Please join us to celebrate 100 years of our club with a presentation by our featured presenter Kurtis Kelly playing Joe Mills.
Other cast members are 1/4 Big Duck Chuck Bonza playing Al Hayden, and Club President Jack Ford playing a new prospective member.
Kurtis Kelly's synopsis:
Joe Mills (1880-1935) was a visionary. And a passionate Rotarian. He joined the new Boulder club in 1919, during his time as the University of Colorado's football coach. In the early 1920s, his Crags Hotel on Prospect Mountain hosted informal Rotary Club meetings for summertime residents and vacationers. In 1921, he championed a BIG idea: Estes Park would make a bid to be site for the 1925 international Rotary Convention--with worldwide attention. As biographer James Pickering describes it, this would be "the most daring and time-consuming civic undertaking of Joe's life." Soon, Estes Park was in the chase, gathering financial pledges, architectural plans, and the support of regional clubs. It could have happened! And yet, the Dream of '25 was truly realized in the Dream of '26: Joe's efforts were the catalyst that brought together the very founders of Estes Park's new club. Time travel to this exciting time with storyteller and re-enactor Kurtis Kelly and the dream of mighty "Joe".
Remembering 9/11 Upcoming Meetings Photographer Volunteer Needed Two New Member Application Bios Coffee Talk Meeting Notes 9-10-26 Meeting Recording 9-10-26 From the Chaplain
Team Leaders Meeting
TEAM LEADERS MEETING
THURSDAY APRIL 23RD @ 1:30 PM QUALITY INN
LAST MINUTE CHECK IN AND COORDINATION
BEFORE RACE DAY
PARKING IN THE BACK; ENTRANCE TO BREAKFAST ROOM
Coffee Talk
Date: Coffee Talk delayed until September 12 due to Labor Day Weekend
Time: 8:30 a.m. Location: Raven's Roast
Be there or be square!
New Member Application
On April 7, 2026 the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Estes Park voted unanimously to forward the application of Wendy Aschenbach, for membership in our club to the general membership for approval. As per our bylaws, this is the second week her bio is published in the Spoke. This is your opportunity to provide feedback to your officers regarding this application. If no comments are received by Thursday, April 23, 2026, Wendy will officially become a member and her induction into the club will be scheduled.
Wendy Aschenbach has lived in Estes Park on at least a part-time basis since 1993. In recent years she has split time between a home and business in Montrose, CO and Estes Park. She now resides in Estes Park on a full-time basis. She founded Smart Business Solutions in 2007 and continues to provide business and consulting services through this company. Prior to that she had a long career working for IBM including development of a timekeeping and payroll management system, developing and implementing an on-line subcontract system as part of a federal contract while working with IBM. Local business connections include retail sales management for the Twisted Pine Fur and Leather company, serving as office manager for the Rocky Mountain Transit Management, and Assistant Manager of the Timberline Medical Clinic.
Wendy is an active person listing favorite activies as hiking, biking ,kayaking, and skiing. She volunteers with the Estes Park Museum, PEO, and community events including the Scottish/Irish Festival, the Rooftop Rodeo, and, most importantly (for us Rotarians) the Great Estes Park Rotary duck Race.
Wendy is being sponsored by Ben van der Werf. In accordance with our bylaws, this notice will be published for two consecutive weeks in the Spoke. Anyone with comments about Wendy and her application should contact Jack Ford, President, or Scott Robbins, Membership Director. If no concerns are raised, Wendy Aschenbach will be approved for membership April 30, 2026 and we will schedule a formal induction at that time.
FYI our club currently has 58 members, Wendy would be our 59th member.
Thank you.
Scott Robbins Membership Director
Community Clean-Up Day on April 25
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, we will hold the annual Spring Community Cleanup event, to clean up the town so it will look beautiful for the May 2 Rotary Duck Race.
Tara and I would welcome 2 or 3 volunteers from our Club, to meet at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot on the east side of the Visitor’s Center. to hand out route assignments and orange trash bags to everyone coming to participate in the trash pickup. We are usually done by 9:30 a.m., more or less.
And/or, if you would like to pick up trash on April 25 (or even a day or two later, at your convenience), please let Beth or Tara know, and we can give you your choice of routes in advance. Each route takes about 1 1/2 hours to cover, and there will be a dumpster at the Marina designated for this project, where you can drop off the bags of trash when you're done.
If you want to participate in any capacity, or if you have any questions, please email Beth at weisberg.family@verizon.net, or else tell Tara or Beth in person.
Thanks!
Meeting Notes for April 16, 2026
President Jack Ford rang the bell at 12:00.
Bill Smith gave the invocation.
Jack led the Pledge of Allegiance.
We sang “Take Me Out to the Duck Race,” accompanied by Madison Casey.
Guests of Rotarians
Annie Slack introduced today's guests:
Gary Zerhan
Max Guinn
Jack announced that the 20th of this month is Jim Austin's birthday, so if we have a chance, we might drop him a line, wish him a happy birthday, and tell him that he is missed.
Happy money
Beth Weisberg is happy that Wendy Aschenbach is here.
Annie is happy that Chuck Scott is here, and glad to hear of his program today.
Dennis Gellhaus is just happy.
Ben Van der Werf is happy Wendy's going be joining our club .
Bill Solms is happy that our good piano player brought the songs and set everything up. Also, honestly happy to see Carl.
Carl Robicheaux is happy that the Duck Race is moving forward. Also, thanks to Chuck for everything he's doing, and thanks to Jay, for sitting next to Bill.
Announcements
Dennis announced the Foundation Board meeting, immediately following this presentation at 1.30 at the Quality Inn. Also, asked to include our Foundation in our duck buying.
Chuck Bonza had a few comments about the Duck Race
Concern about river eddies. Carl and Rick are taking care of the Eddies with pool noodles.
The River Concierge concept: people walking the Riverwalk and parking structure to help and welcome guests. Also, promoting duck adoptions, and pica hunts for the kids.
Everything's going good so far.
Lee Lasson thanked Dave Evans and Scott Robbins, who are participating on the Zoom squad. Lee also made a request for about 3 more folks to volunteer to be trainees.
Program
Guy Van der Werf introduced Chuck Scott, who presented Dick's Rock Shop, about its history, about rocks, and about his family's history.
Chuck Scott speaks about Jack gives a Piece of the Rock
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.
