Hulda Bachman-Neeb, writer and former member of the Dutch Foreign Service, will be speaking to our club on Thursday, March 12, at our regular noon meeting. Her program will focus on her time as prisoner in a Japanese detention camp during the Second World War.
Bachman-Neeb
Hulda was born in Indonesia of colonial Dutch parentage two years before the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. As much of Asia fell under Japanese control, all non-Asians were imprisoned in concentration camps. They were held until August of 1945, the end of the war in the Pacific.
In her book Perils and Pearls, with the help of her mother, Bachman-Neeb shares a collection of incidents and memories of her family’s story of survival and freedom from a Japanese jungle prison camp.
As a member of the Dutch Foreign Service in her adult life, Bachman-Neeb had assignments in 25 countries over 36 years, retiring in 1996. She and her husband live in Estes Park.
Posted by Rita DuChateau
March 5 meeting notes
President Doug Mann called the meeting to order at noon. He reported that the club board approved new member applications at Tuesday’s meeting and also congratulated Karol Rinehart on her fifth anniversary as a club member. Matt Comstock gave an inspiring invocation, and Madison Casey led us in singing “Home on the Range” in honor of our program on real estate in Estes Park. Ward Nelson introduced Visiting Rotarian Jim Snedeker of Pueblo, Colorado, and Scott Thompson’s guest, Sara Metz. Scott shared a (really!) funny joke about a genie and competition between realtors.
Happy Money
Kathy Groesbeck was happy about attending P.E.T.s and shared facts about polio eradication.
Rita DuChateau was glad to be back at Rotary
Karol Rinehart was happy to be a 5-year member of our club.
Peter Sinnott was happy to have Ward Nelson back.
Ward was happy to be back and appreciative of the excellent health care he received at EPH.
Announcements
Longley Parker announced that the club board approved a $1,000 grant for LaPuente’s P.A.L.S. program to purchase equipment that will enhance children’s safety.
Bruce Brown said that he,Tom Gardner and Larry Williams will be collecting coats and sleeping bags for LaPuente. (see announcement below)
Program In true Rotary style, Scott Thompson stepped up when the scheduled speaker canceled. Scott’s program on real estate values and sales trends in Estes Park was both educational and enjoyable. Thanks to Scott and his helpers Sara Metz and Karen Thompson! Scott ably fielded questions from many club members following his presentation.
Lee Lasson asked for volunteers to move Duck Central equipment from the storage shed to the Ridgeline Hotel following the meeting.
Rita DuChateau, scribe, and Jon Thompson, photographer.
Posted by Bruce Brown
La Puente needs outdoor gear, winter wear
La Puente Home is an organization based out of Alamosa that serves the San Luis Valley by addressing the effects of poverty by providing a safety net of services including a homeless shelter, a network of 15 food pantries, a children's program, outreach homeless prevention and crisis intervention services and a family resource center.
Our club has supported La Puente with grants and assistance including service visits from club members. Representatives from La Puente will talk to our club at our April 2 meeting.
La Puente's newest initiative is geared towards serving the most vulnerable in the community, the unsheltered homeless who are not actively seeking resources and are living on the streets, in abandoned houses and along riverbanks. In order to better serve these individuals, members of our club are collecting and delivering the following new or used donations of any sizes to La Puente: sleeping bags, tents, winter coats, sturdy boots, backpacks and tarps. If you have any of these items to donate, please bring them to our club meeting and give them to Bruce Brown, Larry Williams or Tom Gardner for delivery. Thank you.
Posted by Rita DuChateau
Board approves two membership applications
At the Tuesday, March 3 Board Meeting, the Board reviewed and voted to approve applications from prospective members Elizabeth Weisberg and Mark Lee.
According to club bylaws, if there are no objections within seven days of publication, the applicants shall be considered elected to membership. Here is a brief summary of each applicant. For more information or to make a comment, contact President Doug.
Elizabeth Weisberg retired from a 41-year career as a family law attorney in May 2019 and moved to Estes Park. Born in Washington, D.C., Beth earned a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. She is married to Stuart, and they have two children, Andrew and Eric. Beth's community activities include volunteering with the Boy Scouts in Maryland and Partners Mentoring Youth in Estes Park. Scott Thompson is Beth's sponsor.
Mark Lee, an Estes Park area resident since 2005, is a software engineer. He works as the senior Vice President of services for a software company located in the Silicon Valley. Mark is a former Rotarian. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas, Austin and a master's degree from Texas A&M. Mark and his wife Karen have a son, David. Mark's volunteer work includes Bethania Kids, a charity that serves at-risk and orphaned children in India. Dana Fritz is Mark's sponsor.
Friendship Card will save you $$$$
Estes Park’s $10 local discount card is now available for purchase at the following locations: Estes Park Visitor Center, MacDonald Book Shop, Nicky’s Steak and Seafood House, Quality Inn, Safeway (Guest Services), Rocky Mountain Gateway and The Village Store at National Park Village. Or, buy your Friendship Card at the next Rotary meeting when you check in.
The Friendship Card will be valid at more than 70 local businesses, who offer discounts on food and drink, shopping, entertainment, and services. Friendship Card holders will need to show their card at the business to receive the discount. Certain restrictions may apply. Participating merchants will be listed on the Friendship Card’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/EPFriendshipCard/. Printed brochures will be available at locations selling the card, and participating merchants will display the Friendship Card window decal. The 2020 card will be valid through December 31, 2020.
The Friendship Card is brought to you by our Rotary Club. Net proceeds from the sale of the card are used to support the club’s many charitable projects, including but not limited to scholarships and community grants. The Rotary Club of Estes Park would like to thank the many participating merchants, as this fundraising project would not be possible without each one of them. Questions? Contact Karen Thompson at epfriendshipcard@gmail.com.
Give to our Foundation while you shop!
The Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation is a recipient of funds in the smile.amazon.com. Each order you place will send a portion of the sale to our Foundation. 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.
Congratulations, 2019 scholars
Rotary Quote of the Week
"Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are renewing their longstanding partnership to end polio, announcing a joint commitment of up to $450 million to support the global polio eradication effort ... To an audience of Rotary volunteer leaders from around the world, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation delivered a video message announcing the extension of a funding partnership forged more than a decade ago. Rotary is committed to raising $50 million per year over the next three years, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars from the Gates Foundation. This expanded agreement will translate into up to $450 million for polio eradication activities."
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