Foothills Gateway improves the lives of thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Northern Colorado by helping them to conquer challenges and achieve their maximum potential. Since 1972, Foothills Gateway strives to empower every ability and highlight the achievements of the human spirit.
Nathan Scott, the Community Outreach Specialist at Foothills Gateway, will be speaking to the club on Thursday, Feb. 21. Scott will share with us the story of Foothills Gateway and Gateway’s mission of advocating for and empowering individuals with disabilities to lead lives of their choice.
Nathan Scott
Inspired by his work, Scott has been dedicated to Gateway’s vision of making a difference for every individual, regardless of age or ability, by providing a life of opportunity, of choice and of dignity.
Raised along the Mississippi River, he served four years in the Navy. Afterwards, he joined AmeriCorps, and eventually, he studied at Marycrest International University and Western Illinois University, where he received a Masters in Communication. Upon completing his education, he spend more time with AmeriCorps in an executive role and taught English with Upward Bound through CSU. He remains committed to making a difference in his community.
Will YOUbe at Rotary on Feb 28?
If you plan to attend the Thursday, Feb. 28meeting, you need to contact Club Administrator Karol Rinehart by 10a.m. Friday, Feb. 22to let her know the following:
You plan to attend and have lunch.
You plan to attend and have beverage service only.
You will be bringing a guest(s).
kj.rinehart@centurylink.net
Posted by Dale Bonza
Feb. 14 meeting highlights
President Dave Evans wished everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day to open the meeting. He thanked John Thomason for his enthusiasm as Greeter today. In the spirit of the day, Marsha Yelick’s invocation featured “Love” as greater than romantic love, and including loving your neighbor. President Dave chose “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” as our song, then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Karen McClure introduced several visitors and Rotarians this week.
David Boon, Fort Collins After Work Club and today’s speaker on RYLA
June Boon, Fort Collins After Work Club - RYLA
Junior Weed Ziegler, Boulder Valley Rotary - RYLA
Guests:
Marsha Tavel, David’s wife
Carol Holtgrewe, Virgil’s wife
Scott Thompson treated us to a joke.
Announcements
Karen Thompson was excited to announce that sales of the new Friendship Card will be launched on Duck Race Day. The cost for each card will be $10. It will be sold through local merchants, with all proceeds going to Rotary. Advertising will be done on Facebook.
Jack Boatman reminded us that our Foundation is matching individual donations up to $100 for nonprofits serving the Estes Valley. Forms are available.
Doug Mann announced that interested Estes Valley residents are able to join a trip to Albania from June 24 to July 5 to support the Nehemiah Foundation’s Roma summer school camp.
Dave Evans announced the next Foundation Board meeting will be Feb. 21stat 1:15 p.m. at the Quality Inn.
Virgil Holtgrewe recognized Kathy Groesbeck’s dedication to Rotary by presenting her with her Paul Harris Society Member pin. This award is given to members who commit to making a yearly contribution of $1,000 or more to the Paul Harris Foundation. Kathy received a big applause and congratulations from all members.
Happy Money
Kathy Groesbeck is happy to have received the new shingles vaccine. It is part of a two-part series and is in short supply. Members are advised to sign up on the waiting list at Safeway or Rocky Mountain Pharmacy, as Guy says the clinics are not receiving a supply of the vaccine.
Karen Thompson is happy that her daughter’s Rotary is giving her a Paul Harris Award.
Bill Solms reported major problems with the wind. He is happy he found the top of his Jacuzzi and his garbage can lid, and that his car window has been repaired.
Dave Boon is happy to be sitting with his RYLA friends.
Program
Virgil Holtgrewe introduced our speaker, David Boon, who gave an enthusiastic description of the history and expanding success of Rotary’s amazing RYLA Program.
Begun in 1984 in Estes Park, with Virgil Holtgrewe as one of the founders and an initial group of nine boys, the program will soon celebrate helping 10,000 young boys and girls become leaders. Each summer, several hundred youth attend in two sessions held at the YMCA of the Rockies. In addition to the original Rotary Youth Leadership Award program, Rotary added the Young RYLA program for 8thgraders in 2002. This program has also expanded, now able to serve 144 youth in each camp session. Today, in order to better serve all youth, a new RYLA Plus program is partnering with Easter Seals of Colorado to provide an accessible camping program where physically challenged teens can develop their leadership skills. These three programs depend on Rotary funding and Rotarians serving as Senior Counselors to make it work.
Virgil Holtgrewe received an ovation for his leadership in these efforts over 33 years.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned with the 4-Way Test.
Submitted by Dale Bonza, scribe, and Scott Thompson, photographer
Posted by Rita DuChateau
Friendship Card invites merchant partners
Help others while helping yourself: that’s the purpose of the new Friendship Card. Based on a simplified concept of the former Rocky Card, the new Friendship Card will be sold by the Rotary Club of Estes Park for $10. It will open the door to discounts at local restaurants and stores for a calendar year.
Net proceeds from the sale of the Friendship Card will be used to support Rotary Club of Estes Park’s many charitable projects. The 93-year old club provides grants to community organizations, scholarships for high school seniors, as well as local and international matching grants for projects related to Rotary’s focus areas: peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health,basic education and literacy, and economic and community development.
Karen Thompson, Rotary Club of Estes Park Fund Development chair, is launching the project with her committee members. They are currently asking business owners to become a part of the Friendship Card initiative. In exchange for discounts, merchants will be listed in promotional materials and display a decal advertising their membership in the program.
“The committee sees the Friendship Card as a win-win-win for area merchants, shoppers and local nonprofit organizations, Thompson said. “We look forward to this new adventure and being able to give back to the community.”
The idea for the title came from the Four-Way Test, which Rotarians recite at every meeting: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The Friendship Card will be available for sale at 8-10 area locations, which will be announced when the card launches in May.
If you are a business owner in the Estes Valley and would like to be a participating merchant, please email the Friendship Card Committee at epfriendshipcard@gmail.com. A committee member will promptly follow up with additional information and sincere thanks.
Posted by Chuck Bonza
Help bring safety message to students
Kindergarten students at Estes Park Elementary School will have a close encounter with an otter in May this year.They will learn how to keep themselves safe around water and to always be with an adult. These lifesaving lessons are delivered by our Estes Park Rotary Club members, friends and a rather large otter.
The grandsons of a fellow Rotarian tragically drowned two years ago in the river at Pinewood Springs while playing. They were young students in Estes Park Elementary. Their teacher, Stefanie Hart and their Rotarian grandfather began the Josh the Otter Water Safety Program in Colorado because of his personal loss in Pinewood Springs. This program has spread to many schools in Colorado, includes other service clubs, and can include a visit by a large Josh to hug and love the students.
Josh visits EP Elementary in 2018
Our Rotary is the partner to obtain the books with CD’s the kids receive during the 45- minute reading of the book, singing, and taking the pledge taught by Josh to always be with an adult near the water.
In the past years our Rotary has funded the books and provided 4 people to read to the youngsters. With our new grant program, if no one funds the books for this year, we will try to raise funds during a Rotary meeting in order to purchase the needed books. Typically this effort is $300.
We partner with the Josh Collins Memorial Foundation which is at the center of this effort for the United States. This foundation was started due to a similar incident to ours in Pinewood Springs and has become a partner to many Rotaries and other service organizations across the US to teach the water safety message.
At a future meeting, you will have a chance to respond with funds for this year’s effort.
Posted by Jack Boatman
New program!
Double your gift to a local charity
Our club will not be conducting a community grant program during 2019. In recent years the funds available for distribution via the community grant program have been decreasing and the number of worthy applicants have been increasing. In lieu of the community grant program the Rotary Club of Estes Park Foundation will be implementing a matching charitable donation program to supplement donations to local non-profits from club members.
The maximum matching donation amount for 2019 is $100 per member. The Rotary Club of Estes Park members will be able to apply for matching donations from the Foundation between January 1 and March 31, 2019. The Foundation will be providing matching donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving Estes Valley residents and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State. The Foundation has designated approximately $6,000 for the matching charitable donation program for 2019.
The application form which provides detailed instructions is available on the club website and will be available at the weekly club meetings.
If you have any questions, please contact or email Jack Boatman (email: jack.boatman7@gmail.com / Telephone: 832-623-5647) - Grants Manager
Rotary Quote of the Week
"In 2017-18, we approved 1,300 global grants. Those grants funded large, international projects with measurable, sustainable outcomes. Some were to keep newborn babies alive. Some were to bring clean drinking water and sanitary toilets to communities. And some went to economic development in poor areas. But every dollar had an impact - the kind of impact that lasts."
-Ron D. Burton, 2018-19 Rotary International Foundation Trustee Chair
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