Please feel free to invite friends and family to the Rotary Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 15 at the American Legion. Lunch is served from 11:30 - 12:00. There will be great food followed by a music program. Your RSVP is needed by Tuesday, December 13 at 5:00pm notifying Karol Rinehart of the number that will be attending.
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
As we take a break for the holidays, I want to thank our entire Rotary Club for all of their hard work and generosity over the past few months. From the Scholarship Dinner, Bright Christmas, Shelterbox, Evics, Bell Ringing to Foundation Giving, as well as what we will continue to do, special thanks!
We will gather on Thursday to be led by singing with Madison and a time to socialize before our break.
Enjoy your time with family and friends as you gather to create memories for a lifetime! So, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, whatever faith tradition you share. Happy Holidays to all! We will see you in the New Year! With faith we all look forward to a peace-filled and prosperous Year.
Thanks for listening.
Dennis
December 8, 2022 Meeting Notes
President Dennis Gellhaus called the meeting to order.
Lee Lasson gave Al Wasson’s prayer.
Dennis led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Madison Casey led the song “Rudolph” for Christmas.
Guests of Rotarians:
Karen Thompson introduced Marilyn Bradley, partner of our speaker today.
Announcements:
Duck Race Committee meets today at 5:00.
Club Board meeting next Tuesday December 13, 5:00, Library Wasson Room.
Rotary Foundation usually meets next Thursday December 15, 1:30, at Quality Inn. Need to confirm.
Bright Christmas and Shelter Boxes:
Jim Austin reported on Bright Christmas
been going for 35 years
This year they served families
This is down about 20 from a few years ago
represents about 6% of our population
Includes 1-3 food boxes for each family, subsidized by Country Market
$8,000 for shoes.
He made his monthly Shelter Box appeal and report.
We are at $990 of our first year’s goal of 1,000 to buy one box so today Jim and Dennis both put in the next $10 to put us over the top!
We did it in about 4 months.
Jim & Dennis
Beth Weisberg gave results for our club’s Bright Christmas.
We asked for a large family and got one of seven.
We received $1,100 from our members
$500 from Club’s project fund to buy the gift cards for clothes.
Several members came to her house for a wrap party and helped her load her car to deliver.
Bill Solms and Mary Ann are going on a long trip now that she is doing better
he thanked Little Duck Scott Robbins for taking over in the meantime.
Phil Moenning reported on our scholarship dinner at Twin Owls last Tuesday.
We began with 69 reservations which was 6 more than last year.
Many had to cancel due to illness, but they were able to recruit more so that we still had about 64.
We do not have results yet but he was overwhelmed with the generosity of guests who made extra donations to our club which totaled $2,650!
Dennis announced birthdays, anniversaries, and join dates.
Annie Slack reported that Jay Harroff had a bad fall and there is a card today for us to sign. They welcome phone calls.
Happy Money:
Beth is happy for our club’s intense activity recently to help the community:
Bright Christmas detailed above
$500 to Blue Santa
$3,700 to EVICS for our second annual sponsorship of bi-lingual kits for kindergarten and some pre-school students. The latter is for both the child and parents and results in reading scores have been significant.
Of that amount,
$2,000 was from our projects fund,
$1,000 from District Governor’s grant
the rest from our club’s members.
Pete Sinnott is happy
Bill Smith could stand in for Karen Thompson as bell captain when she got COVID.
Our Bell Captains were Beth, Karen, Scott.
Jim Austin is happy
we raised the $1,000 for shelter box in only 4 months
for wife, Jean, that Bright Christmas distribution was yesterday and now they turn to clean up after a busy 3 months.
Barry Hannigan is glad we have snow cover this year so no fires.
Chuck Bonza is happy for all the major charitable works Beth has managed for our club – Ukraine funds, Bright Christmas, Blue Santa, EVICS!
Karen Thompson is happy that Bill Smith could jump in to take her place as Salvation Army bell captain when she got COVID.
Virgil Holtgrewe appreciates Karol Rinehart’s generosity.
Jack Overly is delighted that his latest round of COVID is over and he is out of quarantine.
Program:
Karen Thompson introduced her neighbor, Lee Kennicke. Lee has lived here for 21 years after her career in suburban Chicago as a school teacher and athletic director. She has become an excellent nature photographer and presented a beautiful slide show of her photos of her trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Lee Kennicke
Adjournment:
We concluded with the Four Way Test.
Madison Casey, scribe
Say a Prayer for Jay Harroff
Jay Harroff had a nasty accident and is recuperating at home. I spoke to his wife, Jane, and she gave me permission to put a notice in our Spoke. Feel welcome to give them a call.
Annie
Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed
Please consider donating one hour of your time Go to Crossroads home page and see link to sign up
Bright Christmas Success!
Tim Moore, Beth Weisberg, Sharon Moore
This year our club "adopted" a Bright Christmas family with a mom, dad, and five children ages 9 - 17. Individual club members contributed a total of $1,100 that went for items on the family's wish list, including comforters for each family member, dishes for the household, books and toys, and hobbies such as sewing, art, and sports-related items requested by the children. In addition, Club Projects funds paid for a $500 Visa gift card to be used for clothing and snow boots for the family. On December 3, Tim and Sharon Moore, Annie Slack, Chuck and Dale Bonza, Bill and Marianne Solms, and BethWeisberg wrapped all of the presents and had so much fun doing it that nobody remembered to take a photo! So on December 6, when Tim, Sharon, and Beth delivered the packages to Bright Christmas, they made sure to get a picture. Next year we will be sure to get a picture of the wrap party as well.
A huge thank you to all who contributed to this project -- we hope to have made one family's Christmas extra bright this year.
Beth
Bilingual Story Time Project
Jack Boatman, Beth Weisberg, Laurie Marshall, Rut Miller, Karol Rinehart
On Monday, December 5, Jack Boatman, Karol Rinehart, and Beth Weisberg presented EVICS Director Laurie Dale Marshall and EVICS program director Rut Miller with a check for $3,700 to fund the second annual Bilingual Story Time project created by EVICS.
Of that $3,700,
$2,000 came from our Club's Projects funds,
$1,000 from a Rotary Governor's Grant,
$450 from individual Club member contributions,
$250 from our Club's Foundation matching funds
truly a whole-group effort.
This is the second year that our Club has provided the funding for this project, which was so popular with the students' families last year that there were requests from parents of students in other grades to do the same! This year, as they did last year, EVICS will provide a new bilingual (English/Spanish) children's book to every kindergarten student at Estes Park Elementary School, as well as to home school kindergartners and some pre-schoolers in Estes Park, every month from January through May 2023 (five months). Each book focuses on an emotion or feeling, and is accompanied by an activity kit created by EVICS that the children take home to read and do with their parents. In this way, parents and children are having discussions about feelings while learning English/Spanish together. Our club has provided the funds for the materials, EVICS selects the books and creates the kits, Macdonald Book Shop provides the books at cost, EP Elementary School distributes the kits to the students, and the Estes Valley Library carries these kits as well. Recently released data shows that there was an increase in pre-reading levels at EP Elementary last year, which is at least in part attributable to this program.
Blue Santa Donation
Beth Weisberg presenting check to Blue Santa Police Auxillary
On Saturday, November 19, our Club presented the Estes Park Police Auxiliary with a $500 check from our Projects funds, for their Blue Santa program. Blue Santa provides non-perishable food and hygiene products for disabled, shut-in, and elderly community members who need a little extra holiday cheer. Blue Santa donations were down this year as of November, so our contributions made a difference!
Beth
And a Good Time Was Had by All!
Fundraising Dinner, December 6, 2022
Rotarians enjoying each other's company
Thanks to everyone who supported the dinner. Guests of Rotarians were so appreciated for their donations, too. Karol Rinehart decorated the tables beautifully too. A report will be forthcoming.
Tara
Virgil, Wayne, Sharon and Tim Jim and Carol Whiteneck's Table
Bill & Marianne Solm's Table Mel & Gray Rueppel's Table
Madison & Marty's Table Ron & Vivian Gordon's Table
Dennis Gellhaus' Table Phil & Tara Moennings' Table
Anne & Gordon Slack's Table Estes Park Chorale
Please forgive me that I didn't list each individual. I don't know all the names and there is not enough room under the pictures. Do look for Carl Robicheaux in Dennis' picture. The Dinner was a lot of fun with great food and company!
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.
.png)
