Rotary Club of Casper WY
Meeting Summary
04/25/2016
President John Starnes called the meeting to order promptly at 12:25, with the ring of the bell and welcomed everyone to today’s meeting
Inspiration, Pledge, 4-Way Test:
Caryn Luberto
Greeters:
Jim Porter and Steve Domonkos were the greeters today, and Jim introduced the members who brought guests:
First, our exchange student Elise;
- Lisa Hubbard introduced Jacob Ernst (GSG Architecture);
- Susan Griffith introduced our interact students, John Dunkerle, Courtney Burnett, Hope Gillespie, and Taylor Wilcox;
- Casey Allison introduced Starla Atkinson (Mountain View Regional);
- Bill Schiling introduced Dick OHearn (County Parks Director);
- Brett Osborne introduced Eric Suppes (Greiner Motors);
- Martha Rajestraw introduced Chris Tobin (Principal at Midwest School), and Larena Arrella (mother of the SOM);
- Eric Easton introduced Daney Turner (NCSD Reach Program) and Brenda Gibson (Parent of SOM);
Song and Merriment:
Dennis Lower cracked us up with a couple of good jokes, and then Gary Pehrson had us all stand and lead us in singing “Rotary”
Students of the month:
Eric Easton introduced the students of the month today; he started by introducing Daney Turner from the NCSD Reach Program. Daney told us that the program was introduced as a transition High School for students who have gone through a substance abuse program. They spend a minimum of a semester there and then they have the choice to go back to one of the other High Schools or stay with the Reach program. The goal is to get them back on track academically and teach them how to be a part of a community. We then heard from the Reach students, Gabby Gibson and Mariah Swain. It was great to hear how these young ladies have been able to overcome adversity and do well in High School.
Martha Rakestraw then introduced our Student of the Month from Midwest, Yesenim Arrella. She is a great young lady with a bright future ahead of her.
Rotary Club Annual Meeting:
President John Starnes called the annual club meeting to order, he started by asking for a motion and second to approve the meetings from last year’s annual meeting, the minutes were then approved by the club by unanimous vote.
Dick Jay then presented us the figures from the 2014 990 which was on each table, a motion and second to accept the treasurer report and 990 was received and the club was asked to approve, it was approved unanimously.
President John then turned the time over to the board members to speak about their avenues of service. Heidi Foy started by telling us that they have made changes to the website and we are now on Facebook and she told us that the Rig is now taken care of by a board member or a volunteer.
Eric Easton thanked all of those who take care of the club events and said he is happy that everyone does a great job in handling these things.
Susan Griffith spoke about the youth; she thanked everyone involved in the students of the month and the Interact students who are very involved in service projects. She also said that they do RYLA and Young RYLA which have been very successful.
President John said that if you have questions about any of the avenues of service please ask anyone on the board and they will get the answer for you.
Mike McIntosh then let us know that the following board members will be stepping down and asked that they be thanked for their service: Susan Griffith, Eric Easton, Heidi Foy, and Bill DeGraeve. Mike then told us that according to the club bylaws a committee is formed to nominate the new board members and this year that committee was President John Starnes, Past President Bill DeGraeve and Mike McIntosh he thanked all of the members who were willing to serve and presented the following names to be approved by the members of the club: Tucker LaPrade, Denise Prugh, Ronna Boril and Dick Jay. President John Starnes then asked for a motion and second then asked for any additional nominations from the floor, having none he then asked for a vote in favor and got a unanimous vote in favor. President John Starnes then presented Dick Jay as our next President Elect Nominee for the upcoming year, asked for a motion and second and an approval from the group, he was unanimously approved.
A motion was then made and seconded to adjourn the meeting, a vote was called and the meeting was adjourned.
Announcements:
- Steve Loftin announced that the Food Bank of The Rockies has asked for help on Monday mornings to re-box frozen food that comes in to prepare it for distribution to the food banks, it would require 6+ volunteers. He asked for volunteers for next Monday and got several.
- Jim Anderson told us the buck rail fence project will be during the month of May as there is too much snow on the mountain to get it done in April.
- Tim Monroe announced that this is the last chance to fill out the biography sheet.
- Hal Hutchinson reminded us that Saturday morning at 9 am will be the highway cleanup and we need 4-5 more people so please sign up and show up.
Family of Rotary:
President John Starnes let us know that Bill DeGraeve is in Kansas City with his father who just had a couple of heart stints put in.
Rotarians of the Week:
Doug McLaughlin nominated Dan Cantine and Holly Turner for being honored last week for their work for the non-profits.
Tucker LaPrade nominated Steven Schnell and Matt Kadlick for the Science Zone event and for all they do for the kids and science.
Elise nominated Anne Ladd for her work on the academic awards ceremony and also Jim Porter for picking her up from school on his motorcycle and giving her a ride out to the lake with him and his wife. She also thanked Jim for helping her work on getting her Visa so that she can return to Casper next year.
Dave Simonson nominated Deb and Gene Theriault for hosting the International project committee and serving a great dinner last week.
Program (Rotary Park update):
Bill Schilling introduced our speaker, Jared Feringer with CEPI the architecture firm, who showed us pictures of the artist rendering of the proposed small amphitheater up at Rotary Park. It will be located near the parking lot and will have a retaining wall for seating as well as an area for lawn chairs and blankets. It is not going to be a very large area but will be able to have a couple hundred people. They will be adding a few more parking spots as well to allow for more people to use the park. Rocky Mountain Power has agreed to donate the running of electricity to the Amphitheatre if we dig the trench for it to be buried, which will be another project this summer. Bill Schilling added that there will be a meeting next Tuesday at 12:30 up on the mountain for lunch to go over these plans and the placement of everything with the County Commissioners and others.
President John Starnes concluded the meeting at 1:29 with the ring of the bell and reminded us that next week we will be back at the Parkway Plaza.
