Hello Rotarians!
Welcome to the 2025 -2026 program year.
Rotary International is shifting away from themes towards an
overarching and unifying message.
The message this year is:
Unite for Good
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This Week, October 17th -
Antlers
Luanda Musafiri Emmanuella
From Displacement to Hope: A Refugee's Story
Emmanuella Musafiri shares her powerful personal story of becoming a refugee. Her presentation will reflect on the deep personal losses she experienced—family, home, and community taken from her—and the daily struggles she faced living as a refugee.
Emmanuella’s story not only highlights the human realities behind global displacement statistics but also offers a message of resilience, how she fought to reclaim stability.
Through her first-hand account, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by refugees, the systemic barriers to rebuilding life after displacement, and the role of hope and human connection in recovery.
Next Week - October 24th
Antlers
Ruby Newell-Legner
5 Star Service Above Self
For more than 20 years, Ruby has helped organizations strengthen the connection between frontline staff and management, equipping teams with the tools to make exceptional customer service a way of life. She knows that every interaction between staff and customers influences sales, profits, and employee satisfaction. Organizations such as the Denver Broncos and General Electric have repeatedly entrusted Ruby with training their teams. A nationally recognized customer satisfaction leader, she brings real-world experience, proven strategies, and contagious passion to transform staff into service experts. Ruby’s practical approach ensures your team stays engaged, your customers stay loyal, and customer satisfaction continues to grow long after the training ends.
Register here
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This fall, we will be hosting several vaccination clinics and need volunteers to assist with the clinics and distribute flyers at various times.
Please click the sign-up link below.
All volunteers are encouraged to wear a Rotary Shirt.
Fall Vaccination Volunteer Sign-Up Link
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October 17th Guests
Please register your guest when you RSVP using your weekly program invitation, or email Morgan (administration.manager@coloradospringsrotary.org) with the guest's name so she can register them.
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Salvation Army Family Hope Center
Our Club has launched an initiative to support the Salvation Army Family Hope Center, the family emergency shelter located on South Sierra Madre Street. The shelter, which already has to turn away multiple families with children each week, is now facing a 50% reduction in its capacity.
Brad Butler, Mike Coplan, Samantha Chapman, and others are developing a plan for Rotarians to serve regularly at the shelter. This effort will help free staff to focus directly on supporting residents. In addition, Rotarians are raising funds to provide critical financial support for the Center.
Through these efforts, we have already secured a $5,000 grant from District 5470. Rotarians are also preparing an application to the Service Fund to match contributions being raised—both from the community and from Rotarians who wish to give through the Service Fund. Altogether, we expect to raise $25,000 with the Service Fund’s participation.
Finally, we are coordinating tours of the Center for prospective donors and interested Rotarians to learn more about the impact of this important work.
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Volunteers are needed for our Rotary Reading Program at Audubon Elementary. For the 2025-2026 school year, we will be reading weekly on Fridays with Second Graders from 9:45am - 10:15 am and with Fourth Graders from 11:30 am - 12:00 pm.
There is also an option to read on Tuesdays if you are unable to make Friday work.
There is no firm deadline to sign up, but reading usually begins mid-September. New Rotarian readers need to go through a security process (fingerprinting) before they can begin.
If interested in reading, please sign-up below and Donna Dell'Olio will be in contact with you.
Register to Volunteer Here
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IMPACT Meeting
You're invited to join us at an Impact meeting!
We gather on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Black Bear Diner, located on Garden of the Gods Road. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow Rotarians, engage in meaningful conversations, and learn about upcoming service projects. Guests are always welcome!
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National Wreaths Across America Day at Evergreen Cemetery
Join us in honoring veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day! We’ll gather at Evergreen Cemetery on Saturday, December 13th at 10:00 a.m. to lay wreaths on the graves of those who served our country.
This year, Rotary is participating in Wreaths Across America’s “$5 Back” program—for every wreath sponsored through our group, the Service Fund will receive $5 to support our own community service projects.
We’ll begin promoting wreath sponsorships in October and plan to “Adopt a Block,” setting a goal for the number of wreaths our group will sponsor and place on Wreath Laying Day.
➡️ Volunteer or Sponsor Wreaths Here
Help us remember, honor, and teach—while supporting local service initiatives!
Click here for Event Details in Club Runner
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Please note - the following dates we will NOT be at the Antlers.
Our location will be at the Pinery, located at 775 W Bijou St, Colorado Springs, CO 80905:
December 5, 2025 - Ballroom (1st floor)
February 6 - World Peace and Understanding Day
Additionally, we will not be meeting at all:
Friday, November 28th - Thansgiving Holiday
Friday, December 26th - Christmas Holiday
Friday, January 2nd - Happy New Year!
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Together in Service,
