Your club is back at Nicky's! You can come to Nicky's for lunch and our meeting, for the meeting only, or 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. 19. 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.
This week's program will feature Mike Lewelling, fire management officer with the National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park. HIs program is titled, "Fire Management and the East Troublesome fire at Rocky mountain National Park" To join the meeting on Zoom, click on this link before noon:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369. Meeting host Scott Thompson will provide access to Rotarians and visitors.
Mike Lewelling
Lewelling has been the Fire Management Officer at Rocky Mountain National Park for almost 15 years. He started his federal career in 1990 at Zion National Park where he had a summer job as a fee collector and was also collateral duty firefighter. He stayed at Zion for five years working as a backcountry ranger and firefighter. Then in the summers of 1996 and 1997 he moved to the Grand Canyon to work as a firefighter. In the summer of 1998, he started the year at Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks as an engine captain, then got his first permanent job back at Zion as a station captain, supervising two engine crews and the fuels crew. In 2000, Mike was promoted to prescribed fire specialist at Zion. In 2001, Mike moved to Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California where he became the fire management officer (FMO). In 2006, Mike accepted the FMO position at RMNP and has been here ever since.
Mike stays active in the local community as the president of the Estes Park Cycling Coalition and helps coach the high school mountain bike team. He is also a CrossFit Coach at CrossFit Estes Park.
Lewelling received his Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from Western Oregon State College in 1990, and also graduated from the two-year technical fire management program in 2006. He has lived in Estes Park for 15 years with his wife and two high school age daughters.
Posted by Dave Evans
Volunteer needed
Foundation Opening
Our Club Foundation Board has a vacancy for a Trustee. The vacancy is for a three-year term that ends on June 30, 2023. Expressions of interest or suggestions for a replacement can be sent to Dave Evans via email (evansds42@gmail.com) or phone (970-290-5783).
Posted by Rita DuChateau
January 14, 2021 Meeting Notes
President Bill Solms called the meeting to order at noon and welcomed those at Nicky's and the 24 club members on Zoom. He announced a Duck Race Committee meeting today.
Other Announcements
Beth Weisberg reported that she delivered a $400 grant check to EVICS today, for the purchase of Spanish-language books for clients. She also delivered $1,100 to Crossroads for funding of Olga Ortega’s free dinner program. Of that amount, $500 was a club grant and $600 was a gift from a club member who donated his stimulus check. Both organizations were appreciative of the club’s generous grants, Beth said. She also reminded us of a Community Service Committee meeting at 2:30 on Thursday, Jan. 21. Use Scott Thompson’s Zoom link to join. Additionally, Beth announced that Crossroads is accepting donations of firewood. The firewood will be given to clients.
Karen Thompson asked for 10 volunteers to deliver two Friendship Cards to each of 58 merchant partners. Although five club members stepped up, more are needed. Contact Karen.
Bill Solms displayed a draft image of Lucky Duck for the 2021 Duck Race. Lucky is portrayed as a firefighter in recognition of their important work during the wildfires.
Bill invited club member Barb Bibler to attend a meeting this month and promised that the club would sing Happy Birthday.
Kevin Mullin gave an Invocation about thankfulness and Rotary service. Bill led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Scott Thompson welcomed two guests: Carol Holtgrewe and Marianne Solms. Scott shared a church joke.
Happy Money
Larry Williams and Bill Solms are happy that this scribe will once again donate her communications services as Duck Race publicist.
Scott Thompson announced his career move to Keller Williams where the Thompson Group will provide real estate services.
Induction Anne Slack led the ceremony to induct Jim Scritchfield as a returning member. Welcome back, Jim! Thanks to Karol Rinehart for serving as Jim's sponsor.
Program Larry Williams introduced the program by Jim Geckler, CEO of Harmony. The presentation included the following information:
Jim Geckler has a passion for helping people get well. He shared that his personal journey to recovery from addiction has included 22 years of sobriety.
Harmony, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1969 and occupies the former Harmony Ranch property.
75 clients can be served at any given time in the residential program.
759 individuals were helped on campus during 2020, and another 100 in outpatient programs.
25,000 people have been served in the past 52 years.
The majority of Harmony clients are from Colorado, many from Larimer County.
Harmony employs 116 full- and part-time employees, half of whom live in the Estes Valley.
Donors to Harmony are very generous: $600,000 of donations came in last year.
$500,000 were given out in scholarships last year to patients without insurance or those who needed an extension beyond what their insurance would cover.
$1 million was raised through gifts and grants to support upgrading the Harmony buildings.
Duck Race adoptions have provided $13,000 for Harmony.
An average stay is 26 days. Daily cost is $900.
Bill invited Jim Geckler to join our club and presented him with a Piece of the Rotary Rock.
Bill invited club members in attendance to answer the $20 Trivia Question on his puppy’s name. Jim Whiteneck answered correctly, triggering Bill’s $20 donation. Bill welcomes suggestions for future trivial questions.
Adjournment Bill Solms adjourned the meeting with the Four-Way Test at 12:55.
Rita DuChateau, scribe
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!
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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