ROOTS, a new Estes Park nonprofit, connects our diverse citizenry to earth systems and serves as a resource for our community to become more sustainable and resilient in this rapidly changing world. Through community programs, summer programs, outreach, professional development and a one-room schoolhouse for children grades K-5, ROOTS offers opportunities for participants to gain critical skills and knowledge needed to become innovative, informed and engaged 21st century earth citizens.
Programs emphasize using the natural environment as a catalyst for interdisciplinary learning outdoors, finding a connection to our community and to our mountains, understanding earth’s systems, collaborative learning across boundaries of difference, and imparting sustainability knowledge and practical living skills. ROOTS’ programs are intentionally inclusive to all learner-types with specific programs for children with special needs.
Maisie Greer, Founder/Director of ROOTS, will speak at the Rotary Club of Estes Park on Thursday, July 20, at their regular noon meeting. She will share further details about the ROOTS curriculum.
Maisie Greer
A resident of Estes Park for 20 years, Greer’s deep connection to nature guided her through her childhood, and she is passionate about connecting all youth to the non-judgmental world of nature. After five years of teaching short-term outdoor education programs, Greer witnessed the deep impact nature-learning was having on her students and dreamed of a time when learning outdoors was the norm rather than a supplement to learning.
Greer holds a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Studies/Environmental Education from Antioch University New England and has over 25 years experience teaching and developing experiential education programs for a wide diversity of participants. Through the guidance of Antioch University’s Systems Educator Tom Wessels and Place-Based Education leader David Sobel, Greer was inspired to open a full-time school focused on education for sustainability using nature as the classroom and catalyst for leaning. She is dedicated to helping residents of Estes Park learn how to live more sustainably through engaging programs that involve the community from the ground up.
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century. Rotary clubs, around the world, initiate projects that address critical issues such as conflict resolution, hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy.
The Rotary Club of Estes Park meets Thursdays at the Rodeway Inn in Estes Park, located at 1701 North Lake Avenue on Highway 34 just west of Dry Gulch Road. Visitors interested in learning more about Rotary and its programs are welcome to attend. Buffet is served at 11:30 a.m., the Rotary business meeting opens at noon, and the program begins at 12:30 p.m.
Posted by Dale Bonza
July 13, 2017 meeting highlights
President Kathy called the Estes Park Rotary meeting to order on the dot of 12 p.m. She mentioned that her first meeting as president went well last week and she has 45 cheerful meetings ahead.
Marsha Yellick gave a summer-inspired ice cream themed invocation. David Evans led a spirited singing of In the Good Old Summertime, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Greg Jurgens welcomed visiting Rotarian Pat Vorrecter and her husband John. We are always happy to see Pat, who visits Estes Park from Sunnyvale, California. Faithful Sojourners Ralph Colrud and David van Wert from Sun City West, Arizona, joined in.
Scott Thompson once again delivered a well-enjoyed joke.
Marsha Yelick reminded us to be thankful for summer - and ice cream!
Announcements
President Kathy thanked the anonymous helper who rehung the new Rotary Banner that fell.
Rita Du Chateau was given a big thank you by President Kathy and all members present for her continuing work on publicizing our club. Her latest success was an outstanding article in the E.P. Trail Gazette on July 12 that mentioned many Rotary successes and the golf tournament in particular.
Bruce Carmichael, golf tournament chair, reported that the committee has decided to continue to hold the yearly tournament fund-raiser. New committee members will need to step up to help, as some folks have given their time to this cause for up to 18 years, and they are weary. Scholarships in the amount of over $14,500 will go to worthy Estes Park students this year thanks to the golf tournament.
Ron Gordon thanked Kathy for the Four-Way-Test coin she gifted last week. He suggests one practical use for it is as a golf ball mark.
Pete Sumey requested prayers and good thoughts for Jack Overly’s wife, Mary. She has recently undergone serious medical difficulties in addition to her battle with cancer.
Rita Du Chateau reported ongoing contact with the Foreman family from Pinewood that is fighting to prevent drownings, following their own personal tragedy. They continue to thank Rotary for helping them continue their educational mission.
David Evans will serve as the project manager for a $2,000 matching Rotary District Grant that has our club partnering with the District and Nehemiah Gateway to support a summer program for at-risk Roma children in Albania. Our own member, Doug Mann, serves as President of Nehemiah Gateway. The need for this assistance is described in their newsletter, the Compact:
“Summer school vacation in Albania (lasts) – for three whole months. That is too long for children who don’t receive much attention or support at home. They are likely to fall back into old patterns of behavior and forget many of the things already learned. Therefore, these children can visit our summer school as part of our Amaro Tan project. They receive specific coaching, are encouraged and supported, have lots of fun, and are also well catered for with daily meals.”
The Veterans Monument Committee in Estes Park requested Rotary funding for the Veterans Memorial to be located by the Visitors’ Center. Roger Thorpe is donating the architectural design. Member Bob Brunson proposed a donation of $1001, which was agreed to.
Happy Money
Madison Casey is happy that Marty is recovering from a fall 2 ½ weeks ago that broke her leg just below the hip. He reports that they had exemplary service from Dr. Grant and the EP Medical Center. He is also grateful to Tara Moenning for staying with Martie during the meeting so he could get out for a few moments.
Tom Maher is happy to meet the new Park Superintendent who is our speaker today.
Scott Thompson is happy that Madison Casey wrote such an interesting article for this month’s E.P. Museum newsletter that is sent out to Friends of the Museum.
Program
Rick Taylor introduced our speaker, Darla Sidles, Superintendent of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Nice to see John and Pat Vorreiter enjoying our club and program!
Darla brings a wealth of experience to her job here in Colorado, having served in multiple capacities in National Forests and National Parks around the country. Her enthusiasm for her work with ecology and nature preservation, as well as her love for sharing that experience with the public, is contagious.
The biggest concerns for our park are underfunding and an increasing wealth of visitors whose need for a positive experience is being made difficult by the sheer numbers of people coming to the park. Various solutions are under study, and public input will be an integral part of the decision-making process.
We wish Darla well in her endeavors and stand ready to partner with the town and the park as decisions are made.
Wow: A book, Birds Make Nests, for the children's library and one of Bob Benight's granite paperweights that resembles Longs Peak. We hope Supt. Sidles returns often.
The meeting was adjourned with the 4-Way Test.
Submitted by Dale Bonza, Scribe
Photos by Rita DuChateau
Golf tourney - a win for golfers, students
A great turnout, a sunny skies and fabulous prizes created a successful Rotary Scholarship Benefit Golf Tournament on June 24. And our club members helped tremendously with their sponsorships! Club members' names and their businesses appear in blue in the list below.
“The 2017 event drew 61 golfers, and thanks to our many sponsors, we exceeded our fundraising goal of $14,000,” said Bruce Carmichael, chairman.
Happy Foursome!
The tournament winners were:
1st Place Low Net Score Team: Kirk Fisher, Javier Gomez, Dave Lasota, Piper Lasota
2nd Place Low Net Score Team: Guy Beasley, Justin Calkins, Dave Fisher, Steve McFarland
Low Gross Score Team: Tim Hull, Rich Flanery, Mike Louk, Rene Archambault
Putting Contest Team: Brad Rosenbaum, Donna Grim, Travis Hartman, Ryan Hill.
Prizes were also awarded to golfers who came closest to the pin on four holes, had the most accurate drive or longest putt.
“This tournament has been a highlight for Estes area golfers for 21 years. The support we received from golfers, sponsors and merchants all combine to create a memorable afternoon. Most importantly, the funds we raise for scholarships make college a little more affordable for our local students,” Carmichael said.
The 2017 event sponsors were:
Named Scholarship - The Stanley Hotel
Gold – UC Health, Estes Park Medical Center
Drink Cart - Bank of Colorado
Silver– Eagle Plume’s, Egg & I, Estes Park Team Realty-Jay Harroff, Ron and Vivian Gordon, Lanty McCartney/GreatGolfOnlyBetter.com, Safeway
Bronze – Wayne and Judy Andersen, Bank of Estes Park, Chrysalis at The Stanley, Design Center of Estes Park, Estes Park Dental, Grubsteak, Tim and Wendy Haight, Thor and Darlene Homme, Macdonald Book Shop, Range Property Management, Peter and Stephanie Sinnott, Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ, Chip and Carol Sproul, Larry Williams and Virgil and Carol Yarbrough
Tee/Green – Allnutt Funeral Services, Kathryn Asche, CPA, Aspen Eye Center, Don and Marty Bender, Boyatt Glass, Brian’s Window Washing, Gary and Kelly Brown, CFO4Life, Phil and Rita DuChateau, Jim and Lisa Duell, Envoy Mortgage, Ertl Mechanical, Estes Park Lumber, Scarlet, Taling and Megan Evans, Toby and Chris Farrel, Millie and Charlie Gordon, Kathy and Alan Groesbeck, Image Inhancements, Inc., Investment Center of Estes Park, Tom and Marilyn Maher, Gene Oja, DDS, Quality Inn, Anne Slack, Scott Thompson,Thorp Associates, David and Sally Van Wert, YMCA of the Rockies, and Memorials to Lynn Coffman, Bob Dekker, Harry Hutcherson, Ron Kuhns and Verjean Skeie.
Junior Golf – Madison and Marty Casey, Curt and Trudy Collar, Toby and Chris Farrel, Bill and Dana Fritz, Peak’s Hallmark
In-kind Services- Estes Park News, Estes Park Trail-Gazette, Hobert Office Services
Merchants that donated prize certificates included:
Big Horn Restaurant, Casa Grande, Claire’s on the Park, Dunraven Inn, The Estes Park Golf Course, Estes Park Trail Gazette, EZ Auto Wash, Fajita Rita’s, Grubsteak, Kind Coffee, Lumpy Ridge Brewery, Mama Rose’s, Med-X, Nicky’s, Other Side Restaurant, Poppy’s, Rambo’s, Rock Cut Brewery, Rock Inn, Rocky Mountain Health Club, Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ, State Farm Insurance and Sweet Basilico.
Thank a sponsor and a merchant today!
Rotary helps tell the story
The editor regrets the error in the Green Apples caption in last week's edition. Thanks to "Eagle Eye" Ron Gordon for noting that the lady next to Thor was Marilyn Maher,. The caption should have read: "Present for the July 7 re-dedication of Little Green Apples sculpture with new plaque funded by our club, were several Rotary Club of Estes Park members, friends and library staff."
Rotary Quote of the Week
"As an organization, Rotary has always had a difficult time conveying the scope of our work: not just what we do, but how we do it, and the value of what we contribute to the world...This is why, in this Rotary year, I am asking each club to provide Rotary headquarters with two numbers: the amount of money, both in cash and in kind, spent on humanitarian service; and the number of hours of work performed in Rotary's name."
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