Having joined Rotary in 2014, Albon has enjoyed participating in many different roles. His penchant for saying “Yes!” was quickly discovered and led to him being nominated to the board of directors shortly after joining, then being chosen to serve as president of Casper Five Trails Rotary for 2018-19. That year his club was honored with the Outstanding Club President of a Medium/Small Club award. He has served on and headed many club committees, including public relations & membership. Internationally, Albon and his daughter, Elle, traveled to Nicaragua for a service trip with Rotarians from the Gillette Energy Rotary Club providing school uniforms, and school supplies, and doing repairs on schools. He attended the Rotary International Convention in Toronto, has hosted 3 international exchange students, and has supported several other international projects. He’s also had the honor of participating in the Emerging Leaders program at Zone Institute. At the district level, Albon has served on the nominating committee helping to choose upcoming District Governors, and served as the Assistant Governor for the Central Wyoming Rotary Clubs in Casper & Douglas.
Professionally, Albon has been in Real Estate since 2009, and is an Associate Broker at Real Estate Leaders. He also currently manages a real estate investment & construction business Shaw Investments that his wife and fellow Rotarian, Kammi Shaw, hopes to one day take back over after her massive brain bleed on June 2, 2024. Together they have three adult children and four fur babies that they love spending time with whenever they get a chance.
Our program on August 21st will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided.
Come and Hear Brian Schaffer of Crossroads Luncheon Meeting Changes Dave Boon Change in Membership Application Scholarship Dinner Follow-up Meeting Notes Meeting Recording
August 14 Meeting Notes
President Jack Ford rang the bell at 12:00. Grant Delbecq gave the Invocation. Jack led the Pledge of Allegiance. Madison Casey led the song “In the Good Old Summertime.”
Annie Slack presented a Paul Harris award to Sarah Walsh.
Sarah Walsh received her Paul President Elect Guy Van der Werf
Harris award from Annie moderating the discussion
Program
The rest of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of the Duck Race. Guy Van der Werf acted as emcee, and the club met as a whole, without dividing into smaller groups.
All aspects of the Duck Race were discussed, focusing on, among other things, sustainability, organization, control, and simplification.
A list of basic needs became apparent: organization, volunteers, prizes, sponsors, sales, I.T. issues, advertising, river operations, finish line, and coordination with festival personnel.
After many comments and observations, four persons volunteered to act as “Big Duck” and work with the basic structures that are necessary for the race to continue. Those four are Beth Weisberg, Annie Slack, Chuck Bonza, and Suzy Blackhurst.
Adjournment
Jack Ford led the four-way test and rang the bell at 1:05.
At our regular meeting last Thursday, August 14th, Guy Van der Werf, our President-Elect, led us in a spirited discussion about the future of the Duck Race. At the meeting’s conclusion Annie Slack, Suzy Blackhurst, Beth Weisberg, and Chuck Bonza volunteered to work together to organize our Duck Race for 2026. In addition, Kathy Groesbeck, a former Big Duck Alumna, has contacted Chuck and offered to help after she returns in mid-September from a planned cruise. This leadership group will have their first meeting on Tuesday, August 19th.
Eye Glasses for Ecuador
The Sunrise Rotary is seeking reader eyeglasses from Rotarians to complement the 300 they have already received. The glasses are an additional need in conjunction with their Ecuador Clean Water Project. They will be collecting both reader eyeglasses and sunglasses until September 20th. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. You can bring them to Annie at our regular Thursday meetings or contact Jean Rissmiller.
Jean explained in her email that their Ecuador Clean Water Project is on track and ready to launch! Just days after the Autumn Gold Festival, their Sunrise Rotary team — Paul & Teresa Mueller, John Minier, and herself — will join Jack Barker, CEO of Innovative Water Technologies, to begin their journey on September 22 to Puyo, Ecuador.
There, they will join members from two Rotary Clubs in Ecuador before flying into the remote Achuar Territory of the Amazon Rainforest — a place so isolated that the only way in or out is either by boat or by air.
In addition to delivering the gift of clean water, they will host an eye clinic for the Achuar community, offering:
300 pairs of reader eyeglasses from RestoringVision.org (funded by Sunrise Rotary at just $0.60 per pair) for those in need of vision correction
100 pairs of sunglasses (also from RestoringVision.org) for those without prescription needs but who will benefit from eye protection under the bright rainforest sun.
They are also collecting water bottles — any extras will be put to excellent use in Ecuador.
Jean wished to thank you for supporting this important mission and helping them bring both clean water and clear vision to the Achuar people.
Jean Rissmiller, Area Governor 2025/2028
Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary Club
jean.rissmiller@gmail.com
214.497.8015
Concert This Week!
Saturday, August 23rd, 4 pm to 8:30 pm, YMCA Ruesch Auditorium. Still time to be a sponsor and/or attend the concert. All proceeds go to the Rotary Scholarship Fund.
We Need Your Help
1) Carl Robicheaux needs help staffing the Beer Garden portion of the Elk Fest: Saturday 9/27, 9am-6pm, and Sunday 9/28, 9am-5pm, plus tear down on Sunday. This is one of our major fundraisers for the club funds for Projects.
2) Youth Services Director. This is a Board Position that engages with the young people in our town and with exchange students. It is a wonderful opportunity to invite our youth into Rotary. Contact Annie if interested: anneslack@aol.com
3) The Zoom Team needs volunteers to set up the sound system and run the Zoom meeting/recording each week. If you have the know-how, please sign up to take a week. If you would like to learn how to do the job, please sign up as a Trainee. We need your help!
4) The Scribes could always use help. Right now Madison and Barry take turns. A third and/or fourth volunteer would allow the task to be completed once a month. Contact Madison if interested: mastodon1953@gmail.com.
Sunrise Rotary Needs Volunteers
Sunrise Rotary would like to have volunteers from Noon Rotary sign up to help at both of Sunrise Rotary's Fundraising events:
Also, 2025 Autumn Gold Raffle tickets are now on sale here. Only 350 raffle tickets will be sold, giving ticket holders a 1 in 50 chance to win one of seven cash prizes, including:
Grand Prize: $10,000
Second Prize: $2,500
Five prizes of $500 each
Thank you,
Jean Rissmiller
Past President 2023-2024
Sunrise Rotary
From Longley, August 15, 2025
I am just reporting in from the Iowa State Fair, as evident in the picture of me standing by the large Iowa State Fair sign. Yes, that is a life-size cow made out of butter....only found at the Iowa State Fair. And there isn't any food that can not be put on a stick and deep fried, as evident in the other picture. Yes Carl, fried Twinkies on a stick are not that bad!!
Iowa State Fair Life-size Butter Cow Twinkies on a Stick
From The Chaplain
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.
