Come and Meet Wynn Walent, Executive Director - Locally Haiti
Wynn Walent
Locally Haiti was founded in 1989 under the name the Colorado Haiti Project. The relationship between the rural community of Petit Trou de Nippes and Locally Haiti, is deeply rooted in shared history, and the conviction that when Haitian leaders have access to resources, they will achieve progress in their communities.
Wynn first traveled to Haiti after the earthquake of 2010 to assist with relief efforts. He intended to stay for two months before returning to the U.S. for graduate school, but the powerful experiences he collected while supporting Haitian relief and development efforts stirred Wynn so deeply that he decided to defer his graduate studies and remain in Haiti. Over the course of the next two and a half years he lived and worked full time in Haiti, developing a deep appreciation for the importance of Haitian leadership and self-determination.
The presentation provides an overview of Locally Haiti's major programs with a focus on their current district grant, an agricultural and community health initiative supporting family farms and agricultural education in Haiti.
Our program on December 5th will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day celebration with family and friends. The next day was the Catch the Glow Parade. We had a great turn out of Rotarians. Lucky Duck, Big Duck and, as Scott has named him, the Grand Duck, Bob Fulton. We passed out hundreds of little ducks with a QR code attached to them for the 2025 Duck Race; hopefully they will stimulate interest in the upcoming Duck Race. As usual, when I am in a parade, I get way behind passing out items to many little hands. When my bag was empty I ran to catch up, all the time wishing I had saved some of those little ducks for the people at the end of the parade route. Next time!
A big thank you to all who participated, and especially Scott and Karen Thompson, and Bob Fulton.
I didn’t make it to the Interact table in Bond Park that was serving hot chocolate and cider, but I was able to speak to Jean Rissmiller and Stacey Winsor afterward. They said the students earned about $500 in donations. They will use that money to support a Bright Christmas family. What a wonderful project for those students and what better way to teach them “Service Above Self”!
Until next week,
Annie
From Milt Garrett - A Rotarian's Story
Milt Garrett presenting
November 30, 2024
To: Annie Slack
From: Milt Garrett,
Subject: Milt’s activities/short Bio
Having joined Rotary in Albuquerque as a Charter Member on the founding date of Rotary International (February 23, 1988), Milt Garrett now enjoys Senior Status. He has had six memberships in five clubs.
Rotary has provided years and years of wonderful rewards, superb experiences, beyond any expectations! Over a span of long months at a time while representing three Rotary Clubs, our club would be one, he gave 22+ years working in Russia as part of their economic recovery. (That was when Russia was our friend.) 95% of his effort was pro bono on behalf of his American clubs with all expenses paid by the U.S. State Department by way of its contactor in San Francisco. Dr. Garrett’s consulting and teaching labors stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean, from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. In each of the 11 time zones, he had clients as well as clients in Crimea and clients in Kyiv, Ukraine. He has had a home in Kaliningrad, an apartment and two offices in Yekaterinburg (Siberia).
Dr. Garrett has been spending his time now , and finances, extricating military age young men out of Russia, extricating some of his Siberian staff (the past president and founding member for the Yekaterinburg Rotary Club), and attempting to extricate people from Ukraine. Almost weekly. he’s in touch with people in Russia assessing their economic conditions, needs, and their view of American politics. (Superb, interesting stories!)
Because of the pandemic, and now the war, he spends time looking after a former Estes Park paraplegic friend for which he provides care in Fort Collins. The one convenient Fort Collins Rotary club, the Noon Club, meets across the street from where he now lives. However, their noon hour meeting is concurrent with the seven-day schedule of therapy for his wheelchair, bound friend. Therefore, the Tall Guy just enjoys his Senior Status in the city in the valley below, living off the rental income of his Estes property, and having fun, deliberately.
Coffee Talk
Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Place: The Inkwell Coffee Shop, 2nd floor
Be there or Be Square!
CHRISTMAS DINNER REMINDER
Please Join Us for
Spirits, Sparkles, Students, and Scholarships
December 10th, 2024 5 pm to 8 pm
Twin Owls Steakhouse
Social Hour - 5 pm: hors d’oeuvres including Cajun Elk Bites and Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops
Dinner - 6 pm: buffet with Prime Rib, Salmon, and Basil Pesto Pasta
Entertainment - 6:45 pm: Simpatica quartet
Dessert - 7:15 pm
Dress Business Casual
Buy a Table: for 4 - $600; for 6 - $900; for 8 - $1200; Individual - $150 will be paired with others
Email to register:kj.rinehart@aol.com
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.
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