Rotary has been a part of my life since my dad helped to charter the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach when I was in grade school. When I graduated from the University of Florida and started my first job, I sought out my own Rotary experience by first joining his club, and then eventually chartering the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg Sunset (we met at sunset AKA happy hour). I was a part of St. Pete Sunset until I moved away to go to law school, and the experience was one of the most meaningful and transformational of my life.
Since then I’ve met my husband (Jack), gotten married, and graduated law school, and the U.S. Army was gracious enough to assign Jack to work at Fort Carson. We moved out here last May, and one of the first things I did was google local rotary clubs in the area. I work from home for a global manufacturing company called Jabil Circuit, and while I love what I do (commercial contract negotiation), I have very little opportunity to meet new people out here. Through this club I have not only found a way to positively impact my new community, but I have met some of the best people I know. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, and for the love of Rotary, please buy your Flight raffle tickets!
Here's the latest from our Global Grant Scholar -- Jourdan McGinn. She has her UK student visa in hand and is ready to head for London. Jourdan will leave Friday to return to Africa for a visit with friends before leaving for London on September 10th. She'll be greeted at London Heathrow by Rotarians from District 1260 -- her host district during her studies which start the end of September.
Her host club is the Rotary Club of Newport Pagnell (https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=557#meetinfo). Newport Pagnell is northwest of London about 15 minutes from Bletchley Park, famous from Battle of Britain and WWII code breaking days. The district has a special weekend event in late September for Global Grant Scholars and Peace Fellows studying in the UK and Ireland.
Wishing Jourdan our best for a successful year in London.
I work at the US Air Force Academy Prep School. We are in need of sponsor families for our current class. We are comprised of approximately 230 Cadet Candidates; these are students who are prior enlisted, athletes, or those who just barely missed getting into the Academy that we wanted to give another shot. They will be working hard this year to prove they can handle the curriculum at the Academy.
As a sponsor family you are a home away from home for your cadet candidate, a place to give them some time away from a military training environment. It won't be much time that they will be in your home as we don't give a ton of leisure, but the time they spend will be amazing for them. Simply a place to shower without shower shoes, help cook a meal, even do the dishes. It's a sense of normalcy they don't get a lot of in the dorms. You DO NOT have to be military or have base access, we love community members in our program. I can tell you from experience it is a wonderful program. Our Cadet is a member of our family now and it's been a rewarding experience.
Please contact me with any questions and thank you so much for your time.
SUZANNE K. MCCURDY, Capt, USAFR
OIC, Training USAFA Prep School/OIC, Commander Support Staff
5210 Cedar Dr. Suite 214
USAFA, CO 80840
DSN 333-3598
Comm 719-333-3598
Cell 940-536-9502
Having been part of the Rotarian Family for just over a year has been inspiring and compelling. To be surrounded on a weekly basis with a group of people whose mission it is to impact humanity locally and internationally is profound. That being said, it is an honor to be involved on this year's Flight Committee where our local chapter of Rotary will strive to make a difference in School District 11. With the commitment from fellow Rotarians, local leaders and the community, last year The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, through the Flight Gala, was able to raise over $100k and provide grants to District 11 and our Club Service Fund, including funding a purchase for green screen technology for Palmer High School.
This year at the Gala, in addition to the Butterfly Auction and Silent Auction, we will be offering a Wine Pull. This is a fun opportunity to help us raise additional funds. If you are not familiar with a wine pull, the idea is to donate $20 and draw from a barrel of wine corks to win a fabulous bottle of wine. To make this fundraiser possible, we need your help! The Committee is asking that if possible, each Rotarian contribute a bottle of wine for the Pull; with a value of $20 or more. Any donations are welcomed and greatly appreciated. Please bring all contributions to the Friday club lunch.
In advance, we as a committee want to thank you for making this year's Flight a huge success!
