We opened our meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-way Test. Thank you Lindsey Simbeye and Rachelle Summers for greeting our members and guests and for making the introductions.
Michelle Garner provided the Thought for the Day. With her theme of the holiday season, she inspired us to remember to enjoy all the good things about this time of year. With all of our busy schedules, take the time to cherish special moments and thank you Michelle for bringing this back to our thoughts.
Our announcements included a number of events during the month of December…actually, one week in particular.
December 9th 4 – 7pm - Community Holiday Tubing Party at Howelsen – an email sign-up was sent out yesterday and we need volunteers to make this a great event for our community. Please put it on your calendar and come by for some tubing fun, hot chocolate and cookies!
December 11th, Noon – Singing Christmas Carols at Casey’s Pond - no noon meeting at The Grand. If you have not participated in this event before, you are missing out on one of those “special moments” of the season. Jim Nowak brings his accordion and accompanies our Rotarian group with a variety of Christmas Carols. You don’t have to be a member of the church choir to come and enjoy – just bring whatever voice you have and your SMILE. It truly is a rewarding experience and one that will make your day!
December 11th 6 – 9pm – Rotary Holiday Party – Catamount Lake House – Many have already signed up, but you are still invited even if you have not put your name down. Come enjoy a relaxing evening with your fellow Rotarians. No charge for members of our Club and $20 for spouses or guests, cash bar. If you are in need of a babysitter, Lori has a list of available sitters so please contact her. By the way, if anyone picked up the sign-up sheet, please let me know. It is MIA…
Our program was introduced by Randy Rudasics. He is a member of the Yampa Valley Airport Commission and he brought David Franzel, Commission member and Kevin Booth, Manager of the YVRA to present updates on our airports. Stacie Fain, Manager of the Steamboat Spring Airport (Bob Adams Field) and a member of our Rotary Club, was out of town and unable to present. There is lots happening at both airports with significant increases in traffic over the past couple of years. The Steamboat Springs Airport hosts the Flight for Life, disaster and emergency aircraft, including this past summer’s fire support, military and private aviation. The Yampa Valley Regional Airport, just east of Hayden, has the only 10,000 foot runway in the area and accommodates commercial air traffic, including the increase to 15 direct flights from various locations throughout the United States. Much more detail was provided by our speakers, but we can be proud of the management and growth that has occurred at both of our airports.
Over the past few weeks we have experienced the very sad loss of two Steamboat Springs Rotarians. Jim Swiggart, a Ski Town Rotary member, had been a long time member and contributor to our club and community, and Jay Wetzler, a Past President, Secretary and very active member of our Club, most recently an Honorary Member of our Club. Thank you to Chris Stillwell, Scott Marr, John Holloway, Suzanne Schlicht, Alice Klauzer and Ellen Kendall for taking on the difficult task of sharing memories with our Club. It was very special for those that knew these individuals and also, for those of us that did not know them well, to hear these thoughtful tributes. As difficult as it is at times of loss, we were reminded how extraordinary our relationships with other Rotarians are within our Club. During Good News, our members continued to share stories and a strong desire to create a lasting memory of these gentlemen. In time, we will discover what that will look like.
Next week we will be treated to two Classification Talks – Lindsey Simbeye and Cindy Hayek, always some of our best programs.
In case you have noticed…I have missed a couple of prior meeting updates. I will try and get those caught up in the event you missed the meetings and there is always good information to be had. ‘Tis the holidays…
Enjoy the season,
Carol Johnson