three-year term several years ago. He has also served in leadership roles on professional golf association boards. Chris is general manager of the Missoula Country Club and responsible for the great service that Rotarians receive during our meetings and special events there.
Other Missoula Rotarians serving on the MRF board include Kurt Ingold and immediate past president Victoria Emmons Bouzina.
Congratulations to Camryn Vaughn, a member of Missoula Rotaract, who was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Camryn is a graduate of University of Montana with a major in political science and a minor in Russian. She will spend next year in Georgia, a state of the former USSR.
Camryn is the program coordinator for the Mike and Maureen Mansfield Center located at UM's Mansfield Library. The Center offers a variety of internationally-focused speakers and programs throughout the year.
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal to improve intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Via the program, competitively-selected American citizens including students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists may receive scholarships or grants to study, conduct research, teach, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States. The program was founded by United States SenatorJ. William Fulbright in 1946 and is considered to be one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarships in the world. The program provides approximately 8,000 grants annually – roughly 1,600 to U.S. students, 1,200 to U.S. scholars, 4,000 to foreign students, 900 to foreign visiting scholars, and several hundred to teachers and professionals.-- Source: Wikipedia
Fellowship Chair Andrew George is always up for trying out new spots in Missoula. Last week's fellowship location was Cambie Taphouse + Coffee in the Sawmill District, Cambie's second and newest location in Missoula. A dozen or so Rotarians gathered around the small, wooden tables at the establishment and shared tall tales and brew. Photo compliments of President Dean.
Ask Fran Albrecht about Rotary's latest mystery! Rotary club president Dean Fiedler announced recently that Fran will organize our club's Mystery Dinner next month. Many of us may recall the fun of Mystery Dinners in past years. You don't know where you're going until you get there. You don't know what you'll eat until you sit down at the table... or picnic grounds... or backyard... or tent! A mysterious dining experience for sure. Fellow Rotarians will be cooking up dinner for their guests ... though they have no idea who those guests are, other than being Rotarians and friends.
"I recall hosting a Mystery Dinner at my home several years ago," said IPP Victoria Emmons Bouzina. "When my doorbell rang, I opened the door and there stood a handsome man carrying a bottle of red wine."
As it turned out, Victoria's first guest to arrive was Rick Oncken, who was soon followed by Charlie Bloom and his wife. None of them knew exactly where they were going and Victoria had no idea who was arriving. She only knew her menu, which the guests did not. The group had a lively evening munching on French food. Mais oui!
Fran is looking for volunteers to host Rotarians at your home, as well as guests who would like to attend a Mystery Dinner. Hosts will generally serve 6-8 guests, so there will be a variety of locations. Guests will pay for their dinners. Hosts determine, plan, and donate the menu. The club makes money to fund its projects. And everyone has a swell time! Be sure to let Fran know if you'd like to participate. You'll be glad you did.
Centennial Club raises funds for Ukrainian refugees
Rotary Club of Missoula Centennial has joined up with a Rotary club in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees who are suffering from the war with Russia. The club invites all District 5390 clubs to assist in relief for Ukrainian refugees. At a recent joint Zoom meeting with members of the Rotary Club of Zamosc, Poland, Rotarians identified refugee needs for shelter, personal items, clothing, medical and surgical supplies. Zamosc is 40 miles from Ukraine’s southeast border. Some club members are physically housing refugees. Other club efforts include providing medical supplies and a portable X-ray device to a Ukrainian hospital, and raising funds to support refugee children in Zamosc.
Rotary Club of Missoula Centennial is committed to raising funds, applying for relief grants and helping the Rotary Club of Zamosc to secure some items they cannot obtain in Poland or western Europe. Both clubs acknowledge this will be a long-term effort. Even after the conflict ends, the process of rebuilding lives in Ukraine will take years.
Contributions may be made online at the Missoula Rotary Foundation website at https://missoularotaryfoundation.org/ or by sending a check to the Missoula Rotary Foundation, P.O. Box 7113, Missoula MT 59807-7113. Please indicate your donation is for the MCRC Ukrainian relief project.
Wow, it is hard to believe that it is already May. That means I have only two more months in my term as your club president. My how the time flies; but as they say, time flies when you're having fun. Thanks to everyone who attended our fellowship events last week; we had a great time at lunch and at Cambie. Extra special thanks to our members and sponsors who attended the New Member Orientation on Saturday. It's always a great opportunity to share our club's background with new members. I find by attending these orientation sessions that I learn more about our club every time. I'm off to Las Vegas for a convention this week, but my good friend and Past President Andrew George will lead this week's meeting. I look forward to seeing you all next week.
May 5 & 6 is Missoula Gives. Please go in and check the Missoula Rotary Foundation and give generously for those projects we support each year. Click here
PEACE PARK
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park will be held this year in Great Falls at the Heritage Inn, September 15-16. More details will be forthcoming.
SAVE THE DATE
Save the Date for our President's Demotion Dinner June 22, 2022, at Missoula Country Club.
NEXT SERVICE PROJECT:
We are planning a Rotary service project for Saturday, June 4, from 11 am-3pm to build Bikes for Essential Eats Distributors LLC. The bicycles will be given to disadvantaged youth. To sign up, see Levi Thane.
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
Visit our club's new FaceBook page "Rotary Club of Missoula" to read all the latest news and updates. And be sure to like us so Rotary news reaches your friends, too. That's how we can spread the word about Rotary.
Thanks to the creative spirit of Rotarian Diane Dawson, the Rotary Club of Missoula will once again be represented well at this year's District Conference May 6-7 in Fairmont Hot Springs. The annual auction held at the conference helps support the District Foundation which offers grants to fund ours and other club projects around the state. Diane not only graciously assembled the basket of Montana-themed items, but she also donated all the basket's contents which will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Anyone interested in bidding on the basket, contact Victoria Emmons Bouzina to place bids for you.
Congratulations to Chris Nowlen who was recently elected to serve on the board of directors of the Missoula Rotary Foundation (MRF). Chris will complete the three-year term started last year by Jim Hutcheson who stepped down from his position on the board for family reasons. 
Congratulations to Camryn Vaughn, a member of Missoula Rotaract, who was recently awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Camryn is a graduate of University of Montana with a major in political science and a minor in Russian. She will spend next year in Georgia, a state of the former USSR. 
Fellowship Chair Andrew George is always up for trying out new spots in Missoula. Last week's fellowship location was Cambie Taphouse + Coffee in the Sawmill District, Cambie's second and newest location in Missoula. A dozen or so Rotarians gathered around the small, wooden tables at the establishment and shared tall tales and brew. Photo compliments of President Dean.
Rotary Club of Missoula Centennial has joined up with a Rotary club in Poland to help Ukrainian refugees who are suffering from the war with Russia. The club invites all District 5390 clubs to assist in relief for Ukrainian refugees. At a recent joint Zoom meeting with members of the Rotary Club of Zamosc, Poland, Rotarians identified refugee needs for shelter, personal items, clothing, medical and surgical supplies. Zamosc is 40 miles from Ukraine’s southeast border. Some club members are physically housing refugees. Other club efforts include providing medical supplies and a portable X-ray device to a Ukrainian hospital, and raising funds to support refugee children in Zamosc.
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