This week's Rotary Noon Club meeting will feature two of the active club members. Drs. Jim Whiteneck and Jim Jonell spent most of the month of June visiting parts of Scandinavia. Jim J. spent nine years researching, teaching, and directing a student counseling at the University of Uppsala Sweden. Jim J still speaks fluent Swedish, and this trip was like going home for him and introducing Jim W. to his adopted country. Their program will share their experience of meeting wonderful international people, visiting some of the Scandinavian historical sites and natural wonders.
Our program on September 11th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Happy New Year! Rotary Duck Race Vests Are Coming No January Duck Race Team Leader Meeting Coffee Talk
Meeting Notes 9-04-25
President Jack Ford called the meeting to order. Invocation by Jim Whiteneck. Jack led the Pledge of Allegiance. We sang America The Beautiful, accompanied by Madison Casey.
Guests of Rotarians
Dennis Gellhaus introduced:
John and Pat Vorreiter, from California, join us Summers.
Gary Fanucchi
Pat Newsom
Former club member Jill Zerhan was back and will be rejoining us.
Announcements:
Annie Slack asks everyone that distributed the Friendship Card last year to contact her as she does not have a list of names.
Wayne Newsom announced he and Pat are moving to Balfour in Loveland on September 18. They have lived in Estes for 50 years. We will miss them greatly.
Scott Robbins said next Coffee Talk will be this Saturday, September 6, at Inkwell & Brew at 8:30.
Scott says the new date for the Membership Committee meeting is October 2, here after this meeting.
Elkfest is the weekend of September 27-28 and Carl Robicheaux needs volunteers. He passed around the sign-up sheet for jobs of set up, ID check, pour, cashier. 3 shifts daily.
Jack Ford said Karen McClure’s Memorial Service yesterday was nicely done, and we can see Dave Evans’ remarks stored online.
Wayne and Pat are moving. Carl asks for Elkfest volunteers.
Happy Money:
Milt Garrett donated $88 for his birthday.
Carl is happy his wife is coming home now from completing the John Muir trail solo., which she began Aug. 8.
Dave Evans is happy for his Rotary family that offers him huge support, and appreciated our attendance yesterday. He felt that Karen’s service yesterday went well. The carrot cake was consumed down to 2 slices.
Suzy Blackhurst is elated that the Estes Valley Voice won a national award for Best Community Engagement!
Tom Maher is sad that Newsom’s are moving and happy to see Milt Garrett back and presenting today.
Annie Slack will also miss the Newsom’s.
Pat Newsom said their apartment is 217 at Balfour and she will have cookies when we visit.
Dr. Guy Van der Werf encouraged us to get our flu shots, available everywhere with no appointment needed. The Covid shot will be coming later
Suzy announces the Estes Valley Voice award.
Program:
Milt Garrett presented the history preceding the Ukraine-Russia war. The issue is so large that this is the first of three programs he will do for us, every other week.
Milt discusses relationship between Russia and Ukraine
COMMUNITY SERVICE MEETING AND VOTE ON TWO PROJECTS
The Community Service Committee will meet on Thursday, September 11, at the Legion immediately after the regular Noon Rotary meeting. We will be discussing and voting on 1) Bright Christmas and if/how we want to participate in that as a club this year; and 2) Blue Santa (the EP Police Auxiliary fund drive) and whether/how much we want to use Project funds to support them again this year.
The meeting will probably take only about ½ hour. Please attend if you can.
If you can't make it but have questions or want to give Beth your proxy, please contact Beth at weisberg.family@verizon.net.
Thanks, everyone!
Elk Fest Reminder
Carl Robicheaux needs help staffing the Beer Garden portion of the Elk Fest: Saturday 9/27, 9am-6pm, and Sunday 9/28, 9am-5pm, plus tear down on Sunday. This is one of our major fundraisers for the club funds for Projects.
My name is Doug Mann, ten-year resident of the area, living in Pinewood Springs and working in Estes Park. You have featured me over the years in regard to my service as a Rotary President, a book I’ve written, as well as our daughter attending the US Coast Guard Academy.
I wanted to let you know of a change of employment for me that may be of interest to our nonprofit community. Today, my new organization issued a press release about this new position (below).
What is not included in the press release is that I will still be living in our area, working three weeks from here out of my Estes Office, and one week a month at our headquarters in Belton, Texas. I’ll continue to be able to be a part of this wonderful community with my civic endeavors and keep the wonderful relationships my wife and I have built over this past decade.
For additional bio information, you can visit my book website, http://www.douglasmann.com, or my linkedin page https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougmann/ or our new organizational website below. Thanks for your consideration in regard to sharing this news - and if you have any questions my cell number is 815.519.8933.
With warm regards -
Doug Mann
Doug Mann Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Hope for the Hungry (254) 939-0124 Hope@hopeforthehungry.org www.hopeforthehungry.org
Hope for the Hungry Welcomes New Executive Director Doug Mann to Lead Global Vision Forward
Belton, Texas — September 2025 — Hope for the Hungry, a faith-based global ministry committed to sharing the love of Christ and addressing urgent physical and spiritual needs around the world, is proud to announce the appointment of Doug Mann as its new Executive Director.
Doug brings over 35 years of international nonprofit leadership experience to the role, with much of his career spent living and serving across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. He is known for championing sustainable, capacity-building solutions for vulnerable communities and was instrumental in coordinating relief efforts among over 80 organizations during the Kosovo refugee crisis.
In his new role, Doug will lead the organization into a season of strategic growth and renewed global engagement. “My time living and working internationally throughout my career has really instilled a deep desire in me to see individuals and communities not just survive, but flourish as they find their way through this life,” said Mann. “It’s exciting to be given this opportunity to help expand this shared vision I have with Hope for the Hungry on an even larger global scale.”
Founded in 1982 by Dan and Kandy Kirkley following a life-changing trip to Haiti, Hope for the Hungry has spent more than four decades ministering to the poor and underserved, particularly through educational support, crisis care, and Gospel outreach. Today, the organization is active in Haiti, the United States, and, most recently, Rwanda—where new partnerships are expanding its reach to vulnerable populations in need of long-term transformation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Doug to the team,” said founder Dan Kirkley. “His deep faith, leadership experience, and global perspective are exactly what’s needed to carry Hope’s mission forward into this next exciting chapter.”
Under Doug’s leadership, the organization is also launching a refreshed brand identity and updated communications strategy, including a redesigned website, reflecting a bold vision for the future while honoring the legacy of its founding mission.
As Hope for the Hungry celebrates its 43rd anniversary this year, supporters are invited to mark their calendars for a special banquet on November 13, 2025, where the organization will celebrate its past and share its exciting plans for the future.
About Hope for the Hungry
Hope for the Hungry is a Christian nonprofit organization established in 1982 with a mission to share the Bread of Life with a world in need. Through a variety of international and domestic initiatives, the organization supports education, crisis response, spiritual outreach, and capacity-building projects that lead to lasting transformation.
From The Chaplain
Do you know a Club Member who needs assistance? Maybe a ride to meetings, or just a phone call to keep in touch? Please contact Bill Smith 970-420-1033 or billsmithbronx1956@gmail.com.
