Rotary Club of Casper WY
Meeting Summary
2/22/2016
President John Starnes called the meeting to order promptly at 12:25, and welcomed everyone to the club meeting. He acknowledged George Bryce who is back after being out from having heart surgery, welcome back George!!
Inspiration, Pledge, 4-Way Test:
Charlie Shopp, Charlie let us know that the Casper Oilers HS kids won State Championships for the 4th time in a row. He also said that the KWHS freshman boys basketball team, who his son plays for, won State this past weekend.
Greeters:
John Jorgensen and Paulann Doane were the greeters today, and Paulann introduced the members who brought guests:
First, our exchange student Elise and then Visiting Rotarian, Rachel Sanborn (Casper Five Trails);
- Martha Rakestraw introduced Deanna Frye (Seton House), and also Pastor Mary Bates from First Untited Methodist Church;
- Tucker Laprade introduced his son Henry (5), and his son Isaac (3);
- Brett Osborne introduced Gary Wyatt from Greiner Motors;
- Tony Valdez introduced Jeremy Hugus from Platte River Law;
- Martha Rakestraw introduced the parents of our SOM, Carla and Wade Yuran;
Membership:
President Starnes presented John Jorgensen with a membership pin for sponsoring Greg Dixson last year, (it had been lost in the mail at John’s house for a while, but it is still in good shape).
Song and Merriment:
Dennis Lower cracked us up with a couple of jokes, and then Gary Pehrson led us in singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
Family of Rotary:
George Bryce thanked everyone for the Get Well cards, he said that before this he did not really think about all of the get well cards that he had signed for Rotarians but being on the receiving end of the cards he was very thankful for the opportunity to look through all of the signatures and think about each of the names. So when we sign those cards remember that they do mean a lot.
Rotarians of the Week:
Tucker Laprade let us know that Matt Meyers, former member of our club, was promoted to Major in the Army and there were many Rotarians who participated in the ceremony last week and Tucker nominated them all as Rotarians of the week; Jim Beck, Mike Ward, Bill and Chrisa DeGraeve, Jim and Ann Porter, Bill DeVore, and John Barrasso who performed the ceremony.
Eric Easton nominated Brad Cundy for holding a fundraiser dinner for the Casper Ski Patrol.
Don Harris nominated everyone who donated to the young lady, Corine, who lost her family and he reported that she received $650 so far to help her.
President John nominated those Rotarians that attended the Rotary in the Round last week, Jim Ruble, Eric Easton, Tony Valdez, Dennis Gazdiewich and his wife, Liz Becher, Bill DeGraeve and Lori Klatt. He said it was a great event and encourages everyone to attend the next time.
Students of the Month:
Today we heard from a great student from Midwest High School, Colby Yuran, a great young man. He is the Junior Class President and has won quite a few awards and likes to play sports, football and basketball both as well as Golf that he just started playing last year.
Announcements:
- Dick Jay let us know that we are still in need of a new treasurer to take his place and he told us a little about what it entails. He said that the duties include collecting all of the dues from the members and making the deposits. Also taking care of paying the bills for the club which takes more time the first of the month but usually about a half hour a week. Also duties include participating in the fundraisers to take care of the financial parts but that is enjoyable. He also said that you get to work with the accounting firm with Rick Reimann who will keep you in line. On Average it takes an hour to an hour and a half. It is not a paid position but the club does take care of your meal charge weekly.
- Dave True announced that District Conference will be a month earlier than normal; it will be in May at the Jackson Lake Lodge on the 19-21st. This year the club will cover the registration fee and three night’s hotel for the club members. Please get registered ASAP as it is active now. After April 15 the fee will go up by $50.00, so register early.
- President John thanked all of those members of the club that we can always count on to take care of their duties, Dick Jay, Lori Klatt, Dennis Lower, Gary Pehrson, Percy, Dennis Gazdiewich, Tony Valdez, Bill Mortimer, Tom Bromley and, Jim Ruble just to name a few who work hard every week to make sure things get done so we can have our meetings.
- President John let us know that this Thursday will be our club social at the Keg and Cork at 5:30, always a good time so please attend if possible.
- Our exchange student Elise let us know that her fundraiser Dinner will be April 17 at the First Baptist Church at fifth and Beech so please save the date and let her know if you will be able to attend. She also asked all of us who do Facebook to vote for her brother in a singing contest that he is in.
Blue Badge Presentation:
Connie Brezick received her Blue Badge today, Congratulations!!
Program (Wyoming Technology Business Center):
PE Jim Ruble introduced the program. Joe Bennick with the Wyoming Technology Business Center spoke with us today about the work they are doing with the business incubator. Joe started by letting us know about the Start Up Challenge contest they have going right now for someone to win some money to help start up a new business. They are focused on helping people in the early stages of their companies to grow faster and stronger. They have a new program they are starting in Casper; they have done it in Laramie but exclusively for College students but for the one in Casper they have opened it up to the public and registration is open now. Registration closes on March 2 and to register you just need to answer some basic questions about your business idea. They will choose 10 people and then meet with them, from there they will choose five finalists who will then work with them in their business program for a couple of months and on May 20 there will be a final contest where three winners will be picked and awarded $5,000 each and have access to a $50,000 seed fund to help with additional costs in starting up that they can apply for. He then opened the floor for questions and with the good questions he was able to tell us a little more about the incubator and past results. One of the winners in Laramie actually had a great success story with over $3 million in sales this past year. He said that the people in Casper tend to ask how they can raise money rather than how they can get a Grant, he much prefers people that want to raise money because Grant writing is a much harder way to get money. They also provide other services at the incubator such as business counseling and help with business questions that most people are not thinking of when they start a business such as operating agreements. They try to figure out where the person’s business knowledge is and where they are not strong and they focus on those areas to make sure they are ready to start and operate their business. They also have office space the people can lease that also has access to shared services such as a conference room and such.
President John adjourned the meeting at 1:32 p.m. reminding us that we are back at the Parkway Plaza next week and our speaker will be from Pop and a Shop.
“Be a Gift to the World”
