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 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
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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!
 
Hearing Loss and Dementia
 
Is there a connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline?
Yes and No.
Take a dive into the most recent science and news with Dr. Workman. 
 
Dr. Cory Workman
 
Dr. Workman "Dr. Cory" comes to Estes Park by way of Idaho. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Idaho State University in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho in 2006. He received his doctorate in Audiology in 2013 also from Idaho State University. He completed a clinical residency with Colorado West Otolaryngologists Ear, Nose, & Throat physician's clinic in Grand Junction, CO. He spent 3 years in Grand Junction working specializing in hearing loss and balance disorders. He also coordinated the implantable hearing device program while there. Most recently, Dr. Cory has worked in Boise, Idaho with Southwest Idaho ENT as a clinical audiologist. Dr. Cory specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, balance and dizziness disorders, hearing aids, repairs, wax removal, hearing protection, and assistive devices. He brings a personalized, straightforward approach to his patients and enjoys improving the lives of those he serves.
 
Dr. Cory has served on the national Student Academy of Audiology board of directors from 2011 to 2013 and as president of the Colorado Academy of Audiology from 2014 to 2015. He carried board certification from the American Board of Audiology and is very active nationally for the professional of audiology.
 
Dr. Cory and his wife, Melinda, have 2 daughters and share a love of music, the arts, and the great outdoors. They can be found around town looking for the best live music or in the outdoors biking and skiing. They are excited to be a part of the Estes Park community and look forward to many years ahead.
 
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: 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!
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!
 
 
 
Alzheimer's & Dementia
 
Angel Hoffman
 
Angel Hoffman has been working in the geriatric field since the early 1990's.  Her experience includes both long-term and acute care with a focus on providing support and education to people living with dementia and their care partners.  She has a Master's of Art degree in Gerontology from the University of Northern Colorado and Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University.  Her motto for her work comes from the quote of Maya Angelou, " People will forget what you said, people will forget what you do, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
 
Angel will provide a dementia education, where we are with current research, the organization's focus and resources available.
 
Angel Hoffman, MA
Director of Community Engagement
Northern &  Western Colorado
 
Serving Larimer, Jackson, Grand, Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties.
  
HELPLINE:  800.272.3900  available 24/7
 
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!
 
NO MEETING February 29, 2024
 
 
Next Meeting March 7, 2024
with Angel Hoffman on
Alzheimer's & Dementia Awareness
"Behind the Scenes"
with Doug Frisbie
 
Doug Frisbie
 
Doug Frisbie is President of Estes Park Salud Foundation.  He will present the 32 year history of the Salud Family Health Center here in Estes Park.  He will inform us how Salud is providing medical, dental and behavioral health services to Estes Park.
 
Doug and his family moved to Estes Park in the fall of 1990 with no jobs and two young children. His spouse, Eileen Flaherty was the first medical provider of the Estes Park Clinic which opened 1992.  Concerned about the financial viability of the new clinic, Doug along with a number of like-minded people (mostly women) established a foundation to provide financial support for the new clinic.   Doug has been the president of the Foundation on numerous occasions and serves as its current president.
 
Doug served on the EP School Board for eight years, was manager for Larimer County’s Estes Park Office, and learned how to bake while working at the newly opened Notchtop restaurant.  Doug and Eileen have two daughters who live in NY and Washington DC.
 
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
This Week's Luncheon Menu
 
 
RSVP needed for Rotary lunch.
 
********ATTENTION:  NEW  RSVP DEADLINE***********
 
RSVP DEADLINE, TUESDAY, February 20ieth, BEFORE 12 NOON.
Chicken/pork kabobs, fried rice, grilled pineapple, sesame broccoli, dessert.
Rotary Lunch Menu for Thursday,  February 22nd:
RSVP to Karol: http://kj.rinehart@aol.com before 12 noon, Tuesday.
 
Frog Creek Partners
 

Brian Deurloo, President and Founder

 

Brian Deurloo was born in South America and raised in rural Wyoming. In 1997, he obtained a mining engineering degree from the Colorado School of Mines and a recipient of the Ultimate & All-Around Miner Award. Shortly after graduating, he backpacked Australia and New Zealand, and then bicycled Europe with his dog. Brian has lived and worked on four continents but seems to always return to Wyoming where he is happily married with one daughter. Brian worked for 17 years in different mines, gas fields, and oil patches around the country in development, engineering, and management roles. Brian’s last role in the fossil fuel industry was the US general manager for an international energy company where he managed projects in Viet Nam, Australia, Brazil, and the United States from Alaska to Louisiana.  Brian is the president and founder of Frog Creek Partners and a member of the Rotary Club of Casper, Wyoming. He enjoys inventing, hiking, reading, skiing, beekeeping, and finding fun adventures with his wife and daughter.

The idea of the Gutter Bin® stormwater filtration system came to him in a dream in early 2016. He started Frog Creek Partners shortly thereafter as a business to create innovative solutions to complex environmental problems. Within the first few years Brian won an innovation award, raised capital to fund the company, filed several patents and expanded the company. He continues to grow the company and product line while surrounding himself with valuable team members with a like-minded focus of cleaning the world’s water one storm drain at a time.
 
Frog Creek Partners is an environmental technology company that specializes in stormwater filtration and pollution measurement services. The patent pending Gutter Bin® stormwater filtration system and Mundus Bag® water filter are Frog Creek’s flagship products. It is the most easily maintained and functional stormwater filtration system on the market. Because clean water is a good thing™ Brian will get the audience’s mind into the gutter by speaking about what stormwater pollution is and how it can be solved. Stormwater pollution is a leading cause of water pollution in the world. Brian invented the Gutter Bin® stormwater filtration system to remove pollution from water thereby protecting and restoring rivers and oceans.
 
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
 
Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc.
 
 
Presented by
 Jennifer Tow  |  Program Manager of Northern Colorado
 
My name is Jennifer Tow.  I live in Berthoud.  I have lived there for the past 23 years with my husband and daughters. I have 4 girls, 2 in college and 2 in high school, and just as may pets.   I am originally from Illinois. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in History and Secondary Education.   I previously worked in Thompson School District and St. Vrain School District.  Two years ago I took a job with Junior Achievement and have loved every minute of it.
 
My topic is the Junior Achievement which is a world wide nonprofit that teaches kids about financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness.
The Rotary Foundation 101
 
Ray Leaycraft
Past President of The Rotary Club of Estes Park
 
Ray and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 53 years. They moved from Texas to Estes Park in 1995 and lived in Estes Park for 27 years. In 2022 they moved to Highlands Ranch to be closer to their family. They have one daughter, Sandy, who is married to Rob Hunt. Sandy and Rob have 2 sons, Austin and Toby. Ray and Cindy say their grandsons are the real reason they moved to Highlands Ranch! Sandy and Rob are co-owners of The Links Golf Course in Highlands Ranch.
 
Ray was a police officer for 28 years, serving 22 years on the Garland, Texas Police Department. After moving to Estes Park in 1995 Ray served on the Estes Park Police Department for 6 years. Ray retired from police work in 2004 and then worked as a property/casualty insurance agent in Estes Park for 10 years.
 
Ray has been a Rotarian for 28 years, joining the Rotary Club of Estes Park in 1996. He served on numerous committees, was club secretary and served as club president in 2008-2009. Ray also served in several capacities for District 5440:  Assistant Governor, District Protection Officer, District Governor selection committee, Rotary Leadership Institute Facilitator and as the District 5440 Rotary Foundation Annual Fund Chair. Ray transferred his membership to the Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club in 2011 and was a member of that club until moving to Highlands Ranch in 2022.
 
Ray and Cindy are strong believers in The Rotary Foundation, both are Bequest Society members. With support from Cindy, Ray reached Major Donor status regarding contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Ray is extremely happy that since moving to Highlands Ranch, Cindy has now joined Rotary, both are members of Highlands Ranch Sunrise Rotary Club.
 
"I've always felt that The Rotary Foundation is very confusing and hard to be able to get a full grasp on it's complexities.  This presentation is about the basics and I try not to get into too much detail."
 
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!
Social/ShelterBox Presentation
 
 
 
Jim Austin presenting Shelterboxes
 
Jim will provide a brief discussion of
  • who is Shelterbox,
  • how does Shelterbox decide where to provide help,
  • are all Shelterbox contents the same,
  • how is ShelterBox funded,
  • what is the Shelterbox annual budget,
  • how is Rotary connected to Shelterbox, and
  • what is the role of Rotary Club of Estes Park?
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!
 
Skilled Trade at Estes Park High School
 
Erica Davis
Career and Technical Education Instructor
 
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!
Nehemiah Gateway USA
updates us on
Special Needs Children in Albania
plus
The Amaro Tan School Roma Kids 2024 Summer Camp 
 
James Leithart
Video Editor and Social Media Manager

After graduating from Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA) with a degree in Community Development, it was a year living in Hawaii led James to discover his passion of storytelling. Initially through photography, then video, and in more recent years in writing, James has spent the years since college honing his skill and developing his craft.  Realizing the power that impactful stories have to move and motivate people, James traveled around the world for a number of years, learning and experiencing new cultures. He spent this time growing his personal brand and social media following through Instagram and YouTube, using his platforms to tell stories of the overlooked, undervalued, or under appreciated. It was this that led him to Albania.  Originally from the United States, James moved to Albania in 2018 to work as a Video Editor and Social Media Manager, with his role expanding into the areas of campaign strategy, public relations, copywriting and more, taking on different roles through the entire NG organization.

Come hear the latest information on the projects our Rotary and District 5440 have supported via grants to Amaro Tan, a school for at-risk children living in extreme poverty.

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 Park Health's Plans for
Home Health,  Hospice and Home Care
presented by
David Batey and Vern Carda
 
         
David Batey                        Vern Carda
 
David Batey, Estes Park Health (EPH) Board Chair, and Vern Carda, EPH CEO, will briefly present on and then answer questions about EPH’s Plans for Non-Medical Home Care, Hospice, and Home Health Care.  They will also talk about five recommendations from the EPH Medical Staff you should consider taking well before you need long-duration or end-of-life medical care.  They will provide contact information at EPH for any follow-up questions you may have on long-duration and end-of-life care as well as resources available through Larimer County’s Office on Aging. 
 
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
 
 
No Meetings December 21st or 28th
No Spoke December 28th
 
See you in 2024!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah
 
 
Join Our Holiday Dinner and Special Performance
by
 
The Mountain Echo Choir
led by Paul Maley and Amelia Bryant
 
Ballet Renaissance
Led by Brianna Furnish
 
Singing by Our Club Member
Ruby Body
 
Paul Maley is currently in his 14th year of teaching Elementary Music and 3rd as the Estes Park Elementary Music Teacher.  Maley is also the Chair Elect for the Colorado Music Educators Association General Music Council and presents professional development to schools districts, colleges, and other professional music organizations around Colorado.  He is an active performer around the state, composer, published writer, and music lover.   Paul’s wife Jen is the Librarian at Estes Park Elementary School where their 3 children attend.  For more info on Paul and his musical journeys, check out www.paulmaley.com.
 
   Paul Maley
EP Elementary Music Teacher
 
Amelia Bryant is a senior at Estes Park High School (EPSH).  She has been co-directing the Mountain Echo Choir for 2 years and works regularly in Maley's classroom with all ages of students.  She is active in musical theater, most recently playing the leading role in EPHS's production of Chicago, Grandma in The Adams Family, along with many others.  Bryant is a talented singer, guitar player, piano player, and all around musician.  Amelia is planning on attending Oregon State in the Fall in the pre-med program.

The Mountain Echo Choir is a musical ensemble that features 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students.   The choir performs music  of all ages and genres  that focuses on messages of positivity, peace, and love.   This performance will feature Ballet Renaissance, a non-profit ballet company here in Estes Park led by Brianna Furnish.  The choir will also be joined by EPSD Superintendent, Ruby Bode, for a holiday number! 
 
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
 
(See article below if you are experiencing problems getting on Zoom.)
This Week's Luncheon Menu
 
 
RSVP needed for Rotary lunch or beverage and dessert.
 
RSVP DEADLINE, TUESDAY, December 12th,  BEFORE 5 PM.
 
Rotary Lunch Menu for Thursday,  Dec. 14th:
 
RSVP to Karol:  kj.rinehart@aol.com
 
Pork chops,  Brussel Sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, twice baked potatoes, corn pudding, 
Christmas salad, Cheesecake minis for dessert.
RSVP to Karol:  kj.rinehart@aol.com
 
Restoration Camp Colorado
Valor Vacations
 
Kathryn Severns Avery
 

Across our nation first responder agencies are stretched dangerously thin. The difficult, demanding, and dangerous work they do is causing burnout at a record pace.

When my husband, Chris, was killed in 2020 by robbery suspects fleeing from Lakewood, Colorado police, I knew nothing about this world. My interactions consisted of a few well-deserved speeding tickets. But the kindness and compassion I experienced after Chris’ death and what I learned by creating an ongoing relationship with those who serve, protect, and care for us in our worst moments inspired me to act.

In 2021, I founded Restoration Ranch Colorado a 501(c)(3). In 2022, I used my own funds to purchase and renovate a 40-acre ranch where dispatchers, fire/EMS, law enforcement, emergency department personnel, victims’ advocates, members of the Judiciary, and their families can come for a day visit or an overnight stay. We are not a mental health facility, nor do we provide mental health counseling.  Rather, we’ve created a serene setting which provides a place for reflection, relaxation, and recreation and a place to care for those who care for us.

I made a commitment to “educate, advocate, and agitate” on behalf of first responders.  As a civilian, I have fewer constraints on what I can do and say to bring attention to multitude of health and wellness issues first responders face – issues of which most members of the public are blissfully unaware. That is, until tragedy strikes. The heart-wrenching statistics, including more first responders died by suicide in 2022 than died in the line of duty, are simply unacceptable. We can and must do better.

Our pioneering efforts include the Ranch, our Valor Vacations® program which provides time at donated vacation properties to our stakeholders and their families, and camps for teenage children of first responders. Our Colorado Puts First Responders FirstTM initiatives use health and wellness as a recruiting and retention platform. We are working to create regional childcare facilities for first responders, a healthy grab and go meals program, an “American Ninja Warriors” style gym to provide unique workout opportunities to enhance on-the-job performance, and first responder housing support though our 501(c)(3).   

There are still some first responders who are suspicious and skeptical of our motives. We have no political or religious affiliation. We aim only to serve and support those in what we refer to as “the traumatic event lifecycle.” Over the last two years, I’ve put $1.25 million of my own money into this endeavor and have followed through on every commitment I’ve made to create a place of respite for first responders and their families.

Why am I doing this? I was not able to be with my husband when he died at the crash scene. But those I call “my first responder angels” were with him as he took his last breath. That is why I created the Restoration Ranch Colorado – to give back to those who selflessly serve the public in circumstances that can be unimaginable.

 
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
 
If the link to the zoom meeting is not working, follow these steps for an alternative way to connect to the meeting:
  1. Start the zoom program on your device
  2. From the Zoom program, go to the Home screen and click on the Join button
  3. Enter this meeting ID to join the Rotary Zoom meeting:  798 570 7369
  4. Click on the Join button and you will be admitted into the meeting
If you don’t see the Zoom program in your task bar, click on the magnifying glass icon in the task bar to search for it.   Type zoom in the search field and press enter (or return).   Double-click on the zoom program that is shown at the top of the search results and go back to step #1.
Mark Lee
 
 
NO Meeting This Thursday
or
Next Thursday, November 30
No Spoke the week of November 30
 
BUT
 
Come to the Estes Park Memorial Observatory
1:00 PM
November 30
For Make-Up Presentation by
Mike Connolly
 
Special Thanksgiving Luncheon
 
 
It's Late!  Past time to sign up
but Karol will give you a reprieve
 
If you let her know ASAP that you want to come.
 
Thursday, November 16th will be our Thanksgiving luncheon at Rotary.
Turkey,
sweet potatoes
green bean casserole
 stuffing
rolls
dessert

Please RSVP to Karol NOW!

RSVP to Karol:  kj.rinehart@aol.com
The Wonder of Shelter Boxes!
 
 
Presented by
 
Past District Governor Lee Varra-Nelson
 
ShelterBox began in 2000 as a Cornwall, England Rotary Club's millennium project. With the support of Rotary members and clubs around the world, ShelterBox grew to become an internationally recognized, independent disaster relief organization. Lee Varra-Nelson will teach us the benefits of ShelterBoxes.
 
Lee joined Rotary as a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast in 2003. She recently served as our District Governor 2022-2023. Lee is a Paul Harris Fellow since 2008, a Paul Harris Society Member since 2011, a member of the Bequest Society, a Level 1 Major Donor and a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation. Lee’s career with Hewlett-Packard spanned over 35 years and crossed many business functional areas. Lee left Hewlett-Packard to work as a Senior Technical Project Manager for Intrado, a company that supports and enhances the national 911 emergency system. She has also donated her project management expertise to Rotary for major projects and conferences. Lee and Catherine and their black Lab Molly live in Fort Collins.  They have four adult children and eight grandchildren. They all enjoy spending time kayaking at the lake, hiking in the mountains and movie nights.
 
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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
 
Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!
 
 
RSVP needed for weekly Rotary lunch or beverage and dessert.
  • RSVP deadline, Tuesday, November 7, BEFORE 5 PM
  • Rotary Lunch Menu for November 9th:
    • Lemon  Chicken,
    • Mixed Veggies,
    • Baked Potatoes,
    • Rolls,
    • Dessert
  • RSVP to Karol: kj.rinehart@aol.com
  •  
 
Thursday, November 16th will be our Thanksgiving luncheon at Rotary.
Turkey,
sweet potatoes
green bean casserole
 stuffing
rolls
dessert

Please RSVP to Karol by Friday, November 10th, before 5 PM for
the Thanksgiving meal.

RSVP to Karol:  kj.rinehart@aol.com
 
Veteran Terry Rizzuti
 
Terry P. Rizzuti was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1946. He spent much of his early youth in Rome, New York, and surrounding towns before moving back to Oklahoma in 1965. 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 is currently its Service Officer. He 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, Colorado. He has been published in several print and on-line journals, most notably Connecticut Review and War, Literature and the Arts. Rizzuti is best known for his novel The Second Tour, and can be contacted through his website FoodForThoughtFiction.com.
 
Terry will first acknowledge his mother’s birthday because November 9th was her birthday. Then he plans to shift to the subject of Veterans Day, including a little bit of its history. He will recognize any veterans in the room, as well as their families, and also the Noon Rotary members. He will say a few words about The American Legion, specifically our Post 119 and  then talk a little bit about suicide prevention.  Veterans are one of our nation’s potentially unifying forces during these troubling times, and they have made sacrifices that our society should appreciate and thank them for.  He plans to close with a short discussion of what he thinks about on Veterans Day, including remarks about a  few of his personal experiences during and post my time in Vietnam.
 
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
 
 
 
 
Estes Park Housing Authority Update
 
Scott Moulton
Executive Director of Estes Park Housing Authority
 
Scott Moulton had served as the Authority’s Housing Supervisor since 2018, providing leadership for diverse community volunteer organizations and continually demonstrating his passion for supporting housing issues.  He was selected for the Executive Director position May 11, 2022.  Previously Mr. Moulton had held management and accounting positions for 15 years in the private sector with Deloitte and Touche, Sage Hospitality, Stonebridge Companies, and MGM Resorts International in the Las Vegas and Denver hospitality markets.
 
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
 
Social/Table Talk Program
 
 
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
 
State of Our Schools
 
Ruby Bode
Superintendent of Estes Park School District
 
Ruby Bode's first successful teaching experience was when she tutored teenage girls to pass the GED at a homeless shelter in Des Moines, Iowa when she was 20 years old. That is when her aspirations to be a teacher began and she pursued secondary education. She has had a passion for learning and has continued to grow as a leader in education ever since. Ruby taught science in the classroom for 10 years before she was called upon to lead the middle school as principal. Ruby has been an administrator for the last 10 years. 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.
Her vision and passion for the success of every student makes her leadership a bright, new and exciting future for our students, teachers, district staff, parents and community.  Ruby would like to share the school district's strategic plan, direction and goals for the next 5 years.
 
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
"Behavioral Health in Larimer County: An Overview"
 
Michael Allen
Chief Executive Officer
SummitStone Health Partners
 
Michael Allen has over 25 years of experience in the behavioral health field as both a clinician and an administrator.  For the past 7 years, Michael has served as Chief Executive Officer for SummitStone Health Partners, the largest provider of mental health and addiction services in Larimer County, serving nearly 10,000 clients annually in offices located throughout Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park. Michael holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS).
 
For Mr. Allen’s presentation “Behavioral Health in Larimer County: An Overview,” he plans to first focus on why mental health and addiction issues are important
  • offer some brief explanations and definitions.
  • cover recent mental health and addiction trends in our community, illustrating the need for services but also highlighting some positive trends.
  • talk about resources for getting help, how Rotary members can get involved
  • future plans and strategies for mental health and addiction care in our area.
  • Have time for Q&A.
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
 
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Assistant District Governor Visits
 
Karen Knutson Morgan
District Governor Nominee for 2025-2026
Rotary District 5440
 
Karen initially joined Rotary in 1990 as a member of the Fort Collins Rotary Club in Colorado.  While in that club, she served as chair of several committees, including International Youth Exchange and Scholarships.  She resigned after several years to commute daily to Denver for work. She rejoined Rotary in 2014 as a member of the Fort Collins Foothills Club (CO) and has served in the roles of Board member, Club Secretary, Club President (2020-2021), as well as serving on the Fort Collins Peach Festival Committee.  Serving as President during the Covid “lock-down” was a true privilege.

She served as Assistant Governor for the Fort Collins clubs in District 5440 for a year before being nominated by her club and selected to serve as District Governor in 2025-2026. She is proud to be a Paul Harris Fellow and Sustaining Member.  Karen served as a senior executive in the credit union and health care industries with 45+ years’ experience in marketing and communications, people development, strategic planning, and operations. Today, she consults part-time with non-profits and organizations in communications, fundraising and issues management.
Karen currently serves on the boards for SummitStone Health Partners (the community behavioral health center for Larimer County, Colorado); the Mental Health Substance Use Alliance of Larimer County; and Western Colorado University’s Mountaineer Football Alumni Association. 
 
Karen holds a B.A. degree from Colorado State University.  Karen is married to Dick Morgan, a retired high school educator and coach in Fort Collins, Colorado.  They have two adult children (no in-laws or “grands” yet).  Dick and Karen are avid sports enthusiasts and enjoy traveling. And you’ll often find Karen swinging a golf club for fun.
 
DGN Karen will make a few remarks on our District structure and the Rotary International Action Plan followed by an interactive dialogue with club members to learn more about our club successes, plans, and challenges. “As your District Leadership team, we want to understand how we can support our clubs in the important and meaningful work you do in your communities. “ 
 
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
 
 
 
Award Winning Author Shares His Work
 
Dan Jorgensen
 
Dan Jorgensen – who lives in Milliken, CO – grew up on a South Dakota farm, attended a one-room country school, and earned two degrees from South Dakota State University.  A writer, educator and public relations specialist, he’s won awards in all three fields.  Dan wrote his first novel Killer Blizzard for a creative writing project at Colorado State University.  He’s written hundreds of news, sports and feature stories and 9 books.  His two most recent books, both winners of several awards, are the mystery-thriller Rainbow Rock and the historical novel And The Wind Whispered.
 
Dan has given presentations to Rotary Clubs about his writing and the writing process  Here's a link to his author's page, set up by his publisher: https://www.amazon.com/author/danjorgensen .  He also has a blog about writing and authors called "A Writer's Moment."  Here's a link to that if you are interested:  writersmoment.blogspot.com/
 
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
 
Learn About Crisis Advocates
 
Presentation by Michelle Fanucchi,
Program Director
and
Diana David Brown,
Executive Director
 
Estes Valley Crisis Advocates are professionals and volunteers trained to support victims of crime or trauma. Advocates offer victims information on their rights and compensation, provide person-centered emotional support, and help to find resources through contacting organizations, such as criminal justice or social service agencies, to get help or further information for victims. They can also help ensure safety by creating a  personal safety plan and securing a safe place to stay. Advocates understand what it is like to be a survivor of crime or trauma and provide gentle and caring emotional support.
 
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
 
The Top 5 Scams Reported to the Better Business Bureau in 2022
 
Jennifer Hahnke
Education and Outreach Manager
Better Business Bureau Serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming
 
Learn about the riskiest scams from the past year from the 2022 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report.  The report uses data submitted by consumers to BBB Scam Tracker to shed light on how scams are being perpetrated, who is being targeted, which scams have the greatest impact and much more.  The BBB Risk Index helps us better understand which scams pose the highest risk by looking at three factors: exposure, susceptibility, and monetary loss.  The Risk Report is a critical part of BBB's ongoing work to contribute new, useful data and analysis to further the efforts of all who are engaged in combating marketplace fraud.
 
Jennifer Hahnke is enthusiastic about developing beneficial connections, celebrating marketplace trust & promoting ethical relationships. Almost ten years ago, my varied corporate, creative, and nonprofit career paths converged to allow me to share BBB's mission of trust, ethics, and transparency through meaningful connections made throughout BBB's diverse Northern Colorado and Wyoming region. Through outreach, education, training, and mentor opportunities, I enthusiastically manage and/or support BBB’s mission through various Foundation programs and Marketing & Communication projects and events. At BBB, we believe in the power of trust to grow people, businesses, and communities. It’s the principle we were founded on over 100 years ago and what continues to motivate us today.
 
I invite you to connect with me at: jhahnke@wynco.bbb.org, 970.488.2033.
 
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
 
Red Cross Hands Only CPR
 
 
Cindy Holmes, RN BSN
Red Cross NOCO DHS Lead
Presentation Topic:
Hands Only CPR – This presentation trains people how to perform CPR compressions to help maintain blood flow to the brain.  It has been proven to be effective in helping victims survive.  This is not a certified class and does not include rescue breathing. The use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) will also be covered.
 
Biography:
Cynthia (Cindy) Holmes has worked as a nurse at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins and Banner Hospice of Northern Colorado.  She retired in 2020 to spend more time with her husband.  During the Cameron Peak fire she decided she missed helping people and decided to become a Red Cross Volunteer.  She is currently the DHS (Disaster Health Services) Lead for Northern Colorado.  Her work includes helping in shelters locally and sometimes other states during disasters.  She trains and mentors other DHS workers.  She also enjoy presenting programs such as Hands Only CPR and Stop The Bleed at preparedness fairs, professional groups, Boys and Girls Clubs, churches, scout groups, and many other venues.  She is also involved with reunification activities, presenting youth preparedness programs, and conducting shelter surveys across the NOCO area.
 
Today Cindy is accompanied by Bill Howell, President Elect for Sunrise Rotary and former Red Cross Volunteer as Community Liaison Lead for Estes Park and the Government Operations Lead for Larimer County.
 
      Bill Howell
 
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
 
No Meeting August 31, 2023
No Spoke for that week
 
An Overview of the LazyB Chuckwagon and Show
 
 
Quentin Wedan
Owner
 
Quentin is a 1989 graduate of Estes Park High School, and recipient of the Rotary Scholarship at that time.  He received his BS in Business from the U. of Colorado in Boulder in 1993, and earned his MBA at Regis University in 2000.  He has enjoyed a career in Supply chain and logistics while working for companies like IBM and Arrow Electronics. He is now semi-retired and dedicating his time and effort to his local business, the Lazy B Chuckwagon and Show.
 
While growing up in in Estes Park, Quentin worked at the original Lazy B on Dry Gulch road for ten summers. He used the money he earned to pay his way through college.  His wife Roxanne is a Colorado native who grew up in Longmont.   They have been married 26 years and have one son, Grant.
 
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
 
 
Hope Lives
 
    
Elise Carver
Executive Director
 
Kevin Mullin recommended Thursday’s program It will be an overall introduction of Hope Lives, it’s program and services, and how it might be able to support and collaborate with the Estes Valley.
 
Elise reports that she is thrilled to be a part of the staff and mission of Hope Lives! Not only does she have a passion for helping people and giving back, but unfortunately like most, she too, has had various family members and friends affected by breast cancer. Elise brings more than 20 years of managerial, training, and customer service experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Most recently, she held the position of Volunteer Coordinator in Weld county for Pathways Hospice.
 
According to Elise, “I enjoy companioning with clients and the community providing much needed support, especially during these challenging times when world events can often overshadow everyday needs. Since moving back to Northern Colorado, I have been reminded about what a generous and special place this is and I’m excited to see what our future holds!”
 
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
 
 
The First Seven Months of Being Larimer County Sheriff
 
Sheriff John Feyen
 
John Feyen started his career of service as a paramedic in the Kansas City, MO metropolitan area in 1987. He and his wife moved to Larimer County to continue his service as a paramedic/firefighter.
 
In 2019, John accepted an offer as an Assistant Chief with Fort Collins Police Services and served with the agency until 2022. In that time, he led the Patrol Division, Special Operations Division, and the Information Services Division.
 
John was elected to serve as the Larimer County Sheriff and was sworn in on January 10, 2023.
 
Today’s presentation will be about John’s first 7 months in office, what changes he has made and plans for the future.
 
For more information please see: https://www.larimer.gov/elected-officials/sheriff
 
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
The Boy From the Farm
 
Virgil H. Holtgrewe
Another of our special group of nonagenarians
sharing his story
 

Virgil H Holtgrewe was born on a farm in Southeast Nebraska on September 22, 1930.  He was raised on the farm and learned how to milk the cows, feed the hogs, gather eggs from the henhouse, feed the cattle, drive the tractor as soon as he could reach the peddles and operated all kinds of farm equipment.  Virgil’s profession was farming but the possibility of being drafted into the Army changed his mind.  He attended Wentworth Military Academy for 1 1/2 years of Junior College and started with the ROTC program.  Three years later, he graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, a 2nd Lt. Commission in the Army Crops of Engineers and married Carol in the spring of 1955.  A move to Wheat Ridge, CO in 1969 really changed his life.  He became activate on Rotary District committees, a member of the Denver Ag and Livestock Club, National Western Stock Show, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and the Methodist Churches in Applewood and Denver. 

 

“You can take the boy off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy”.  Agriculture is still his passion but many changes have been made for the Boy from the Farm!!!
 
Virgil
Storm Water Funding and Proposed 1% Tax
 
   
Greg Muhonen                       Travis Machelek
Public Work's Director           Town Administrator
 
We are fortunate on Thursday to have two of our town employees, Greg Muhonen, Public Work's Director and Travis Machelek, Town Administrator, here to provide an explanation about storm water funding needs.  This text was taken from the May 26, 2023 Trail Gazette edition written by Jeff Hanrahan.  On May 24, 2023 a joint study session took place between the Town of Estes Park Board and Larimer County Commissioners to discuss funding sources for storm water drainage infrastructure. With flooding being a prominent risk in mountain towns, the town and county are exploring options in order to fund $138 million over 30 years in order to ensure Estes Park and its environs continue to effectively drain storm waters. The three options for funding the project are combinations of grants, sales taxes and a user fee for the infrastructure.  Public Works Director Greg Muhonen brought forth three hypothetical funding plans, each with varying ratios of the three funding options.
 
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.
 
Travis Machalek assumed the role of Town Administrator on August 27, 2019 after Frank Lancaster stepped down from the position. The Town Administrator is responsible to the Board of Trustees for carrying out the policies set by the Town Board and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Town and its staff of approximately 200 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees, as well as over 500 volunteers.  Travis was recognized by the Town Board in 2022 for “his steadfast oversight for the safety and welfare of the Estes Park Community, Businesses, Visitors and Town Employees and Volunteers during the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration March 19, 2020 - October 31, 2022, as well as the October 2020 wildfire evacuation of the Town of Estes Park.”
 
Travis holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and has completed the University of Virginia's Senior Executive Institute.  His past experience includes work in the City Manager's Office at Laramie, Wyoming, the County Administrator's Office in Douglas County, Kansas, and the City Manager's Office in Fort Collins, Colorado. Machalek and his wife, Ashley, have been residents of Estes Park since 2015.
 
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
 
Features of Our Town Library
 
Eric White
Adult Services Librarian
 
Be sure to come hear Eric White tell about our library and its many features. Eric is in his second year as Adult Services Librarian at the Estes Valley Library, focusing on books/authors and civic engagement. He has called Estes Park home for almost five years. In his previous life, he worked in the tech industry, in the U.S. and abroad. In his spare time, he enjoys mountain biking, travel, and keeping up with his energetic 20-pound terrier.
 
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
 
To all who have tried this link and not had success, there was a space between the "/" and "7".  That has been corrected and there should be no further problems.
 
Stanley Home Museum
 
Stanley Home
 
JoAnn Batey
Director
 
JoAnn Batey has served on t he Historic Stanley Home  Foundation Board as President for three years prior to becoming Director.  She was born in St. Alburns, New York.  She and her husband David were married on August 11 and have a son named Brian.  JoAnn has been Vice President and co-owner of Intercontinental Bearing Supply Company since its founding in 1981.  JoAnn has been a resident of Estes Park since 2012 and has served as President of the Newcomers Club, Chair of the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District Seniors Advisory Committee, Vice President of the Meadowdale Hills Property Owners Association and member of the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District Foundation Board.  She was also part of a successful election campaign to raise funds for Estes Park roads, trails and emergency communications, as well as a successful campaign to fund the Estes Valley Community Center.
 
Thursday’s presentation will cover:
  • 8 minute Nick Molle video about Flora and FO Stanley
  • Brief summary of Flora and FO Stanley life themes covered in Historic Stanley Home Museum and Education Center tours
  • Brief summary of the Historic Stanley Home Foundation and the museum's accomplishments to date
  • Brief summary of future plans for the Museum and Education Center
  • Questions and answers
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
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.
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Officers And Directors
President
Annie Slack
President Elect
Jack Ford
Treasurer
Gregg Jurgens
Secretary
Sarah Walsh
Past President
Karen Thompson
Club Administration Director
Karol Rinehart
Community Service Director
Beth Weisberg
Fund Development Director
Tara Moenning
Fund Development Director
Philip Moenning
International Service Director
Ron Gordon
Membership Director
Scott Robbins
Polio Chair
Jack Ford
Sergeant-at-Arms
Jim Whiteneck
Big Duck
Scott Thompson
Youth Services Director
Jim Jonell
RSS
Jimmy Carter's vision for peace

This story appeared in the February 2018 issue of Rotary magazine.  It’s a crisp, sunny day in late October, and school groups are touring the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in

Espresso in a war zone

Adventure or misadventure, roving correspondent Scott Simon finds enlightenment in a life of travels

The liberation of Julie Mulligan

After being kidnapped abroad, Rotarian Julie Mulligan set out to live a more authentic life of Service Above Self

Unforgettable evenings in Calgary

Signature events at the 2025 Rotary convention include dinner at Rotarians’ homes, a country music jamboree, and boot-stompin’ celebrations of the Western culture in Calgary.

Art for advocacys sake

Student artists spread the word about cervical cancer with works they’ve created through the Rotary member-led program United to End Cervical Cancer in Egypt.

Speakers
Scholarsnip recipients
May 15, 2025
Telling about themselves
President Anne Slack
May 22, 2025
Duck Race Workshop
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