Home Page | Rotary Club of Estes Park

Lee Varra-Nelson will teach us on the benefits of Shelter Boxes. She joined Rotary as a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast in 2003. She served her club as the Director of Club Administration from 2010 to 2012, President in 2013/14, The Rotary Foundation Chair from 2015 to 2019, and is currently serving as Membership Committee Chair. In District 5440 Lee served as Assistant District Governor in 2015, Foundation Annual Fund Chair in 2016 / 2017 and as District Membership Chair from 2018 to 2021. 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. While working at Intrado, she led her project team to the first successful release of transmitting cell phone text messages to 911 dispatch centers.

In her private consulting work, Lee has enjoyed working with major technology corporations and government agencies, but her favorite work was a special project with NASA’s Director of the International Year of Astronomy. 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.

An Overview of the Rotary Foundation

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Carl Robicheaux Madison Casey

Carl W Robicheaux is President of the Rotary Foundation. He is married to Aime. They have one daughter, three grandchildren and two Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Carl and Aime have been full-time Estes Park residents since 2018. Carl practices law in Estes Park at Elkhorn Law Office and is licensed in Colorado, Louisiana and Connecticut.

He has been a Rotarian since 2019 and is currently serving as President of the Estes Park Rotary Foundation.

Carl is active in the community and is on the Board of Directors of the Estes Park Health Foundation and Estes Chamber of Commerce.

Carl enjoys fly-fishing, hiking and trying to surprise people with his snarky sarcastic comments.

Carl was born and raised in South Louisiana and is exceptionally proud of his Cajun heritage.

Madison Casey is Past President of the Rotary Foundation. Madison 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.

The intention of this program is for Rotarians to better understand the Foundation, its purpose and financials.

Today's Complexities of the Russian and Ukrainian War

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Milt Garrett

Our speaker today has for 22+ years had experiences with clients in three countries simultaneously: Russia, Ukraine, and America. Working across Russia’s eleven-time zones, he gained a perspective and hundreds of stories. He has been a consultant to more than 2400 clients, including in Crimea and 12 clients in Kyiv. (Eleven of those years were on behalf of three Rotary Clubs; one as a citizen diplomat.)

As a teacher at five Russian universities and with other persons in 225+ cities, he will have perspectives and some answers to the questions about the war between Ukraine and Russians. His sources for this presentation are: 1) overseas families (three Russian, one Ukrainian), 2) people here having emigrated from both countries, 3) his Russian staff that remain and one having been extricated, and 4) miscellaneous clients.

Today we will explore perceptions making this illegal incursion to Ukraine. We’ll briefly examine the nine reasons Putin has invaded his sovereign neighbor. For those of us who ask: “Why does Ukraine Matter?”, you will leave with an extensive, two-page list of 38+ possible reasons why. Our speaker’s challenge today is, “Are we going to have a rules-based global order or the rule by the sword?” This 25-minute presentation is being offered by our own international club member, Milt Garrett. Dr. Garrett cautions us to remember, this subject is very complex and cannot be examined with great depth in the time allowed, yet the basic rationales will be exposed, and he will stay around to visit more for those of us wishing more.

Spoiler alert: This is not a political presentation.

Giving and the Rotary Foundation

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Chris Woodruff

Chris Woodruff is the retired Assessor in Weld County Colorado. He makes his home In Greeley. He completed a forty year career in property appraisal and assessment, with work experience in three Colorado counties and the Colorado Division of Property Taxation. Chris has a B.S. degree in Technical Management from Regis University.

Chris 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. He currently serves as Club Treasurer. He was named club Rotarian of the Year three times.

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 has also presented at several District Assemblies and has served as a facilitator at High Country PETS and at the Governor Elect Training for Zones 26/27.

Chris served as District Governor for the 2019-2020 and the 2020-2021 Rotary years, primarily, as a result of the pandemic. In 2023 he will become the District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair.

He is married to Karoline, who is also a Rotarian. Karoline is a past Club President and past Assistant Governor. Karoline retired from a career in higher education in 2016.

Chris and Karoline are Bequest Society members and major donors. They have attended Rotary International Conferences in Montreal, Atlanta, Toronto and Hamburg.

They have three grown sons, three daughters-in-law and one beautiful granddaughter.

Christopher Woodruff

PDG, Rotary District 5440

ChrisW.Rotary5440@gmail.com

A 52 Year Old Dream for a Community Health Center

(in the middle of nowhere) leads to Rotary

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Billy Jivetti, PhD

Billy Jivetti (PhD) is a native of Kaimosi, Western Kenya. He came to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies and upon completion, he has taught and worked as a researcher in colleges and universities in the U.S. He is an interdisciplinary scholar with a training in biology, environmental science, international studies, and rural development. He has been working as research scientist in population studies at the University of New Mexico’s Center for Geospatial Studies. He is an avid runner. He moved to Albuquerque with his family in 2016. Billy is a member of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque.

In 1969, Billy’s mother was working as a community nurse and witnessed first hand maternal-child mortality in this remote village. She saw a vision of a health center where American medical doctors and nurses were treating and helping mothers and children in the community. She never told anyone this dream. In 2002, Billy came to the U.S. for further studies. In 2010, he met a benefactor who gave them seed capital for the health center. It was during ground-breaking ceremony when Mama Rose revealed this dream. It has been 10 years of slow but steady construction challenges and opportunities, that led Billy to join Rotary, for connections to support the project and programs that align with Rotary. Immediate or total catchment area/population = 50,000, close to 150000 catchment population. In this presentation, Billy Jivetti will be discussing how the health center will help improve the health and education of the people in the area through Health & education: preventive health, rural medicine, community health education workers, nutrition, reproductive health, communicable/non-communicable diseases, Water Sanitation/health.

Billy, has just returned from a 3-month visit to western Kenya where he hosted a free medical camp that treated over 200 people, distributed school supplies donated by Pine River Valley Rotary Club of Bayfield, Colorado; and is establishing a Rotary club in Kaimosi – his home town.

Upper Thompson Sanitation District

This is Home. We Treat it Right.

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Chris Bieker, District Manager

Suzanne Jurgens, Assistant District Manager

Matt Allen, Operations Manager

District Manager, Chris Bieker is a 42-year full-time resident of Estes Park and has been employed at Upper Thompson Sanitation District for 34 years. During his long tenure at the District, he has performed every function at the facility with an emphasis on wastewater treatment operations. He has managed catastrophic infrastructure losses and flood recovery, navigated pandemics, and most recently wildfire complications, and still loves rolling his sleeves up and delivering one of Estes Park’s most essential services. He considers his next two years to be his most critical and difficult challenge with the design and construction of a new water reclamation facility and lift stations.

Suzanne Jurgens began serving Upper Thompson Sanitation District in 2014 as Financial Officer and was promoted to Assistant District Manager in 2020.

Beginning in 2012 Matt Allen served the Upper Thompson Sanitation District in the Collection Department as an Operator, and was subsequently promoted to Foreman, and Superintendent. In 2021 Matt was promoted to Operations Manager overseeing operations of the Wastewater Treatment Facility and Collection Department.

Come hear

Donna Chapel and her experiences in Tanzania and Rwanda before COVID

at our April 7, 2022 Club Meeting

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Donna Chapel

In 2004, Donna Chapel (former CPA and CFP) established the wealth management firm of Chapel & Collins in Fort Collins and Denver. She was a partner specializing in taxes for a Fort Collins accounting firm prior to that time. Serving on many nonprofit boards, including Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, Center for Family Outreach, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and establishing Veterans Compass of Northern Colorado, Donna has always enjoyed giving a hand up. A Rotarian (former Club President of Rotary Club of Fort Collins) since 1992, Donna and husband Tom enjoy travel, including daughter, Jessica, and son, Josh when possible. Relaxing these days with grandchildren Avery and Cameron, Donna also helps socialize cats and kittens for Estes Park Pet Association. Donna will be sharing their experiences in Tanzania and Rwanda prior to the COVID pandemic.

No Meeting This Week!

March 31, 2022

5th Thursday

So enjoy the warmer weather and be sure to come next week.

First 4th Thursday Committee Reports

We would like to ask each of the Directors to present a brief update on their Committee so that the members are more aware of what’s going on within the Club.

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Club Picture at 11:45 AM

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

Please remember to mute yourself unless you want to speak.

Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

A Dream Come True!

Tom Chapel on the summit of “The Sharkstooth, RMNP, 2019

Tom is a retired civil engineer living in Estes Park with spouse Donna and two cats. After growing up and attending college in Grand Junction, Tom and Donna relocated to Greeley, then Fort Collins in 1987 to facilitate Tom’s graduate studies at Colorado State University. After an engineering and management career solving soil related problems of local to international scope, Tom retired in 2018 to spend more time on his current avocations: grandchildren, Search and Rescue, fitness, and mountaineering adventures (not necessarily in that order)!

Tom and Donna have been property owners in Estes Park since 2009. In 2016 they built their current residence in Stanley Heights, which forms a perfect base camp for Tom’s most recent obsession to climb all the named and/or ranked peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park (Tom is currently at 210 summits).

One of Tom’s bucket list items has long been a climb of North America’s highest peak: Denali, Alaska (20,310’). In 2014 Tom assembled a team of six climbers for an attempt on Denali’s West Buttress route. A training injury in April 2015 delayed the climb for a year. This presentation is a glimpse into the successful June 2016 adventure by Tom and the team.

Estes Park Comprehensive Plan

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Presented by

Karen Thompson and Jessica Garner


Karen Thompson	Jessica Garner

Karen moved from Greeley to Estes Park in 2008, and began work as the Executive Assistant in the Community Development Department for the Town of Estes Park. This is the department where the Development Code, development plans and building permits, the Planning Commission and several other volunteer boards are administered and supported. Although she no longer works at Town Hall, she still has an interest in what is going on in local government, and believes it important for residents to be educated and informed about topics that affect all of us.

In 2021, she applied and was accepted to be a part of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (ComPAC), made up of town and county residents, Planning Commission members, and Town and County Staff. Consultants were hired to gather information from the community and bring it all together in a 20-year comprehensive plan for Estes Park and the surrounding area. Part of this includes community outreach to gather information about what the residents want Estes Park to look like 20 years down the road (transportation, open space, development, housing, guest experience, aesthetics, etc.)

Joining Karen will be Jessica Garner, Community Development Director. Garner holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning as well as a Master of Urban Design from the University of Colorado at Denver. She also holds a certificate in Historic Preservation and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. She has more than 19 years of experience in planning and development services in both the public and private sectors. Garner’s career experience includes work in Colorado as well as California, where she served as the Planning Manager for the City of Milpitas.

Last Scheduled Committee Meeting Day!

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Announcements:

Community Service Committee Meeting - no meeting
Duck Race Committee Meeting - no meeting
Membership Meeting - no meeting
International Service Committee Meeting -
- will meet in person this Thursday.
- Zoom is available
- The agenda has been emailed to all committee members.
Fund Development Meeting - no meeting

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Our Program this Week is Presented by

Dr. Mark Wiesner

Our Children's COVID Concerns

Dr. Mark Weisner

Dr. Wiesner received his Doctor of Osteopathy at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa. He went on to complete his Pediatric Internship at Raymond Blank Children’s Hospital - Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Following his internship, he completed his residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center-The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Wiesner is Board Certified by the American board of Pediatrics. Prior to joining Estes Park Health, in 2013 Dr. Wiesner was on staff with Loveland Pediatrics. The University of Colorado recognized him with the “Outstanding Clinical Faculty Instructor” award for his work educating medical students and residents. Dr. Wiesner and his wife have four children. His interests include Christian music, foreign medical mission trips, camping and fishing.

Come Hear about Crisis Advocates

Rosemary Truman

Rosemary Truman is the Program Director for Estes Valley Crisis Advocates (EVCA) since January 2020, originally as the Diversity Outreach Advocate then stepping into the Program Director role in August of 2021. She has been living year round in Estes Park going on five years, and has lived here seasonally for the last nine years. Outside of her work at EVCA she serves on the Town's Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and loves all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer including hiking, climbing, skiing, and camping.

Ray Wallace is the Diversity Outreach Advocate. She joined the team in September of 2021 when she moved to Estes Park, originally from Portland, Oregan. She loves just about anything outdoors; hiking, backpacking, skiing, swimming, kayaking, etc. She is looking forward to the summer so she can be warm while doing these activities.

Dr. Rickey Frierson, PhD

Warner College Diversity and Inclusion Director

February 3, 2022

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Rickey Frierson

Dr. Rickey Frierson has spent the last 15 years presenting internationally and domestically on issues of social justice, diversity and inclusion and underrepresented student success within higher education. Dr. Frierson’s research interest focuses on institutional accountability and effectiveness in minority success and completion at predominantly white, public institutions. Dr. Frierson takes pride in assisting administrators, educators and institutions in examining pro active strategies to create efficient and fruitful educational experiences for their diverse students, staff and faculty. He has published articles, submitted book reviews, and has written book contributions that all stem around efficiencies of education.

Committee Meeting Day

January 27, 2022

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Announcements:

Community Service Committee Meeting - no meeting
Duck Race Committee Meeting - February 3 at 5 PM via ZOOM
Membership Meeting - at Rotary Thursday
International Service Committee Meeting - no meeting this month but hopefully face to face in February
Fund Development Meeting - no meeting Thursday due to meeting Wednesday

Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc.

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Speaker Elizabeth Winn

District Director, Northern Colorado & Wyoming

Elizabeth is a native of western Nebraska. She received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Wyoming and earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska. She has 20 years of nonprofit fundraising and management experience and more than 15 years of experience with community engagement, program implementation, and volunteer management. Prior to joining Junior Achievement, she held regional leadership positions with the American Heart Association and Girls Scouts of Colorado. Junior Achievement is the only organization that provides sequential K-12 economic curriculum delivered by volunteers at no cost to schools. JA's programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate income and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

Our Library's Head Librarian

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Katherine Weadley

Katherine Weadley has worked in libraries since 1998. Her back ground includes library work at the University of Denver, University of Colorado, Colorado State Library, Colorado Library Consortium, and she was the first Director of the Lyons Regional Library District (2015) and was instrumental in fundraising and planning for new Lyons Community Library which opened in 2019. She received her Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Denver and earned a graduate certificate in Taxonomy and Controlled Vocabulary from Simmons University in Boston. She is originally from the Detroit area of Michigan but moved to Colorado in 1991. She spent the last 20 years living in Lyons but now lives in Estes Park. She began her position as Supervisor of Programming and Outreach at Estes Valley Library in April of 2021. She has two adult children, has been married for 30 years and has two dogs.

Welcome to the New Year!

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Jackie Williamson

Our Speaker this week is Jackie Williamson who began her career in 2002 with the Town of Estes Park in the Planning Division of Community Development. She became Deputy Clerk in October 2004 and, following Vickie O’Connor’s retirement, became Town Clerk on August 5, 2005, making her the 7th Town Clerk in Estes Park’s history. In May 2011 she became the Director of Administrative Services, acting as both the Human Resources Director and Town Clerk. Since becoming Town Clerk, Jackie has run 14 elections for the Town of Estes Park; throughout her career she has worked with 5 Town Administrators, 4 Mayors, 2 Judges, and 2 Attorneys.

HO HO HOliday fun!

Please feel free to invite friends and family to the Rotary Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 16 at the American Legion. Lunch is served from 11:30 - 12:00. There will be great food followed by a music program. Your RSVP is needed by Tuesday, December 14 at 5:00pm notifying Karol Rinehart of the number that will be attending.

kj.rinehart@centurylink.net,

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

Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Our Musical Program provided by

Skip Neilson

Skip Neilson is a guitarist and vocalist originally from Dallas, Texas now living full time in Estes Park with his wife, Nancy.
He began playing music in his teens and has played, toured and recorded with bands in the U.S. and Europe.
For the past several years he has been working with another EP local, Karen Nicholson, in the acoustic rock duo, Neilson/Nicholson.

They have played regularly at local venues such as The Slab, Snowy Peaks Winery, Bird & Jim’s, Elk Meadows Lodge as well as many private events, local shows and festivals.

Estes Park Health Hospital Foundation

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Kevin L. Mullin, MNM, CFRE

Kevin serves as President of the Estes Park Health Foundation in Estes Park, CO. He has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and fund raising, having previously served in leadership roles at multiple local and national organizations. He serves as adjunct faculty in the Nonprofit Leadership Program at the University of Denver. Kevin has a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Regis University and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation. He has also earned a Master of Nonprofit Management degree and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Capacity Building from Regis, and is a graduate of the Institute for Leaders in Development at the University of Denver.

Investing in Our Kids Today is an Investment in Everyone's Future

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Bev Bachman, M.Ed.

As an educator with 40 years experience in public education - 36 of those years in Poudre School District, Bev Bachman has taught grades K-6, gifted-talented, and was an assistant principal. With degrees in zoology, reading, and administrative certification, Bev has a strong interest in science and learning.

Upon “retirement”, she became an education consultant. She co-formed Exercise 4 Learning (www.exercise4learning.com) with her former principal to help educators to understand the research demonstrating the connection between exercise and learning and strategies for implementing that into the educational setting to maximize the educational experience of students. She has also done education consulting around leadership, developing effective mission and vision statements, and instruction. Bev lived in Estes Park from 1992-2003, and she and her husband returned in 2011. They have hiked many miles in RMNP, walk every day, and enjoy the geology, flora, and fauna of our area. She has been Chair of the Estes Park School District Advisory and Accountability Committee (DAAC) for several years. She was part of the interim board that formed the Estes Park Education Foundation (EPEF) and has served as its president since 2019. She has also done volunteering in the schools.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No Meeting November 25, 2021

Continuing to Decide Where our ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM reside!

Please do not miss our November 18, 2021 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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Bill Smith will be inducting new members Ben Van der Werf and Scott Robbins. Gail Corrigan is headed for a Thanksgiving with her family.

Healing Waters

It is more than a Swimming Pool

November 11, 2021

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Healing Waters

1632 Unit B Big Thompson Ave.

Come hear about the Healing Waters Foundation. It is a small non-profit organization set up in 2005 by Anne Slack to make the use of water available to anyone. It has unique features that allow various activites. Annie will begin by telling of its origin. Then Bethany Matthias, a Board Member, Physical Therapy Assistant and Athletic Trainer will present the Program. Finally there will be a short video to allow everyone to see the pool, its features and some benefits people have received from it.

Time to Decide Where our ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM reside!

Please do not miss our November 4, 2021 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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Dear Club,

Visioning for our Future starts Thursday! It includes the Club meetings on the 4th and the 18th of November. We have mentioned several times how important it is for ALL members to attend either in person or on Zoom to share your thoughts.

Just a little bit of background…….COVID-19 has disrupted all of the strategic plans and Visioning for organizations, governments, and businesses all around the world. It has been several years since we have embarked on a Visioning process. In addition, our Club has slowly diminished in size while continuing to participate in new and older legacy programs. It is time to determine where our ENERGY and ENTHUSIASM resides!

Our first meeting on November 4 will include group discussions about what energy and excitement brought us to join Rotary to begin with…and why we choose to continue to participate. Reflecting on these two areas will be your HOMEWORK until the meeting begins on Thursday. In addition, we need to hear what aspects of Rotary you feel are essential to discuss during the second meeting. We have several categories in mind but we need to know anything that is important to the group. We may not be able to cover all of the suggestions, but we definitely need to discuss the topics that several people bring up.

Our Club has a great deal of vitality. We wish to continue to build on that legacy into the future! Your opinions are very important to everyone! Please make a point to participate.

Thanks for all you do through Rotary for our Estes Valley Community and the world!

Jim Whiteneck

Happy Halloween

Committee Meeting Day

October 28, 2021

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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Announcements:

Community Service Committee Meeting:
- Immediately after the noon Rotary meeting ends, at the American Legion in person.
- We will be discussing adopting a family for Bright Christmas
- A project supporting a bilingual program with EVICS and Estes Park Elementary School

Duck Race Committee Meeting:
- CHANGE in the location of the Duck Race Committee meeting, still 5:00 PM October 28; but the change is that we will meet ONLY on Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 7985707369
  - Reason: because our Software/tech people will be attending by Zoom to present their recommendations for software we need to develop to keep future Duck Races sustainable
  - They said they will have trouble hearing and understanding comments or questions from the audience if people have to wear masks — which they would

Fundraising Committee Meeting:
- Will not be meeting on Thursday, but I hope you will continue to promote the dinner. If anyone has any questions they can contact Tara at 970-577-0186.
International Grant Committee Meeting:
- Will not be meeting on Thursday

Membership Committee Meeting:
- Will not be meeting on Thursday; met by email

Terry M. Kaltenbach, CLU, ChFC, CAP

Director of the USS Midway Museum in San Diego

Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided for our Speaker to join us. 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: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Terry Kaltenbach

Terry has a track record of success that spans more than four decades in the financial services industry. His experience as a producer, regional manager, wholesaler and benefits broker, as well as his past and current leadership positions, including President of the San Diego Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the California Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, gives him a broad perspective on the life insurance industry. Terry is also a member of the Association of Advanced Life Underwriting (AALU) wherein he has lead the California delegation in the Annual Capitol Hill event in Washington, DC

Terry holds the Chartered Life Underwriter ( CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designations through the American College. Priding himself as a student of the business, he has never stopped learning new techniques that advance his knowledge and expertise in the business insurance, estate planning and charitable giving fields.

He and his wife, Linda, founded a non-profit chapter of a Teen Suicide Prevention organization (Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program ) in 1997 that has reached over 350,000 middle and high school students, staff and parents and distributed over 1,000,000 Ask 4 Help! cards.

Terry entered Docent Training Class on the USS Midway in January 2016 and received his Yellow Hat on 5 March 2016. He crossed over the 1,000 hours of volunteer time on Midway in October 2018. His favorite assignments aboard Midway are leading tours on the Island including Primary Flight, Chart Room and the Navigation Bridge. Additionally he enjoys giving the “Catapult” brief and the “Traps (Arresting Gear) briefs as well as talking to guests about the workings of the Tactical Flag Command Center and Combat Information Center,

He enjoys giving back to the Navy that has given so much to him.

Shurie Scheel, 5440 District Governor

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

Meal: Barbecue
Cost: $15
Parking: American Legion and the church only.

Shurie Scheel and Family

I live in Thermopolis, WY with my husband, Phillip, and our two children, Kaden (a 10-year old boy), and Alayna (an 8-year old girl). We own a local propane retail company that services about 850 customers in about 100-mile radius. We also co-own Kirby Creek Mercantile, a bakery, deli, home decor and ice cream shop in our downtown area, which opened a few months ago as part of our downtown revitalization efforts. Our children are involved in sports, and we are always busy as small business owners. However, as citizens of a very small town in Wyoming, Phil and I feel strongly that community service in not optional. If we want the world to be a better place for our children and grandchildren, we must all work together. As such, I am involved in a great number of nonprofits, including Rotary. I serve on various boards and with a number of different organizations, but my favorite has always been Rotary! I am the Treasurer and Past President of my club, Past Assistant Governor, and I serve as a facilitator, and district co-chair, for Rotary Leadership Institute. My husband and I have traveled to Kenya numerous times to manage a Global Grant for clean water for rural schools. This work for Rotary is among the most fulfilling parts of my life, and I am so proud to be associated with such a great organization!

Ampt Biking Amputee Outreach 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

My name is Matthew Bell and I've been an amputee for 45 years. I grew up in a military family on or around Air Force bases most my life. In 2008 I got into mountain biking to help get in better shape. What I found was a community that was accepting and wonderfully supportive of anybody and everybody that joined. Over the years I would bring anybody and everybody I could into the mountain biking community. Recently I created Ampt biking amputee outreach program that allows for amputees to come out for a day event with their peers to be able to experience the camaraderie of the mountain biking community. We are now in our second season and the event coming up in August will be our third event. We've had amazing response from the communities we've been in and the participants themselves. Our goal is to reach out to anybody and everybody that is struggling with mental, emotional, and physical challenges that come with one loss.

Matthew Bell

Growing Communities Together

Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted. Keep in mind that we will be starting at 12:00 p.m., no earlier.

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 7985707369

Lori Gosselin comes to us from Ottawa, Ontario. She is the author of two books, The Happy Place and Sounding the Drum: Community Building in the Digital Age. Since 2014, she has been developing the Community building process, a method of facilitating the evolution of a group into Community. In 2019 she graduated with her Master of Organizational Management degree and formed a company to help her fulfill her mission to spread Community consciousness around the globe. In her talks, Lori introduces the power of Community building to make organizations more cohesive, collaborative, and creative.

Lori Gosselin

Our first "In Person" Noon Rotary Meeting At US Bank July 8th!

Our program this week will be held in person but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted. Keep in mind that we will be starting at 12:00, no earlier.

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 7985707369

Angel Hoffman, MA is our speaker on July 8th. She is Regional Director of Northern Colorado Alzheimer’s Organization. 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 Hoffman

Rick Taylor Yesterday and Today:

All things (including hair) have endings

Our program this week features club member Rick Taylor, as he completes five years as our program chairman. The program begins at noon on Zoom. Click on the link to be admitted:

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

It's the time of year when our club honors and celebrates the end of one Rotary year and the beginning of another. Rick Taylor will share some reflections with us on the theme of 'Endings'. Rick has studied

Jungian psychology for the past 25 years. Dreams (the night time variety) are important to that brand of psychology. Rick will share with us what he calls his 'Rotary dream' that he had recently. He thinks of it as just the right program to end his five year tenure as our club's program chairman.

Rick Taylor in 1976

Rick Taylor in 2021

Rotary awards $42,500 to Estes Park seniors

At a special May 19 program, the Rotary Club of Estes Park presented scholarships to 11 students help them reach their post-high school educational goals. Bill Solms, Rotary Club of Estes Park President, Doug Mann, 2019-20 club president, and Anne Slack, Scholarship Committee Chairperson, presented the awards. The scholarships totaled $42,500 and represent the club’s tradition of local support for education.

The Rotary Club of Estes Park raises funds for scholarships in several ways, including the Annual Rotary Golf Tournament for Scholarships, the Shred-a-Thon, and members’ donations. In addition, memorial scholarship funds honor former club members’ lives and passions.

The 2021 scholarship recipients include:

Meila Igel, who will attend the Colorado School of Mines, Isabella Fanucchi, who will attend the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities, and Ellie Bergsten, who will attend Concordia College, Moorehead, MN, were named recipients of the Rotary Club of Estes Park Academic Scholarships. These awards provide each student with $2,000 per year for four years and are offered on the basis of academic achievement and promise, activities, and citizenship.

Rachel Calvin, who will attend Fort Hays State University, earned the Rotary Club of Estes Park Roger M. Thorp Memorial Scholarship. It is a four-year scholarship of $1000/year for a student interested in architecture or interior design.

Alexander Henderson, who will attend Front Range Community College, received the Rotary Club of Estes Park Carver Family Vocational Scholarship. It is a two-year scholarship of $1,000/year for a student attending a vocational school, community college, or a two-year technical program.

Ruth Walker, who will attend York College, earned the Rotary Club of Estes Park Lynn Coffman Scholarship. It provides $1,500 for one year to a student graduating from Estes Park High School who is planning to major in business or related disciplines.

Lucas Pearson, who will attend Belmont in Nashville, received the Rotary Club of Estes Park Ron L. Kuhns Memorial Scholarship. It is a $1,500 award given to a student who possesses a passion and an aptitude for a unique field of study.

Cole Murray, who will attend the University of Wyoming, earned the Rotary Club of Estes Park Bob Brunson and Roger Thorp Memorial Scholarship. This is a $4,000 scholarship which provides $2,000 per year to a student who is pursuing a vocational or non-traditional field of study.

Bradon Moore, who will attend Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Ethan Hill, who will attend Colorado Northwestern Community College, earned the Rotary Club of Estes Park Lee and Alice Hagemeister Memorial Scholarships. Each will receive $1,500.

Jana Coop, who will attend Colorado Mesa University, received the Rotary Club of Estes Park Stanley Hotel Scholarship. This $2,500 award is for a student graduating from Estes Park High School who is planning to major in hotel and/or restaurant management, event planning or a wellness-related field.

The Rotary Club of Estes Park’s Scholarship Committee reviews all student applications, essays and letters of recommendation in a process that takes nearly a month. The committee then interviews several applicants for each scholarship before making final decisions.

"I am grateful for the time and opinions invested by Bruce Brown, Gregg Jurgens, Jim Whiteneck, Guy Van der Werf, Pete Sumey and Verlene Thorp in evaluating students,” said Anne Slack. “And, last but not least, Doug Mann and Bill Solms for their amazing job presenting the awards."

Scholars are invited to meet Rotary Club of Estes Park members by attending meetings as their busy schedules permit.

How our club helps children in Albania

Our program this week features club member Michelle Mann, who serves as Executive Director of Nehemiah Gateway USA. She will update the club on several Albanian projects. The program begins at noon on Zoom. Click on the link to be admitted:

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Nehemiah Gateway USA is a member of the Nehemiah Gateway (NG) Team. The NG Team is a collaborative body of international aid organizations unified as Nehemiah Gateway.

"We exist and cooperate to improve lives and communities of people in need by empowering them at every level of society, with the tiny Balkan nation of Albania being the primary focus of our work," Mann explains.

Michelle Mann

The Estes Park Noon Rotary Club has partnered with NG USA over the past five years, providing funding and support for Albanian projects such as the summer camps for marginalized children in the Roma community and special needs children. They have also successfully applied for a Rotary International Global Grant that is helping to fund a Children’s Learning Center that better help special needs children to receive therapy and specialized care in a more customized, effective and up-to-date manner.

"The partnership between NG USA and the Noon Rotary Club has benefitted some of the most vulnerable children in the Pogradec, Albania region in a variety of ways, bringing hope and support for them, their families and local community," Mann said.

Michelle has worked in the international world of non-profits for over 30 years. Her specialty is organizational development and the establishment of accounting and internal control systems for non-governmental organizations.

Widely travelled and having lived abroad for a number of years in various countries including Albania, Germany and India, she is experienced in public speaking in multilingual settings and is able to bring business skills into culturally diverse settings. Whether through teaching accounting skills in a mud and grass hut in South Sudan, training entrepreneurial leaders in the mountains of North India or reviewing non-profit practices in the Balkans, she has sought to help enterprises and leaders grow in integrity, transparency and effectiveness as they serve their local communities and society. Michelle also teaches Financial Accounting as a guest lecturer at Nehemiah Gateway University in Pogradec, Albania.

It was during her years in Albania in the late ‘90s where she was first introduced to the expanding and impactful work of Nehemiah Gateway. Nehemiah Gateway USA, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) international relief and development organization.

She currently lives in Colorado with her husband, Doug, and has three grown children and a grandson.

This week's program:

The Salvation Army and The Red Cross

Our speakers this week will be Gordon Slack and Bill Howell. They will update the club on the role of two important organizations in our community, The Salvation Army and The Red Cross. The meeting will begin at noon on Zoom. Click on the link below to be admitted to the meeting:

Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Bill Howell Gordon Slack

Bill Howell is a 18-year resident of Estes Park having retired from a 32-year career in Law Enforcement. Having moved from the Los Angeles area after his retirement, Bill became involved in many Community Organizations, initially with Sunrise Rotary, Veterans Association as a Hospice Volunteer and a lifetime member of the Marine Corps League in Loveland. During the Flood of 2013, Bill offered his expertise as a disaster worker having worked many disasters in the Southern California area over his previous career. While denied at the time because he was not locally vetted, Bill joined the American Red Cross and trained as a Mass Care and Disaster Volunteer. Since joining the Red Cross, Bill has deployed to 20 Natural Disaster throughout the United States including a Volcano in Hawaii. During the Cameron Peak Wildfire, Bill worked 12 to 18 hour shifts as the Red Cross Liaison with the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management and the Town of Estes Park. Even after being evacuated himself, Bill continued his work assisting in finding emergency housing and disaster relief for those affected by the wildfire. Bill continues to work with the Red Cross preparing for the upcoming flood and wildfire season.

Following three years in the Army, Gordon Slack went back to school to earn a degree in Computer Science. After 10 years writing software, he screwed up and got into management. He escaped management and began a 25-year career in industrial sales that took him to several foreign countries including California. Gordon and Annie have lived in Estes Park for 20 years.

Posted by Rita DuChateau

The week's program:

A year for the Estes Park history books

How would you describe the past year in Estes Park? It certainly has been a year like no other. Mayor Wendy Koenig will join our Zoom meeting on Thursday, May 13 to give us her impressions of the pasts 12 months in our little mountain town.

Click on the link before noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369. Our Zoom host, Scott Thompson, will give you access to the meeting.

Mayor Koenig is a 50-year Estes Park resident and attended school in Estes Park, graduating in 1973 from Estes Park High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in 1977 and Master of Science in 1978 from Colorado State University and earned her Doctor of Audiology in 2004 from Central Michigan University.

She was a two-time Olympian in the 1972 Munich Olympics and 1976 Montreal Olympics and her 28-year career in track and field exposed her to national and international politics as an athlete, team manager, USA track and field athlete representative and board member, Olympic Committee representative and Olympic Committee Board member.

In 1987, Mayor Koenig returned to Estes Park to raise her family and continue working as an audiologist. As an audiologist, she served on legislative committees for business regulation and state conventions. Since her return to Town, she has been involved in many town committees and boards including the Park Hospital District Board of Directors, Senior Center Board, Estes Park Lions Club and the Town Board of Trustees. In April 2020 Mayor Koenig began her four-year term as Mayor for the Town of Estes Park.

Posted by Rita DuChateau

Duck Race fans broke records May 1

The Rotary Duck Race proved for the second year that a pandemic could not dampen the community spirit that propels the 33-year-old event. Because a record number of ducks were adopted, 7,198 to be exact, the 65 Participating Organizations will receive a projected $118,579 to shore up their budgets and continue their important work in the Estes Valley.

The May 1 event got an early start with a breakfast at The Egg of Estes for Duck Race Committee volunteers, followed by the Estes Park Running Club’s Duck Waddle 5K on the scenic Lake Estes Trail. Beginning at noon, programming was live-streamed from The Estes Valley Community Center’s Lazy River and viewed on YouTube, Facebook and TDS Channel 8/108 - The Rocky Mountain Channel. A Pre-Flight Show featured performances by singer/songwriter Cowboy Brad Fitch and Ballet Renaissance. Kurtis Kelly and Scott Thompson served as emcees and provided lively commentary as Major Sponsor and little race ducks navigated the current of The Lazy River. Personnel from the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department and Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District represented first responders that were honored this year for their heroic efforts during the recent wildfires. They participated in the duck drop and shared a timely message about wildfire preparedness.

The top prize winners for 2021 were:

Mark Wagner - $5,000
Donald Kutz - $2,500
Christopher Marr - $1,000
Kenny Lefebvre – Yellowstone Vacation Package
Debby Westley – Glacier National Park Vacation Package

In addition, over 300 merchant prizes were awarded. All winners are listed on https://www.epduckrace.org/2021/05/01/2021-prize-winners/

Leading the Rotary Duck Race flock this year as ‘Big Duck’, Bill Solms met the challenge of capturing the spirit of the event without the benefit of its traditional outdoor venues and cheering race fans. After the last duck was plucked from The Lazy River, Solms ‘quacked out’ some well-deserved thanks to several partners.

“On behalf of Rotary and all those who worked so hard to help this event accomplish its purposes, I thank all who invested in this venture: the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Valley Community Center, Mayor Wendy Koenig, Chief David Wolf, and all of our other firefighting forces!”

Solms is most appreciate of the strong community support that resulted in a record-breaking number of Duck Adoptions.

“This year’s 33rd Rotary Duck Race allows us to send vital support to 65 participating non-profits as summer begins,” he added.

The race is available for viewing on YouTube for anyone who missed the big day or just wants to see it all again. Click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNORj1tnfk

Looking ahead to 2022, the Rotary Duck Race Committee is anticipating a return to the traditional format, with ducks racing on the Fall River from Nicky’s to Riverside Plaza. During 2020 and 2021, the race occurred indoors and without spectators, for the safety of race fans and volunteers.

One former Big Duck said the 2021 race “proved its mettle and staying power for this community by hanging in there for the long haul and adapting to a worldwide pandemic. The fact that the Duck Race is standing strong and ready to go back to the river shows its important value to the community because people show up to support it no matter what.”

Don Widrig, volunteer since 2002 who wrote the 41,000 lines computer code that runs all aspects of the race added his praise, “I rank this as the best race that I have ever participated in.”

Since its inception in 1989, the Duck Race has distributed $2.9 million to various Participating Organizations.

May 6 program:

Water Quality Management in Estes Park

Our program this week will flood you with information about our town's water quality and how it is maintained. Bring a gallon or two of questions! Our presenters will be Chris Eshelman, Town of Estes Park Water Superintendent, and Deb Callahan, Town of Estes Park Water Quality and Laboratory Supervisor.

This week's meeting will be on Zoom. Click on the link before noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Chris Eshelman has worked for the Town a total of 12 and half years. Formerly, Chris operated his own local excavation company. He grew up in Estes Park, raised his kids here with his wife, Marlys, and is looking forward to introducing his new baby granddaughter to the Town as well.

Chris Esheleman

Deb Callahan has been with the Town for three+ years after retiring from her laboratory career at the Water Purification Plant in Sioux Falls, SD. She is in awe of the beauty of Colorado! Deb enjoys exploring new places and advocating for her two daughters to follow her lead and move to Colorado too!

Deb Callahan

Posted by Rita DuChateau

Ballet, folk, and waddle await Duck Race fans

The Rotary Duck Race is just a few days away, so it’s time to plan your Virtual Race Day fun. The day takes flight with the 9 a.m. Duck Waddle, a 5K sponsored by the Estes Park Running Club that will encircle Lake Estes. Before the little yellow rubber ducks hit the water, be sure to tune in to the Pre-Flight Show at noon, featuring clips from historic race day footage, an appearance by Lucky Duck and recognition of Major Sponsors. Next up, at 12:40 p.m., the live event coverage begins from the Lazy River at the Estes Valley Community Center. Adoption sales end at 1 p.m. The ducks will race starting around 1:15 p.m. Major Prize winners will be announced as the first five ducks reach the finish line. All other prize winners will be posted on epduckrace.org by 5 p.m.

The event will be live-streamed for viewing on YouTube, Facebook and TDS Channel 8/108 - The Rocky Mountain Channel. No in-person attendance by the general public will be permitted.

Special moments will include several songs by singer/songwriter Cowboy Brad Fitch, a favorite of Race Day crowds, as well as an enchanting performance of Duck Lake by Ballet Renaissance.

“It’s my great pleasure to once again be part of our town’s annual Rotary Club Duck Race,” said Fitch. “With the help of Sean Doherty from Nick Mollé Productions, we have been able to contribute to the virtual event this year. I encourage everyone to participate in the Estes Park Duck Race, which helps so many organizations and individuals in our community.”

The Ballet Renaissance Ducky Ballerinas have delighted Race Day fans since 2013 with their performances along the Duck Race route and are happy to be part of the 2021 live-stream.

“Ballet Renaissance is pleased to support this year’s annual Estes Park Rotary Duck Race Festival livestream with an original performance of Duck Lake,” said Brianna Furnish, Ballet Renaissance supporter and children’s ballet instructor. “Inspired by the traditional characters and choreography of Swan Lake, Duck Lake, produced by Nick Mollé Productions, features select Ballet Renaissance students, along with a cameo appearance by Rotary’s very own Lucky Duck. Ballet Renaissance extends a special thank you to Leslie Glover and Mark Holdt, who hosted three outdoor rehearsals, and film day for the performance. Here’s to a great race.”

According to Big Duck ‘21 Bill Solms, Race Day promises to be memorable because many volunteers have waddled up to join in the feathered fun.

“Please do not miss the ‘Mystery of Lucky Duck’ and the performance of our middle school volunteers that will ‘mix it up’ in the Lazy River,” Solms said. “Special appearances by mariachi ducks, first responder ducks, and various medical duck personnel will dare the raging waters of the river to distract the creatures appearing within in order to free our race ducks to seek the finish line!”

The global pandemic has affected traditional Estes Park events, but the Duck Race Committee anticipates that the live-stream broadcast will appeal to all Duck Race fans.

“This year's Duck Race shows how resilient the members of Rotary can be during times like these,” Solms said. “But Rotary could not succeed in its mission to support the Town and its non-profit organizations that put their energies into all aspects of this event without the vital contributions from our Major Sponsors, the athletes from the Estes Valley Runners Club, the Renaissance Ballet and its choreographic talent, our local and talented Brad Fitch, businesses providing merchant prizes, and so on. There is no shortage of enthusiasm. Our first responders have been some of the most prolific duck adoption promoters! A special shout-out to Mayor Koenig, Fire Chief David Wolf from Estes Valley Fire Protection District, the neighboring Fire District departments participating, as well as Kurtis Kelly and Scott Thompson, our Race Day Masters of Ceremonies. Join us on Race Day, May 1^st, starting at noon Mountain Time. You will be glad you did.”

To be a part of the day, plan to adopt a duck or a flock by logging onto https://www.epduckrace.org/adopt-ducks/. All adoptions are being handled online. A full schedule of the day’s events is also available on https://www.epduckrace.org/schedule/

The Duck Waddle begins at 9 a.m. near the Estes Park Parking Structure and follows the Lake Estes Trail. Details are available on https://estesparkrunning.org/our-races/duck-waddle-5k/

Silence is not Golden, it's Lonely:

Hearing and Technology Update

Our program on Thursday, April 15, will feature Audiologist Cory Workman, former president of the Colorado Academy of Audiology.

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 three years in Grand Junction 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 carries 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 two 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.

This week's meeting will be on Zoom. Click on the link before noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Duck Waddle set for Duck Race Day

While the Rotary Duck Race will be conducted without the traditional riverside crowds this year, there is a big way for everyone to get Race Day off to a healthy and fun start. Sign up for the Duck Waddle 5K and get your feet moving at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 1.

The event is sponsored by the Estes Park Running Club, and after having to cancel the 2020 Duck Waddle, planners are more than excited to offer it this year. Safety precautions will be in place, so it’s best to plan ahead for the Duck Waddle. The race begins and ends in Bond Park and the route includes a scenic trek along MacGregor Ave., Big Thompson Ave. and Fall River Rd.

Here’s what you can do to ensure a place in the starting line:

Go to https://estesparkrunning.org/our-races/duck-waddle-5k/ and register. Late registration is April 26 - May 1, with a $7 increase to the entry fee. In-person registration available, 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on Race Day
Adult registration is $30 and includes a Duck Adoption (value $20) and “Firefighter Duck” shirt ($5 added).
Seniors (60 and up) registration is $25 and includes a Duck Adoption (value $20) and “Firefighter Duck” shirt ($5 added).
Youth 14 and under will be charged $25.
Pick up your packet between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 30 at Med-X of Estes Park, 158 First St. OR in Bond Park on Race Day beginning at 8 a.m.
All participants must observe social distancing guidelines and wear a mask at all times, except while running.

“We want to have a safe and fun race for everyone!” said Belle Morris, Estes Park Running Club President and Race Director. “Join us by following our Social Contract agreement for COVID-19 precautions. All participants are asked to wear a face mask at all times, with exception while running or walking during race. Social distancing at the start line and at the separate finish line is expected. A time-trial interval start, of 3-second spacing, will allow participants adequate spacing.”

A special commemorative race shirt will be available to the public for purchase on Race Day for $20, Morris added.

Following the Duck Waddle 5K, top finishers will receive awards and prizes. These include 1^st and 2^nd place male and female overall. Additional awards will be presented to 1^st and 2^nd place, male and female, in the following categories: 13 and under; 14-16; 17-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-70; and over 80.

“The Estes Park Running Club provides their unique and challenging schedule to all of our runners,” said ‘Big Duck ‘21’ Bill Solms. “Their participation in our Duck Race Festival in this unusual year shows their individual caring and dedication to our cause of raising support and directing attention towards all of our non-profits in the Estes Valley!! Please join them in their special Duck Waddle this year by running in the race and/or by adopting one of their racing ducks.”

April 8 program:

Economically Speaking: the state of Estes

Adam Shake will be our featured speaker on Thursday, April 8. He will present on a topic that affects all of us in many ways: the state of the Estes Park economy. Our meeting will be on Zoom only, so log in before noon with the following link and be welcomed by Scott Thompson, our meeting host: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Adam Shake

Shake is the President/CEO of the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation. He served nearly 15 years in the U.S. Army before working in Washington DC for 11 years before moving to Colorado. Since his arrival in Estes Park, he’s served on the boards of Visit Estes Park, Estes Valley Partners for Commerce and Flinch Forward as well as volunteering for many other community initiatives.

April 1 program:

How has Rotary influenced Russia?

“Will it be Beneficial to All Concerned?” Many Rotarians since the 1990's economic devastation of Russia, most notably the Eugene, Oregon Rotary Club, believed helping Russians met the purpose of the Four-Way Test. Certainly, “Will it Build GOODWILL and BETTER Friendships?” fits the bill. As Mikhail Gorbachev said, “It is better to be friends than to be enemies. It is better to do business than to do war.” Thus, Rotary stood tall … and still does today.

What have we learned since three Swedish Rotarians first visited Russia in 1988 and the first club was chartered in Moscow in 1990? What have hundreds of American Rotary Clubs given to the Russian economy and stability (before the pandemic, of course)?

Milt Garrett is possibly one among a very small handful of American Rotarians who have, over many decades, consistently aided in that Four-Way Test consideration across Russia’s 11 time zones.

Milt Garrett

This summer’s return trip will be Garrett’s 23^rd year working with Russian entrepreneurs. A self-funded Rotarian, he’s twice been selected as a citizen diplomat. Ten of 23 years he did this work pro bono as a Rotarian. He’s a former member of the Rotary International’s U.S.-Russia Intercountry Committee.

In the Fall 1999 with the Grand Junction Rotary Club, and later sponsored by a San Francisco organization that Congress funded, Dr. Garrett was sent across America to many Rotary Clubs. When there, he spent a first full week as their lead instructor and taught industry-specific delegations of Russian men and women. Local Rotarian hosts were responsible for the expenses for the three weeks of training. The purpose of this effort by Rotarians and San Francisco was to restart the economic recovery of Russia. What has he learned? Has Rotary really been beneficial to the Russian entrepreneur? If so, how has it helped in their economy since the Christmas Day 1991 breakup?

Dr. Milt Garrett will answer those questions with his presentation: “How Has Rotary influenced Russia?”

Join the Zoom meeting before noon by clicking on the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Posted by Rita DuChateau

Club grant will help feed the community

The Rotary Club of Estes Park has a longstanding commitment to address areas of need in the local community and has recently awarded a grant to help with a shortfall of holiday collections by The Salvation Army.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the bell-ringing campaign sponsored by The Salvation Army came up short this year. The Community Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Estes Park, which vets and recommends grants funded by the club, recently delivered $1,000 to the Community Corner Café to help provide weekly free dinners for all Estes Valley residents. Half of the amount came from the club’s Friendship Card proceeds, and $500 was donated by a generous club member.

Roxy Hause (left) and Rev. Bruce Brackman (right) happily accept the $1,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Estes Park representative Beth Weisberg to help with the Community Corner Café.

The Community Corner Café is based at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church on Dry Gulch Road, near Good Samaritan Village. Free meals are provided every Friday between the first Friday in October and the last Friday in April, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Due to COVID, meals are “to go” during this CCC season.

“Community Corner Café is about Community, celebrating our ‘common unity.’ We provide good nourishing meals at no cost to anyone in Estes Park and surrounding areas,” said Bruce Brackman, pastor of Shepherd of the Mountains. “So far this year we are averaging over 225 meals every Friday night. We are so thankful for the Noon Rotary’s grant of $500 and a $500 match by an anonymous donor. We absolutely would not be able to serve without the generosity of the Noon Rotary and other organizations that consider Community Corner Café an important ministry to Estes Park and surrounding areas. CCC is funded purely by grants and donations.”

Founded in 1926, The Rotary Club of Estes Park is a service organization open to all. The club currently meets on Zoom on first four Thursdays of every month. Meetings begin at noon, with an optional lunch served at 11:30 a.m. Interested in joining? Contact Anne Slack, membership chairperson at anneslack@aol.com. To help the club’s philanthropic efforts, consider buying a $10 Friendship Card for local discounts at any of the following locations: Cabintique, Country Market, Macdonald Book Shop, Mad Moose, Nicky’s Steak and Seafood House, Quality Inn, Safeway Guest Services, Rocky Mountain Gateway, Wynbrier Home and Wynbrier Ltd.

What You Need to Know:

Getting Around Downtown This Summer

This week's program will head off unwanted parking tickets, because as they say, Knowledge is Power!

Both parking and transit in Estes Park will look a little different in Summer 2021. Plans to implement seasonal paid parking were put on hold in 2020 due to COVID, as was the vision for expanded transportation offerings around Town and down the hill. However, even with the pandemic, parking areas downtown were as full, or in some cases, more full in 2020 than in previous years. This presentation will cover the Town's plans for resuming implementation of seasonal paid parking in 2021, new parking permit options for business owners, employees and locals, and proposed transit service offerings.

Our speakers will be Vanessa Solesbee and Matt Eisenberg, Town of Estes Park employees.

Vanessa Solsesbee

Solesbee has been the Town's Parking & Transit Manager since 2018 and has worked in the parking industry for 13 years. Prior to joining the Town staff, Vanessa was President of The Solesbee Group, LLC, a management consultancy specializing in parking strategic planning for municipalities and universities. Vanessa has worked with communities all over the US and Canada, as well as many mountain west clients including the cities of Boulder, Fort Collins, Denver, Parker, Castle Rock, Longmont, Aurora, Jackson Hole; Cheyenne, Provo, Missoula, MT, and Billings. Vanessa lives in Estes Park with her husband, John, and two daughters Ava Fox (5) and Ella Bee (2).

Eisenberg is General Manager of The Car Park’s Estes Park branch. He and his family relocated to Estes Park from Boise, Idaho last year to help the Town with the implementation and management of its seasonal paid parking program. Prior to Boise, the Eisenbergs lived in Telluride for over a decade, and are very happy to be back in Colorado.

Click on the Zoom link before noon on Thursday and our host Scott Thompson will invite you into the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

This week's program:

Financial Literacy for Women

This week's program will be presented by Andrea Anthony, who will provide information on what women should know about managing finances. She aims to help women navigate difficult financial life changes. Our speaker is well known to at least two club members, Michelle and Doug Mann, because Andrea is Michelle's sister.

Andrea Anthony

Andrea Anthony, CPA, CDFA, M. Acc.. has over 30 years of accounting experience and has served as a director, treasurer, and advisor for numerous boards, from nonprofits to private companies to political organizations. Her Estes Park, Colorado-based firm, Changing Tides CPA, Inc., gives her the flexibility to address a cause close to her heart—assisting women to attain financial literacy so they are no longer at risk of financial exploitation, ruin, or abuse. This includes aiding elderly women who find themselves suddenly alone and unfamiliar with financial matters as their late spouse was the one who "took care of everything."

Anthony, licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in both Florida and Colorado, is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). She provides a range of needed services:

Divorce financial analysis
Support services for those divorcing, separated or contemplating either
Eldercare financial counseling and assistance
Small business and personal accounting consulting, such as company oversight, internal control reviews, cash flow management, budgeting, and cash flow forecasting.

Anthony received her Masters of Science in Accounting from the University of North Florida and began her career with the two firms that would later become Price Waterhouse Coopers. She is the Finance Director for St. John's Academy, a private school in St. Augustine, FL., where she has served for more than 25 years. Anthony has also volunteered accounting support to nonprofit humanitarian agencies in Kosovo, Albania, and Sudan. Recently, she served on the Board of Directors for The Betty Griffin Center in St. Augustine, FL, which helps local victims of domestic violence and their children. She is currently Treasurer of the Board for The Historic Stanley Home Foundation.

Join the meeting by clicking on this link before the program begins at noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

This week's program:

American Legion plans for Wall of Honor

Our program on Thursday, March 4 will feature an exciting project sponsored by the Estes Park American Legion Post 119. Our speaker, Deborah Schmitt, will describe the Wall of Honor Project, which aims to commemorate the service of our veterans, their family members and the community.

Deborah "Sunny" Schmitt is a member of Post 119 and the Sunrise Rotary. She retired from the Air Force after 22 years of active service.

Deborah Schmitt

To join the meeting on Zoom, click on the link before noon and Host Scott Thompson will welcome you: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369

Estes Park to honor role of historic women

Our program this week will provide the background, scope and progress on the Estes Park Women's Monument Project. The goal of the project is to celebrate the role of women in the growth and success of Estes Park. Ron Wilcocks, chair of the Estes Park Women's Monument Project Committee, will present.

Ron Wilcocks

Wilcocks, who moved to Estes Park in 1999, is co-owner of Earthwood Galleries of Colorado, which includes Earthwood Collections and Earthwood Artisans. He is an active volunteer, having previously served as Vice President of the Cultural Arts Council, Vice-Chair of the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority and other community-based boards and committees. Currently, he is a member of the Parks Advisory Board and the Transportation Advisory Board, as well as leading the Women's Monument Project.

Previously, Wilcocks applied his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science in several lead software engineering positions, including as a Director at the US West/Quest Advanced Technology Labs in Boulder. Married to Ann for nearly 37 years, Ron and Ann raised their two children in Estes Park.

To join the meeting on Zoom, click on the Zoom link before noon. Scott Thompson, our Zoom host, will welcome you. Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369.

The 4-legged ladder:

Carl Robicheaux to explain estate planning

This week's program will feature one of our own, Carl Robicheaux. His program is titled: Simple Estate Planning - The Four Legs of the Ladder.

Carl Robicheaux

Carl was born and raised in South Louisiana. He graduated from Loyola Law School in New Orleans and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Louisiana and Connecticut. Carl's vast experience in his varied legal career has spanned over 33 years. He has represented individuals and companies in small cases and multi-million dollar litigation.

Carl has worked as a solo practitioner and with a small, three-attorney law firm providing legal services to rural clients needing affordable and professional legal representation. He has also represented multi-national insurance companies and Fortune 500 companies in personal injury litigation.

After caring for his elderly mother Carl realized that individuals need a strong voice to help them through everyday legal issues. Carl moved to Estes Park and opened Elkhorn Law, devoting his practice to estate planning, probate, real estate, HOA law, elder law issues, business formation and governance. Carl also provides general legal counseling.

Carl is the Vice President and Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Estes Park Health Foundation and the Estes Chamber of Commerce.

Carl enjoys spending time with his wife, Aime, his 3 dogs, hiking, playing golf and attempting to fly fish (when his flies are in the river and not a tangled mess).

To join the meeting on Zoom, click on the Zoom link before noon, and Scott Thompson, our Zoom host, will welcome you. Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369.

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