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This Week, October 10th -

Antlers

Boyd Willams, CEO of the YMCA

Boyd Williams, a 30-year YMCA veteran, leads more than 1,200 staff and volunteers across seven YMCA Family Centers, dozens of school sites, aquatic centers, and recreation facilities serving over 125,000 people annually in the Pikes Peak Region. A U.S. Army veteran (1986–1989), he began his YMCA career in 1994 and joined the Pikes Peak Region Association in 2011 after serving in five others. His dedication to community extends beyond the YMCA through service on multiple local and national boards, including the Armed Services YMCA, where he serves as Treasurer. Williams is also the immediate past-chair of both the Southwest Alliance of YMCAs and the YMCA Mid Major CEO Network. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Kennesaw State University.

Next 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.

Register here

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October Social

Rotary October Social: End Polio – A Walk in the Garden of the Gods
Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 a.m.

Join us for a beautiful fall walk in the Garden of the Gods as part of Rotary’s global effort to End Polio! We’ll meet in the Rock Ledge Ranch parking lot (enter via the roundabout toward the Garden) before setting off on an easy 30–40 minute walk surrounded by Colorado’s stunning autumn colors.

Afterwards, we’ll gather at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post for coffee and food. A minimum contribution of $10 per person will go directly toward Polio Plus, supporting Rotary’s worldwide campaign to eradicate polio. If weather doesn’t cooperate, an alternate plan will be provided—so either way, we’ll enjoy good company for a great cause.

Bring your friends, enjoy the beauty of the season, and help us make an impact ahead of World Polio Day on October 24th.

🔗 Learn more about Rotary’s End Polio Now initiative: www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day

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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. For the Banner hanging on Oct. 13th, the specific time will be determined with Donna Dell'Olio and committee members, but it will be a 60-minute commitment. 

 

Fall Vaccination Volunteer Sign-Up Link

 

 

 

 

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October 10th Guests

Todd Dierdorff hosted by Trevor Dierdorff

Joe Maher and Lori LoCascio hosted by Caryn Adams

RYLA Guests: Elizabeth Will, Ari Wolf, Malia Tantengo, Raegan Kouri, and teacher Martha Tobey.

 

 

 

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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