Melanie Phelps and her husband Pete belong to the Pueblo West Rotary. She, her husband and other members of their club visited four villages in Nicaragua to help install clean water and latrines for approximately 400 people. She has a presentation about the power of Rotary in changing lives by giving people access to clean water and she wants to share it with our club.
El Porvenir is an efficient total system template that has been installed in Nicaragua and includes chlorine. Three weeks ago we had Jack Barker, President of Innovative Technologies, Inc speak to us about his invention of the SunSpring Hybrid water system, larger than a hot water tank with solar and wind power to run it. Jenna Saldana, Director of US Operations with El Porvenir said the SunSpring technology seems good and works well in areas with dense housing as people bring their containers to it to be filled. But in rural areas with dispersed homes, women and children would still be walking and lugging heavy buckets. El Porvenir delivers to the home.
The Pueblo West Rotary is starting a new water project in Comalapa, Nicaragua and would love our club to join them in bringing water to another 482 people. Their new water project will cost about $100,000. They can get about $65,000 within their district including District Designated Funds (DDF) and the Rotary Foundation Funds (TRF), so they need to find some out of district partners with their DDF to help them. That is why they are reaching out to clubs far and wide.
Their talk has 3 parts: 1) How they got involved with Rotary and water; 2) their first project with water and second project with water as well as their trip to Nicaragua to tour the finished water project; and 3) a summary of their new WASH Project to bring water to 2 more villages.
Pete Sutton is currently President of the Pueblo West Rotary Club. He has been a member of Rotary since 1988. Pete has held every office in a Rotary Club. He has been chair of Community Service and International co chair. Pete is a multiple Paul Harris fellow. Pete is a CPA and a Managing Partner of Sutton Dowell CPA LLC.
Melanie Phelps is currently District 5470 Global Grant Committee Chair and Pueblo West Rotary Club Treasurer. She is also Co- chair of PW Rotary International Committee and Supervisor of Palmer High School Interact Club. She has been a science teacher for 31 years. She currently works with Colorado School of Mines’ Teacher Enhancement Program leading teacher travel classes globally.
Our program this week will be held in person, but a Zoom link will be provided. Click on the link below to be admitted. Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369
Rotary Weekly Luncheon Place: American Legion Time: Lunch served from 11:30 - 12:00 Cost: $20 Parking: American Legion and the church only
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As a courtesy to our members, please silence your cell phones during the meeting. Thank You!
President Karen Thompson called the meeting to order. Tara Moenning led the Invocation. Karen led the Pledge of Allegiance. We sang “April Showers”, accompanied by Madison Casey.
Guests of Rotarians:
Reuben Bergsten, Director of Estes Park Utilities and former member of our club attended as he is involved with Platte River Power Authority that is today’s program.
Dr. Leigh Gibson, Senior External Affairs Specialist, of Platte River Power Authority.
Javier C. Camacho, Director of public and external affairs,strategic communications and social marketing
Kevin Mullin was mercilessly teased throughout the meeting after being introduced with guests
Important Dates:
Karen acknowledged birthdays and anniversaries.
Announcements:
Carl Robicheaux invited anyone who wants to join him at the storage shed this Saturday at 9:00 AM
to put new heads on the plastic poles for herding ducks in the river.
He also needs folks for river clean up Saturday April 27 at 9:00 AM.
You need to be able to wear waders and get in the creek.
Wayne Newsom announced member Lee Machin’s birthday- our oldest member
asked us to sign his birtthday card.
He relayed news about Lee’s situation currently.
Beth Weisberg said Community Service Committee meets after this meeting today
to discuss and vote on helping the community garden at Falcon Ridge.
Andrea Escorcia Rodriguez says she is collecting food for Crossroads Food Drive
for 2 more weeks.
Bring to this meeting or text her and she will pick up.
asked to TELL HER IF WE ARE VOLUNTEERING FOR DUCK RACE.
She is coordinating this and needs to track tasks and people.
Big Duck Scott Robbins had duck race announcements:
Merchant Prizes – Tim & Beth thank everyone and we have 2/3 to ¾ of our goal.
Need Sponsors as we are running behind.
He asked any past sponsors to renew if they have not.
Duck adoptions are going well- now at 2,000.
Entertainment is set.
Madison Casey asked for a volunteer to come to his house and sort and assemble squares for the Duck Squat board.
Jim Austin said
Jack Overly is in palliative care.
Jim missed him on his last visit.
Jim made his monthly pitch for Shelter Box.
Since beginning this in July two years ago, we have already raised $4,000 for four boxes- way ahead of his hope of one per year.
He noted a photo of the turmoil in Haiti showed a shelter box tent with Rotary logo on it, so somehow, they are making their way in even though it is too dangerous for Shelter Box folks to go there.
We hope to show a model box at the Duck Race.
Joke of the Day:
Scott told his joke.
Prize:
The door prize from the sticker on the plate was won by Isaiah Johnson.
Happy Money:
Bill Smith enjoyed his trip home to New York
is happy his mom’s surgery went well.
He was also proud that he was finally able to complete the entire Rotary crossword puzzle in one sitting.
Chuck Bonza was impressed by Madison’s duck attire.
Jim Austin was generally happy.
Carl was happy for Bill Solms.
Kevin Mullin was happy to be here
signed up for $100 sponsorship of the Duck Race.
Reuben Bergsten was happy to be back at our club.
Bill Solms reminded us to solicit our out-of-town family and friends to adopt ducks.
Program: Annie introduced Javier Comacho, Director of Public and External Affairs of Platte River Power Authority, who gave a thorough overview of the function of that organization that is the wholesale provider of our electricity.
Javier presenting and receiving a
Piece of the Rock from Pres. Karen
Adjournment: We closed with the Four Way Test.
Madison Casey, scribe
Still Need 70 More Merchant Prizes for the Duck Race
We Are Family
While it's true that we have raised about 2/3 of the Duck Race prizes we need, and our valiant volunteers have been doing an amazing job on merchant prize follow-up, we still need 70 more prizes to reach our minimum goal. So for anyone with merchants they haven't managed to pin down yet, please don't give up. We need you to follow up with every merchant on your list who may yet donate a Duck Race prize. If you need help to complete your list, please tell Beth or Tim, and we will follow-up for you if you need us to.
Many thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to get merchant prizes so far. We very much appreciate your efforts. Now we are asking for everyone to please circle back to all of your merchants who haven't yet submitted a prize, and please don't give up!
Quacks, Beth and Tim
Volunteers Needed for Community Service Project
2023 Community Clean Up Day
Hello again, wonderful Community Service Committee,
As you may have read in the Trail Gazette, the annual Estes Park Community Clean-Up Day this year is on Saturday, April 27. This is when we solicit volunteers from the community to help pick up trash all around Estes Park the week before the Duck Race, so that everything will look beautiful on Race Day. Every year we have a long line of volunteers show up around 9:00 a.m. at the Visitor Center to get route assignments, and our very own Noon Rotary coordinates all of this.
Tara and I will be in the parking lot at the East side of the Visitor's Center on April 27, and we can use 3 volunteers from our club to help greet and sign in the volunteers, hand them the trash bags they will need, and generally keep the check-in running smoothly. This can be done either standing or seated at the check-in table. We need our 3 Rotary volunteers from around 8:30 a.m. until around 9:30 a.m. that morning.
If you would like to volunteer to help with check-in, please let me know.
Many thanks,
Beth
Community Clean Up Day
April 27, 2024
9:00 AM
Community Clean Up Day, Saturday, April 27th, 9 am, will meet at the east side of the Visitor’s Center. We will be handing out routes and orange bags to volunteers to pick up the trash. Over the next two weeks Rotarians who wish to select a particular route and acquire bags, may do so at the regular meeting. See Beth or Tara to select the route of your choice.
Josh The Baby Otter Volunteers
Josh The Otter will be coming to visit the Estes Park Elementary School Kindergarten classes at 8:30 AM on Thursday, May 2. The kids are very excited to learn about Josh! We will need four volunteers who will read Josh‘s storybook to each class. If you’re interested, please contact Jim Whiteneck. (918-629-3236)
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.
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