You Don't Want to Miss Mel Rueppel's Presentation on
South Atlantic and Antarctic Oceans
Mel Rueppel in Antarctica
Mel Rueppel will share with you some of his four-week long 2022 journey to the South Atlantic and Antarctic Oceans. It is an opportunity to experience a long ocean voyage without getting seasick! In his presentation you will visit the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia. You will see a wonderland of ice, water, and land that is filled with seals, penguins, whales, and birds. You will see some of the impacts of mankind and the remnants of the age of industrial whaling and seal hunting. He will give you a view of boating in the time of Covid. You will be able to “walk” in the footsteps of Shackleton, Crean, and Worsley as they crossed South Georgia in order to rescue their fellow marooned explorers.
Mel is a retired researcher, manager, director, and consultant in agrichemicals, pharmaceuticals, product development, and patents. He is an avid traveler, hiker, backpacker, reader, gardener, and woodworker. He has served on the boards of the Salud Foundation, the Library Foundation, and his homeowners association. He and his wife Gray have now lived in Estes Park for more than 19 years.
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted. Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/ 7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon Place: American Legion Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00 Cost: $20 Parking: American Legion and the church only
Update by President Dennis Gellhaus
I’m sure many of you know one of my favorite short poems Outwitted written by Edwin Markham. "He drew a circle that kept me out. Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win, we drew a circle that took him in.”
Love wins! That’s what I enjoy about Rotary. Service above self! Working with wonderful members that make a difference through our love of community, the world, and each other.
Thanks for choosing Rotary. Our unity of purpose shows!
Thanks for listening.
Dennis
Meeting Notes for April 13, 2023
President Dennis Gellhaus called the meeting to order.
Madison Casey gave the Invocation.
Dennis led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements:
Carl Robicheaux announced that the Golf Tournament is on hiatus this year but the fundraising for scholarships continues with the focus on the new event that came to us – The John Denver tribute concert. Expect to see him weekly asking for money to sponsor this, and to ask that we transfer our golf sponsorships to supporting this event.
Annie Slack reminded us the District Conference will be here June 8-10. Having been to an international conference she can recommend the district conference as inspiring and motivating – and an opportunity to meet Rotarians from our 4-state district. You can sign up for parts of the weekend as well as the whole thing. See The Spoke for details.
Annie reported that our last 5th Thursday activity at the Observatory was cancelled with the town power outage. She polled us today and settled on a reschedule for next Thursday night at 7:30 at the Observatory. No food or refreshments served.
Tara Moenning announced the annual town cleanup will be the usual day, Saturday April 29 at 9:00 meet at Visitors’ Center. A route takes 1.0 - 1.5 hours. Come then to get a route and bags or see Tara now to get a route and bags in advance and go direct to cleanup on your own schedule. A new task is raking Performance Park as this year as there will be music there all day for the Duck Race.
Jim Austin announced for Ben Van der Werf that the river cleanup is also next Saturday April 29, to clear obstacles for the duck race. If you can get a little wet, we need the help. Waders are available to borrow at Kirk’s Fly Shop.
Duck Race Committee next, and last, meeting is next Thursday April 20, Scott Robins, said.
The library is closed that day so we hope to meet at the Ridgeline.
We are good on volunteers and we still need merchant prizes.
Rotary Foundation meets next Thursday March 20 at 1:30 at Quality Inn.
Personal anniversaries of note:
Thompsons wedding April 16 – 40 years!
Greg Jurgens member for 12 years.
Carl Robicheaux member for 4 years.
Guests:
Anna Weddle is visiting us today, introduced for Doug Mann by Chuck Bonza and Virgil Holtgrewe. She is living and working here now from Manhattan, KS, and is also a talented musician.
Madison Casey introduced his wife, Marty.
Scott told his joke.
Happy Money:
Karen Thompson is happy she got two emcees today for duck race locations.
Tom Moore is happy to have help on merchant prizes for the duck race.
Bill Solms is happy to have Scott Robins as his Little Duck who has taken on so much.
Jim Austin is also happy for Scott Robins.
Gregg Jurgens reminded us to adopt a duck for our own Rotary Foundation for community grants.
Program:
Gregg Jurgens introduced the program- Representing Estes Park Health were David Batey, board chairman, and Vern Carda, CEO. They told us about the proposal to vote on allowing them to pursue an affiliation with a larger medical provider.
Vern Carda & David Batey
Adjournment:
We closed with the Four Way Test.
Madison Casey, scribe
Make-Up At Estes Park Memorial Observatory
Thursday Night, April 20 at 7:30 PM
Milky Way
If you missed the Social at the Observatory here is your opportunity to participate. Due to the power outage our visit has been rescheduled to this Thursday night, starting at 7:30 PM. Mike will be showing us the telescope. We are going now because the days are getting longer and a full moon is coming. We want to have as much darkness as possible so you are able to see more stars. Please join us. If you have any questions, call me at 970-231-6697 or email me at anneslack@aol.com.
Youth in Action/Give Next Awards Ceremony
April 26, 2023
Estes Park High School
In February our Club donated $1,000 to EP High School's Youth in Action Give Next program, to match funds the students raised themselves by a Bingo Night held at the High School. The Youth in Action Give Next program students use that money to award grants to local charities and nonprofits screened and selected by the students themselves, teaching them the rewards of philanthropy. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at EP High School, Youth in Action will hold its Grant Awards ceremony announcing which organizations will receive those grants and the amount for each award, with students and recipient organizations describing how this has impacted or will impact their work. All interested members of our Club are invited to attend this Awards ceremony. For further information, please ask Beth Weisberg either in person or at weisberg.family@verizon.net 6958602
Volunteers Needed for
Community Clean Up Day
April 29, 2023
Are you discouraged when you see trash along Estes Park’s roadsides and trails? If so, we have a plan to return these sites to their natural beauty, and we need your help. On Saturday, April 29, 2023, we will hold the annual spring cleanup event and send all of this trash to the Larimer County Landfill. We will meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot on the east side of the Visitor’s Center for route assignments and orange bags. Each route is designed to require about 1 ½ hours to clean up. We recommend that you wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, sturdy footwear, work gloves, and bring sun protection, hand sanitizer and tick spray. Bring a friend and it will go twice as fast! Quickly you should see orange bags popping up all over Town. After noon the Town workers will pick them all up and deliver them to the Marina, where Rocky Mountain Dumpsters will take care of the rest. We are thankful to the Town, the Rotary Club of Estes Park, Rocky Mountain Dumpsters, and the EVRPD for their assistance.Several groups have already signed up, but we still need more volunteers! There is no need to sign up in advance -- just show up on Saturday morning. In case of inclement weather, please come and pick up a route and orange bag and do your pick-up at your earliest convenience.We thank you for your participation in this valuable community event. For additional information, please contact Tara Moenning attara@aspenbrookinvestments.com and/or Beth Weisberg at weisberg.family@verizon.net
District Conference June 8 - 10, 2023
Right here in our back yard
Fellow Rotarians, I cannot emphasize enough the wonderful opportunity you have available to you by having this District Conference here in Estes Park. It was only when I went to a Rotary International Conference in Atlanta, GA that the importance of Rotary was impressed on me. It was there that I saw 70,000 Rotarians from around the world come together and share their projects and fellowship. District Conference is not as big. It includes Rotarians from just four states but you will still get a feel for what Rotary means. It is so much more than meeting on Thursdays to dine together and listen to inspiring speakers. It is about the donations we give around town. But you will hear about other projects from other Rotary clubs, very worthwhile projects, that will make you proud to be a Rotarian and inspire you to participate in this world-wide organization. And it can be so much fun. I really hope you will take advantage of this occasion.
Go to this link to register: https://rotary5440.org/page/rotary-district-5440-conference
The District Conference will be held at:
The Ridgeline Hotel in Estes Park
Location: 101 S. Saint Vrain Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
Full conference registration includes Thursday ice cream social & museum tour, all meals, breakout sessions & speakers on both Friday & Saturday.
Rates are as follows:
$235 regular: March 16th-April 30th
$250 late: May 1st-May 31st
Ala carte registration options are available as follows (only sign up for these if you can't attend entire conference-pick the ones that work best for you):
A 10% cancellation fee will be charged until May 31st to cover credit card transaction expenses.
After May 31st there are no refunds as meal headcounts will be given to the hotel on June 1st.
District Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
Rotary District Conference – Bringing together hundreds of Rotarians from 53 clubs in Wyoming, Northern Colorado, Nebraska, and Idaho for 3 days of inspiration in the Rocky Mountains! Thursday through Saturday, June 8-11 in Estes Park.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Platinum Sponsor - $3000 – Sponsor of the Main Saturday Happy Hour, Dinner and Program
Gold Sponsors (2) - $1500 – Saturday Lunch Sponsor or Friday Dinner (first come first choice)
Silver Sponsors (3) - $1000 – Saturday Breakfast, Friday Breakfast, or Friday Lunch (first come first choice)
Bronze Sponsors (2) - $500 – Ice Cream Social or World Café (first come first choice)
Rotary's Post Office Boxes
The Club and Foundation share P.O. Box 1365
The Duck Race has it's own P.O. Box 1226
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.
Host Families Needed for Our Exchange Student
Jim Jonell is seeking host families for foreign exchange students arriving this fall. They do not have to be Rotarians.
Contact him at: 303 522-0515 or drjimjonell@aol.com
Find Your Rotary Member Number
Do you know your member number? I will be inserting one member's number in the Spoke somewhere each week. If you find your number and let me know, I will add a dollar to the Happy Money jar. Have fun reading the Spoke!
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