Our program this week will provide the background, scope and progress on the Estes Park Women's Monument Project. The goal of the project is to celebrate the role of women in the growth and success of Estes Park. Ron Wilcocks, chair of the Estes Park Women's Monument Project Committee, will present.
Ron Wilcocks
Wilcocks, who moved to Estes Park in 1999, is co-owner of Earthwood Galleries of Colorado, which includes Earthwood Collections and Earthwood Artisans. He is an active volunteer, having previously served as Vice President of the Cultural Arts Council, Vice-Chair of the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority and other community-based boards and committees. Currently, he is a member of the Parks Advisory Board and the Transportation Advisory Board, as well as leading the Women's Monument Project.
Previously, Wilcocks applied his bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science in several lead software engineering positions, including as a Director at the US West/Quest Advanced Technology Labs in Boulder. Married to Ann for nearly 37 years, Ron and Ann raised their two children in Estes Park.
To join the meeting on Zoom, click on the Zoom link before noon. Scott Thompson, our Zoom host, will welcome you. Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7985707369.
Update from President Bill Solms
Interesting article in a Polio Plus email on the fight against Covid-19 using Polio Virus Fighting Infrastructure:
"As COVID-19 reached Somalia, Mohamed readied himself to respond. For years, he had been building strong relationships with local health officers and communities to deliver polio vaccines to every child. Now, he would use those relationships to try to track the spread of the pandemic.
In Nigeria, Dr Rosemary Onyibe, a Polio Eradication Zonal Coordinator for WHO, felt her duty was calling. “My expertise is needed to serve my community,” she remembers thinking. Within days, she was working on Nigeria’s COVID-19 response...."
Also, there has been only 1 wild polio virus case detected this year; it occurred in Afghanistan. Hopefully this trend continues.
No news from Nicky's, so our next meeting, Thursday, February 18th will be purely on Zoom, hosted by Scott. Stay tuned for progress at Nicky's...
We received an Associate Sponsorship from Wayne Anderson for this year's Duck Race.... Each of us should consider a level of sponsorship to help make this year a resounding success for our participating organizations. We have a hard deadline of February 23d, so please consider summitting your sponsorhip forms this week. We are really Quacking along.... Renaissance Ballet is working on a "Swan Lake" production renamed "Duck Lake" to be performed outdoors on the shores of Lake Estes, renamed "Duck Lake." The idea is to pick a nice weather day outdoors so the dancers do not have to wear masks, the performance to be televised on race day. The Committee decided to invite fire chiefs from our Town, the Park, as well as from surrounding communities to start the race; the start will be dramatic while honoring our fire fighting leaders at the same time.
Hope to see you all on Thursday's Zoom!
Prez Bill
Member Spotlight: Jim Whiteneck
Each week our Spoke is profiling a member of our Club in order to get to know them better and stay connected through these socially distant times.
Carol and Jim Whiteneck
I grew up in a small agricultural town in Northwest Oklahoma. My father set up his medical practice in this town of 1,000 people after being discharged from the Army following World War II. It was about 20 miles from the farm that he grew up on. After serving in the US Navy and finishing undergraduate school at Oklahoma State University, Carol and I were married. Medical school was at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Following general surgery training and a brief stint as a Vanderbilt Medical School faculty member, we moved to St. Louis for a Cardiothoracic and Transplant Surgical Fellowship at Washington University/Barnes Hospital.
Following the fellowship, Carol and I and our four daughters moved to Tulsa where I joined a practice. I eventually served as the President of our private practice group and Chair of Cardiovascular and Transplant Surgery at Saint Francis Hospital. During that time I served on many boards, including the American Heart Association of Tulsa, the Board and Trustee of John 3:16 Mission, and was a church elder. I was a founding member of the Board and Trustee of our statewide organ-sharing organization. Prior to retiring in 2019, we spent a few years at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, working to rebuild their Cardiovascular Surgery Program.
In addition to my surgical practice I have been involved in banking for approximately 22 years.
My family started coming to Estes Park when I was in late elementary school during the 1950s, staying at the Y Camp. We have loved coming to Estes and have been here annually since that time. Carol and I honeymooned here in 1974, and three of our daughters had their wedding ceremonies here in Estes Park. Our daughters all have their favorite places to hike, shop, and eat where we have enjoyed many memorable family occasions. We purchased a home in Estes Park in 2010 and moved here full-time in 2019.
I first became aware of Rotary via one of my father's nine brothers, Uncle John. He was a PhD theologian and minister, first in California then in Portland, Oregon. In his later years he was Director of Planned Giving at Louis and Clark College. He was a servant at heart and had a strong passion for impoverished agricultural workers and for conflict resolution…a true peacemaker. Uncle John inspired me by his dedication to service. As a consequence, my life has mostly revolved around service. It has been my focus in caring for my patients for over 40 years and to provide for my communities through Rotary. It is the most honorable and caring organization that I know of. Because of the strength of the membership and our shared values, we have been devoted to giving back to our communities. It is truly a privilege to be part of this wonderful Club!
The Duck Race needs YOU!
Have you ever considered becoming an Associate or Major Sponsor for the Duck Race? For a donation as small as $100 you can be part of this exciting fundraiser. Scott Thompson needs you to help feather the Duck Race nest with a contribution. Several club members have already waddled up!
Scott can further explain the benefits of either kind of sponsorship. Briefly, they include:
Major Sponsors donate $500 or more.
Associate Sponsors donate $100-$499.
Sponsors are recognized according to sponsorship level in Duck Race promotions, on the event website and in local newspapers.
Major Sponsors have extra benefits, including a large plastic duck personally decorated with their name that will “swim” on race day. Those sponsor ducks are then displayed at supporting businesses in town, where they showcase the donors’ community spirit. Major sponsors will be recognized on the Race Day broadcast on the Rocky Mountain Channel, and their logos will be displayed on the event poster, in weekly ads, and on the Duck Race Facebook page and website. In addition, Major Sponsors will be featured in a short video that they can share.
It’s nearly time to adopt a duck or a flock from a favorite organization to support the 2021 Rotary Duck Race. Sixty-five organizations have been invited to a virtual meeting on Monday, March 1 to learn about Duck Adoption sales. These clubs and nonprofits have been chosen as Participating Organizations for the 2021 Rotary Duck Race Festival.
‘Big Duck’ Bill Solms will welcome representatives to Distribution Night at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Tech expert Lee Lasson will explain aspects of online sales. The Rotary Duck Race Festival Committee encourages each of the 65 organizations to join the meeting.
Beginning Tuesday, March 2, groups will begin their sales campaigns to encourage their members and friends to adopt ducks.
The Estes Park Rotary Duck Race Festival will take place Saturday, May 1 in the Lazy River at the Estes Valley Community Center. It will be live streamed on the Rocky Mountain Channel and YouTube. To safeguard Race fans, Rotary volunteers and town event staff, the event will not take place at Nicky’s and other outdoor locations. Planners hope to return to “normal” next year.
This year’s race will feature major travel prizes and hundreds of local merchant prizes, with values starting at $20.
For every duck adopted for $20 plus a nominal processing fee, $19 goes to the Participating Organization that the adopter selects. The 2020 race brought the total funds raised in the 32-year history of the event to $2.8 million.
Questions about Distribution Night? Contact Larry Williams at lwilli5442@yahoo.com or (970) 586-3295.
The 65 Participating Organizations selected for the 2021 Estes Park Duck Race are: Estes Park Rotary Foundation, Estes Valley Sunrise Rotary, Longs Peak Rotary Club, Air Force Association, Allenspark Hill Top Guild, American Legion Post 119, Art Center of Estes Park, Ballet Renaissance, Big T Watershed Coalition, Big Thompson Canyon Assoc, Bria Brown Memorial Foundation, Caring Canines, Center Stage School of Dance, Crossroads Ministry of EP, Eagle Rock School, Enchanted Ladybug School, EP Cub Scout Pack 8, EP Cycling Coalition, EP Health Foundation, EP Health Hospice, EP High School Activities, EP High School Choirs, EP Junior Golf, EP Learning Place, EP Lions Club, EP Masonic Lodge #183, EP Memorial Observatory, EP Middle School Choir, EP Museum Friends & Foundation, EP Nonprofit Resource Center, EP Police Dept Auxiliary, EP Running Club, EP Salud Foundation, EP Schools Bands, EP Senior Citizens Inc., EP Special Olympics, EP Village Band, EP Western Heritage Inc., EP Woman's Club, EP Women’s Monument Project, Estes Chamber Foundation, EV Crisis Advocates, EV Invest in Childhood Success, EV Land Trust, EV Library Friends & Foundation, EV Restorative Justice, EV Watershed Coalition, Fiber Arts Council of EP, Friends EP Gun & Archery Club, Glen Haven VFD, Harmony Foundation, Healing Waters Foundation, Hub Student Ministries, Kiwanis Club of EP, Knights of Columbus, Life Long Learning of EV, LWV Recycling Committee, LWV Voter Services, Partners, Pet Association of EP, Pinewood Springs Fire Dist., Quota Club of Estes Park, Ravencrest Chalet, Rocky Mountain Conservancy and Stanley Home Museum.
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.
