2021-22 Annual Membership Dues invoices were delivered via email on Friday, May 28. This change saves on postage and avoids postal delivery delays. Check your email for your Annual Dues Statement and Committee Sign-Up Form. Please return both BEFORE June 28.
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:
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.
Update from President Bill Solms
It is that time of the year when I start to wrap up my term and hand off the leadership to Jim Whiteneck whom I have found to be a very energetic and effective leader.
Also, you all will receive an invoice for next year's membership with no increase in the dues amount; I hope all of you will take stock in realizing your potential service to Estes Valley, our region, our country, and other parts of the world through Rotary by renewing for '21-'22. Tell us your Rotary story, no matter how many times you think we have heard it, and invite someone you have met to our meeting this next Thursday. I have a guest lined up; I will send them a reminder on Wednesday.... you can hold me accountable at our meeting. I pay Happy Dollars no matter the outcome!!
President's Night which is set for June 17th at the Dunraven promises to be a fun, well-organized, in-person celebration; confirmations with Karol are required by June 4th. I hope to see all of you there,
In all the things we think, say, or do....
Prez Bill
In Memoriam
Randy Skeie
Bill Smith has shared that Randy Skeie died May 26 in Loveland. Randy was born on July 11, 1928. He joined our Rotary club July 9, 1998 with the classification of Importer/Manufacturing. His sponsor was Caliste Cenac. Randy served faithfully as Sergeant At Arms for many years and maintained a 100% attendance record. He resigned from the Club in 2018 for health reasons. Randy was also a very dedicated Salvation Army volunteer, coordinating the annual “kettle drives” for many years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Verjean in 2017. His survivors include 4 children. Services are pending.
Randy
Posted by Dana Fritz
May 27, 2021 Meeting Notes
President Bill rang the bell at noon and opened the meeting. Dale Bonza gave the invocation and President Bill led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Announcements
Bill Smith announced the death of Rotarian Randy Skeie. Many members shared fond memories of Randy. More information to follow.
Rotarian Jack Overly is at PVH with pneumonia...no phone calls or visitors are allowed for now.
President Bill thanked Annie Slack for helping present our Rotary scholarships to Estes Park seniors.
The Rotary Board meeting will be Tuesday, June 1 at 5 p.m. in the Hondius Room, Estes Valley Public Library. A Zoom option also will be available.
Our Rotary Club was given fun awards by the District Governor: surviving the evacuation, surviving COVID and creatively holding the very successful Duck Race.
Hopefully, our scholarship winners will attend next week’s meeting via Zoom.
The Estes Park Marathon will be held 6/20....they are still looking for volunteers.
Birthdays and anniversaries were recognized.
Committee Reports
Karol asked for all reservations for Presidents Night to be in by 6/4.
Past Secretary Rita will no longer be editing the Spoke and is asking for someone to take it over. She and her husband will be moving from Estes.
Community Service committee will be meeting today at 2 p.m. via Zoom.
International Committee will give the program next week featuring Michelle Mann.
Ron announced the committee is working on a joint grant with International for a playground in Albania.
The Membership meeting is 5/28 at Bill Smith's.
Happy Money was given by Wayne, Milt, and Madison. There was no joke of the day.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned with the 4-Way Test.
Dana Fritz, scribe
Posted by Rita DuChateau
A note from your editor:
Writers, step forward, please
As you may have heard, Phil and I have decided to relocate after nine wonderful years in Colorado. We look forward to the next chapter of our retirement as we move back to the Midwest to be closer to our four children, their partners and our three grandchildren. Our home will most likely be listed this week with Scott Thompson and it may sell quickly or it may linger. I will remain an active club member until the moving truck pulls up. It could be two months; it could be a year...
That being said, the club is going to need someone to do what I've done for the past eight years, and I am seeking volunteers to take on some of the publicity work. Here are the main components:
The Spoke will need a new editor or editors. Anne Slack has been trained and will take it on, but she has a pretty full plate and would appreciate a co-editor or co-editors. I would love to train someone else who would share the role with Anne. It's really not fun to put The Spoke together when you are on vacation, so two or three editors would be so much better than one! Dale Bonza has offered to be trained, so it would be great to have a third person ready to edit the newsletter.
The Duck Race has found a new publicity person, Leslie Botha of Loveland, formerly of EP. She will handle social media, but may need some help with writing the articles.
General Publicity for the club: grants, awards, programs, membership, Golf Tournament, Friendship Card - whatever the board requests.
Club Website- updating, probably best done in conjunction with The Spoke.
Club Facebook Page - updating it with articles on our programs, club news, interesting items from R.I., photos of community service projects, etc.
I have turned over most of what I have written to Lee Lasson for archiving. All the Duck Race articles will be warehoused on the DR website so anyone with proper access can see them. The general press releases have been copied to a hard drive and the board will decide what to do with them. My photos have also been shared.
Please contact me if you are interested in helping the club with publicity. raduchateau@gmail.com
You've got this!
Rita DuChateau
Come and celebrate your club!
Presidents' Night at The Dunraven on June 17
Presidents’ Night - Changing of the Guard
This Presidents’ Night is a time to finally reunite with friends and celebrate the freedom to be together once again. We will honor our fellow Rotarians by the annual awarding of the Spirit, Rotarian of the Year, Distinguished Service, and Living Legacy Awards, and highlight the evening with the Passing of the Gavel.
Presidents’ Night in the Ballroom at Dunraven
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Social Time 5:30 – 6:00 (Cash Bar)
Dinner 6:00 – 6:45
Program 6:45 – 7:30
Dunraven Buffet
Choice of one entrée per guest (Preordered)
Chicken Parmesan or Fresh Salmon
__________________________
Bread and Butter
House salad (choice of creamy garlic or Italian dressing)
Ratatouille (vegan & vegetarian)
Mini panna cottas for dessert
Coffee, tea, or fountain sodas
$35 per person (tax and gratuity included)
RSVP Required by Friday, June 4, 2021
Please state the number attending and entrée selection for each(Chicken Parmesan or Salmon)
RSVP to Karol at kj.rinehart@centurylink.net
If plans change and you are unable to attend please notify Karol.
Estes Park Resort/ Dunraven: 1700 Colorado Peaks Drive, (off Hwy. 34) Estes Park
Posted by Rita DuChateau
Local clubs earn district awards
At the Annual Rotary International District 5440 Conference, held virtually on May 21 and 22, District Governor Chris Woodruff presented two awards to the Estes Park Rotary clubs.
Honoring this year’s Rotary International theme, “Opening Up Opportunities,” Woodruff recognized The Rotary Club of Estes Park (Noon Rotary) for creatively sponsoring its annual Duck Race in 2020 and 2021, overcoming the many challenges posed by putting on a major fundraiser during a global pandemic. He noted that the 2021 event raised nearly $119,000 for Estes Valley charities. He praised the club’s creativity in planning a virtual Duck Race in the fall of 2020 (which raised $96,577) and a live-streamed race at the Estes Valley Community Center pool in 2021.
“It all worked out really well,” Woodruff said. “The club came up with something completely new and different and made the event successful.”
Woodruff also presented an Overcoming Adversity Award to The Estes Valley Sunrise Club, The Rotary Club of Estes Park and the Longs Peak Rotary Club for leadership during the historic wildfires and evacuation of the town of Estes Park in October. Karen Nicholson is president of the Sunrise club, Bill Solms is president of the Rotary Club of Estes Park, and Janet Zeschin is president of the Longs Peak club.
“It’s been a tough year for us all, but our clubs have, every day in a quiet way, kept the Rotary spirit alive. These clubs have had a little more on their plates than the rest of us,” he said.
Woodruff praised the clubs for overcoming a double dose of adversity in the past year. First, they dealt with the pandemic, which affected the health of the residents as well as the tourist-based economy of Estes Park. Then, Estes Park found itself in the path of the two largest wildfires in state history. The fires threatened the town’s destruction and forced residents to evacuate “under very black skies of ash.” Woodruff noted that he stayed in contact with presidents Nicholson, Solms and Zeschin as they headed out of town to shelters in late October.
“I am so incredibly proud of these three clubs. The presidents kept in close touch with each other and then came back and got busy with Rotary work. Congratulations on showing us the way to overcome adversity!”
Rotary District 5440 encompasses 54 clubs in Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Western Nebraska and Idaho.
Club awards scholarships to 11 seniors
Bill Solms, Doug Mann and Anne Slack recently presented scholarships to 11 students at the annual awards assembly at Estes Park High School. In all, 24 seniors received over $115,000 in 74 scholarships that evening from generous funding organizations. The Rotary Club of Estes Park, as always, led the pack with a total of $42,500 in awards, which was 37 percent of the total given to the students.
Your club's scholarships are a combination of funds raised by the Foundation for scholarships and memorial scholarships. They include:
Rotary Club of Estes Park, Roger M. Thorp Memorial Scholarship: One 4 year scholarship of $1000/yr. (Total of $4000 over 4 years) for a student interested in architecture or interior design. Renewal for the 4 years is based on the student remaining in good academic and disciplinary standing. (Rachel Calvin, Fort Hays State University)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, Carver Family Vocational Scholarship: One 2-year scholarship of $1,000/yr. (total of $2,000 over 2 years) for a student attending a vocational school, community college, or a 2-year technical program. Renewal for a second year is based on the student remaining in good academic and disciplinary standing. The basis of this award is academic achievement and academic promise. (Alexander Henderson, Front Range Community College)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, Lynn Coffman Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,500 for one year will be given to a student graduating from Estes Park High School who is planning to major in Business or related disciplines. (Ruth Walker,York College)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, The Ron L. Kuhns Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,500 for one year will be awarded to a student who possesses a passion and an aptitude for a unique field of study and is not receiving another Rotary scholarship. (Lucas Pearson,Belmont in Nashville)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, The Bob Brunson and Roger Thorp Memorial Scholarship: One $4,000 scholarship at $2000/year for two years to be awarded to one student who is pursuing a vocational or non-traditional field of study. Consideration will be given to the student’s community service. Renewal for a second year is based on the student remaining in good academic and disciplinary standing. (Cole Murray,University of Wyoming)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, Lee and Alice Hagemeister Memorial Scholarships: Up to two scholarships of $1,500 per student will be awarded for one year to general scholarship; consider Eagle/Gold Scout, teacher with history major, education. (Bradon Moore,Nebraska Wesleyan University; Ethan Hill, Colorado Northwestern Community College)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, The Stanley Hotel Scholarship: One scholarship of $2,500 for one year will be awarded to 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. (Jana Coop,Colorado Mesa University)
Rotary Club of Estes Park, Academic Scholarships: We are offering three scholarships of 4 years duration with a yearly stipend of $2,000 ($8,000 over 4 years). These scholarships are offered on the basis of academic achievement and promise, activities, and citizenship. Renewal for the 4 years is based on the holder making normal academic progress and remaining in good academic and disciplinary standing. (Meila Igel, Colorado School of Mines; Isabella Fanucchi, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; Ellie Bergsten, Concordia College, Moorehead, MN)
"I would like to thank Tara Moenning who has guided me through the last two years learning how to perform the many tasks involved with scholarships," said Anne Slack, Scholarship Committee Chairperson. "I would also like to recognize Scott Loeffler, Estes Park High School Counselor, for all his patience with my many emails. 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. And, last but not least, Doug Mann and Bill Solms for their amazing job presenting the awards."
Volunteer for the marathon!
Carl Robicheaux is recruiting volunteers to help with the Sunday, June 20 Estes Park Marathon. Plan to spend part of your Father's Day helping with this community event.
Contact for volunteering to help for the EP Marathon is: epmarathonvolunteer@yahoo.com.
Questions? Contact Carl Robicheaux.
Your help needed at Estes Recycles Day
Tara Moenning invites all club members to volunteer at Estes Recycles Day: a community recycling activity.
- Noon
The event will be held this year at the Event Center Parking lots.
We will be providing the shredathon and cardboard recycling stations, as well as traffic control.
All events will be offered this year: paint recycle, scrap metal, electronics, and shredding.
Mark your calendars! The money raised at this event goes to scholarships
Is Zoom a challenge?
Anne Slack has the answers!
For anyone new to the workings of Zoom, it can be a confusing experience. Our Membership Chair Anne Slack took on the challenge of creating a step-by-step tutorial on navigating Zoom.
The document is posted on our club website's home page, under Home Page Download Files (left hand side of the page) for your future reference. Click on this link to be taken to our club's home page to read all about the world of Zoom, and think about printing it out for a friend. https://portal.clubrunner.ca/5241
Thanks, Anne for your efforts to keep all of our members engaged until we can meet again!
Give to our Foundation while you shop!
Do you find that you are placing Amazon orders more frequently these days? Don't forget to help your Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation with every order. As a recipient of funds in the smile.amazon.com, our foundation will receive a portion of the sale. All you need to do its sign up to get the funds flowing. And SHOP!
Choose the charitable organization by typing in Estes Park Rotary Foundation. Our club and the Longs Peak club will come up in the search. Click on Estes Park Rotary Foundation.
Create a bookmark so every time you shop Amazon, you will participating in the smile.amazon.com program.
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