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Smiles All Around: The Happy Crew, supported again this year by DSE Rotary, reunites for 2026-27. Monday nights are Happy Crew meetings for high schoolers and the new Middle School crew meets on Wednesdays. The high school group hosts 80 to 120 teenagers a week. It is student run and givers otherwise isolated teens a warm environment of inspiration, purpose and belonging.

Afshin Safavi joins DSE

Afshin is the founder and CEO of Colorado Health and Tech Centers, which brings build-to-suit business space solutions to innovators who want to get to market faster. He has extensive experience establishing and leading teams in start-ups, as well as Fortune 500 biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Her has a BS in Biochemistry from UCLA and PhD in Biochemistry from Kentucky medical school. He previously founded BioAgilytix Labs, one of the most successful multi-billion dollar Contract Research organizations, known internationally. He served 4 years as a City Councilman for Cherry Hills. His wife is Atousa and they have two children.

Josh Hellman Joins DSE

Josh Hellman is an innovative American entrepreneur, sustainability advocate, and a Business Development Officer at the Bank of Colorado. He graduated with a specialized degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), where his research into traditional banking systems exposed a heavy reliance on fossil fuels and unsustainable investments. Hellman applied his academic discoveries to co-found the Green Bank of Colorado in 2018, establishing the state's very first public green banking model. Outside of his professional endeavors, he actively practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for personal discipline, growth, and community engagement. He lives in Castle Rock with Lauren and 2 year old Kylie.

Hops & Grapes Fundraiser

A stormy start to set up gave way to a successful afternoon and evening of food, drinks and fun. Proceeds benefit the many projects of the club. See more pictures here.

CROSS PURPOSE delivers Good Neighbor Award to DSE

At the graduation ceremony for Cross Purpose Jason Janz, Board President of Cross Purpose, recognized DSE with a Good Neighbor Award. Rotarians (from left) project champion Bill Palmer and volunteers Catherine Sides, Mary Jo Heinz, Susan Donahue and Rob McMaher. Cross Purpose inspires young adults to launch productive careers, move up the economic ladder and set themselves up for success.They experience career coaching, mock interviews, resume workshops, and ongoing, one-on-one advocacy thanks to staff and volunteers from Rotary and the business community.

Steve Werner Receives Rotary's Highest Honor

The Service Above Self Award is Rotary’s highest individual honor. Each governor or director may nominate only one candidate, and a maximum of 150 recipients are selected worldwide. In 2025, just 132 Rotarians were chosen — 132 out of 1.2 million members globally. That makes Steve one of approximately one in every 9,000 Rotarians to receive this distinction.

A longtime member of Denver Southeast, Steve has served Rotary at the club, district, and international levels. He is widely recognized for his leadership advancing Rotary’s mission in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Known affectionately as “The Godfather of WASH,” Steve founded District 5450’s WASH Local Action Group, sponsoring 16 annual WASH Symposiums. He has also played key leadership roles with the WASH Rotarian Action Group, the Rotary WASH Ambassadors Program, and the Peaceful Schools Initiative.

International Signature Project

The Village Health Partnership (VHP), a non-profit chartered in 2013 and based in Denver was selected as the International Service Committee signature project for the next 3 years. VHP serves people in remote southwest Ethiopia. Its work regarding maternal health care and WASH -- two of Rotary's foci -- is central to its mission of safer motherhood. Clinics and small rural hospitals are featured. Our assistance will help to cover the training of nurse midwives in seven new target villages and clinics. These professionals are the primary caregivers for pregnant women; very few doctors and nurses are available. A six-person DSE committee, all with Ethiopian interests, will advise.

Posted by Brian Anderson

Check our Facebook page for photos of recent events.

Contributions in Tribute

Posted by Debra Fine on Jun 28, 2011

Would you like to honor or memorialize someone special? Make a contribution to the Denver Southeast Rotary Tribute program to let them know you are thinking of them. Each donation funds our local and international humanitarian Rotary projects and is 100% tax deductible. Download Form

What do you say when asked "What is Rotary?"

Do you have a succinct explanation of Rotary when someone asks you- what some would call an "elevator speech"? Here is a possible response, authored by former member, Jim Creamer:

Rotary is an international organization dedicated to the service of mankind. Denver Southeast Rotary Club is an active organization of men and women providing domestic and international assistance to others far and wide. And we have fun doing it with fellowship for our members and with a sense of ethics as outlined in the Four Way Test.

Walk for Sudan Oct 4
District 5450 Engagement Oct 10
Home Hospitality Oct 16
WASH Symposium Oct 17
Cross Purpose Interviews Oct 28

October 2026

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International Services ZOOM Meeting
ZOOM

Oct. 13, 2026
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Home Hospitality: Register Here to Attend or Host
Home Hospitality TBD

Oct. 16, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
WASH Symposium 2026
CSU SPUR (Or Virtual)

Oct. 17, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
BiWeekly Breakfast Walk
Landmark Cafe

Oct. 19, 2026 7:30 a.m.
Community Service ZOOM Meeting
Oct. 20, 2026 7:30 a.m.
Fall Hile in Waterton Canyon
Waterton Canyon Trailhead

Oct. 21, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.