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New Water Reclamation Facility for Upper Thompson Sanitation District
Will Ensure Service for Estes Valley for Decades to Come
 
                             
        Chris Bieker                           Suzanne Jurgens
     District Manager                Assistant District Manager
 
                             
                                Matt Allen
                         Operations Manager  
 
Since 1971, the Upper Thompson Sanitation District has provided the Estes Valley with reliable, cost-effective Wastewater Treatment services while protecting the Big Thompson River.  To ensure the next 50 years are even stronger than the first, we are making some important updates to ensure our valley thrives in the years to come.
 
District Manager, Chris Bieker is a 42-year full-time resident of Estes Park and has been employed at Upper Thompson Sanitation District for 34 years. During his long tenure at the District, he has performed every function at the facility with an emphasis on wastewater treatment operations. He has managed catastrophic infrastructure losses and flood recovery, navigated pandemics, and most recently wildfire complications, and still loves rolling his sleeves up and delivering one of Estes Park’s most essential services. He considers his next two years to be his most critical and difficult challenge with the design and construction of a new water reclamation facility and lift stations.
 
Suzanne Jurgens began serving Upper Thompson Sanitation District in 2014 as Financial Officer and was promoted to Assistant District Manager in 2020.
 
Beginning in 2012 Matt Allen served the Upper Thompson Sanitation District in the Collection Department as an Operator, and was subsequently promoted to Foreman, and Superintendent. In 2021 Matt was promoted to Operations Manager overseeing operations of the Wastewater Treatment Facility and Collection Department.
 
Be sure to not miss this informative program.
 
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted.
Rotary Weekly Luncheon
Place: American Legion
 Time:  Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00
 Cost:  $20
 Parking:  American Legion and the church only
 
Update by President Dennis Gellhaus
 
Hola from Costa Rica!  By the time you read this we will be back home!  We’ve had a wonderful family time.  With only .3 % of the world’s land mass and 5% of the bio diversity it is a fascinating place to visit.  Warm and humid; but a nice change from our white world for awhile.  Monkeys, toucans, McCaws, were all fun as they visited our AirBnB.
Happy to be back home!  No place like home!
 
Picture of my grandson with squirrel monkey!
Dennis' Grandson, Griffin
 
Thanks for listening.
Dennis
February 9, 2023 Meeting Notes
 
Karen Thompson called the meeting to order, as Dennis is on vacation. 
Jack Boatman gave the Invocation. 
Karen led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Madison Casey led the song “Happy Wanderer” for our program today by Nick Mollé 
Scott Thompson told some dentist riddle jokes.
 
Guests of Rotarians: 
  • Pete Sumey introduced Barb Marshall, visiting us today.
  • Karen acknowledged various members who had returned
    • Chris Davis is back and completed his membership application
    • We were delighted to welcome Michelle Mann back today.
    •  
    • Ron Gordon & Michelle Mann
Announcements:
  • Karen said Friendship Card sales are going well.
  • Annie Slack passed around a Rotary Medallion Sunrise Rotary had received that had been sent to them to identify by family of a past Rotarian.  They did not recognize it and sent it over to us.   It recognizes Rotary in Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Denver Mountain Parks.  We believe from a national or district meeting long ago. 
  • Annie reminded us to sign the birthday card Bill Smith had brought for Pieter Hondius 100th birthday.  Pieter had been a member of our club, as well as a link to Estes Park history.
  • We voted on three ideas for March 30 social event that Annie brought from her Membership Committee.   A night at Mike Connolly’s astronomical observatory won the vote, over returning to the Stanley Home for wine and cheese, or bowling.
  • Duck Race meetings were announced by Scott Robins: 
    • Thursday February 16 next committee meeting at Wasson Room in the Library.
    • Thursday February 23 participating charitable organizations assemble to pick up their packets.
    • He reported various items they are getting done for the race and thanked everyone.
Happy Money:
  • Ron Gordon is happy that his sponsored member Michelle Mann is back with us today.   This was echoed by
    • Karol Rinehart
    • Annie Slack
    • Karen Thompson. 
  • Karen Thompson is happy to be going on vacation to a beach in Mexico.
Program:
Scott Thompson introduced the program- Nick Mollé, a former member of our club,  showed us a rough cut excerpt of the movie he is editing now about Australia that will eventually air on PBS.  This segment was in Darwin on the north point and the area bordering the ocean that alternates between dry season and wet season that floods it; it has a rich diversity of animal life and lots of crocs.
        
Nick Molle & Sponsor Duck; President Elect Karen Thompson
presenting a Piece of the Rock to Nick Molle
 
Adjournment:
We closed with the Four Way Test.
 
Madison Casey, scribe
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Update on Michelle Mann
 
It was very heartwarming to be at the meeting yesterday.  What a wonderful group of people.
 
Here is a brief update of my treatment.  Finished 3 rounds of radiation therapy to the brain last Thursday at UC Anschutz.  Started daily oral chemo/immunotherapy treatment today.  Will follow up in the upcoming weeks with labwork and scans to see where things are and the effect of the radiation treatment on the 4 brain tumors.  In the meantime I’m still balancing rest and work and getting used to having a dedicated chauffeur - hopefully very temporary! :)
 
Many, many thanks to the club for its care, flowers, cards and loving concern.
 
Michelle
 
There is a Fifth Thursday in the Month of March
Please Join Us for a Social at the Memorial Observatory
Save the Date:
March 30, 2023
5:30 PM
 
Can You Identify This Medallion?
 
 
 
 
This medallion came from Annette F. King.  She wrote: Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been going through my mother's things after her passing and found the enclosed medallion.  Although my grandfather was a Rotarian in Florida, I have no interest in keeping the item.  I hope that your club will consider it to be a part of your history.
 
I (Annie) made these images large with the hope that some member could identify it and tell us if there were an attempt to bring Rotary International's Annual Convention to Estes Park.  Contact me at anneslack@aol.com if you recognize it.
 
 
Model Village in Bangladesh Project Report 2023
 
After reopen everything of COVID-19, we able to start full program and so far we did our regular program and able to make good progress to achieve our goal. The MVBP program turns on its regular activity on social awareness & motivation against corona virus and implemented various activities to protect the native people from the COVID-19. We able to see a great change about health sector in this village. Now most of the villagers and specially children having hand washing, using musk sanitizer in big gathering areas like market and village festival. Some Highlight of last year what we able to done are as follows:

Tailoring Training:
We able to training 12 girls who completed one year training. From them hear is one of the story updates.
Runi lived through economic poverty, not being able to study and depression. Later, Model Village project Bangladesh with the partnership with Estes Park Rotary Club, Colorado, USA selected her as a beneficiary of the Swing training Project. She was trained in sewing with the help of the project. After successfully completing her sewing training, she came home and collected an old sewing machine and started doing a small business. She is not able to start the shop due to lack of financial capacity but at home now she is working. She does a little by taking some orders through the neighbors. Later, she received an order to make cloth from her neighbors.
 
Runi demonstrating sewing
 
With the help of Model village project she got the training opportunity and then got the working opportunity. She feels that it is a first step towards self-reliance after receiving her training. It has helped her to develop a more enthusiastic and self-reliant attitude towards work. If she gets more opportunities like small loan to buy new machine and some cloth she and other trainee will be highly benefited. Thank you so much Estes Park Rotary Club, Colorado, USA for your partnership.
 
Candle Making Training:
We able to train 24 participants from local village group. They plan to start a small business on Candle after completed their training course. Our trainer candle making Mr. Keshob Mohanto taught them theory and practical very nicely.

 
Mr. Keshob Mohanto helping student
 
Students holding their certificates
 
The participants learned the mentioned items.
a. They came to know about candlewax.
b. They came to know on candle wax mixing.
c. They came to know how to use candle making machine.
d. They came to know about candle making materials.
e. They came to know how to package candle
f. They came to know how to marketing candle.
We are trying to raise some seed funds for them so that they can start a small business on Candle and be self-supported. After the training they also get certificate.
 
Bamboo handicraft Training:

Equipping local villagers is our key to change economy and their living. Model Village program is changing people’s economy and living by creating job and small business. We able to train 12 man for making bamboo handicraft.
They also are introduce some market and now they are regularly making bamboo handicraft like basket, small pot and local using things for village people. It’s also helping environment. Rather than using plastic pot now they are using this. It’s also giving them regular income. We are looking to help them more and looking some seed funding for multiplying their business. Thanks a lot for your partnership.  Lot of change we are able to see by one year. We are still hoping to achieve our goal and make Saldha as a Model village by your partnership.
 
Student demonstrating basket skills

Dear Estes Park Rotary Club, Colorado, USA and Rotarian’s thank you so much for your partnership. Please feel free to ask if you have any question. We continue need your partnership to help this villagers and change them for a better hope. Blessings
Help Wanted!
 
We need a Volunteer to take care of our Facebook page
Another Volunteer for Scribe
And
A Volunteer for Sergeant-At-Arms
 
If you are willing please let Dennis, Karol or Annie know
 
 
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!
  • Go to:  smile.amazon.com
  • 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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Bulletin Editor
Anne Slack
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2021-22 R.I. Theme
 
February 16 Duty Roster
 
Invocation: Karol Rinehart
 
Song & Pledge: Gellhaus/Casey
 
Guest Intro: Member to Introduce
 
Scribe: Barry Hannigan 
 
Greeter: Jim Jonell
 
Program Intro: Dennis Gellhaus
 
Meeting Set-Up: Lee Lasson
 
February 23 Duty Roster
 
Invocation: Scott Robbins
 
Song & Pledge: Gellhaus/Casey
 
Guest Intro: Member to Introduce
 
Scribe: Pete Sumey
 
Greeter: Brad Rosenbaum
 
Program Intro: Dennis Gellhaus
 
Meeting Set-up: Mike Connolly
 
 
Speakers
Feb 16, 2023
Upper Thompson Sanitation District
Feb 23, 2023
Committee Meetings
View entire list
Birthdays, Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bill Smith
February 1
 
Sarah Walsh
February 3
 
Mike Connolly
February 5
 
Pete Sumey
February 7
 
Longley Parker
February 18
 
Dave Evans
March 25
 
Anne Slack
March 28
 
Anniversaries
Wayne Andersen
Judy
February 6
 
Carl Robicheaux
Aime
February 14
 
Gregg Jurgens
Suzanne
February 14
 
Larry Williams
Linda
February 14
 
Jay Harroff
Jane
February 17
 
Join Date
Sarah Walsh
February 2, 2012
11 years
 
Barry Hannigan
February 17, 2022
1 year
 
Dennis Gellhaus
February 22, 2018
5 years
 
Karol Rinehart
March 5, 2015
8 years
 
Lee Lasson
March 13, 2003
20 years
 
Beth Weisberg
March 16, 2020
3 years
 
Madison Casey
March 16, 2006
17 years
 
Mark Lee
March 16, 2020
3 years
 
Dave Evans
March 22, 2007
16 years
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President Elect
 
Treasurer
 
Secretary
 
Past President
 
Club Administration Director
 
Community Service Director
 
Fund Development Director
 
Fund Development Director
 
International Service Director
 
Membership Director
 
Big Duck
 
Youth/New Generation Services Director
 
Foundation Officers/Directors

President

Carl Robicheaux

Vice President

Barry Hannigan

Secretary

Tara Moenning

Treasurer

Gregg Jurgens

Grants

Jack Boatman, Carl Robicheaux

Scholarships

Tara Moenning

Ernie Altick Program

Kathy Groesbeck, Dave Evans

Investments

Madison Casey

Trustees

Tom Gardner

Brad Rosenbaum

Jim Whiteneck

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