BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD IN THE WORLD
 Find purpose to your life with Estes Park Rotary
 
 Our meetings, events, and service projects are     the perfect place to 
find your community
 
Learn more by contacting us: estesrotarymembership@gmail.com
Home Page Stories
Come and Hear Jason Van Tatenhove Speak on AI Ink
 
Jason Van Tatenhove
 
Jason Van Tatenhove is an accomplished author, journalist, and expert on political extremism and the challenges of the digital age. His work delves into the pressing issues of our time, including the intersections of technology, misinformation, and societal shifts. Jason’s expertise has been featured on CNN and MSNBC, where he’s joined hosts such as Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, and Morning Joe to discuss his insights and his book, The Perils of Extremism. His experience includes working with Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) and the National Holocaust Memorial Museum, where he has collaborated on combating extremism.

Jason’s latest work, AI Ink: Writing, Publishing, and Misinformation at the Dawn of the AI Age, is a groundbreaking guide for writers, editors, literary agents, and publishers looking to understand and leverage AI’s growing role in creative industries. Addressing AI's ethical dilemmas and opportunities, AI Ink offers thoughtful guidance and practical strategies for navigating this transformative technological landscape.

In addition to non-fiction, Jason’s fiction explores supernatural thrillers and speculative dystopias. His serialized sci-fi project, The Propagandist's Daughters, set in a cyberpunk Western world, is available on Amazon Vella and showcases themes of resilience and the human spirit in a fractured world.

Nestled in the creative chaos of the Colorado Rockies, Jason raises his daughters following the loss of his wife, who was his partner in writing and life. He writes The Edge of Insight, a weekly gonzo-styled editorial column for the Estes Park Trail-Gazette, and his bylines have appeared in Newsweek, Salon, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Southern Poverty Law Center, and The Arizona Mirror. His Substack, Colorado Switchblade, delivers weekly pieces that continue to engage and inform his readership.

Jason’s writing is a tribute to resilience, authenticity, and the unyielding pursuit of creative freedom.
 
Our program on March 12th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 – 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Barry and Mary Hannigan
 
Barry and Mary Hannigan
 
Barry Hannigan is known for his performances throughout the United States and in Europe. He has appeared as guest artist at a host of American universities, such as UCLA, Yale, Cornell, and the Universities of Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, Arizona State, and Texas. He is the recipient of many awards and prizes, including those from the Ford, Belin, Surdna, and Presser Foundations.  Hannigan recently retired as the Ellen Williams Professor of Music at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA., where he has received the Class of ’56 Lectureship for inspirational teaching. 

“Some in the near-capacity audience were moved to tears” is Robert Miner’s description of flutist Mary Hannigan’s playing at a performance on the Simply Grand series at NPR affiliate station WVIA in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Notable performances include Market Square Summerfest in Harrisburg with the Ying Quartet, the national convention of the Music Teachers National Association, and the McGraw-Hill Young Artists Showcase for radio WQXR in New York City. She was a member of the Harrisburg Symphony for many years.  Ms. Hannigan’s students have won recognition at the national and state level on many occasions: a former student holds the piccolo position in the Chicago Symphony; others have been selected as masterclass performers for the National Flute Association Convention and have performed on National Public Radio’s “From the Top.” 
 
Barry and Mary will present their experience trekking in Peru.
 
Our program on February 26th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Mark Ulfers on American Diplomacy
 
Mark E. Ulfers 
 
Born and raised in the United States, Mark E. Ulfers, prior to joining the US Department of State and the Office of Overseas Schools in 2021 was an overseas school leader since 1987. 

Mark first served the Singapore American School community in the Republic of Singapore, then became head of school to lead the first American school on the island of Cyprus. He then was hired into the Taipei American School in Taiwan, serving as headmaster for nine years. Mark became the head of school at Frankfurt International School in Germany in 2005.  Beginning July 2010, Mark was appointed the head of school for the American School of Paris. Repatriating back to the United States in July 2018 after 31 years overseas, Mark was the executive director of the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE) – committed to leadership development for future-ready overseas schools around the world.           
 
Mark divides time between Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife Wendy, and their primary residence in Estes Park, Colorado.  His children, Adam and Lara, are products of international education, both speak Chinese and continue to draw on a world of experiences from being raised overseas. 
 
Our program on February 19th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Jean Rissmiller on Rotary’s Journey
to Bring Clean Water to the Achuar
in the Ecuadorian Rainforest
 
Jean Rissmiller in Ecuador, 2nd from right in front row
 
Deep in Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest lies Kutsutkao, an Achuar village long burdened by unsafe water and preventable illness. Through Rotary’s Global Grant program, a $42,080 initiative brought clean, potable water—and with it, health, opportunity, and empowerment—to more than 2,000 residents across Kutsutkao and neighboring villages. This presentation will share the project’s goals, planned outcomes, and the global collaboration that will benefit the local communities with better health, improved education for the children, empower the women, and build on the MAANA Chicken Project—each made possible through access to safe water.
 
Jean Rissmiller has been a Rotarian for eight years. She joined the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club in Estes Park, Colorado, in 2018 and served as Club President during the 2023– 2024 Rotary year. She currently serves as Area Governor for the two Rotary clubs in Estes Park.
 
A multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Jean has actively participated in Rotary at both the club and district levels. She has attended a Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada, completed two Rotary Leadership Institutes, and participated in numerous District Conferences. Her involvement in the annual District 5450 WASH Symposiums inspired her to author Global Grant #2572915 — a clean water project bringing safe drinking water to the Achuar community deep in the Ecuadorian Rainforest.
 
Jean holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Her professional career was spent in international marketing for global high-tech software companies in North Texas, including EDS, Texas Instruments, CA Technologies, and Broadcom. After retiring in 2020, she worked part-time at the Bank of Estes Park during the COVID-19 pandemic “just to stay busy.”
 
Jean and her husband, Mark, share a love of international travel and enjoy spending time with their ten grandchildren.
 
Our program on February 12th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
 
Come and Hear Mayor Gary Hall
 
Mayor Gary Hall

Gary Hall and his wife Linda came to Estes Park in 2003 after both of their daughters finished college. Gary worked at Estes Park Health for 18 years, overseeing operations, which included ancillary clinical departments as well as IT, Facilities, and more. Prior to that he had a 27-year career in software development and database management. Gary and Linda play music around town and have hiked/climbed all of Colorado’s fourteeners and love the mountains. Gary was elected Mayor of Estes Park in April 2024 and tries to listen to all, maintain civil discussion with all, and work to keep Estes beautiful and unique. There is much to be done ahead, thanks for your help and your service. Ever onward!
 
Our program on February 5th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
 
No Meeting - Fifth Thursday
 
The History of Rocky Mountain RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
 
 
RYLA is an intensive leadership experience for young people with leadership potential, organized by Rotary clubs and districts, where youth develop leadership skills, while having fun and making connections.

Youth leaders build communication and problem-solving skills; discover strategies for becoming dynamic leaders in their schools and communities; learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors; unlock their potential to turn motivation into action; and form lasting friendships.

David Boon will share with us the story of how Rocky Mountain RYLA came about, and how we Rotarians continue to impact youth in our communities.

Boon is a founding member of Fort Collins Rotary After Work Club (RAW), past president of RAW twice.  In addition, he is a past president and BOD member of Rocky Mountain RYLA, involved with YRYLA and RYLA for the past 23 years as a Senior Counselor and Past Chair of YRYLA three times.  He has been the recipient of the RI Four Avenues of Service Award.  And is the newest member of our EP Rotary Club.

Boon is the retired Executive Director at Children’s Speech & Reading Center and the retired Executive Director at United States Tennis Association WY District.

Finally, he is the author of “My Wish:  Don’t Get Swept Away As a Teen”.  This amazing survival story, involving Dave and his wife June, was highlighted on The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, and Oprah.  And shaped his RYLA journey.  
 
Our program on January 22nd will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Christina Kraft and Colleen DePasquale Discuss the Economic Development & Workforce Council
 
       
           Christina Kraft                            Colleen DePasquale
 
What makes our community thrive?
The Economic Development & Workforce Council (EDWC), of the Estes Chamber of Commerce, plans for and promotes the economic development of the Estes Valley in ways that are compatible with qualities that make Estes Park a unique mountain community, while building a stronger and more broadly-based economy and tax base; advise and assist existing local businesses to reach their full potential; and attract new businesses that create primary jobs and new employment opportunities.  
The EDWC plays a vital role in sustaining economic health in the Estes Valley by supporting our businesses and workforce through both opportunities and challenges.  The EDWC helps ensure a resilient local economy and high quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
 
Christina is a born and raised Colorado native. She graduated from the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis in Finance. Her banking career began in 2004 at First National Bank - Alaska, where she served as a Loan Officer in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2013, she returned to Colorado and joined the Bank of Colorado team in Estes Park. Within a year she was promoted to Market President and has remained there ever since.
 
Today, Christina is still a resident of Estes Park and enjoys being an active member of the community. Her involvement includes United Way, Junior Achievement, Small Business Development Center, and the Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves as the Chair of Estes Park Economic Development Corporation and board member since 2015, Treasurer of Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success and board member since 2015, and Treasurer of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and board member since 2019.
 
Colleen DePasquale has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, working with Marriott and Interstate hotels from Manhattan to Denver, as well as 2 years in Moscow, Russia opening Marriott brand hotels. She spent the past decade as the President and CEO of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and its Foundation. The Chamber’s focus on connecting, empowering and unifying the community provided opportunities for members to grow their businesses and advance their careers through educational and event programming. Colleen holds the values of collaboration and advocacy as core to a Chamber’s success.
 
During her time in Southwest Florida, Colleen was also involved with several boards that enhanced her ability to connect people in the community. She has earned her I.O.M. designation as a graduate of the U. S. Chamber’s Institute of Organizational Management and also graduated from the U.S. Chamber Foundation Business Leads Fellowship Program. The national fellowship program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
 
When she’s not working hard to build the Chamber and Foundation, you’ll find Colleen spending time with her daughter, enjoying craft beer, and strolling through the beautiful natural landscape of Estes and the national park.
 
Our program on January 15th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Cole Evanek
 
Cole Evanek in China
 
Cole Evanek grew up in Estes Park, Colorado, before graduating from Colorado State University and moving to China with his wife. He traveled that country extensively, learning Mandarin Chinese along the way and visiting more than 20 Chinese provinces. Cole spent one year living in Shanghai and four years living in the Southwestern city of Guiyang. While there, he taught English, tennis, and Western Culture, and also worked as a writer. Cole is currently a law student at the University of Colorado, Boulder. 
 
While in China, Cole developed an understanding of its culture and history that he hopes can help challenge some of the prevailing misconceptions about China in American public discourse. He will discuss daily life in China, how ordinary Chinese perceive America, and the changed political landscape of the country following the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Our program on January 8th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
No Meeting
 
Happy New Year!
 
Come and Hear Brian Schaffer of Crossroads
 
Brian Schaffer 
 
For the past 7 years, Brian Schaffer has served as the Executive Director of Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park.  He also serves in a volunteer role as a Chaplain for Estes Valley Fire Protection District.  He is active in various committees around town, and especially enjoys his work with the Estes Valley Community Fund that supports nonprofit organizations.  Prior to this he served in Alaska with the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, providing system support and collaborative leadership for agencies working with people experiencing homelessness. He was also an Outreach Pastor at the largest church in the state, and led New Hope Compassionate Ministries as their Executive Director while simultaneously serving as the Lead Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship.  Brian was active on advisory boards for the Salvation Army and Anchorage Cops for Community, and served as a volunteer prison chaplain. In each of these assignments he worked collaboratively with multiple service agencies, businesses, and volunteers to bring hope and healing to people in their time of need. Before this, he served in pastoral assignments in Texas, and as a missionary in Central America and the Caribbean.
 
Our program on December 18th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Greg Muhonen
and David Greear
 
          
      Greg Muhonen                                David Greear               
 
Greg Muhonen, received his BS degree in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and completed Graduate Studies in Arctic Engineering at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.  He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Colorado who has used his training and life experience to serve the transportation needs of Larimer County residents for over 39 years. His civil engineering work spans private land development, land use entitlement review, traffic engineering, municipal policy, and public works capital project design and construction. In July 2024, he completed his 10th year as the Estes Park Director of Public Works, where he oversaw all aspects of the Streets, Parks, Engineering, Facilities, Parking, Transit, and Fleet functions for the Town of Estes Park.  In April 2025, he began a new role as the Town’s Stormwater Engineer.
 
David Greear is a graduate of the University of Texas, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering.  He brings over 34 years of engineering experience as Public Works Director in State, County and City government.  He served as the Public Works Director for Travis County in Central Texas.  David joined the Town of Estes Park as Public Works Director in 2025.
 
Muhonen and Greear will discussing Estes Park Public Works projects past, present, and future.
 
Our program on December 11th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear the Estes Park High School Treble Choir
 
           
            Estes Park Schools Welcome                   Xmas Choir
               Credit: Estes Valley Voice                             
 
Estes Park High School offers 4 choral ensembles for student participation and exploration of musical arts.  These include Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Tenor/Bass Choir, and Major 13. Treble Choir is a choral ensemble for any level of student that sings soprano or alto. While the focus is largely performance-based, this group's concentration is learning a vast array of repertoire, proper vocal technique and ensemble singing.  

This Thursday, Treble Choir will help us get in the mood for the Holidays.
 
Our program on December 4th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
No Meeting
 
 
Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Come and Hear Nick Molle
 
        
Nick Molle on location
 
Nick Molle, producer, host, and writer, has traveled the globe from Alaska to Australia in search of the unusual, the extreme and the unforgettable. His serious purpose with a touch of humor has won him many awards for his productions.
 
Nick has hiked, documented, and filmed Rocky Mountain National Park for over 20 years. When not in the Rocky Mountains, he follows a passion for inspirational destinations.
 
A love of nature, quest for knowledge, and search for adventure have taken him to exotic destinations including the Costa Rican Rainforest, Alaska’s Prince William Sound, Australia’s remote Northern Territory, and the troubled Mayan villages of Guatemala.
 
His 2015 documentary, The Living Dream: 100 years of Rocky Mountain National Park earned a Regional Emmy nomination.
 
His previous releases with American Public Television include Wildside with Nick Molle: Costa Rica and the A Walk in the Park with Nick Molle series featuring Real Rocky, Rivers of the Rockies, Nature of the Beasts, and Birds Without Borders.
 
Nick will be discussing his latest documentary Water: The Sacred Gift.
 
Our program on November 20th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Thanksgiving Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Rotary Thanksgiving Menu for Thursday, November 20th.
Turkey, Holiday ham, green bean casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, salad, rolls, pie. 
 
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Meet Bob Fixter
 
Bob Fixter
 
Bob Fixter has been an Estes Park downtown merchant since 2005. Fixter graduated from the Nebraska Wesleyan University and from the Gemological Institute of America. He moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was a gemologist for a local jewelry store. Currently, he owns Fall River Jewelry & Antiques. This is a place to find one of a kind jewelry, gifts, museum-quality collectables, autographs, and commemorative items from our nation's history.
 
In celebration of our nation's 250th anniversary, Bob will be talking about what his store will be doing to honor our country’s history. 
 
Come and Hear Terry Rizzuti
 
Terry Rizzuti and Raisin
 
Terry P. Rizzuti was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1946, to second-generation Italian-Americans. He joined the Marine Corps in 1966 and served a tour in the northern I-Corps area of South Vietnam as a “grunt” from October 1966 to November 1967, assigned to the 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, occasionally attached to the 1st or 3rd Divisions. He was awarded the Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds received on May 2, 1967.
 
Rizzuti graduated with an English Literature degree from the University of Oklahoma (OU) in 1977, and then completed two years of graduate-level literature studies. He worked in various OU positions between 1980 and 1996, and helped found OU’s Vietnam Memorial Scholarship Association. He is currently a member of Flinch Forward and The 26th Marines Association, as well as a life member of The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Disabled American Veterans, and The Khe Sanh Veterans Association.

Rizzuti proudly served two one-year terms (2016 – 2018) as Commander of American Legion Post 119 in Estes Park, Colorado, and seven one-year terms as its Service Officer. He's currently a member of Post 119's Foundation Board, and was selected for Estes Park’s Katie Speer Philanthropist of the Year Award in 2017.

Currently, Rizzuti is a writer (author mostly) living in Estes Park. The Second Tour, his first novel and best work (in his opinion), was begun in 1984 and is now in its umpteenthth version. It's been taught in 5 universities alongside the best of the best Vietnam War novels. He considers it a work-in-progress for as long as he’s alive.
 
Our program on November 6th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
No Meeting - 5th Thursday
 
 
Come and Hear Thaine Norris, Founder of Walking Together Press, devoted to supporting grassroots libraries in Africa.
 
Thaine Norris
 
Thaine Norris is the founder of Walking Together Press, a non-profit Christian publishing company devoted to supporting grassroots libraries in Africa through global book sales and by providing free library editions. Thaine worked primarily as a software engineer, but as a follower of Jesus, he has sought ways to integrate ministry into daily life, which has led to many rich adventures both locally and globally. Thaine and his wife, Erika, are long-time residents of Estes Park, having raised their six children here.
 
Our program on October 23rd will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come to the Club Annual Meeting
 
Jack and Guy agree that Thursday’s meeting should be a fun event, decorating the solar panels we will ship to Ukraine. They still need to have a conversation about what questions they will ask the participants to discuss while the panels are being decorated.
 
Our program on October 16th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear about UTSD from Suzanne Jurgens and Matt Allen
 
             
           Suzanne Jurgens,                                      Matt Allen,
            District Manager                               Operations Manager
 
Suzanne Jurgens has been a resident of Estes Park since 1986 and raised her family in the community. Prior to joining the Upper Thompson Sanitation District, she was employed with a local engineering firm. Ms. Jurgens began her tenure at the District in 2014 as Financial Officer and advanced to Assistant District Manager in 2020. Following the retirement of former District Manager Chris Bieker in January 2025, she assumed the position of District Manager. Ms. Jurgens is dedicated to supporting the District’s ongoing success and is committed to guiding its evolution as it enters a new chapter of wastewater service for the Estes Valley.
 
Since 2012, Matt Allen has served the Upper Thompson Sanitation District in the Collection Department, first as an Operator and subsequently advancing to Foreman and Superintendent. In 2021, he was appointed Operations Manager, assuming responsibility for both the Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Collection Department. A lifelong resident of Estes Park, Matt has worked in the local wastewater industry since 2007. He finds fulfillment in serving the Estes Valley and remains committed to protecting the region's natural resources and environment.
 
Suzanne and Matt will be providing an update on the Upper Thompson Sanitation District and its future plans. 
 
Our program on October 9th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Milt Garrett - Part 3
 
Milt Garrett
 
A Three-Part Presentation on the Russia-Ukraine War
Chapter 3: “Glory Rotary:
Wow, What Do Ya Know. We Did That!?
 
Our club’s third installment with Milt Garrett will feature how American Rotary Clubs stepped up to support Congress’s reestablishment of an old 1948 Truman program to help Russia – when we were friends. (We got at it, big time.)
 
What made conservative Newt Gingrich and liberal Dick Gebhart, unwittingly, come together and create opportunities for American Rotary Clubs to shine? (And SHINE WE DID! This shining will lead to a big surprise for you.) Did you know 450+ American Rotary Clubs supported the reestablishment of Truman’s program? Gee, why did 13 Rotary Clubs in District 5440 get involved with Russian entrepreneurs? (Some Colorado clubs spent $14,000 for Russian entrepreneurs.) Sure, service to others is the highest form of happiness, but why did we choose Russians? And now … our club is involved with Ukraine, thanks to the leadership of Ron Gordon and Chuck & Dale Bonza.
 
We have answered the question why Russia and Ukraine are in conflict. Now it’s “Why is Rotary even involved over there?” But first, there will be a short, fun show at Milt’s start, about something that older country Russia has that we’ve maybe missed. Dr. Garrett has discovered some darn interesting and unusual features that are worth sharing. And, don’t forget to stick around for the $500 door prize.
 
Our program on October 2nd will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Dr. Annika Van der Werf
 
 
Dr. Annika Van der Werf is a Colorado native, born and raised in Estes Park.
She attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for both her undergraduate work and for her degree in Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS). She then pursued her three-year surgical post-graduate specialty training with the Department of Periodontology at Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland.. Dr. Van der Werf’s research activities involve an emphasis on risk factors affecting the onset and severity of peri-implantitis after dental implant placement.
Dr. Van der Werf was recognized with multiple awards during her training, including the International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award, Dr. Michael McGuire Award for leadership, and the Dr. Joseph Schwartz Award for academic excellence. She is board-certified in periodontology and dental implant surgery. She maintains active professional affiliations with the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, and American Academy of Periodontology. Dr. Van der Werf practices periodontology at Longmont Periodontics.

She enjoys living in Longmont but frequently heads up the canyon to Estes for hiking and to be an adoring aunt to her nephews.
 
Our program on September 25th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Milt Garrett - Part 2
 
Milt Garrett
 
A Three-Part Presentation on the Russia-Ukraine War
Chapter Two - “Hey Putin! What’s That Burr Under Your Saddle?”
 

Our club’s next installment, Chapter Two with Milt Garrett, will feature the Root Causes, how Putin involved his country in that terrible conflict in Europe.

It is best to get to those answers by following the practice the Japanese use by asking “Why,” repeatedly. That way, we will find the root cause to one or more reasons. Therefore, that is exactly what we will learn today: Why Russia/Putin has done what has been done with Ukraine, with a surprise or two.

When we met last, a member of our audience asked something to the effect of why Mr. Putin and NATO were in conflict. Answering, Dr. Garrett gave away today’s first big surprise, the first root cause, when he revealed Mr. Putin asked Bill Clinton to join NATO. (Our speaker suggests you own a copy of that 29-minute video interview; give him your name and email address. No charge.) (There are no handouts this time.) Also, be prepared for a surprise counter-argument from many Russians – and a special American guest for proof. Hold on. This meeting’s event will be a bit different.

The presentation concludes by asking if that war could’ve been prevented, and what is it Mr. Putin wants to end this dastardly war? 

 

Our program on September 18th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Jim's and Jim's Excellent Adventure
 
                    
Jim Whiteneck and Jim Jonell on their adventure         
 
This week's Rotary Noon Club meeting will feature two of the active club members. Drs. Jim Whiteneck and Jim Jonell spent most of the month of June visiting parts of Scandinavia. Jim J. spent nine years researching, teaching, and directing a student counseling at the University of Uppsala Sweden. Jim J still speaks fluent Swedish, and this trip was like going home for him and introducing Jim W. to his adopted country. Their program will share their experience of meeting wonderful international people, visiting some of the Scandinavian historical sites and natural wonders.
 
Our program on September 11th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Milt Garrett
 
Milt Garrett
 
A Three-Part Presentation on the Russia-Ukraine War
Part 1 - Hey Putin. Ukraine Ain’t for the Takin’
(As for Crimea, ….?)
 
From a Statesman to a Despot: What’s the back story on Russia, Crimea, and Ukraine that you’ve not heard? It’s a complex saga with many moving parts, requiring inspection from every angle. With its past and present, our challenge internationally is, are we going to have a rules-based global order, or rule by the sword (or nukes)?
 
Today’s speaker has 20+ years with Russian companies, Russian company CEOs, Russian families, and clients in 3 countries simultaneously: Russia and Crimea, Ukraine, and America. International Management consultant Dr. Milt Garrett, and club member, has worked with over 2400 clients in 224+ Russian cities including those in Crimea, and 12 in Kyiv. Our speaker is still in daily conversations with persons from all these locales, giving him current perspective, and hundreds of stories needing to be heard. As a professor on five Russian university campuses, he has developed perspectives on Ukraine, and some different implications of this dastardly war.
 
 Dr Garrett has carefully researched past and present regional matters and their global impact. He has an educated perspective on how boundary lines have been drawn as they are now, and how the people of the region have reacted, surprisingly in one case, to recent events and territorial changes. Our speaker’s informational sources are valuable and credible, and he has academic and professional insights blended with personal relationships that makes his perspective poignant and authentic.
 
Because of limited time, we’ll examine just a few of the many reasons Ukraine was invaded by her northern neighbor. And, Rotary’s significant influence in that part of the world: Russia, Ukraine, and Crimea. For those asking: “Why does Ukraine matter?”, you’ll leave with an extensive list of 35+ possibilities. This hour of enlightenment is being personally presented by Dr. Milt Garrett. He is quick to caution that the complexity of this subject can only be developed in three short chapters; only the very basics can be exposed, like a flat river rock across the lake. After our October 2nd presentation, a Q&A, and a $500 door prize (yes, he did pay $500 for this), he will be providing extra time at the end of the presentation to engage with those wishing for more.  Stick ‘round.
 
Our program on September 4th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Hear Ed Grueff
 
Ed Grueff and friends
 
Ed Grueff started in the restaurant business in Chicago in 1971. In 1977 he made his way to Estes Park, where he opened and ran several restaurants and businesses, including the Bighorn Restaurant, Mountain Man Restaurant, Ed’s Cantina, Estes Park Brewery, Longs Peak Grilling Company, Twin Owls Steakhouse, and most recently the Sugar Shack.
Not ready to fully retire, he found a location in Loveland in 2023 and began converting it into a dog foster/rescue. He began fostering dogs in May of 2024 and now fosters for the Pet Association of Estes Park. In the last year, Buddy’s House has fostered and helped adopt out 70-80 puppies and dogs.
 
Our program on August 28th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Meet District Governor Elect Albon Shaw
 

District Governor Elect Albon Shaw

Having joined Rotary in 2014, Albon has enjoyed participating in many different roles. His penchant for saying “Yes!” was quickly discovered and led to him being nominated to the board of directors shortly after joining, then being chosen to serve as president of Casper Five Trails Rotary for 2018-19. That year his club was honored with the Outstanding Club President of a Medium/Small Club award. He has served on and headed many club committees, including public relations & membership. Internationally, Albon and his daughter, Elle, traveled to Nicaragua for a service trip with Rotarians from the Gillette Energy Rotary Club providing school uniforms, and school supplies, and doing repairs on schools. He attended the Rotary International Convention in Toronto, has hosted 3 international exchange students, and has supported several other international projects. He’s also had the honor of participating in the Emerging Leaders program at Zone Institute. At the district level, Albon has served on the nominating committee helping to choose upcoming District Governors, and served as the Assistant Governor for the Central Wyoming Rotary Clubs in Casper & Douglas.
Professionally, Albon has been in Real Estate since 2009, and is an Associate Broker at Real Estate Leaders. He also currently manages a real estate investment & construction business Shaw Investments that his wife and fellow Rotarian, Kammi Shaw, hopes to one day take back over after her massive brain bleed on June 2, 2024. Together they have three adult children and four fur babies that they love spending time with whenever they get a chance. 
 
Our program on August 21st will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Discuss the Future of The Great Estes Park Rotary Duck Race
 
  
DuckHug
 
Today, we will be discussing our Rotary Duck Race. The focus will be on the 2026 Rotary Duck Race and how to make the duck race a sustainable event for the foreseeable future. 
 
At our May 22nd workshop, we had a discussion about this year’s Duck Race - what worked well and what did not work, what needs to be changed, what needs improvement, what can we do better. To make the 2026 Rotary Duck Race successful, our club will have certain needs:
 
1.  Fun!  If it is fun, then it is beneficial to all concerned!
2.  A decision by our club to be all in to continue this longstanding club activity and service to our community.
3.  A decision on how to simplify the Rotary Duck Race. Make it manageable so that any member of the club can lead this endeavor.
4.  Ask that all members of the club help and participate in some capacity to make the Rotary Duck Race successful. 
5.  Recognition that all members may have more than one role:  there will be needs prior to race day and on race day.
6.  Delegate to and trust the duck race subcommittees to complete their tasks and run the Rotary Duck Race.
7.  Big Duck and Little Duck are here to facilitate, not run and manage, the duck race. They will have access to a duck race manual that outlines all aspects of and roles on how to facilitate the Rotary Duck Race.
8.  Fun!  If it is fun, then it is worth doing!
 
Guy Van der Werf will be facilitating today’s discussion.
 
Our program on August 14th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Meet Lars Sage, Art Center
 
Lars Sage
 
Lars was born and raised in Connecticut. He earned a BA in English, and MFA in Theatre from two schools in North Carolina. He first lived in Estes Park from 1989 to 1992, and returned permanently in 2012. After moving back to Estes, Lars volunteered for, and then was hired by the former Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, working there for three years. He spent three years with Earthwood Collections, before being hired as Gallery Manager for the Art Center from June 2019 until 2023. He took a sabbatical, but has returned as of February of this year.

Before becoming Gallery Manager at the Art Center, Lars served on the Board for the Art Center for three years. He was one of the founding organizers and original Board member of the Estes Arts District, now serving as Vice President. He is former President and now Vice President on the Board for the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, and has directed a number of plays. He served on the Board for the Estes Valley Partners for Commerce, which evolved into the Chamber of Commerce, and presently serves as a Board member.
 
Lars will discuss the State of the Arts in Estes Park, and will be covering the Art Center of Estes Park, the Estes Arts District, and the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies.
 
Our program on Aygust 7th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
No Rotary Meeting Thursday
July 31, 2025
 
 
Be Sure to Join Us for our Next Rotary Meeting
August 7, 2025
 
Behavioral Health, Counseling and Psychotherapy Services in the Estes Valley
 
Presented by Blake Nicholson
 
Blake Nicholson
 
Blake Nicholson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of clinical and leadership experience, specializing in individual psychotherapy, crisis assessment, utilization management, program and policy development. Currently serving as an Individual Psychotherapist at UCHealth in Estes Park, Colorado, Blake provides counseling and therapy in both individual and group settings, coordinates care planning, and supports patient discharge and resource referrals.  He holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas and is licensed in Colorado.
 
Our program on July 24th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
Come and Meet Lori Spalsbury, Los Alamos National Laboratory
 
Lori Spalsbury
 
Lori Spalsbury graduated from Estes Park High School and subsequently attended Caltech where she studied astro-physics and geo-physics. After a ‘gap year’ of teaching high school mathematics in the Alaska bush, Lori went on to complete her masters degree in astrophysics at UMaine. Since then, Lori has served in various roles on numerous NASA and NOAA missions, including as operations lead and scientific researcher on the Juno mission to Jupiter; data analyst and processor on the MAVEN Mars orbiter; flight software test engineer on the James Webb Space Telescope; and payload instrument subject matter expert on the GOES and JPSS weather satellites. Lori currently works for Los Alamos National Laboratory where she continues to work on scientific and national security space missions in a wide range of capacities. 
 
Presentation Topic: Space Mission Architecture
Lori will present an overview of the high-level design and implementation of a space mission as defined by its mission objective, independent of whether the objective is driven by science, national security, or commercial industry.
 
Our program on July 17th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Meet SoYoung Lee, Executive & Artistic Director at Rocky Ridge Music
 
SoYoung Lee
 
SoYoung Lee currently serves as Executive & Artistic Director at Rocky Ridge Music. She received her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has held director positions at Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory Adult Education & Preparatory Department, Millikin University Preparatory Division, and the Boulder Arts Academy & Boulder Ballet. A strong believer in the concept of artist as entrepreneur, she co-founded two organizations: Colorado-based AirTurn, a company dedicated to empowering musicians through technology; and Notes at 9,000 at Winter Park, a multi-genre music competition that launches emerging musicians by providing concert opportunities, funding, and mentoring. She is passionate about building community through the arts and is a trustee of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Boulder County Arts Alliance, and is an advisory board member of Upbeat Colorado, and Americas for Conservation + the Arts.
 
An award-winning pianist and a Regents scholar, SoYoung is a recipient of the Ernő Dohnányi Piano Prize and the Gwendolyn Koldofsky Accompanying Fellowship at University of Southern California. She recently released a CD, In This World, with flutist Claudia Anderson. Equally at home as a teacher, she served on the music faculty at Millikin University and State University of New York, Fredonia, and was a visiting Piano Pedagogy faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder. SoYoung enjoys her multi-faceted career as a performing artist, administrator, teacher, producer, and arts advocate.
 
SoYoung will discuss Rocky Ridge Music: Its Beginnings, Present, and Future
 
Our program on July 10th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
No Meeting
 
 
No meeting July 3, but articles abound:in this edition:
  • Rotary International Convention in Calgary
  • Jane Harroff's Celebration of Life
  • President's Night pictures!
  • Coffee Talk
  • The International Committee asks for project ideas.
  • A Saturday Tour Event - Updated
  • Dues Reminder - Updated
  • We Need Help!
 
Come Celebrate President's Night!
Thursday Night, June 12, 2025
5:30 PM at the American Legion
Program begins at 6:45 PM
 
Annual Changing of the Guard
and Rotary Awards
 
2024 Award Winners
All awards presented by previous year's recipient.
 
          Spirit Award                    Distinguished Service Award
  presented by Tim Moore                 presented by Mark Lee
           
Andrea Escorcia Rodriguez               Tara Moenning
              & Tim Moore                             & Mark Lee
 
 Rotarian of the Year Award              Living Legacy Award
 presented by Carl Robicheaux       presented by Virgil Holtgrewe
                   
           Beth Weisberg &                         Virgil Holtgrewe
             Carl Robicheaux                            & Annie Slack
 
Find Out Who This Year's Winners Are!!
 
President's Night will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
 
Our Club's Rotary Foundation
 
Its Purpose; How It Works; What It Does;
Its Current Status
 
Presenters:
 
                
Barry Hannigan                         Madison Casey
 
Barry Hannigan is currently President of the Rotary Foundation and will teach us about that organization.  Previously he was known for his performances throughout the United States and in Europe. He has performed in Russia, China, England, Ireland, Norway, and New Zealand. He has appeared as guest artist at a host of American universities, such as UCLA, Yale, Cornell, and the Universities of Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, Arizona State, and Texas. Hannigan recently retired as the Ellen Williams Professor of Music at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA., where he received the Class of ’56 Lectureship for inspirational teaching. His students have earned graduate performance degrees in piano at schools such as Peabody Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, and the New England Conservatory.
 
Madison Casey has been Past President of the Rotary Foundation but now serves as a Trustee and Investment Chair.  He will teach us about the financial side of the Foundation.  He has been part of our Rotary Club Foundation’s investment since we brought the management in-house in 2009.  He was on the committee with Chair Marsha Yelick, who wrote our investment management policy.
 
Madison is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and passed the CPA Exam out of college, though did not practice to be certified. He worked for 12 years as a stock analyst and client liaison in New York for Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. (now JP Morgan) and then the since merged Cyrus J. Lawrence Inc. He has an MBA in Finance & Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a BS in Business Administration, Accounting concentration, with Distinction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only       
 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
No Meeting
 
 
Fifth Thursday
 
What is the Future
of Our Signature Event
The Rotary Duck Race?
 
Harry Livingston
His Hat from the first Duck Race
 
Be sure to come to our Thursday meeting this week as we will be discussing how to proceed with our Duck Race.  We had a successful event raising over $204,000 for 74 charitable organizations.  The event was a one-year experiment with a different format of four initial “flights”, followed by a fifth flight of the first 25 winners from each of the previous four flights.  The grand prize winner of $10,000 was a local man.  Attendees were happy and reported enjoying the event.  There were several issues that came up in the months before the race that need to be carefully considered, as it not only affects our Club, but the organizations that depend on adoptions for funding.
 
These issues included our Rotary name absent in publications on the race, insurance, communication within the club and within the community, decision-making, leadership, Board consulting and approval, finances, and more.  We will only be able to discuss a few subjects this week but it is a beginning.
 
Thursday’s meeting will allow the entire Club to partake in determining how to proceed next year.  Change is always different and can be uncomfortable, but is often necessary for the betterment of a situation.  Come share positively in a work session to address the future of the Rotary Duck Race.
 
Our program on May 15th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Hear the 2025 Rotary Scholarship Recipients
 
Mark Lee presents Rotary scholarships
to 18 graduating seniors.
 
Students, parents, relatives, teachers, and members of donor organizations all gathered in the Estes Park High School auditorium on Wednesday night to honor the 2025 graduates of Estes Park High School and Eagle Rock School.  
Rotary presenters, Annie Slack, President of Noon Rotary, Mark Lee, Rotary Scholarship Chair, and Barry Hannigan, Rotary Scholarship Committee member, took the stage to present $153,500 to 18 graduating seniors. This was a record amount, reflecting the club’s longstanding support for continuing education.
The scholarship recipients will introduce themselves and discuss their plans.
 
Our program on May 15th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Rotary’s Decision to Fight Polio
 
Children on Polio Ward 1950's
 
This week’s program is a video on how Rotary started its Polio initiative.  Poliomyelitis is just as paralyzing today as it ever was.  It is a virus that enters the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in hours.  It can infect anyone of any age but mostly attacks children under the age of five.  While it cannot be cured or prevented, it can be eradicated by vaccines.
 
When I was a child I can remember my father, a physician, lining my sister, brother and myself up in his office and administering the vaccine to us.  I had friends with polio but did not realize the seriousness of it when I was a child.  We have members of our club who have suffered from polio.  It is a devastating disease.
 
Rotary and our partners have worked worldwide to eradicate polio. Rotary members have donated more than $2.7 billion and innumerable volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease.
 
When Rotary and its partners formed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries every year. Today, we have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent, and just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
 
Be sure to come see this amazing story of how Rotary took on eradicating Polio.
 
Our program on May 8th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Melissa Gruber, Director of Development
Veterans Community Project, Longmont
 
Melissa Gruber
 
Melissa Gruber is the Director of Development for Veterans Community Project (VCP) of Longmont, a role she has held since April 2023. Raised in Colorado Springs, Melissa has always been deeply committed to serving those who served. Her career has been dedicated to the Veteran nonprofit sector, with a focus on development, community engagement, and awareness.
At VCP of Longmont, Melissa finds the greatest fulfillment in working alongside dedicated partners—like Sunrise Rotary—who share a passion for fixing Veteran homelessness in Colorado. Her leadership fosters meaningful connections that drive impactful change in the lives of Veterans, and their families, across Colorado.
Melissa is married to her husband, Nick, and together they share their home with three energetic dogs who keep them on their toes.
Melissa will present on the work VCP is doing, and how Rotarians can get involved.
 
Our program on May 1st will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
1stRotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come Celebrate Our Club’s
Achievement of 100% Paul Harris
 
Paul Harris
April 19, 1868 - January 27, 1947
 
The presentation of Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation's way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs.  It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905.  This week we are celebrating every member’s contribution to become a 100% Paul Harris Club.
 
Becoming a 100% Paul Harris Club means that every member has contributed either financially or through donor points $1000 toward The Rotary Foundation.  The Rotary Foundation (TRF) transforms our gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.  The generous contributions to the Foundation are essential for securing and growing Rotary programs. Donations to TRF go to projects in one of seven areas of global and community service: promoting peace, fighting disease including Polio, providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and protecting the environment.  These programs advance world understanding and goodwill.
 
It is a distinct honor for The Rotary Club of Estes Park to have every member represented so generously in the work of the Foundation, and a rare occurrence for a club to achieve this 100% status.
 
This coming Thursday we will be honored by having our District Governor Julie Haffner come to distribute Paul Harris Awards to our members.  Our District Governor Elect Karen Morgan, and Area Governor Gordon Slack, will also be present.  Our members contributed a total of $12,986.87 to achieve this goal.  These dollars were matched 2 for 1 to make our club a 100% Paul Harris Club.
 
Our program on April 24th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and meet Mark Lee, Chairman, Bethania Kids North America & Member of Estes Park Rotary Club
 
Mark Lee and Bethania Kids
 
Mark has worked in the Information Technology industry for the last 43 years, and his work takes him to India frequently. After witnessing the impact of extreme poverty on India's children, he started volunteering for a charitable organization, Bethania Kids, dedicated to providing hope and wholeness to these children. Bethania Kids is a registered 501(c)3 organization led by dozens of volunteers across the United States and Canada, and is currently supporting more than 1,000 orphaned and at-risk children in southern India. Mark is currently serving as the volunteer chairman of this organization.
 
Mark will address the challenges faced by so many children in India, and the work of Bethania Kids to provide them with support. He will also discuss recent connections made with local Rotary Clubs in southern India that are also providing support to these children.
 
Our program on April 17th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Courtney Hill, COO, YMCA of the Rockies
 
Courtney Hill
 
Courtney Hill is the Chief Operating Officer for YMCA of the Rockies. Courtney first moved to Estes Park in 1993, graduated from Colorado State University in 1999 and began her career with the YMCA in 2003. She has filled various roles at the YMCA and became COO in 2023, where she provides strategic oversight of the operations, human resources, and strategic planning for the Estes Park and Winter Park locations as well as for camp. In her free time, Courtney enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her husband and two adult children (all three of whom were raised in Estes!). 
 
Courtney will provide an overview of the YMCA - from mission and impact to facts and figures.
 
Our program on April 10th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet the Candidates Running for the Park Hospital Board
 
Estes Park Health Entrance
 
Come join us to hear five candidates: Tim Cashman, Thomas E. Leigh, Max Salfinger, Ralph Strickland and Janet Zeschin. Each will present a timed 4-minute introductory talk, followed by questions from the members. The candidates may hand out any information they wish. Please be thinking about questions you might want to pose to the candidates, and have them written down so that we can lose no time in having them answered.
 
More information about each candidate - QnA, picture, and bio - can be found on the Estes Park Health website with this link: 
 
Our program on April 3rd will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet James Pickering
 
Dr. James H. Pickering
 
James H. Pickering, since 2006 Estes Park 's Historian Laureate, and the author of over 30 books and articles on Estes Park and Colorado history, will be speaking about his most recent book, He Came and Stayed: Pieter Hondius, The Estes Park Years.
 
Our program on March 27th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come Join the Open Workshop 
 
Club President Anne Slack
 
Annie will conduct an open workshop to discuss what the different pillar discussions arrived at for Club goals. More information can be found in the Update article below.
 
Our program on March 20th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Mindy Rickard
 
Mindy Rickard
 
Mindy Rickard is retired from working in Long Term Care and with older adults for over 30 years  in Northern Colorado.  She has a degree in Gerontology from the University of Northern Colorado.  She is an active volunteer at the Estes Valley Library where she facilitates The Book Club for Mortals and helps individuals complete their medical advance directives by appointment. 
 
Mindy will speak on Advance Directives
 
Our program on March 13th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Nathan Scott, Community Relations Specialist, Foothills Gateway
 
Nathan Scott
 
Nathan Scott's career started with the Navy, and includes work at AmeriCorps, at an international cancer charity, and as executive director of a non-profit specializing in recruitment of volunteers. He has a bachelors degree, and Masters in Communication at Western Illinois University.
 
Nathan will provide an overview of Foothills Gateway.
 
Our program on March 6th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Continued Workshop
Setting Goals
for Our Club’s Future
 
President Annie
 
By request from our members we will be conducting another workshop this coming Thursday to continue our discussions from January.  We’ll divide up into our pillar groups and work to establish specific goals for the next three years.
 
I have added several subjects to each pillar for members to consider.  These subjects developed out of the results of our January workshop.
 
Come and have fun.  If you really want to change groups, you may.  Be sure that everyone participates and shares their ideas.  I also was advised to not worry about reporting results at the end of our workshop but to allow maximum time for discussion.
 
See you Thursday.
 
Our program on February 27th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Doug Frisbie, President, Estes Park Salud Foundation
 
Doug Frisbie
 
Doug Frisbie and his spouse Eileen Flaherty moved to Estes Park in 1991 with their two children 1 and 3.  Doug served as a member of the local board of education for eight years. His employment included Engineers Without Borders and manager of Larimer County's Estes Park Office. 
 
Doug will address the financial crisis facing Estes Park's Salud Clinic. The presentation will discuss the causes of the crisis, its implications for the Estes community and its tourist economy and what is needed to resolve the crisis.
 
Our program on February 20th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Jean Tasker, Fundraising Director, The Bridge of Estes
 
Jean Tasker
 
Jean will speak about the mission of The Bridge of Estes, which is to bridge the gap between the wellness needs of cancer patients with local resources and support. This is done by teaming up with local providers to offer services and products to help patients manage the physical, emotional, social, and financial side effects of ongoing cancer treatments.
 
Our program on February 13th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
No Meeting
 
Credit: Gretchen Troop Photography, Estes Valley Voice
Skijor 2025
 
President Anne Slack Presents Workshop on
Membership Satisfaction Surveys
 
     
Anne Slack and Grant Delbecq
 
Anne Slack and Grant Delbecq gathered the data from eleven surveys our members completed, and divided the responses into five categories.  Board members will lead discussions of the five groups to plan strategies for the next three years.
 
Shurie Scheel, District Visioning Chair, presented the idea last week of Four Club Pillars: Membership, Fundraising, Club Management, and Service.  The five categories from the data received from the surveys will be combined into four categories.
 
Here is your chance to have a direct effect on how our Club operates. Come and participate in this workshop to improve our Club’s growth.
 
Anne graduated with a degree in Sociology from Eckerd College (formerly Florida Presbyterian College) and later earned a Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University.  She practiced in Amarillo, TX before moving to Estes Park in 2001 where she set up Mountaintop Physical Therapy.  She also founded Healing Waters, a pool with a treadmill that would allow people to exercise while recuperating from various illnesses or surgeries.
 
She is happily married to John Gordon Slack, a fellow Rotarian with the Sunrise Club, and has two adult children, Nancy Lugo who lives in Abilene, TX, and David Slack who lives in Los Angeles, CA.
 
Grant Delbecq grew up in Dearborn Michigan with his parents and brother.  He attended Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Packaging Engineering with additional studies in Physical Distribution, the forerunner of Supply Chain.  Upon graduation in 1981 he moved to Dallas, TX, and took a job with LTV Aerospace.  He met and married his wife, Carol, and went on to get a MBA at Southern Methodist University.  Carol and Grant added two children to their family during this time period: Dillon and Samantha.  They now have one grandchild.
 
Our program on January 30th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Vice Governor Shurie Scheel
 
Shurie Scheel
 
Shurie lives in Thermopolis, WY with her husband, Phillip, and their two children, Kaden (their 15 year old son) and Alayna (their 13 year old daughter). They own a propane retail company that services about 100 mile radius around Thermopolis. The Scheel’s are both very active in the community and the State. Shurie served as the Rotary District Governor in 2021-22, and is the current District Trainer and Vice Governor. She also serves as the Emerging Rotary Leaders program chair for Rotary Zones 26 & 27. Her passion in Rotary is training Rotarians to better serve their clubs, working with clubs to develop Action Plans and their membership, and the work she does in Kenya to bring clean water to rural schools and homes.
 
Shurie will analyze the results of the Membership Satisfaction Survey.
 
Our program on January 23rd will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Hear from Scott Thompson and Bob Fulton about this year's Duck Race
 
Scott, Lucky, and Bob
 
Scott Thompson and Bob Fulton are jointly leading the team for the 2025 duck race, They will present a talk highlighting many aspects of their work, focusing on the new concepts in development for this year’s race. From team organization to race logistics to event promotion and design, much is on the drawing board. And with the race less than four months away, things are moving fast!

Scott is a long-time club member, last serving as Big Duck back in 2011. Bob is a friend to Rotary, having served as a community volunteer for the duck race since 2022. Scott and Bob are co-leading the team making the 2025 Duck Race a reality.
 
Our program on January 16th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Courtney Hill,
Chief Operating Officer, YMCA of the Rockies
 
 
Courtney first moved to Estes Park in 1993, graduated from Colorado State University in 1999 and began her career with the YMCA in 2003. She has filled various roles at the YMCA and became COO in 2023, where she provides strategic oversight of the operations, human resources and strategic planning for the Estes.Park and Winter Park locations as well as for camp.
 
Courtney will provide an overview of the YMCA - from mission and impact to facts and figures.
 
Our program on January 9th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
No Meeting
 
Credit: Alan Lipkin, Estes Valley Voice
 
Holidays Together
 
No Meeting
 
 
Happy Holidays
 
Come and Hear Dr. Alan Denney and the Estes Park High School Tenor/Bass Choir
 
Alan Denney
 
The Estes Park High School Tenor/Bass Choir is an ensemble of 11 high school freshmen who love to sing. The group meets daily at 8 am for rehearsal and they perform a variety of styles of repertoire. For this performance, they will be singing 4 holiday selections, including the stirring, "Stopping By Woods", by poet Robert Frost. EPHS sophomore, Geneva Thomas, will also be performing one selection today.
 
Choirs from Estes Park High School have performed in Carnegie Hall 5 times. The combined choirs annually sing the National Anthem at a Denver Nuggets game.
 
Dr. Alan Denney is in his twentieth year at Estes Park High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana State University, a Master of Music in Music Theory and Composition from Colorado State University, and a Doctorate of Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Denney has studied conducting with Dr. James Jordan, Dr. Gary Graydon, and Dr. Rodney Eichenberger. 
 
Our program on December 19th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair Chris Woodruff
 
Chris Woodruff
 
Chris Woodruff became a Rotarian in 2000 when he joined the Rotary Club of Greeley - Centennial.  In the club he has served as Secretary, President and Foundation Chair and now Treasurer. 
 
At the district level, Chris served as Assistant Governor for the Estes Park, Colorado clubs, Awards Committee chairman, TRF mentor and as a member of the District Foundation Committee.  He presented at several District Assemblies and served as a facilitator, and now as the Chair for High Country PETS. He also served as a trainer at the Rotary Zone training for incoming District Governors. He is currently the District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair.
 
Chris served as District Governor for D5440 from 2019 thru 2021.
 
Chris will be discussing the work and value of the Rotary Foundation (TRF), what kinds of work is being done with the resources, and how our club is doing in its giving this year.
 
Our program on December 12th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
 
Come and Meet Wynn Walent, Executive Director - Locally Haiti
 
Wynn Walent
 
Locally Haiti was founded in 1989 under the name the Colorado Haiti Project. The relationship between the rural community of Petit Trou de Nippes and Locally Haiti, is deeply rooted in shared history, and the conviction that when Haitian leaders have access to resources, they will achieve progress in their communities. 
 
Wynn first traveled to Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 to assist with relief efforts. He intended to stay for two months before returning to the U.S. for graduate school, but the powerful experiences he collected while supporting Haitian relief and development efforts stirred Wynn so deeply that he decided to defer his graduate studies and remain in Haiti. Over the course of the next two and a half years he lived and worked full time in Haiti, developing a deep appreciation for the importance of Haitian leadership and self-determination. 
 
The presentation provides an overview of Locally Haiti's major programs with a focus on their current district grant, an agricultural and community health initiative supporting family farms and agricultural education in Haiti. 
 
Our program on December 5th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
No Meeting
 
 
Happy Thanksgiving!
 
Come and Meet Sue Yowell, Executive Director, The Learning Place
 
Sue Yowell
 
Founded in 1998 as an innovative skill-building center for learners of all ages, the Estes Park Learning Place became a charitable non-profit organization in February 2002 and serves the greater Estes Valley community.
The Estes Park Learning Place believes education is the key that unlocks dreams. EPLP provides K-12 tutoring, GED coaching/tutoring and testing, SAT/ACT preparation, career development support, proctor tests from different colleges & Universities and more, for youth and adults in the Estes Valley.
 
Our program on November 21st will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Vern Carda and David Batey
 
         
          Vern Carda, CEO of                    David Batey, Chair of Estes 
           Estes Park Health                    Park Health Board of Directors
 
Vern Carda moved to Estes Park from Billiings, Mont., where he spent time managing regional strategy for a collection of 13 hospitals spread across the eastern portion of Montana and into Wyoming.
He is originally from Armour, S.D., and earned his undergraduate degree in Hospital Administration from the University of South Dakota. He earned a masters degree in Computer Systems Management from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
 
David Batey has worked at ExxonMobil, New Jersey Medical School, Duke Univ. Medical School, Johnson & Johnson, Rutgers Univ., and Ball State Univ.
He has volunteered at Estes Park Medical Center, Estes Park Development Corp., Estes Park Trail-Gazette, YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Non-Profit Resource Center, Estes Valley Broadbend Engineering Project, Estes Park Ambassadors, Estes Park Newcomers, Estes Valley Community Center, and Estes Park One Percent Sales Tax Campaign.
His education includes Kalamazoo College, BA, Psychology; Ball State University, MA, General and Experimental Psychology; Rutgers University, PhD, Clinical Psychology; Medical Psychology Internship, Duke University Medical School; Postdoctoral Fellow, New Jersey Medical School; Rutgers University/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, MPH; University of Texas School of Public Health, DrPH.
 
Vern Carda and David Batey will share an overview of the merger with UC Health.
 
Our program on November 14th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come, Vote, and Meet Walter Borneman
 
 
The Rocky Mountain Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of Rocky Mountain National Park, is one of the oldest and most effective friends groups in the National Park Service. Walt Borneman, president of the Conservancy’s Board of Directors, will share how the Conservancy supports conservation and education in the park with the support of members and donors.
 
Our local Conservancy supports Search & Rescue, wildlife conservation, environmental research and education, wildfire prevention and post-fire restoration, trail maintenance and construction, Rocky’s Junior Ranger program, and more. In addition, the Rocky Mountain Conservancy completed construction of the Rocky Terraces workforce housing on Highway 66 to support park staff, interns, and researchers. Audience members are encouraged to bring their questions.
 
Walt Borneman has served on the Conservancy’s board since 2019, and stepped up to board president in February. He is well known as the co-author of A Climbing Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners, first published in 1978, and has advocated for Colorado’s natural resources as the first chairman of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and as president of the Colorado Mountain Club Foundation. Borneman earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from Western State College of Colorado and received his law degree from the University of Denver. He is also the author of many books and articles about mountains, railroads, and the American West, as well as American military and political history.
 
Our program on November 7th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
No Meeting
 
 
Happy Halloween!
 
Come and Meet Our District Governor, Julie Johnson Haffner
 
District Governor Julie Johnson Haffner
 
The International Rotary theme for the year is The Magic of Rotary!  Julie is expected to focus on Rotary International's new initiatives, membership, and the good work that is being done by Rotarians around the world.  The theme is meant to put focus on all the projects and activities that our Club accomplishes, both locally and internationally.
 
Julie, a professional fund raiser and a Colorado native, was one of the first women to join Rotary in northern Colorado. During her nearly 35 years as a Rotary member, she has served as an Assistant Governor in District 5440; President of the Rotary Club of Loveland (CO); an active member of several District committees; a trainer at PETS and a presenter at District assemblies and conferences. Her district includes 52 Rotary clubs in Wyoming, Northern Colorado, Eastern Idaho and Western Nebraska. Julie is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a major donor.
 
Julie graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Consumer Sciences and a minor in business. After leaving full-time business, Julie created her consulting business, Blue Jewels LLC, to teach nonprofit organizations how to build their boards, grow their fundraising capacity and expand their leadership skills. Currently, she serves on the boards of the Children’s Museum of Northern Colorado and Sunrise Community Health. Julie is also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and PEO.
 
Our program on October 24th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Around the World: Flight to End Polio
 
The trip that couldn't be done
 
Cousins Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels piloted a single piston-engine airplane around the world in 2023 to raise awareness and money for Rotary’s End Polio Now program. The flight took 90-days, made 37 landings in 19 countries, and involved 24 fundraisers. Only 702 pilots in history have ever achieved this feat, and less than 270 are alive today!
 
Both Peter and John are longtime Rotarians and members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. They are both recipients of Rotary’s two highest honors, “Service Above Self”, and the “Service Award for A Polio Free World”. As pilots, they have qualified for the prestigious Circumnavigator Diploma from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.
 
Peter and John departed Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 5, 2023 in their 1977 Cessna T210M airplane, and successfully returned home 90-days later on July 30.
 
Our program on October 17th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Harvest Annual Meeting
 
 
Next Thursday is our Annual Meeting.  It is held to elect next year’s Officers and Directors as well as hear financial reports of the previous year and budget reports for 2024-2025. Come learn about our accomplishments as a Club and how we are making a positive impact on our community and world.
 
Captain Tom Maher
 
      
Flying the F-150                          Flying a glider
 
In Tom's own words: I did work as brakeman for the ROCK ISLAND RR summers while in college and for a month right after graduating from OU in 1958, then went directly to the USAF. I resigned my regular commission as a Captain in January 1965, from Germany and went directly to TWA.  Promoted to Captain in 1968. I have a captain’s rating in every JET that TWA ever owned. I will talk about both careers.
 
Our program on October 3rd will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
 
Come and Meet Rut Miller, Executive Director EVICS
 
Rut Miller
 
Rut will present the important mission and work of EVICS.
 
EVICS was established in 2006 as a childcare scholarship program and evolved to serve the community as EVICS Family Resource Center. As a Family Resource Center, EVICS connects families and parents to resources throughout our community and across Larimer County. Through family development programs, mental health consultations, connection to resources, and of course, the childcare scholarship program, EVICS Family Resource Center is essential to family success in Estes Park.
 
Our program on September 26th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
 Meeting link:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 Rotary Weekly Luncheon
 Place: American Legion
 Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost: $20
 Parking: American Legion and the church only
 As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
 Thank You!
 
September 19th Speaker
Superintendent of Estes Park Schools
Ruby Bode
 
Superintendent Ruby Bode
 
Ruby will share insights on the progress and achievements of the district following the first year of the Board of Education’s newly adopted strategic plan.
 
Ruby joined Estes Park School District in 2005 and has served in the capacity of teacher, coach, principal, director, and assistant superintendent. Most recently, Ruby was named the Superintendent of Estes Park Schools on July 1, 2022.
 
Ruby is currently a doctoral student at Colorado State University. She holds a Masters of Educational Leadership, University of Northern Colorado. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Secondary Education, Iowa State University.
 
Ruby is an active member of Rotary Club of Estes Park.
 
Our program on September 19th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be
 provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
 Meeting link:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 Rotary Weekly Luncheon
 Place: American Legion
 Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost: $20
 Parking: American Legion and the church only
 As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones
 during
 the meeting.
 Thank You!
 
Come and Meet Jennifer Maley and Brad Maggetti
 
     
Jennifer Maley                             Brad Maggetti 
 
Jen Maley  has been a teacher librarian since 2003 and loves the strong partnership between our public and school libraries here in Estes Park. She and her husband have three children who attend Estes Park Schools, and they are grateful to be part of such an amazing community. She lives in Drake with these fabulous humans and their 11 pets. In her free time, Jen loves to read and do yoga.
 
Brad Maggetti is the Technical Services Supervisor at Estes Valley Library, keeping the books in order, the computers running, and facilitating the partnership with the school district for the Village Catalog. Prior to serving our community in this role, Brad worked for the National Park Service as an environmental educator and river guide at Redwood National Park in Crescent City, CA. 
 
Our program on September 12th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be
 provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
 Meeting link:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 Rotary Weekly Luncheon
 Place: American Legion
 Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost: $20
 Parking: American Legion and the church only
 As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones
 during
 the meeting.
 Thank You!
 
Happy Labor Day!
 
Come and Meet Mayor Gary Hall
 
 
Gary Hall will discuss his busy new schedule as mayor of Estes Park. The job, which he started in April, braids his previous lives as an IT tech and software designer for a marketing company in Lincoln, Neb.; chief operating officer of Estes Park Health for 18 years (he moved to town in 2003, but had been visiting since 1974), dogged safety advocate and lifelong backpacker. Between 2004 and 2012, he and his wife summited every 14er in the state.
No Noon Rotary Meeting
Thursday, August 29, 2024
 
 
BUT
 
Come to the John Denver Tribute Concert
Saturday, August 31, 2024
at the YMCA Ruesch Auditorium 5 PM
 
 
Brad Fitch
In addition to Brad Fitch and the TropiCowboy Band, Random and True are returning this year to open the show!
 
Tickets available at MacDonald's Book Shop or the Estes Park Visitor's Center
Come and Meet Dave Talbot
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA 
 
Dave Talbot
 
Born in 1952, David started well but in the spring of 1955, when he was 2.5 years old, he contracted polio, just 2 weeks after the announcement that a vaccination had been discovered. David went through several years of rehab and started on his journey to overcome the physical restrictions that were the result with his bout with polio.

As the challenge was physical, that is where David put his focus.
High School football, mountain climbing and bicycling in Europe (even running with the bulls in Pamplona) were his signs that despite his mobility challenge, he had whipped polio.
 
Or so David thought.  After a number of active careers from Dental Hygiene, teaching radiology physics, archery, volunteer fire chief and professional photographer, He is now back in the struggle against polio. This time it is the return of the symptoms, not the disease itself.  Joint, bone and muscle pain and a continued loss of strength in his polio-affected left leg have left him back on crutches after some 45 years of freedom from mobility equipment.
 
In 2005 David was in Uganda, East Africa with his wife Candice where they witnessed an incredible need for mobility devices. The impact of seeing the need first hand was the seed that grew into Crutches 4 Africa.  Since the inception, 212,000 mobility devices have been given away free to people in need in 17 countries in Africa and 11 countries in other parts of the developing world.
 
David is a Paul Harris fellow and is a member of Mountain Foothills Rotary club in Evergreen Colorado, and was the 2011 recipient of the International Service Award for a Polio Free World.
 
Update:  On November 13th, 2016, David died.  He experienced major cardiac arrest during  which his heart stopped altogether.  CPR was performed for over 30 minutes and his heart was restarted with the help of 11 electrical shocks.  His story of “new life” and recovery continues.
 
Our program on August 15th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be
provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link:http://https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking: American Legion and the church only
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones
during
the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Meet JoAnn Batey, Discussing
 The Stanley Home Museum’s Innovative History Programs
 
JoAnn Batey
 
JoAnn will talk about Estes Park School District 3rd and 7th grade students encountering local history at the Stanley Home museum, portrayals of historical characters from our community, some involving local Chautauqua students, and other current and possible future innovative local history programs.
 
JoAnn has served on the Historic Stanley Home Foundation Board as President for three years prior to becoming Director.
 
Our program on August 15th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be
provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking: American Legion and the church only
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones
during
the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come & Meet Claire Bouchard, NoCo Foundation
2024 Northern Colorado Intersections Report
 
 
Claire Bouchard
 
The NoCo Foundation produced the Intersections Report in order to start conversations with community groups around the issue of population growth and the pressures it presents on topics such as workforce, housing, childcare, transportation, and community placemaking. NoCo Foundation President Kristin Todd, and Claire Bouchard are sharing the Intersections initiative with many community partners with the hope of connecting people to impactful work and creating common language and data that we can use when discussing important and time sensitive topics. 
 
The concise 20-30 minute presentation spurs wonderful conversations about our region and how we might tackle some of the challenges.
 
Our program on August 8th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be
provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking: American Legion and the church only
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones
during
the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come and Meet Kathy Whitacre
Partners: Community-Based Mentoring Program
 
Kathy Whitacre
 
 PARTNERS image
 
Kathy Whitacre is the Program Coordinator in Estes Park for Partners. She works with youth and their families to enroll each youth in Partners Community-Based or School-Based Mentoring Programs. Kathy also recruits, screens, and trains positive adult role models to be volunteer mentors and activity volunteers.  Her goal is to match each youth with an adult one-to-one to enrich lives and build community.  Kathy provides ongoing case management, plans monthly activities for youth and volunteers, and collaborates with community partners. 
Kathy is a nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.  She holds a BS in Business Administration/minor in Accounting, and a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Emporia State University.  
You can reach Kathy at 970-577-9348 or kwhitacre@poweredbypartners.org.
 
Our program on August 1st will be held in person, but a Zoom link will
be
provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking: American Legion and the church only
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones
during
the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Come meet Estes Park Police Chief Ian Stewart
 
Estes Park Police Chief Ian Stewart
 
After a competitive process, Ian Stewart was selected as Estes Park‘s new Chief of Police, and has transitioned from the role of Interim Police Chief to his official Police Chief role.
 
Stewart brings 25 years of law enforcement experience to the Estes Park Police Department. As Operations Division Captain for Larimer County Sheriff's Office, he oversaw patrol, emergency operations, strategic planning and data, special operations, and special events across Larimer County. Stewart led the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force from 2020-2023 and served as the Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association president from 2013-2018. His investment in the safety of Larimer County also includes EMT certification and prior service as a firefighter with the Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department.
 
Our program on July 25th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be
provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
Cost: $20
Parking: American Legion and the church only 
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during
the meeting.
Thank You!
July 18 Speaker
STS-31 Space Shuttle Discovery Mission
 
 
Col. Loren Shriver
 
Loren Shriver participated in three NASA missions and spent more than 386 hours in space. 
 
He twice served as mission commander, including on STS-31 (space shuttle Discovery) in 1990, where the five-person crew deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted a variety of middeck experiments. During the mission, the crew also used two IMAX cameras to record new vantage points of Earth’s features as Discovery reached a then-record altitude of 333 nautical miles. The footage appeared in the 1994 IMAX film, “Destiny in Space.” 
 
Selected as an astronaut in 1978, Shriver’s first NASA mission came in 1985 as pilot of STS-51C. The Department of Defense-initiated mission saw the crew deploy a modified Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) vehicle from Discovery’s payload bay. In 1992, Shriver commanded his final NASA mission, STS-46, aboard Atlantis. During the eight-day mission, the crew deployed the European Retrievable Carrier satellite and conducted the first Tethered Satellite System test flight – a joint project between NASA and the Italian Space Agency. 
 
Our program on July 18th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only        
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Meeting Notes for July 11, 2024
 
President Elect Jack Ford rang the bell at 12:00 PM. 
Ruby Bode read the Invocation. 
Jack Ford led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Guests of Rotarians 
  • Ian Stewart our police captain
  • Virgil Scott from the Rotary Club of Denver
  • Bill Kall from Gilbert, Arizona
Announcements
  • Tara Moenning passed around a sign-up sheet to volunteer for the August 10th Shred-a-thon.
  • Scott Thompson reminded us about the Cowboy Brad concert tonight from 5-7 at performance park. 
  • Jim Austin asked us to join him in donating towards Shelter Box. 
Rotarian Stories
This week Kathy Groesbeck told us about herself. Transferred from Topeka, Kansas. She has three kids and seven grandkids. She has been President of the club, President Elect, Little Duck, and Big Duck. She was District Governor for our rotary district for 4 years. She is a Paul Harris member for 8+ years, donating her $1,000 
every year on her birthday. She shared many of her favorite memories as a member. 
 
Joke of the Day
Scott Thompson read us funny signs he thought we would enjoy. 

Happy Money
We ran out of time for happy money and will do it next week!

Program
Chuck Bonza introduced his friend Stan Hilkey. Stan is the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. He spoke to us about his background, his mission  and vision for his department, and gave us a detailed presentation on what makes up the 
Colorado Department of Public Safety. 
 
  Chuck Bonza introducing                 Stan Hilkey presentation
           Stan Hilkey

Adjournment 
We closed with the Four Way Test. 

Andrea Escorcia, Scribe
image
COME TO THE MEETING ON JULY 11
 
July 11 Speaker
Executive Director Stan Hilkey
 
Ex Dir Stan Hilkey
 
Colorado native Stan Hilkey was appointed Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety in June 2014 by Governor John Hickenlooper and was reappointed by Governor Jared Polis in January 2019.  In his role as Executive Director of CDPS, he provides leadership to the nearly 2,000 members of the department. CDPS is one of the largest departments in Colorado state government.

Under his leadership, the Colorado Department of Public Safety has played a critical, lifesaving role in the state of Colorado’s response to the pandemic, the largest wildfires in state history, and historic civil unrest. 
 
Our program on July 11th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only        
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
COME TO THE MEETING ON JUNE 27
 
NO MEETING ON JULY 4TH
 
New Fire Chief Rick Lasky
 
Fire Chief Rick Lasky
 
Rick Lasky, a 40-plus year veteran of the fire service, began his career here as Fire Chief for the Estes Valley (CO) Fire Protection District on April 1, 2024. At our meeting on 6/27/24 Rick will introduce himself to us.  He followed in his father’s footsteps beginning his career as a firefighter in the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago and has been a line firefighter, firefighter-paramedic, company grade officer, training officer and command-level officer.
 
While in Illinois he received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in developing the “Saving Our Own” program, a program designed to teach firefighters how to save firefighters that have become trapped or lost in a burning building. Throughout his 40-plus years in the fire service he has served as a career and volunteer firefighter. Rick is a long-standing editorial advisory board member for Fire Engineering Magazine, serves on the FDIC International advisory board and as an author has written over 200 technical articles that have been published in national fire-rescue journals. These magazine articles relate to fire department operations, administration, training and safety. He is the author of the best-selling books “Pride and Ownership-A Firefighter’s Love of the Job” and “Five Alarm Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fireground” published by Fire Engineering Books and is the co-host for the podcast “The Command Post” heard on FireEngineering.com as well as the podcast “Old School.”
 
Rick has also served as a police officer and was wounded on several occasions, once while defending a victim of family violence and has received numerous fire and police awards and commendations. He was also honored in 2011 as an inductee into the Chicago Softball Hall of Fame. He is a Lewisville Honorary Police Officer and Honorary Battalion Commander in the 18th Battalion of the FDNY. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.
 
Rick lectures at the local, state, national and international levels and is a sought-after speaker by both the public and private sectors. He is married to his best friend Jami and they have two children Rick and Emily.
 
Our program on June 27th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only        

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
Final Edition*
 
Our Speaker for June 27, 2024
is
New Fire Chief Rick Lasky
 
Fire Chief Rick Lasky
 
Rick Lasky, a 40-plus year veteran of the fire service, began his career here as Fire Chief for the Estes Valley (CO) Fire Protection District on April 1, 2024. At our meeting on 6/27/24 Rick will introduce himself to us.  He followed in his father’s footsteps beginning his career as a firefighter in the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago and has been a line firefighter, firefighter-paramedic, company grade officer, training officer and command-level officer.
 
While in Illinois he received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in developing the “Saving Our Own” program, a program designed to teach firefighters how to save firefighters that have become trapped or lost in a burning building. Throughout his 40-plus years in the fire service he has served as a career and volunteer firefighter. Rick is a long-standing editorial advisory board member for Fire Engineering Magazine, serves on the FDIC International advisory board and as an author has written over 200 technical articles that have been published in national fire-rescue journals. These magazine articles relate to fire department operations, administration, training and safety. He is the author of the best-selling books “Pride and Ownership-A Firefighter’s Love of the Job” and “Five Alarm Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fireground” published by Fire Engineering Books and is the co-host for the podcast “The Command Post” heard on FireEngineering.com as well as the podcast “Old School.”
 
Rick has also served as a police officer and was wounded on several occasions, once while defending a victim of family violence and has received numerous fire and police awards and commendations. He was also honored in 2011 as an inductee into the Chicago Softball Hall of Fame. He is a Lewisville Honorary Police Officer and Honorary Battalion Commander in the 18th Battalion of the FDNY. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.
 
Rick lectures at the local, state, national and international levels and is a sought-after speaker by both the public and private sectors. He is married to his best friend Jami and they have two children Rick and Emily.
 
Our program one June 27th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only        

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
*  This is the last edition I am editing of the Spoke.  If anyone would like to take it over, I would be more than happy to teach you how to create it on Clubrunner.   My email is anneslack@aol.com.  My cell is 970-231-6697.
Annie
Come Celebrate President's Night!
Thursday Night, June 13, 2024
5:30 PM
at the American Legion
 
Annual Changing of the Guard
and
Rotary Awards
 
2023 Award Winners
 
      
Living Legacy Award            Distinguished Service Award
Virgil Holtgrewe presented         Mark Lee presented
by Jim Austin                         by Pete Sinnott
 
        
Rotarian of the Year Award               The Spirit Award
Carl Robicheaux            Tim Moore presented by Mel Rueppel
 
Find Out Who This Year's Winners Are!!
 
No Zoom transmission this week
Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be June 27, 2024
 
   5:30 - 6:00 Cash Bar
6:00 - 6:45 Dinner
   6:45 - 7:30 Program
 
$35 Cash, check (Rotary of Estes Park), Credit Card $37
                       
Our Club's Rotary Foundation
 
It's Purpose; How It Works; What It Does;
It's Current Status
 
Presenters:
 
  
Barry Hannigan             Madison Casey
 
Barry Hannigan is currently Vice President of the Rotary Foundation and will teach us about that organization.  Previously he was known for his performances throughout the United States and in Europe. He has performed in Russia, China, England, Ireland, Norway, and New Zealand. He has appeared as guest artist at a host of American universities, such as UCLA, Yale, Cornell, and the Universities of Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, Arizona State, and Texas.   Hannigan recently retired as the Ellen Williams Professor of Music at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA., where he received the Class of ’56 Lectureship for inspirational teaching. His students have earned graduate performance degrees in piano at schools such as Peabody Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, and the New England Conservatory.
 
Madison Casey has been Past President of the Rotary Foundation but now serves as a consultant.  He will teach us about the financial side of the Foundation.  He has been part of our Rotary Clubs Foundation’s investment since we brought the management in house in 2009.  He was on the committee with Chair Marsha Yelick , who wrote our investment management policy.
 
Madison is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and passed the CPA Exam out of college, though did not practice to be certified. He worked for 12 years as a stock analyst and client liaison in New York for Morgan Guaranty Trust Co. (now JP Morgan) and then the since merged Cyrus J. Lawrence Inc. He has a MBA in Finance & Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Business Administration, Accounting concentration, with Distinction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only        

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
 
Come to the Social
with
Sunrise Rotary
out at
The Salvation Army High Peak Camp
4:45 PM Thursday night.
 
No Noon Meeting
 
An Overview of Transportation Infrastructure
in
Estes Park
 
Greg Muhonen
Public Works Director
 
Greg Muhonen is a Professional Civil Engineer who has used his training and life experience to serve the transportation infrastructure needs of Larimer County residents for over 37 years.  His civil engineering work experience spans private land development, land use entitlement review, traffic engineering, municipal policy, and public works capital project design and construction. Greg's Core Values are Lead by Example, Keep his Word, Build Relationships and Transparency.  "I hold myself and my team accountable to each other, our Town residents, and our Town leaders to implement the goals and priorities that we collaboratively establish.  We learn and share our knowledge and skills freely, understanding that our roles in the organization and community exist to build relationships with, and serve the needs of, our residents.  I believe we are personal stewards of the public trust."
 
Greg was born and raised in Idaho, the eldest of 10, 5 sisters and 4 brothers.  His wife is a veterinarian.  They have been married for over 40 years and he is a Percussionist at Summit Church.
 
Greg will provide an overview of the transportation infrastructure projects currently underway in the Estes Park Public Works Department.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheonce: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only
 
 
Meet Dr. John Knudtson
Diagnostic Radiologist at Estes Park Health
and
Our Scholarship Recipients
 
Dr. John Knudtson
 
Dr. Knudtson came to Colorado by way of Kansas. Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Knudtson grew up traveling to Colorado for skiing, hiking, mountain biking and the gorgeous views.  The father of three adult sons, he managed to get his family hooked on Colorado and the things the mountains offered. Two of his sons moved to Colorado and Dr. Knudtson and his wife Peggy soon followed.
 
Professionally, Dr. Knudtson has practiced for over 20 years in every type of medical setting from physician’s offices to small rural hospitals to the largest tertiary medical centers.  He has been Medical Staff President, Chief of Staff, Department Director and Medical Director for numerous Radiology Departments and Diagnostic Imaging facilities.  He is very excited to live and practice in Estes Park.  He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical School and is subspecialty trained in Breast Imaging from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.  He is also a proud veteran of the United States Navy and was a designated Navy Flight Surgeon.  He served as the Squadron and Wing Surgeon for Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 4 and Strategic Communications Wing ONE in the TACAMO branch on the US Strategic Command ultimately leaving the Navy after 13 years of service.
 
Dr. Knudtson loves anything in the outdoors and now loves having his kids come up from the city and spend time in Estes Park with their grand dog Luci.
 
His education record is as follows: University of Kansas 1989; University of Kansas School of Medicine 1993; University of Kansas Diagnostic Radiology 2001; Diplomate, American Board of Radiology 2001; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Breast Imaging 2017.
 
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
Learn About Global Grants
presented by
 
  
Bob Waltermire       and       Joe McCarthy
 
Bob Waltermire:
 
I joined Rotary in 2006 and I have been especially interested in international service.  I was president of my club for the 2018-2019 Rotary year.  I have been a member of my club’s International Service Committee (ISC) since I joined Rotary and I have been chairperson of the committee since 2021.  My term as chairperson will end in 2027.  I lived in Ethiopia in the early 1970s and my only global grant was a project to develop springs and provide potable water for three communities in southwest Ethiopia.  I have managed three district grants in Ethiopia; one for text books and two for development of springs for three other communities.  My club’s ISC also provided partial funds for spring development projects in two other communities in Ethiopia that did not involve Rotary grants.  I managed three district grants for my club’s Community Service Committee.  I am a member of the Paul Harris Society and have been active in many of my club’s fundraisers.  
 
Joe McCarthy:
 
My Global Grant project is in collaboration with the Rams Without Borders club of CSU, along with some other water experts. The project is to provide household water to over 700 people in two communities in El Salvador. I started working on a Global Grant in September of 2020, before I even considered myself a member of the International Service Committee. I became a Rotarian” during the process of connecting with clubs to collect pledges, when I realized just what “YIRS” means. I raised $135,895 for the project, including $2000 from the Estes Valley Sunrise club (thank you very much!)
 
I joined Rotary after one of those life-changing events. In my case, it was cardiac arrest. I visited 3 of the Fort Collins clubs and 2 satellite clubs before deciding to join the Breakfast Rotary Club. I was inducted in June of 2020, right at the start of Covid. I am a Paul Harris Society member, am chairman of the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Awareness) committee, member of the International Service committee, and President Elect Nominee.
 
My interest in global grants started with my first inauspicious trip outside of the US was a wrestling tournament just across the border into Canada when I was 14. Since then, I studied for a quarter in Tours, France, and worked for a summer during college in Paris. After getting married in Greeley, where I worked for HP, we then lived outside the US for almost 20 years (10 in France, 1+ in Singapore, 4 in Egypt, and 4 in Dubai – all with HP. I’m a recovering engineer, a recovering introvert, and a member of Toastmasters.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
Current Problems with Healthcare
 
Robert Luisana
 
Robert Luisana's presentation on Thursday, May 2nd, is a quick discussion of the current problems with Healthcare...cost, snowballing prescription drug cost, inefficiencies in the system and the problem of people being uninsured. He also covers the proposed options for change in the health field.
 
Rob Luisana graduated from East Carolina University, in 1973, where he was Student Body President. He is a former Guilford County teacher and basketball coach, as well as serving as President of the North Carolina Association Educators for Guilford County Schools, 1981- 83. He has worked as a health insurance broker and consultant for the past 37 years, working with corporations and individuals on all aspects of healthcare and insurance. Over the past five years, he has been a frequent presenter on healthcare issues, including NPR and Politico. Among his activities, he is captain of the Guilford County, Senior Games Basketball Team….. “Deadmen Dribbling”
 
Rob is married to Karen, an antique dealer and showroom director. They have two grown boys and five grandchildren.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
Estes Valley Watershed Coalition
 
Dawn James
Board Treasurer for EVWC
CEO, Process Interventions, LLC
 
After 30 years in multi-industry leadership roles, delivering over $1B USD in optimization savings and leadership development, Dawn decided to take her executive leadership experience that spanned across 48 countries and begin assisting others to maximize their business and personal growth. Now CEO of Process Interventions LLC, a global consulting business that launched in 2016, Dawn provides business optimization and leadership coaching services to small and mid-size corporations, as well as to individuals who seek organization or coaching in their personal lives.
In 2016 EVWC had asked Process Interventions LLC to assist with optimizing the project management processes of their initial 14 project sites. Being impressed with their vision, mission, and active projects that were helping the community recover from the 2013 flood, Dawn joined the EVWC Board in 2017. She has held EVWC positions of President, Vice President, and Treasurer throughout seven years of service and averages 600 volunteer hours annually. While serving her last two-year term, Dawn will continue to support EVWC as Treasurer.

Dawn and her husband Rick started building their home in Estes Park in 2011 and officially made Estes Park their home in 2013. She enjoys hiking, traveling, cooking, and giving back to family and community. Dawn has obtained two Six Sigma Black Belt certifications and Bachelor of Science Degrees in Industrial Engineering and Material and Logistic Management from Kettering University, formerly GMI Engineering and Management Institute located in Flint, Michigan. Former employers include Honeywell International, Whirlpool, United Parcel Service, and General Motors.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
 
Through the Power and Magic of Rotary,
We can Change the World
 
Melanie Phelps, fellow Rotarian, Pete Sutton
 
Melanie Phelps and her husband Pete belong to the Pueblo West Rotary.  She, her husband and other members of their club visited four villages in Nicaragua to help install clean water and latrines for approximately 400 people.  She has a presentation about the power of Rotary in changing lives by giving people access to clean water and she wants to share it with our club.
 
El Porvenir is an efficient total system template that has been installed in Nicaragua and includes chlorine.  Three weeks ago we had Jack Barker, President of Innovative Technologies, Inc speak to us about his invention of the SunSpring Hybrid water system, larger than a hot water tank with solar and wind power to run it.  Jenna Saldana, Director of US Operations with El Porvenir said the SunSpring technology seems good and works well in areas with dense housing as people bring their containers to it to be filled.  But in rural areas with dispersed homes, women and children would still be walking and lugging heavy buckets.  El Porvenir delivers to the home.
 
The Pueblo West Rotary is starting a new water project in Comalapa, Nicaragua and would love our club to join them in bringing water to another 482 people.  Their new water project will cost about $100,000.  They can get about $65,000 within their district including District Designated Funds (DDF) and the Rotary Foundation Funds (TRF), so they need to find some out of district partners with their DDF to help them.  That is why they are reaching out to clubs far and wide.
 
Their talk has 3 parts: 1) How they got involved with Rotary and water; 2) their first project with water and second project with water as well as their trip to Nicaragua to tour the finished water project; and 3) a summary of their new WASH Project to bring water to 2 more villages.
 
Pete Sutton is currently President of the Pueblo West Rotary Club.  He has been a member of Rotary since 1988.  Pete has held every office in a Rotary Club.  He has been chair of Community Service and International co chair.   Pete is a multiple Paul Harris fellow.  Pete is a CPA and a Managing Partner of Sutton Dowell CPA LLC.
 
Melanie Phelps is currently District 5470 Global Grant Committee Chair and Pueblo West Rotary Club Treasurer.  She is also Co- chair of  PW Rotary International Committee and  Supervisor of Palmer High School Interact Club.  She has been a science teacher for 31 years.  She currently works with Colorado School of Mines’ Teacher Enhancement Program leading teacher travel classes globally. 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only
O
As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Platte River Power Authority Overview
presented by
 
Javier C. Camacho,
Director of public and external affairs,
strategic communications and social marketing
accompanied by
Leigh Gibson, PhD
Senior External Affairs Specialist
 
Platte River Power Authority is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power generation and transmission utility that provides safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. In 2018, Platte River's board of directors approved the Resource Diversification Policy, which directs Platte River to proactively work toward the goal of achieving a 100% noncarbon energy mix by 2030 while maintaining Platte River’s three pillars of providing reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable electricity and services. Platte River is currently developing its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), whereby it is modeling different generation portfolios with support from independent advisors and subject matter experts, as well as input from the public to create reliable baseload generation using clean energy resources. This presentation will provide a general overview of Platte River’s history, governance structure, footprint, and generation portfolio; describe the IRP process; and discuss the progress toward and challenges of transitioning to a 100% noncarbon energy mix.
 
Javier C. Camacho was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He joined Platte River Power Authority in July 2022 as the Director of public and external affairs, strategic communications and social marketing. He previously served as the Strategic Communications and Community Relations manager for El Paso Electric, a privately-owned, fully integrated electric utility that serves southern New Mexico and west Texas.  Javier began his career as a high school history teacher in Philadelphia, PA and New York City, NY. It was during his tenure in education that he learned the power of information and empowering people with education. So he took a leap and became a freelance journalist writing for publications like The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and El Paso Times and became a social media marketer in the early 2010s. He returned to El Paso where he worked to tell the southwest city’s story of resilience and innovation with organizations like the City of El Paso, El Paso Water, and the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso. 
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
How Rooftop Rodeo Developed
 
Rooftop Rodeo coming in July!
 
Mark Purdy, Chairman, to present.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Journey Of A Water Warrior
 
Jack E. Barker
Founder/Owner of Innovative Water Technologies, Inc. (IWT)
 
 
In 2007 Jack received and e-mail from a little girl in an orphanage in India.  It was just 3 lines: "“DRINK WATER EVERYDAY, BECAUSE I HAVE TO, IT MAKES ME SICK”.
 
After 25 years in the Public Drinking Water business, Jack immediately realized that this e-mail was a turning point in his life.  Jack started R&D on a drinking water system that could be used around the world for the children, Jack incorporated “State of the Art” technology and a lot of common sense.   This resulted in the design of the SunSpring Hybrid, a 100% solar and wind powered drinking water system that utilizes Membrane Ultra-filtration.
 
Among many other awards, the SunSpring Hybrid was awarded the grand prize as the 2022 “Coolest Thing Made in Colorado”!  Since then we have completed over 1000 projects in 38 Countries, this is an average of over a project a week. With many of these being ROTARY projects, I’d like to share some projects we have done with ROTARY around the World.   We are much more than just a product, our systems are designed to meet and exceed the USEPA criteria for our US Public Drinking Water Systems, yet distributed around the World.  Rotary is without a doubt, the best organization I have every worked with. 
 
IWT is always available for questions, comments, partnerships, training, etc…  We will be with you throughout the entire project from site evaluations, installations, training to 24/7/365 customer and technical support.  I have also personally been on over 50 Rotary drinking water projects myself.
 
Jack E. Barker/President
Innovative Water Technologies, Inc.
Rocky Ford, Colorado, USA
Office 719-254-4426 (0700-1530 Mon-Thurs, 0700-1130 Fri)
Cell 719-469-6807 (call or text anytime)
http://Jack@innovativeh2o.com(e-mail anytime)
http://www.innovativeh2o.com  (website)
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
 
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only

As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
Thank You!
 
Rotary Club of Estes Park
Service Above Self 
Since May 6, 1926
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Estes Park

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
American Legion Post 119
850 N St Vrain Ave.
P.O. Box 1365
Estes Park, CO 80517
United States of America
Cost of lunch is $20. No meetings on 5th Thursdays.
District Site
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Officers And Directors
President
Jack Ford
President Elect
Guy Van der Werf
Treasurer
Gregg Jurgens
Secretary
Sarah Walsh
Past President
Annie Slack
Club Administration Director
Karol Rinehart
Community Service Director
Beth Weisberg
Fund Development Director
Carl Robicheaux
International Service Director
Chuck Bonza
International Service Director
Dale Bonza
Membership Director
Scott Robbins
Sergeant-at-Arms
Bill Solms
RSS
Rotary initiative supports midwives in remote communities

To address a maternal health crisis, Rotary members help midwives build leadership skills and professional networks

A chat with 2025-26 Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo

RI's new president talks about his top Rotary moments, his goals as president, and his love of olive oil and opera

Lesson plan given a global reach

Rotary clubs in Ontario’s District 7070 ensure Durham College’s virtual classroom has a global reach

For the love of nature

Camp Kawartha in Ontario is turning out a new generation of environmental stewards

Calgary finale addresses peacebuilding, literacy, and human trafficking

Final day of 2025 Rotary International Convention highlighted current and future Rotary leaders

Speakers
Mike Grant
Mar 19, 2026
Orthopedic injuries
Dennis Gellhaus
Mar 26, 2026
Pickleball
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Photo Albums