"President's Message Board"
 
On behalf of the LoDo Rotary Club of Denver, we would like to welcome you to our website. Denver LoDo is the premiere service organization in the downtown Denver and its neighboring counties since its inception in 1994.  Be a guest, we invite you to get involved in the initiatives and share your insights by attending one of our meetings.  We welcome everyone into membership leaders from diverse backgrounds at all stages of their careers who are dedicated to community service and committed to personal and professional growth! LoDo Club is the place ...where leaders meet to serve! Please connect with one of our Membership's Rotarians to find out more about Rotary International and the LoDo Rotary Club of Denver's Programs and its Satellite Club (Return Peace Corps Volunteers) opportunities.  See you soon!
 
Yours in Rotary Service, 
Vivian Grossman
Club President, 2023-2025
Why am I a Rotarian?
Being a Rotarian means to be actively involved in the affairs and service projects of one’s club. Rotarians look for ways to get involved. Rotarians demonstrate the strength of their commitment to Rotary in the service they render to their club, through their club to the community, and through the Rotary Foundation to people throughout the world.
Click Me!
RPCV Satellite Group
The club's Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Satellite Group has a speaker open meeting the first Wednesday of the month from 6:00 - 7:30. The meeting is conducted using Zoom.  A second business meeting of the month is scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Chairperson Carol T Email:  rpcvlodorotary@gmail.com
Civic Center Park Gardening Volunteers
 
Thanks very much for bringing your group out to Civic Center Park yesterday! Your all did such a wonderful job weeding and harvesting. The little ones seemed to enjoy seed gathering and planting. I circled back to the park this morning with our regular Monday group and what a pleasure to walk into the space! 
 
We shared what was harvested with The Gathering Place just up on Colfax less than a mile away. Thanks for your participation in our LOCAL food system. The food went right into their meal today. 
 
If you would like to continue with more time gardening with us, you can do so right here:
You’ll find the links under “volunteer yourself”. There you’ll see that we garden in the park on Monday and Thursdays and all possible dates to volunteer. 
 
If you'd like to join in on our garden takedown at the park scheduled for the morning of September 26 please let me know. 
 
It was a pleasure working with you all!
 
 
Warmly,
Linda

she/her/hers
Co-Director
Grow Local Colorado
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Denver Tree Planting with Denver Mile High
Subject: Saturday May 11 Tree Planting Details - Denver Mile and Lodo Rotary Clubs in partnership with
 
Dear Rotary Related Tree Planters – (both committed and still considering). 
 
Please review the following details from our partner, The Park People, for our half-day service project supporting a better environment in our community. 
 
Tree With Roots with solid fillWHAT: The Park People Mile High Tree Champions Planting Project in Partnership with the Denver Mile and LoDo Rotary Clubs 
WHEN: Saturday May 11th ,  9:00am-12:00pm
WHERE: Greenway Park, 2176 Spruce St, Denver, CO 80238
 
Please plan on arriving between 8:45am and 8:50am for check-in. 
We will meet near the tennis courts at Spruce St & 21st Ave. There is a public parking lot, and additional parking is available along the roadways. Please abide by all posted signage. 
·       Look for the sign-in table with The Park People's banner and Denver Mile High Rotary. 
·       See the attached map, or Click here for a Google Map of our Meeting Location.
 
Food & Drink:  We will be providing coffee, a light breakfast item, and a water jug for refilling your own reusable containers. In an effort to minimize waste, we encourage you to please bring your own reusable coffee mug/ water bottle. Lunch will be provided as well. It will be available at 12:00pm upon completion of the planting.
 
What to Bring:  We will be outdoors, so please dress accordingly for the weather and planting activity. Please be sure to wear sturdy closed-toe shoes, clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, long pants, warm layers, a hat, and don’t forget the sunscreen!   Note: You don’t need to bring any tools!
 
We Will Provide:  Work gloves, shovels, and other necessary tools for tree planting. If you wish to use your own work gloves, feel free to bring them along.
 
Additional Notes:
·       Please do not bring pets. We will be planting in the area around the off-leash dog park, not within it. 
·       Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
·       Immediately report any injury, fatigue or other medical issue to The Park People staff, regardless of how minor.
·       For safety reasons, please stay home if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath or any other symptoms of illness. 
 
Contacts:
·        Morgan Wolfe, Program Manager with the Park People, will be on site facilitating the day's activities. If you have any questions or need to reach someone the morning of the event, please contact Morgan (720) 248-8763.
·       Marty Waters, Denver Mile Rotary, will also be available if you have any Rotary related coordination issues.  518-708-4160
 
Thank you for your commitment to volunteer with us. We look forward to working with you!
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Project CURE Volunteers!
"A gift of service leads to a life of love." by Mary White
 
Thank you so much for supporting a great cause! Volunteers like you genuinely change the world, and we are forever grateful. We hope you will join us next time. We’d love to see you!
 
Charlie Hunt, Rotarian of the Year!

Presenter: Jim Johnston (Rotary D5450 - District Governor 2023-2024)

Charlie Hunt joined Rotary in 2005 and took the motto “service above self” a little too seriously and became a Peace Corps Volunteer.  
Read more...
Club Member Invited to CSU Peace Corps Tribute Garden Unveiling
Club member Charlie Hunt was invited to the CSU Tribute Garden unveiling on October 15th.  The event, organized by CSU’s Office of International Programs, was a celebration of the visionary stalwart CSU Rams who in 1961 conducted a robust feasibility study which would lay the foundation for what we now know as the Peace Corps.

 

Read more...
Peace Corps Director and District 5450

District 5450's recent conference was a thrill for many of our Returned Peace Corps Volunteers club member with Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn being the keynote speaker Saturday morning.  We were also honored to have club member Charlie Hunt be Director Spahn's interviewer during the Q&A after her presentations.  During her presentation she showed the most current new Bold Invitation Anthem video.  Carol has ask that we spread the link and the Peace Corps campaign page with Rotarians and their families and friends. 

Hope you'll show the less than two minute video at your next club meeting to be inspired by what Peace Corps does to create peace and understanding in the world, a main Rotary focus.

Club Member Byron Kominek Agrivoltaic Solar Garden 
Denver LoDo Rotary Rotary Solar
Jack’s Solar Garden is a family-owned social enterprise owned and managed by Rotarian, Byron Kominek. Jack’s Solar is a 1.2 MW solar array being built this summer on 5 acres of Byron’s grandfather’s farm in Boulder County. This project will become a model for responsible solar farming on the Front Range of Colorado that could enable other farmers to make ends meet while producing both food and energy simultaneously.
Read more...
Denver LoDo Increases Its Membership By Over 50% in January!
Denver LoDo Rotary RPCV Rotary membership

Can you imagine increasing your club membership by 50% in one month? The Denver LoDo, just that this past January. Charlie Hunt is a member of the club and a Return Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV). As a member of District 5450 Rotary - Peace Corps Alliance committee, he has had a dream for some time to recruit RPCVs into the club. It is a natural fit. The focuses of both Peace Corps (PC) and Rotary are almost identical. Recruiting RPCVs is certainly logical.

 

Charlie is also very active in RPCVs of Colorado. As a matter of fact, he is the current president of the organization. Because of this connection, he has been able to have conversations with RPCVs about how Rotary can fit in with their professional development and community service. To his pleasant surprise, he found a number of RPCVs who already had connections with Rotary. One of the club's new member was a Rotaractor. One had received a district scholarship while in college. One had received help from a Rotarian with his professional career. One attended RYLA and then became a RYLA counselor.

 

In the past Charlie had heard from many RPCVs that the difficulty in joining Rotary was typically a financial one. With that in mind, Charlie talked to the leadership in the club about the idea of developing a satellite group under the club. The idea would be that the club would set a different dues structure to allow for more RPCVs to join the club. Club leadership liked the idea.  The new satellite group has a minimal dues structure which makes it very affordable. At the same time, the club is including all of the satellite group members in club committees, service projects, and monthly club socials. Three new members have already been in contact with our district grants chair Carolyn Schrader to volunteer in reviewing international service grant applications. This group is also willing to connect district clubs applying for grants with local RPCVs to assist with refining their projects to have an understanding of local cultural issues where the project will happen.

 

The club officially inducted ten new satellite group members to the club on March 6th.  DGE Curt Harris and District Membership Chair Lynn Perez-Hewitt were in attendance to celebrate this significant addition to the club's membership.

 

If you were interested in learning more about the connection between Peace Corps and Rotary, please check the website www.partneringforpeace.org. Also, if you were interested in learning how to leverage the Peace Corps rotary partnership in your district, take a look at the toolbox we put together to help with PowerPoint, handouts and videos to make the job easier.  You'll find a link for it at https://www.partneringforpeace.org/cpages/get-involved.

LoDo Rotary and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Denver LoDo club is pleased to announce that club member Charlie Hunt has been elected to the board of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Colorado and will be their president starting in 2019. 
 
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Colorado focuses on supporting newly Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, helping them integrate home after their service overseas and Peace Corps Third Goal, which is sharing the Peace Corps service experience and being active in local community service.  Charlie has been active on Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Colorado Welcome Wagon committee for the past five years.  In the past six months Charlie has attracted six Returned Peace Corps Volunteers as Rotary members.
 
Charlie has been a member of the Denver LoDo since moving to Denver in 2008 after serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu in the South Pacific.  He has served as club president, foundation president and international service chair.  Charlie is also the District 5450 co-chair of the Rotary – Peace Corps Alliance Committee and is on the board of Partnering for Peace: Friends of Peace Corps and Rotary, a National Peace Corps Association affiliate group.
 
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Chief Charlie Masilae Hunt with village Chief Ben Matari

LoDo Rotary Volunteers at 9News Health Fair

 

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LoDo Rotary and Barth Residents Share a Meal and Decorate for the Holiday'sImage

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 Library Project at the Magon Academy Charter School 

The LoDo Rotary Team helped the Magon Academy Charter School paint and spruce up the interior of their library.

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LoDo Rotary gets Recognition for Peace Corps work in Vanuatu


 Currently serving and returned Peace Corps volunteers recently joined forces with Rotary International to deliver efficient cook stoves to 65 households across two villages in Vanuatu. Returned volunteers Charles Hunt of Denver, who served in Vanuatu from 2006-2008, and Dennis Mello, who served in Vanuatu from 2007-2009, along with support from the Denver LoDo Rotary Club and the Port Vila Vanuatu Rotary Club, not only provided the cook stoves but are also studying their impact.

“As a Rotarian and an RPCV, there are opportunities to make a difference if you are willing to act,” Hunt said. “This is an opportunity to help the people of Vanuatu and research the effectiveness of our efforts at the same time to give us a better opportunity to create a sustainable project.”

Serving Breakfast at The Spot  May 17

The LoDo Rotary Club Members Gil Harrison, Dave Ferrill, Kathleen Stage, Mary Pierce, Terri Vogler, Rich Kinney... Melinda, Christine and Yolanda from Urban Peak also joined the LoDo Team.Image

LoDo Rotary Club Members Participate in "Better Blocks 5 Points" event May 11 with the 5 Points Rotary Club

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Upcoming Events
Club Information
Denver LoDo

"Service Above Self"

We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Sky Tea (Drip Denver)
955 Lincoln St., Ste G
Denver, CO 80203
United States of America
Phone:
(303) 887-8921
Email:
traci.oliver@gmail.com
The LoDo Rotary Club of Denver meets in-person once a month, 2nd Wed, 7:30-8:30AM. LoDo R/C Social Night meets once a month, 4th Thursday, 5:30-7 pm, call for location.
District Site
Bulletins
Venue Map
Site Pages
Denver LoDo Rotary Projects
Rotarians of the Month!
From Back-Front:  Marie, Martha, Catherine, Carol, and Vivian
The Service Project Chair's Corner!
Epic Day of Service - Sign-up OPEN!
Click here to Register
Guest Speaker, Len Montgomery with Environment America with Presenter, Asst Gov Nominee Annely Noble.
Welcome New Member, Marie Tapp and District Gov Jim Johnston & Vivian.
Rotary International Epic Day of Service May 11, 2024 , in Collaboration with the Denver People Park, Denver Mile High R/C and Denver LoDo Club. 
Paul Harris Awardee, Traci Schauermann with Presenters -DG Jim Johnston & Vivian.
 
Congratulations New Members, Catherine Newton (RCPV), Maureen Malony (RCPV), Brandon Buen and Marie Tapp and Sponsors, Martha King, Charlie Hunt and Vivian.
 
 
RI 2024 Singapore Convention " Happy Hour" at the 80 Quay Boat Rooftop Singapore, Singapore, along with the District 5450 Rotarians are Bill, Vivian and Cindy.
District 5450 logo
 
Rotary Int'l President, 2023/24- 
Gordon McInally
 
District Governor, D5450, 2023/24
Jim Johnston
 
District Governor, D5450, 2024/2025
Tamara Fennel
 
Asst. District Gov. 2023/24-
Debbie Beasley
 
Assist. District Gov. 2024-2025
Annely Noble
 
Denver LoDo Exec. Officers 2023/24
 
Club President:  Marie Tapp
Chair Person: Carol Tumaylle
Treasurer:  Dan Perron
Secretary: Martha King
 
Past President: Vivian Grossman
President Elect: Brandon Buen
 
Public Relations: Charlie Hunt
Membership Chair: Marie Tapp
Past President Society Chair- Dave Ferril
Service Project Chair: Martha King
Fundraising Chair:  Charlie Hunt
Rotarian of the Year: Charlie Hunt
Social Media:  V Grossman
 
Call us with Questions?
 
Membership: Call/Text Marie - 720/207-3566, email at marietapp@gmail.com
 
Community Service/Volunteer:  email Martha at mpk1951@gmail.com
 
Speaking Eng/Programs:
Call/Text Traci at 303/887-8921
email -traci.oliver@gmail.com
 
CLUB FOUNDATION BOARD
 
Foundation President- Gil Harrison
 
Board Members:
Maureen (Mo) Parker
Mark Williams, Atty.
Whitney Houston
Dan Perron
 
RECOGNITION PAGE
Goes to Martha King!
New year, but the same mission, for club member Martha King who is part of the Food Bank of the Rockies family.  Martha King of the Denver LoDo Rotary club was awarded the Channel 7 Everyday Hero Award on January 3rd for her constant (almost daily) commitment to volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies.  "We can't even calculate the number of pounds Martha has lifted over the last three and a half years," said Erin Pulling, CEO of the Food Bank of the Rockies. "We have 18,000 volunteers over the course of a year. And Martha really stands out."  Martha has served twice as a Peace Corps Volunteer and is a stellar, dedicated member of our club.  Martha heads the Community Service committee for the club.