It's time to make your reservations for our Thursday, May 16 meeting at The Ridgeline Hotel.
If you plan to be there on Thursday, May 16, please contact Club Administrator Karol Rinehart by 10a.m. Friday, May 10 to let her know the following:
You plan to attend and have lunch.
You plan to attend and have beverage service only.
You will be bringing a guest(s).
kj.rinehart@centurylink.net
Thursday's program:
Duck Race celebration, sponsor recognition
The Rotary Club of Estes Park will host a Duck Race Celebration Luncheon/Thank You Reception for sponsors of the Rotary Duck Race Festival on Thursday, May 9, 2019 during the regular club meeting at The Ridgeline Hotel in the Trail Ridge Room. Duck Race Sponsors have been invited to attend to enjoy a complimentary lunch provided by The Ridgeline Hotel. 'Big Duck' Kathy Groesbeck will introduce each sponsor and award them their souvenir 2019 Sponsor Duck painted especially for them by students at Eagle Rock and Estes Park High School. Kathy also will offer some special highlights of this year's successful 31st annual Rotary Duck Race Festival. Club member Harriette Woodard chairs this event and has planned a delightful luncheon to honor our Duck Race sponsors. We deeply appreciate their generosity and look forward to thanking them in person at the luncheon!
Come and celebrate our Duck Race and its generous sponsors
Powered by volunteers-
Duck Race Festival '19 soars!
The facts alone can't tell the full story of the 2019 Estes Park Duck Race Festival. But, first the facts:
Number of duck adoptions: 6,773
Time from start to finish line for Duck #1: 1 hour, 41 minutes
Top prize winners:
Christina Ciancio-Schor -$5,000 Grand Prize
Jacquelyn Hertel - Pine Lodge at Glacier National Park plus $1,000 for travel
Mike Gay - Old Faithful Cabin at Yellowstone National Park plus $1,000 for travel
Joanie Crockett - Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite National Park plus $1,000 for travel
Prizes donated by merchants: 274
Without the support of volunteers and sponsors, the Duck Race could not deliver 95% of every Adoption to the Participating Organizations . So many give so much on Race Day and in the month leading up to it. Here are just a few pictures of Saturday's volunteers. Click here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/zLULDhvcjaee1GN27 for a photo gallery of the 2019 Estes Park Rotary Duck Race Festival.
May 2 Meeting Highlights
In the absence of President Dave Evans and President-Elect Doug Mann, "2020-21 President-in-Waiting" Bill Solms presided over the meeting with humor and efficiency- and a broken bell. Yes, the Scribe just made up that title. Bill welcomed Honorary Rotarians Tom Anderson and Don Widrig, along with guest Jennifer Comstock, who has applied for membership. He thanked Matt Comstock for greeting us so well. Bill Smith provided an Invocation in remembrance of Roger Thorp and gave details on his memorial services on May 17. Bill led the Pledge. Jack Overly provided lyrics and leadership in singing “Take Me Out to the Duck Race” and credited the lyrics to Jim Cope, former club member. Bruce Brown handled introductions: Dallas Powell, guest of Karen Thompson; and Jennifer Comstock, guest of Matt Comstock. Dallas noted that Roger had designed his home.
Announcements
Bill recognized three members’ birthdays: Matt Comstock (5/2), Marsha Yelick (5/1) and Tara Moenning (5/3). We serenaded them.
Karen Thompson told a joke about ears and udders.
Kathy Groesbeck announced that all is in readiness for the 31st annual Duck Race. She urged everyone to adopt a duck next door at Duck Central, where we could also see the Sponsor Ducks on display. Breakfast at Nick’s will begin on Race Day at 7:30. Sheriff Gene Oja needs help. Tom Maher will be at the race as official Duck Dropper. It will be his 30th race. Kathy said she was glad her interview in yesterday's Trail-Gazette turned out well. She thanked everyone for their help.
Happy Money
Dale Hatcher was happy to be at our club meeting
Tom Anderson was also happy to be back, and he noted that he and Jack Overly were in the same club in Yakima, WA.
Dennis Gellhaus was happy that Alan Groesbeck will soon have Kathy back, when the Duck Race is over.
Bob Brunson was happy to be here.
Jennifer Comstock was happy to be spending Matt's birthday with him.
Bruce Brown was happy to announce that Larry Williams is recovering well from surgery on both knees. Hope to see you soon, Larry!
Ron Gordon was happy/unhappy to share that his home and several additions were designed by Roger Thorp, so he feels he lives in the house that Roger built.
Program
Jack Overly introduced Dr. Alan Denney, director of Major13. Don Widrig recognized the group for leading Duck Adoption sales. The vocal ensemble entertained the club with several songs. Following the performance, Bill Solms asked the seniors to share their college plans. Dr. Denney thanked the club for its support over the years and said the best thing about living in Estes Park is the support of the schools.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned with the 4-Way Test.
Submitted by Rita DuChateau, scribe and photographer
Club mourns loss of Roger Thorp
Roger Thorp died at his Pinewood Springs home Sunday evening, April 28. He was 72 years old. Roger Merle Thorp was born October 9, 1946 in Clay Center, KS. On December 22, 1966 he married Verlene Holdsworth in Buckeye, KS. Roger and Verlene owned and operated Thorp Associates Architects, P.C. in Estes Park.
Roger joined the Rotary Club of Estes Park on July 8, 1976. His sponsor was Herb Thompson. Roger served as on the club's Board of Directors, as Community Service Director. He was named the club's Rotarian on the Year in June 2018. He will be remembered for his kind and generous spirit, his smile and his talented performances in several musical programs, which raised funds for scholarships.
A memorial service will celebrate Roger's life on Friday May 17 at 11 a.m. at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies Foundation, the Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation, or the Bobby Rifkin Endowed Chair in Prostate Cancer Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz, all in care of Allnutt Funeral Service at 1302 Graves Avenue, Estes Park, CO 80517.
Rotary Friendship Card sales underway
Estes Park’s new $10 local discount card is available for purchase by club members, friends and family. See Karen Thompson at an upcoming meeting to buy your Friendship Card or get it at these locations: Estes Park Visitor Center, MacDonald Book Shop, Quality Inn, Safeway (Customer Service), Rocky Mountain Gateway and The Village Store at National Park Village. Cash only, please!
The Friendship Card will be valid at more than 60 local businesses, who will offer discounts on food and drink, shopping, entertainment and services. Friendship Card holders will need to show their card at the business in order to receive the discount. Certain restrictions may apply. Participating merchants will be listed on the Friendship Card’s Facebook page – facebook.com/EP Friendship Card. Brochures will be available at locations selling the card, and participating merchants will display the Friendship Card window decal. The 2019 card will be valid through December 31, 2019.
The Friendship Card is a fundraising project of our club. Net proceeds from the sale of the card will be used to support many charitable projects, including but not limited to scholarships and community grants.
“The Rotary Club of Estes Park would like to thank the many participating merchants, as this fundraising project would not be possible without each one of them,” said Karen Thompson, the club’s Fund Development Chair.
Posted by Jack Boatman
Matching donation program supports non-profits
The first week of April the Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation mailed out checks totaling $2,600 to 15 local non-profit organizations. The checks from the Foundation matched the donations submitted by our club members.
Thanks to all who participated in the 2019 Matching Charitable Donation Program.
The Foundation would appreciate any feedback you might have regarding the 2019 program. Please contact or email Jack Boatman (email: jack.boatman7@gmail.com / Telephone: 832-623-5647) with any comments or suggestions.
Amazing Amazon Opportunity -
Give to your Foundation while you shop!
The Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation has been registered as a recipient of funds in the smile.amazon.com. Each order you place will send a portion of the sale to our Foundation. As of February 2019, the AmazonSmile program has donated $124.7 million to charities.
Now 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. Please click on Estes Park Rotary Foundation.
Create a bookmark so every time you shop Amazon, you will participating in the smile.amazon.com program.
Go shopping!!
Remember to do this each time you shop Amazon.
"This is a great way to give to the Foundation without any cost to the member," said Gregg Jurgens, Foundation Treasurer.
Rotary Quote of the Week
"Rotary's programs for young leaders extend our ideals of service, friendship, and leadership development beyond the doors of our clubs to hundreds of thousands of young people each year. And when we serve with and for those young people - as sponsors, project partners, and mentors - it brings out the best in us, and it brings out the best in Rotary."
-Barry Rassin, 2018-19 Rotary International President
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