July 23, 2019
President Hu Beaver called the meeting to order at 12:15pm. The meeting was held at The Kwataqnuk Resort. Jake Baumann led us in song. Roger Grimes gave the invocation.
Announcements are as follows:
“Happy bucket”: Larry P/Hu/Rob/Ron/Dave/Wayne/Eileen and Joe.
Visiting Rotarians: Sheriane Eckenrod, Bob Dayton, Amy Grout and Wayne Schile’s sister’s husband from Oregon.
Bret Richardson gave a Festival for Youth Update. Cheery Festival raffle tickets sales went well. Check your inbox for ticket totals from Larry P. Many more tickets need to be sold before August 10th. Chili cook-off hats and shirts are sale priced at $20 for the pair. Polson Rotary has a chili cook-off team. Team captain is Eileen Kane. Please contact her if you would like to help.
Tracy Dooley spoke about the Mission Valley Junior Golf Association’s Soiree by the Bay 6pm, Friday, August 2, 2019 at Boetcher Park. Food and drink are available, plus, silent and live auction items. MVJGA is a Festival for Youth 2019 partner.
Tracy won the drawing and gave the money to the Martini Fund.
The next monthly social hour is the second Tuesday in August at Fiesta En Jalisco.
The program this week was introduced by Larry Peltz. Amy Grout was our featured speaker. She is the Flathead Lake State Park Manager. There are 54 state parks in Montana. 18 of those are located in Northwest Montana and Lake County has the most state parks in Big Sky Country. Amy said Flathead Lake State park is made up of 6 units: Wayfarer’s, which is the busiest, Big Arm which is second busiest, Finley Point, which was recently remodeled, Wildhorse Island, which is day use only, Westshore, which Amy doesn’t manage and Yellow Bay.
Amy mentioned that visits to Montana’s state parks have doubled in the last 10 years; over 2.5 million visitors in 2017. She said funding comes from many sources, but not the state’s general fund. A vehicle registration tax of $6 amounts for 32% of funding. This tax allows Montanans free access to state parks. She said park fees fund 20% of state park revenue.
She said Flathead Lake State Park has over 2,000 acres, 10.9 miles of shoreline, employs just under 30 fulltime, part-time employees and volunteers. She said 75% of the 132 campsites can be reserved, with 25% available on a first come, first serve basis.
She mentioned that funding for Big Arm State Park is in the public scoping phase. The park is currently leased from the Montana Department of Natural Resources. The 2019 legislature and specially Polson Rotarian Greg Hertz introduced legislation to allow the state parks department to purchase a perpetual easement to maintain public access.
Amy mentioned a world record Bighorn Sheep head, from a deceased animal, was removed from Wildhorse Island recently and that the island currently is the home for 5 horses.
The next Polson Rotary meeting will be Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 12:15pm at the Kawtaqnuk Resort. Gayle Siemers will introduce Andrew Lau.
July Assignments:
Invocation: Roger Grimes
Justice: Wayne Schile
Song Leader: Keith Urbach
Sergeant at Arms: Rob Turner
August Assignments:
Invocation: Eileen Kane
Justice: Rob Turner
Song Leader: Ray Wooldridge
Sergeant at Arms: Roger Grimes
August Programs:
August 6: Ron Bone
August 13: Jake Baumann and RYLA Students
August 20: Birthday talks
August 27:OPEN
