The Happy Crew - a DSE supported projectSmiles 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. |
Join New Hikers Group -June 3
Like to hike? DSE Rotary has a new Hiking Group just formed with a fun agenda ahead. The first hike, led by Buzz Eddy, starts at 8:30 AM Wednesday June 3 at Lair O the Bear Park. The Trailhead is at 22550 State Hwy 74 in Idledale. |
Bonnie Thomas with C.U.R.E kits headed for Ghana
Bonnie Thomas is heading to Ghana to do a hospital/clinic assessment for Project CURE. She is taking with her CURE kits of medical supplies that are available to anyone traveling to places in need. For years, our Rotary club has provided volunteers and financial support to Denver’s Project CURE. Ghana is a country of 33 million in West Africa where access to medical supplies and services is an ongoing challenge.
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Time to Recruit for RYLA! |
The Coffee Conclave |
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. |
Dr. Eric Nelson rejoins DSE
Dr. Nelson has over 25 years of business and corporate leadership experience holding progressive management roles including Operations, Sales/Marketing/Customer Service, Human Resources and P&L Responsibility. He has a PhD in Theology & Apologetics and was an Adjunct faculty member at CSU. He served in the United States Air Force; and sits on various community boards and commissions. He has been involved in the Aurora community for over 25 years. A native of Georgia, he is married with three children and six grandchildren.
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Susan Donahue
Susan Donahue joined DSE. She has been close to Rotary as the wife of long time member, Bill Donahue. Susan is a Practice Administrator at UC Health, where she has worked for 9 years. Susan has BS and MS degrees in Healthcare Administration from Regis. Healthcare Adminstration has been her career for over 38 years. Approaching retirement, she wants to broaden her volunteer contributions and wants to align with Rotary to promote health, serve and help change lives.
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Volunteer Opportunities |
Contributions in Tribute
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. |
