President Dick Jay called the meeting to order promptly at (time not noted), with the ring of the bell and welcomed everyone to today’s meeting.
Inspiration, Pledge, 4-Way Test: Greyson Buckingham
Greeters: Michael Howe and Taylor Schwahn were our greeters today and Taylor introduced the members who brought guests:
- Miamie Sleep introduced Shaw Brezina (Insurance Agent);
- Eric Easton introduced Mike Britt (KWHS Principal);
- Lisa Scroggins introduced Becca Steinhoff on behalf of Bill Schilling;
- Velma Corson introduced her husband Al Corson (Insight Resources);
- Dick Jay introduced Mike Staley;
- Francisco Deleuca our exchange student is also here today;
Song and Merriment:
Gary Pehrson had us stand and led us in singing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
Rotary History:
Lisa Scroggins shared a document that was found while the team was going through the Rotary documents at Casper College. It contained Rotary history from 1919-1922.
Family of Rotary:
Long tie Rotarian Brenda Peters passed away and we held a moment of silence in her memory.
Lisa Scroggins said her husband turned 70 recently and family surprised them with a visit. Also, her son became engaged en-route to Wyoming to visit.
Tim Cortez said that Suzie McMurry had surgery
Rotarians of the Week:
Bill DeGraeve noted that Fran Deleuca moved to his house over the weekend. He nominated the Boatright family for hosting before him. He also nominated Jim Porter for agreeing to transport Fran to and from the Rotary meetings. Bill also mentioned that Fran is here for a year and Rotary’s job is to entertain him and show off Casper. Fran Deleuca was also nominated for Rotarian of the week for competing in two ski competitions over the weekend.
Membership:
Jeremy Jones, sponsored by Phillip Rael was inducted into the club today, welcome.
Announcements:
We are in need of a duck commander.
Denise Pugh made a reminder that the club is matching gifts of up to $2,500 to the Foundation. She told the club about many of the great things that the Foundation does, such as giving scholarships to Casper College and UW Casper students, donating to Rotary Park, supporting the KWHS Last Blast event, supporting the Panama Project, contributing to the David Street Station clock, many sculptures around Casper, many non-profits, Shelter Boxes, the Victim Soft Room furniture at Casper Police Department and other incredible things. Also today is the last day to register for Santa presents as the party is next Monday. There is a wrapping party on Wednesday at 5:30 pm at Uncorked.
Lisa Scroggins announced about the membership contest that ends on May 6th.
Steve Loftin updated up about the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies. They will be meat packing again on January 7th. They have a new warehouse and office and will host an open house on January 10th from 5-6 pm.
Doug McLaughlin announced that he recently presented about planned giving and it got him thinking about qualified charitable deductions.
Student of The Month:
Martha Rakestraw introduced our student of the month, Tyler Whitley from KWHS. Tyler’s parents Jolene and Jason also attended the meeting. Tyler is currently 6th in his class of 431 students. He plays football, baseball, hockey and wrestles. He does a variety of community services including Make-a-Wish and the Angel’s Council Care. He is undecided about where he will go to college.
Program:
President Elect John Griffith introduced Ray Reutzel, Dean of the College of Education at the University of Wyoming.
D. Ray Reutzel has served as Dean of the College of Education at the University of Wyoming since 2015. Previous to his current position, he was the Emma Eccles Jones Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair of Early Literacy Education at Utah State University, a position he held for 14 years. He is the author of more than 230 published research reports in top tier research journals, articles, books, book chapters, and monographs. He is the co-author of the best selling book on the teaching of reading, Teaching Children to Read: The Teacher Makes the Difference, 8th Edition published by Pearson Education, Boston, MA. He has received more than 17 million dollars in research/professional development grant funding. He has been active in securing legislative and private foundations gifts in excess of 40 million dollars. He is the past Editor of - Literacy Research and Instruction, The Reading Teacher and is the current Executive Editor of the Journal of Educational Research. He received the 1999 A.B. Herr Award and the 2013 ALER Laureate Award from the Association of Literacy Researchers and Educators. Ray served as President of the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers, ALER, from 2006- 2007. He was presented the John C. Manning Public School Service Award from the International Reading Association, May 2007 in Toronto, Canada and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association from 2007-2010. Ray was a member of the Literacy Research Association’s Board of Directors from 2012-2015. Dr. Reutzel was elected a member of the Reading Hall of Fame in 2011 and is serving as its President from 2017-2019. He is also an author of school-based literacy instructional materials with Curriculum Associates® and is a newly appointed member of the prestigious Literacy Research Panel of the International Reading Association (ILA) until 2021.
President Elect John Griffith made a late Rotarian of the Week nomination of Susan Thomas for making introductions to Dr. Reutzel.
President Dick Jay concluded the meeting at 1:28 pm.
