Our first club meeting of 2021, on Thursday, Jan. 7, will be conducted solely on Zoom. Scott Thompson will be our ZoomHost. Join the program by clicking on this Zoom link before noon:
Brian Schaffer has served as the executive director of Crossroads Ministry since May 2018. In addition he is the chaplain for the Estes Valley Fire Protection District and a member of Sunrise Rotary.
Before joining Crossroads, Schaffer served in Alaska with Catholic Social Services providing system support and collaborative leadership for agencies working with homeless families in the HUD coordinated entry system and rapid rehousing program. He was also an outreach pastor at the largest church in the state and led New Hope on the Last Frontier as their executive director where he launched a recovery services program, job training center, life coaching and peer mentoring to augment the already existing food and clothing distribution.
He was active on advisory boards for the Salvation Army and Anchorage Cops for Community and served as a volunteer prison chaplain. The last two years in Alaska he helped establish Acts 247 Recovery Church to reach people in recovery from addiction, homelessness and incarceration. In each of these assignments he worked collaboratively with churches, government agencies, businesses, and volunteers..
Before this he served in pastoral assignments with the Church of the Nazarene in Texas. While living in Houston he founded and served as the executive director of Urban Link, a Christian community development organization. Preceding his time in Texas and Alaska, he served as a missionary in Central America and the Caribbean, worked at a small oil company in Kansas and Oklahoma as well as taught in both public and private schools.
Schaffer believes that his life’s mission is centered in mobilizing communities to love their neighbors through acts of compassion and words of life. This calling has been translated into a career that is uniquely suited him as a spiritual, cultural, and civic leader.
He received a bachelor’s degree in education from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a master’s degree in ministerial leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Growing up in the flatlands of Wichita, Kansas he always dreamed of living a life filled with adventure. After graduating from MNU where he met his wife, Deborah, they began their missionary journey together. And 31 years later, they have three grown sons and one daughter-in-law in Texas and Tennessee.
“I’m amazed at all the ways that Crossroads has been involved in the lives of people in need, from tragic events such as the floods and fires to providing occasional assistance with rent, utilities, medical costs, repairs, fuel, or whatever else that has brought their life to a screeching halt," he said. "Restoring hope in a loving manner has been a trademark of this exceptional organization and I am grateful to the board of directors for the opportunity to be their Executive Director."
Adapted from an article that appeared in the June 2018 Trail-Gazette
Posted by Pete Sumey
December 17, 2020 Meeting Notes
President Bill Solms rang the bell at 12:00. Dale Bonza gave the Invocation. Bill Solms led the Pledge of Allegiance. Guest Introductions - Visiting Rotarians: None; Guests: Speaker Olga Ortega, Audrey TeSelle, Oklahoma resident Brett Brough, Marianne Solms.
Announcements
President Bill announced the meeting of the Duck Race Software Committee.
The 2021 race will use the current software that has been updated. A contract will be taken with Don Widrig to support and fix problems with the current software that occur during the 2021 race. The committee will explore a new software approach for the 2022 race.
There is a discussion under way exploring the possibility of holding future races in the Lazy River pool at the Community Center.
Community Services Director Beth Weisberg announced a committee meeting to discuss a possibility of a program to support restraint and hospitality workers in the community.
Program President Bill introduced speaker Olga Ortega, owner of the Mountain Home Café.
Happy Money
Ron Gordon announced a good cancer outcome for wife, Vivian.
Milt Garrett also reported a good cancer outcome for his son.
Special Guest
Santa, Gordon Ulrickson, took us through “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, and several carols.
Adjournment President Bill adjourned the meeting with the 4-Way Test.
Pete Sumey, scribe
Food Drive a success
Our club's generous donations to Crossroad ministry's holiday food drive tipped the scales at 294 pounds. Way to go, Rotarians!
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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