Your club is back at Nicky's! You can come to Nicky's for lunch and our meeting, just for the meeting, or you can participate by clicking on the Zoom link to attend remotely. So, the choice of how to attend is yours.
HOWEVER, if you're going to join the group at Nicky's you will need to R.S.V.P. Send Karol and email at kj.rinehart@centurylink.net BEFORE 5 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 12).
Purchase of a meal is not required. Let Karol know if you want lunch ($15), beverage only ($5) or beverage and dessert ($9). Please arrive as close to 11:30 as possible so meals can be served before the meeting begins.
Meeting ID: 798 570 7369. Scott is available to help anyone with Zoom.
Inspiring, sustaining recovery at Harmony
Our speaker this week is Jim Geckler, CEO of Harmony Foundation since July 2017. The mission of Harmony in Estes Park is to provide the foundation for sustained recovery from the diseases of drug and alcohol addiction. To join the meeting on Zoom click on this link before noon: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Jim Geckler
Geckler is a native of Buffalo, NY who has served the recovery community in a professional capacity for almost 20 years. Jim has constantly sought to open the path to treatment for families and individuals. His experience has touched all phases of the continuum of care, from establishing the first LGBT recovery residence in Minneapolis, leading families through the process of intervention as Chief Operating Officer of Addiction Intervention Resources, to multiple leadership roles at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. As Chief Executive Officer at the Harmony Foundation, Colorado's oldest residential treatment program, Geckler has worked to expand access to services for all people seeking recovery and to guide the next phases of Harmony’s development. His greatest honor is in helping people find new ways to manage life.
Work at Harmony brought Jim and his family to Colorado, where they have set down roots in Allenspark. His passion for community engagement led him to a position on the Estes Park Restorative Justice board, supporting alternate opportunities for people to make amends to their community. Jim and his husband Peter are pleased to be apart of the Estes Valley and excited to be new Coloradans.
January 7, 2021 Meeting Notes
President Bill Solms called the first meeting of 2021 to order at noon. It included 21 club members on Zoom. Bill made the following announcements:
Duck Race Committee will meet Thursday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. Use Bill Solm's Zoom link to join.
Duck Race Software Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 5 p.m.. Use Bill Solm's Zoom link to join.
Race walk-through at the Community Center will take place at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11. Contact Big Duck if you want a link to the Zoom airing of this.
Other Announcements
Beth Weisberg has sent an invitation to her Community Service Committee about the next meeting, at 2:30 on Thursday, Jan. 21. Use Scott Thompson’s Zoom link to join.
Jim Whiteneck and Bill Solms thanked everyone who responded to the club survey. There will be a follow-up message today with results.
Bill Solms wished Barb Bibler a happy birthday and then noted that there are no wedding anniversaries in January. He turned the meeting over to Jim Whiteneck, president-elect. Jim Whiteneck announced the Duty Roster. Rita DuChateau gave an invocation on peace and healing. Bill Solms led the Pledge of Allegiance. Scott Thompson introduced a guest, our speaker Brian Schaffer. Bill Solms introduced his guest, First Lady Marianne. Scott regaled us with a joke about a wealthy Oklahoman with a shark in his pool.
Happy Money
Milt Garrett sent cash for his Dec. 10 and 17 happy news. Thanks for following through!
Wayne Newsom was happy that he and Pat received their first COVID vaccine on Monday.
Anne Slack was happy to have received her first Moderna COVID vaccine at Salud. Anyone over 70 can sign up. You do not have to be a Salad patient. At present, no additional appointments are being scheduled. Watch Salud's website for updates:
Bill introduced us to his puppy, a male Aussiedoodle.
Program Rick Taylor introduced Brian Schaffer, executive director of Crossroads Ministry. Some interesting facts from Brian’s program:
Crossroads started in the basement of St. Bart’s Episcopal Church in 1982. It has since occupied office space on Elkhorn Avenue and Dry Gulch Road. A new facility will open in this summer.
Crossroads provides rent, utility and food assistance, as well as help with medical and prescription bills. The goal is to ensure that no one is ever alone in their need.
Donors and grants from near and far provide funds that support Crossroads.
Between last March and July, 140-160 families were served every week, up from 80-90 prior to COVID.
As of mid-December, 140 new households had come to Crossroads for first-time assistance.
Between April and June, Crossroads gave out $220,000 in emergency assistance, $130,000 of which was for rent help.
During 2020, 170,000 lbs. of food was distributed through the Crossroads food pantry and $250,000 in rent assistance helped those in crisis.
Anyone wishing to contribute food items that are not easily purchased by Crossroads from the Larimer County Food Bank at reduced cost can find a list of needed items on the Crossroads website.
Crossroads believes in lovingly serving Estes Valley neighbors with help for today and hope for tomorrow, supporting them with wise counsel, encouragement and mentoring relationships.
Brian answered questions and aided the Community Service Committee in a decision about a grant to pay for free meals for community members. Bill presented Brian with a Piece of the Rock to thank him for his program.
Adjournment At 12:57, President Bill adjourned the meeting with the Four-Way Test, after announcing a return to Nicky’s for the Jan. 14 meeting. Zoom broadcasts will continue for those who wish to attend remotely.
Rita DuChateau, scribe
Presidential Puppy makes his debut
Bill and Marianne Solms recently became owners of a male Aussiedoodle puppy. He is 8 weeks old and misses him Mom, so he is keeping the Solms' household up at night. Bill and Marianne introduced Teddy Bear to the club at the Jan. 7 meeting.
Member Spotlight: Anne Slack
Each week our Spoke is profiling a member of our Club in order to get to know them better and stay connected through these socially distant times.
Anne Slack
I was born and raised in Norwich Connecticut. I am a first generation American. Mother was German and Dad was Canadian. They always said they settled in New England and had three Yankee children and two scottish terriers! I left to go to college in St. Petersburg, Florida where I met my husband, Gordon Slack. We married after my graduation, while Gordon was in the Army. We lived in Washington, DC initially. We had our first child there, a daughter. She cost $14.95 cents to deliver at Bethesda Naval hospital.
Once Gordon finished his service, he went back to school. So, our next location was Iowa while he got a degree in computer science. We also added a son to our family.
After graduation from Iowa State University, Gordon was hired by Texas Instruments, so off to Austin, Texas for us. We left Texas and moved to a job in Minnesota and then in Iowa. From there we went back to Texas Instruments, only this time we went to Dallas so we could stay put while the children were in school. We lived in Richardson for 17 years, the longest we had lived anywhere during our marriage until we moved here.
Our children were growing up, and I wanted another meaningful activity in my life. I began studying to become a physical therapist. I was accepted at Texas Tech University and graduated with a master’s degree in 1997. I worked in a local hospital in Amarillo for 5 years and loved my work. Gordon ended up coming through Estes and called me and said, “I think I have found home.”
We arrived in 2001. I had a job at the hospital but they did not have full time work. I ended up opening Mountaintop Physical Therapy, PC. I had many wonderful experiences, served many wonderful patients and had a thriving practice with as many as five employees.
At the same time I had a patient whose wife gave $200,000 to start a nonprofit therapy pool. And that is how Healing Waters came into existence. I established that as well as being an owner, administrator and clinician at Mountaintop. As reimbursements decreased and paperwork increased I said to my husband one day that I thought I would retire.
It has now been three years. I can hardly believe how time has passed. It involved a lot of shredding, giving away and selling of clinic equipment. But we completed it in August of 2020.
Now I spend my time still sorting, shredding and giving away, but it is all the accumulated stuff that made its way to our home from the clinic. I read. I love history. I run (slower and slower). And now I hike with friends. We made it to the top of Flat Top this past fall just before the weather got bad.
I work with local politics and with the Rotary. Since Gordon and I came to Estes later in life, we joined Rotary to connect with the town. I run in the morning, so the Sunrise Rotary Club did not work for me, but for Gordon it was perfect. I joined the Noon Club and it has been a wonderful association. We went to the Rotary Convention meeting in Atlanta in 2017. I really cherish my connection with all of Rotary and with what it does for the community as well as the world.
Gordon and I will celebrate 53 years of marriage this coming June. I hope we have many more years together and that he will be able to join me hiking soon.
Posted by Rita DuChateau
Grants thank area firefighters
Six area fire departments have been named recipients of grants totaling $4,500 from our club. This round of grants was made possible by the 2020 Friendship Card, which provides discounts at area businesses. Karen Thompson and Peter Sinnott recently delivered the checks.
The fire departments selected for the grants were all active in fighting the two recent wildfires. Each department will receive $750. They include:
Allenspark Fire Protection District
Big Elk Meadows Fire Protection District
Estes Valley Fire Protection District
Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department
Loveland Fire Rescue Authority – Canyon Battalion
Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District
“The fire service grants recognize our local firefighters for their tireless work in protecting our community and Rocky Mountain National Park during The East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires, the two largest wildfires in Colorado history,” said Karen Thompson.
The Friendship Card is a fundraising project of our club. Net proceeds are used for community grants, scholarships, and other Rotary projects. No funds are used for club expenses. The Friendship Card made its debut in 2019. In 2020, even with COVID challenges, the card netted over $5,000, all of which will be returned to the community. The 2021 Friendship Card is now available for $10 at several Estes Park locations, including: Cabintique, Country Market, Macdonald Book Shop, Mad Moose, Nicky’s Steak and Seafood House, Quality Inn, Safeway Guest Services, Rocky Mountain Gateway, Wynbrier Home and Wynbrier Ltd. The card unlocks discounts at more than 70 local merchants.
Allenspark Fire Protection District Chief Leo Touzjian (left) and Division Chief Mike Cousineau (center) receive the grant check from Karen Thompson.
Big Elk Meadows Chief Collin Isenhart accepts the grant from Karen Thompson.
Estes Valley Fire Protection District Chief David Wolf with Peter Sinnott.
Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Zagorda accepts a check from Peter Sinnott.
Loveland Fire Rescue Authority – Canyon Battalion Engineer Alex Chapin (left) and Firefighter Jacob Cravey (right) receive a check from Peter Sinnott.
Pinewood Springs Fire Protection District Chief Ted Plank accepts a grant check from Karen Thompson.
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!
Posted by Rita DuChateau
Duck Race seeks partners
What 2021 needs is a Duck Race, a sure sign that things are returning to normal in Estes Park. And the Rotary Club of Estes Park is ready and excited to deliver just that on Saturday, May 1, but before the ducks can swim they need participating organizations to paddle for.
So, a loud quack has gone out to all Estes Valley nonprofit charities or organizations that would like to share the proceeds of the 2021 Rotary Duck Race Festival. Now’s the time to step up, ask your members if they will sell Duck Adoptions, and submit paperwork for consideration by the Rotary Duck Race Festival organizations committee.
Letters have been sent to many potential participating organizations, according to Larry Williams, Rotary Duck Race Festival organizations committee chairman. Groups that have not received letters are encouraged to submit an application for consideration. Friday, Jan. 15 is the deadline for organizations to respond.
“We encourage nonprofit charities and organizations to complete the application soon, so we can announce our flock of participating organizations and they can begin sales,” Williams said. “The Rotary Duck Race Festival Committee will decide in March whether it will be a live or virtual event, but we promise it will be fun for all.”
Once nonprofit charities and organizations have been selected as participating organizations, they can launch their Duck Adoption sales campaigns. Sales will be conducted through the Rotary Duck Race Festival website and Facebook page. No paper adoptions are planned for the 2021 Duck Race due to current COVID-19 safety measures that are in place to safeguard community health. The Rotary Duck Race Festival committee encourages participating organizations to use their websites, social media and email to extend their sales reach beyond the local community. In 2020, 67 participating organizations sold 5,721 Duck Adoptions for an event that pivoted from in-person to virtual, from May to October due to the ongoing pandemic. The organizations received $96,577 from the race. Beneficiaries receive $19 from every duck adopted.
“We hope to hear from new organizations as well as those that have been helped by the race in the past 32 years,” said Williams. “The Duck Race Festival is a great community event, and being part of it can be fun and profitable for our participating organizations. Working together, we can make 2021 a record year for our non-profit charities and organizations!”
For additional information or to receive an application form, contact Williams, by email at lwilli5442@yahoo.com, U.S. Mail at P.O. Box 1226, Estes Park, CO 80517, or phone at (970) 586-3295.
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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