Hello Rotarians!
The message this year is:
Unite for Good
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New: Antlers Parking Validation Process
The Antlers has a new parking validation process.
They will no longer be using tickets to validate at the front desk.
The new process is:
1. Enter your license plate number at the Ipad on the Registration Table.
When you leave the Antlers parking garage, the cameras will read your license plate, and the gates will open.
Don't forget to bring your rear license plate number on Friday!
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December 12th - Antlers
Tom Hallenbeck - owner of Hallenbeck Coin
Join us for an engaging presentation from Tom Hallenbeck, owner of Hallenbeck Coin, as he shares insights from his decades of expertise in numismatics. Tom will explore the art and appeal of coin collecting, discuss trends shaping the future of precious metals, and dive into the fascinating question of whether the penny’s days are numbered. This is a unique chance to learn from one of the region’s leading voices in the coin and precious metals industry.
December 19th Holiday Party - Antlers
D11 Palmer Jazz Band
January 6th - Annual Meeting/Voting of the 2026-2027 Board Slate
and
Lesley Irvine, Vice President/Director of Athletic
Athletics at the College Level and Major Changes in the Business of Athletics
Lesley has served as the Vice President of Athletics at Colorado College since 2019 and is a member of the President’s Cabinet. Since her arrival, she has led the Tigers through one of the most successful years in school history both on and off the field, with 10 of 17 teams earning national rankings during the 2024–25 season. Before joining Colorado College, Lesley was the Director of Athletics and Recreation and Chair of Physical Education at Pomona and Pitzer Colleges.
Originally from England, Lesley earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education, sports science, and sport management from Loughborough University in 1998, followed by a master’s degree in health, leisure, and sports studies with an emphasis in athletic administration from the University of Iowa in 2001.
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Come spread some holiday cheer as we will gather to hand out holiday gifts to Queen Palmer Elementary school students, ages PK – 5th grade. Rotary aprons and a small selection of Santa Hats will be available to wear. Feel free to dress up as an elf or dress in your own spirited attire. Our very own Curt Ormond will make his annual appearance as Santa.
Details:
- We will meet in the parking lot at Queen Palmer Elementary at 2:15pm and will begin handing out gifts promptly at 2:30pm
- Volunteer Form – the attached volunteer form must be completed. Please send it to Monique Lewis @ monique@careandshare.org
- If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call Monique @ 931.561.4432
Location and Time:
Friday, December 19th from 2:30pm – 3:30pm (Arrive by 2:15pm)
Queen Palmer Elementary School: 1921 E Yampa St. Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Parking: Please make sure to park in the staff parking lot and not the front office. Entrance is at the corner of Bonfoy and Cache la Poudre St.
Sign Up 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.
➡️ 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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Tuesday, December 17th
5:00 p.m. – Ivywild School (Library Room)
Food • Drinks • Fellowship
6:30 p.m. – Broadmoor Lights Walk
Meet at the Broadmoor Main Entrance
Stroll through Broadmoor & Broadmoor West holiday lights
Parking: Golden Bee lot or valet at the front door
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We are looking forward to hosting a Holiday Party for the families at the Salvation Army Family Hope Center on December 16th! As we prepare for the event, we would like to decorate the space and are seeking donations to bring some holiday cheer.
Please bring in Christmas Ornaments, decorations, or trees if you would be willing to donate them to the center.
Volunteers are welcome to join Michael Coplan on Sunday, Dec. 14th, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm to decorate the center. Please use the QR code in the graphic above to sign up!
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Making Strides: Palmer High School Interact Club’s efforts have created waves of change in their school and community.
By Raegan Kouri
Over the last 2 years, Palmer High School has been continuously transforming their Interact-Eco Club. This dedicated group of high school students have worked to make their club a catalyst for change in their school and community and develop future leaders of environmental change, while embodying Rotary’s motto- Service above Self.
During the 2024-2025 school year, Interact-Eco Club hosted a schoolwide Earth Day Festival and launched an environmental blog, both reaching 1,200 students at Palmer to raise awareness about environmental issues. At the festival, members led demonstrations in composting, ran a recycling relay race, taught students how to plant seeds, and even hosted a bake sale. Using the funds raised throughout the year in combination with the proceeds from the festival, the club was able to donate $250 to both American Friends of the Ocean Cleanup and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which battle environmental problems in marine ecosystems. Vice-President Elizabeth Will said that Earth Day “involved the whole palmer community and wasn’t confined to the club. It raises awareness about many different aspects of the environment. We should be proud of bringing the whole school community together.”
This year, Palmer Interact aims to build on its previous success. They have already led a Yard Day in the Colorado Springs community, where volunteers from the club ask for donations in exchange for raking leaves in neighborhood yards, raising $250 dollars for Trees for the Future Organization. They also hosted Richard Skorman- local business owner, city councilman, and environmental activist- as a guest speaker for the club. Elizabeth says that Interact is creating a “legacy of lasting impact and bringing awareness, compassion for the environment, and the desire to participate. People are becoming more involved as they hear more about the club as we are expanding our horizons”.
During the rest of the year, Interact Club aims to work with Mr. Skorman to lobby the state government on environmental issues, start an environmental lecture series for Palmer, and organize Global Trash Pickups, an initiative where schools outside of the nation partner with Palmer to conduct cooperative trash pickups, fostering a sense of connection, collaboration, and shared responsibility to remind that the fight for a cleaner planet is a collective one.
As Palmer’s Interact-Eco Club continues to grow, its members are learning that leadership is not only about organizing events — it’s about inspiring others to care, act, and connect. Lindsay thinks “Interact is showing that all people can help others and make a difference even through small actions, and that if clubs at Palmer really put their mind to things, they can achieve a lot and have a big impact!” Each cleanup, festival, and outreach project becomes an opportunity for members to learn about how to empower themselves and others to change the world. Through their continued work, Palmer High School’s Interact-Eco Club is proving that environmental advocacy, when paired with Rotary’s spirit of service, can empower students to lead meaningful, lasting change — in their school, community, and world.
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2025-2026 Board Meeting Dates:
Dec 19th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
January 16th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
Feb 20th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
March 20th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
April 17th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
May 15th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
June 19th – Antlers 1:45-3 p.m.
Calendar invites sent via Outlook.
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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:
February 6 - World Peace and Understanding Day
Additionally, we will not be meeting at all:
Friday, December 26th - Christmas Holiday
Friday, January 2nd - Happy New Year!
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Together in Service,
