PK McPherson is the Executive Director of Pikes Peak Region Attractions Association and represents 28 attractions in the region — both the large iconic attractions like Pikes Peak, Cave of the Winds and Royal Gorge Bridge and Park along with a number of our hidden gems like the May Museum, Miramont Castle and Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine. PK was born and raised right at the base of Pikes Peak and is a proud third generation Colorado native.
Like so many Colorado Springs kids, PK’s first job was at one of the attractions she now represents. She loved that job so much, she stayed for six years and they helped her work her way through college. Twenty-some-odd years later, the owners of that attraction reached out to her when the ED position came open at PPRAA because they thought her understanding of the tourism industry combined with her 15 years of marketing experience would be a great combination.
2021 is PK’s sixth season at the helm of the association and will share what’s new and what to expect for the summer tourism season.
And yes, the new Summit House at the top of Pikes Peak and the reopening of the Cog Railway will be part of her presentation!
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
You can find all things FLIGHT 2021 in this column every week! Also, check out WWW.CSFLIGHT.ORG!
~We have received many applications from incredibly talented artists to design our butterflies and dragonflies! AND it appears that Al B Johnson, our raffle butterfly artist, is almost finished with our 2021 Raffle Butterfly!
(no peeking!)
~Sponsorship information:
If you are interested in being a sponsor for FLIGHT 2021 at one of the many sponsorship levels available, please click here for the:
Do you have items you would like to donate to this year's FLIGHT? We would love to feature your item in the silent auction. The auction will take place virtually, Saturday, September 25.
Sign up by Thursday, May 20th to volunteer with Pikes PeakHabitat for Humanity for May 21st or 22nd – Encourage a fellow Rotarian, spouse, significant other, or friend to join you as we help build homes for families in your community! https://portal.clubrunner.ca/3250/Event/pikes-peak-habitat-for-humanity
Rotary Tree Challenge: In honor of the 150th Anniversary of Colorado Springs and in support of the Mayor’s Tree Challenge we have partnered with Harding Nursery to offer discount trees for Rotarians in the Colorado Springs area. Show the flyer (below) to receive:
20% discount off any tree over $189
5 gallon special on small deciduous tree for $79
Trees Included: Burr Oak, Swamp White Oak, Red Oak, Hackberry, Greenspire Linden, Princeton Elm
Harding Nursery will plant trees starting at $115.
This opportunity will be honored from May 21st – June 30th.
*Be sure to track your tree on the website and let Samantha Chapman know so we can track how many Rotarians purchased and planted trees as well.*
Our next community service committee meeting is Thursday, May 20th at noon, we hope you join us! Here is the Zoom link to save to your calendar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83484257886
International Committee is working on some great projects!
- Joint Project with Denver Mile High Club Uganda mental health is approved and in motion!
- CSF approved $500 for Ashesi University project in Ghana. Distract Grant request submitted. Looking to get other local clubs to partner with us.
- Colorado Haiti Project is continuing on their agriculture project and has changed their name to Locally Haiti.
- We are drafting a request for the Practical Education Network (PEN) in Ghana for funding to help with the transition to online learning because of covid. We got to hear from PEN's CEO & Founder, Dr. Heather Beem recently as one of our speakers for the club's weekly meeting!
Onward and upward, Jordan Davis - International Committee Director
Are you missing seeing your other Rotarians in person? Feel free to join Jordan Davis and Kay Rendleman with some of your other fellow Rotarians on Fridays over at Sportivos inside the Antlers hotel. Arrive starting at 11:30 for socially distanced socializing and bring your laptops and headphones to participate in the meeting on Zoom at 12:15! Questions? Contact Jordan or Kay.
Where were you born and where did you grow up? Dansville, New York
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Favorite sport to watch? Favorite sport to play? Favorite sports teams? Ice Hockey
What was your first job? Instructor of Mathematics - St. Lawrence University
How long have you been in Rotary? Have you ever been a Rotarian in another club? If so, where? 42 years here and Terre Haute, IN
What is your favorite community service activity that our club has participated in? Teacher recognition
Who was your rotary sponsor? Frank Tucker
What board positions have you held in our club or in prior clubs? President - Rotary Club of Colorado Springs and President - Terre Haute Indiana Breakfast Club
What is one thing that the club members would be surprised to hear about you? I have published 4 books in probability and statistics and journal articles along with many, many unpublished letters to the editor.
For years I've thought about "livin' and lovin' my journey", and recently I remembered a conversation I had with someone about that very topic. We talked about how important the journey is because we love, lose, and learn (among other things.) Then my friend said something that made me pause. She reminded me that it's as important to relish your journey as it is to focus on your destination.
"But isn't it about the journey? That's what Pinterest says."
"Your journey is your strategy. You constantly adjust it but you need to be focused on your vision of where you want to go. Your journey might even change your desired destination but that focus will get you there."
"Then what's the mystique about the journey?"
"Everything, my friend. Everything."
"How can I focus on my destination if I'm busy being astonished at my journey?"
"Your vision (or destination) is what you dream of and your journey gets you ready for that or helps teach you that maybe your destination could be a bit different than you originally planned."
"If my journey is going to be my teacher and mentor, why should I even have a planned destination?"
"See, you think your destination is a stopping point. It's not a stopping point. It's a gratitude point. Then you find you're on another journey, although mostly simultaneous. Your courage and stamina and belief in yourself have grown so the next (leg of the) journey is even more exciting. Of course, it can also be more painful but you can deal with it. You've grown. You've learned to use your power on another level."
"Ok, I get it. But why is the destination so important if all the growing is done on the journey?"
"Do you have hopes and dreams and wishes and goals?"
"Of course!"
"BINGO"
"So the journey (or strategy) and the destination (or vision) both play into my hopes and dreams. I'm starting to see the picture. What do you think is the most important part of the journey and the destination?"
"Everything, my friend. Everything."
I hope you, my fellow club members, are on the best possible journey to your best possible destination and leave some room for shifting winds. My Rotary journey started almost nine years ago but in five weeks, I get promoted to having 140 different supervisors. I've been working for over a year on goals and hopes that I have for my year in this upcoming position. I could never fill the super big shoes of President Rodney so I won't even try. I will do my absolute best in every way that I know and promise to grow in those areas that I don't. Our first months back to business, back to looking in everyone's eyes, and back to eating a meal together. I'm excited to see you in 14 days! (In case you're counting!)
If you have bulletin announcements, please email the EXACT WORDING of your announcement to KSaltmarshVoss@yahoo.com by Wednesday at 5 pm. I don't write your announcements but I do make them nice 'n' fancy!
As you're doing your shopping online, did you know that you can support our Rotary Club with every Amazon purchase? Here’s how:
Go to smile.amazon.com (not amazon.com). Amazon Smile is the same company, same account, same password, but the Amazon Smile program gives one half of one percent of every purchase to charity. No, it’s not a lot, but it’s also not nuthin’ (to be exact: about $150 for the Club so far). So again, go to smile.amazon.com
Sign into your Amazon account as you normally would
On the very top left of the page, next to the AmazonSmile logo, are three horizontal bars. Click there for the drop-down menu.
Scroll ALL the way down to “Your AmazonSmile”; it should be the last option right before “Sign Out”; Click on “Your AmazonSmile”
On the right side of the page, click on the “change charity” box under Your current charity (Note: If you are currently supporting another charity, that’s awesome! These instructions are for those who are not doing so. Also, if you have not previously selected a charity, your default option will be St. Judge Children’s Research Hospital.)
Type in Community Service Fund of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs; click Select
That’s it. You’re all set. Just remember to go to Smile.Amazon.com when you shop from now on.