Our September Board of Directors meeting will be held next Thursday morning at 7:30am. We will end promptly at 9:00am. The meeting is held in the Antler's Board Room - located directly behind the registration desk. This is a great way to make up a missed meeting, or to fulfill one of the requirements for obtaining your white badge. Please RSVP to Claudine if you plan on attending.
Be a part of our Far Away Galaxy, Star Wars themed benefit! We are organizing this benefit for a local family with a disabled son afflicted with a rare genetic disorder. 6 year-old Benjamin has a condition that is so rare doctors are struggling to accurately identify it. Extensive genetic testing is currently underway to determine if an accurate diagnosis is even possible. Doctors can say however, with a great deal of certainty that Benjamin’s condition will eventually lead to paralysis leaving him wheelchair-bound. We are hesitant to say the prognosis is terminal because we are holding out hope against all odds, but the condition is very serious.
Benjamin has two younger brothers, 2 years old and 10 months that the family is also caring for. The family is locked in a constant cycle of hospital visits, battling with insurance companies, keeping up with care and medications all while trying to find time to be a family. The benefit is raising money to make modifications to the family home to make it safer and more accessible for Benjamin as part of planning for the eventuality of his need for a wheelchair.
Our Far Away Galaxy benefit is a Star Wars themed party, complete with the legendary 501st squadron, a non-profit club with authentic costumes from the Star Wars movie series. The benefit will feature exclusive photo opportunities with members of the 501st. We have also enlisted help from our local art and comic communities to feature original Star Wars themed art and memorabilia to be sold at our silent auction, with all of the proceeds going towards Benjamin and his family.
It is our hope to find individuals, artists, businesses, photographers, and clubs that wish to contribute, participate, and ultimately attend our benefit event to raise much needed funds for this local family. Our benefit will take place on September 26th from 3:30-5:30pm at Johnny Martin’s Car Central. The address is: 1 S Nevada Ave #110, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. We will be charging $20 at the door; kids 12 and under are free.
Please talk to your Rotary Prime contact for more information. If you don’t have a personal contact yet, call or e-mail Rob Fountain at (719) 351-0007, rob.fountain@kw.com to discuss how you can participate.
Labor Day has come and gone, school is back in session, and all the ski shops are running “huge” sales in anticipation of winter snows to come. If you are interested in joining your fellow Rotarians in the ski fellowship this winter, please send an email to Matt Otten, mr.otten@gmail.com, to add your name to the list of interested skiers/riders this winter. We carpool to Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Wednesdays beginning this year on Wednesday, December 9, snow conditions permitting. We meet at the Walgreen’s at 3143 W Colorado Ave departing for Copper at 6:30 AM and usually return to the Walgreen’s by 5:00 pm.
Skiers and riders of any skill level are welcome to join the group. Send your email address to Matt Otten, mr.otten@gmail.com, to be included in this enjoyable activity. Details, list of interested persons, and complete schedule will be sent to all respondents in October.
Friday's Rotary program was presented by the Colorado Springs Conservatory (our own Linda Weise is the founder) and it highlighted A Positive Note: music-making for young adults with disabilities. This program was so inspiring that Dwight Johnson, from our club, issued a challenge to members of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs. Dwight would like to start an instrument fund for the Conservatory and he will also donate a Pedler licorice stick clarinet. Dwight will donate $500 and invites club members to contribute to this donation. The Service Fund will be happy to receive the funds and we can write one generous check. Another Rotarian has donated $200 to the cause.
So, if you were as inspired as they were, you may contribute to this very worthwhile cause. Please give checks written to the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs Service Fund (with Conservatory challenge in the memo line) to Harold Eichenbaum or mail them to: The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, P.O Box 1558, Colorado Springs, 80903-1558. This challenge ends September 30.
In my role as District 5470 Literacy Co-Chair, I am writing to let you know that September 8 is International Literacy Day. Rotary Clubs worldwide are asked to commemorate this important day at club meetings and in districts. At our Friday meeting, I will be sharing information about the District Literacy Award which has been reinstated in the district this year, thanks to District Governor Bob Delavan.
Our October 16 meeting will focus on literacy in the early years and the importance of this focus as an investment in building our business community.
