Past President Betsy Jansen shared some excellent advice with us in her Invocation last week as we all search for ways to respond to the frightening and depressing headlines that seem to be telling us that Mother Nature is at war with us and we are at war with ourselves. Betsy encouraged us to redouble our efforts as Rotary members to support those in need in our community, to focus on what we can do and not be overwhelmed by events we can't control. That is the best antidote to "compassion fatigue." Of course, we all can write checks to support our favorite projects, and exhort our legislators to do their jobs, but I took Betsy's advice last week and tried to think outside the box with what actions I could take to make an immediate difference in someone's life.
I had a client who was willing to donate an almost new washer and dryer so I called Gateway Battered Women's Shelter. They were delighted to pick them up and give her a tax write off. So please keep them in mind, along with Comitis, Ronald McDonald House and Habitat for Humanity if you have big ticket items to recycle, including appliances, furniture, and clothing in good condition.
I also have a close friend who has been dealing with terrible pain from hip replacement surgery that went wrong. She has to wait three months before they can do more surgery to remedy the problem and she is very afraid that she is going to become addicted to the opiates her doctor has been prescribing. So I made my first trip ever to a pot dispensary to buy her some CBD patches, which have the marijuana derivative that relieves pain without making you high. So if you saw me coming out of Medicine Man on Havana last week, I wanted to let you know that being your President hasn't turned me into a pothead...yet!
Monday's Groaner or Grinner!
Here's a little story that Talee sent me called The Living Will.
Last night my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them,
"I never want to be in a vegetative state dependent on some machine and fluids
from a bottle. If that ever happens, I am instructing you to just pull the plug."
So they got up, unplugged my computer and threw out my wine!!!
Where did I go wrong?
PP Craig Essex just spent a week with 135 Middle Schoolers at Young RYLA.
Triple Winner Day for PP Craig Essex. He contributed to the "If not for Smoky Hill" at the top of the newsletter, he had a splendid Invocation, and then he reported on surviving thriving with the 138 Young RYLA (yRYLA) campers and his team of eleven 8th Grade Leaders. Two of yRYLA's campers were sponsored by Smoky Hill. "135 campers showed up on the first day not knowing anyone, and by the end of the week, nobody wanted to leave!" Thanks for your passion for RYLA, Craig! You are an inspiration and an awesome Rotarian!
Four years ago Ashley Barber was awarded a Smoky Hill Rotary Foundation four year scholarship after Graduation from Overland HS. Ashley just graduated from UNC in Greeley with a degree in Elementary Education. She is off to Madrid, Spain to teach English. She stopped by to thank Smoky Hill for our help in getting her degree and we were thrilled to see her! Even though she is off to Spain in 2 weeks, PEv Talee Crowe convinced her to sell raffle tickets at the Golf Tournament on Friday. Your Editarian is not sure which is the bigger accomplishment: Ashley's degree or Talee's persuasion.
Congratulations and good luck to Ashley! We'd love to hear from you in a year about your adventures in Spain! Good luck!
PP Gary Frisch happily reported that we are just a few golfers short of a full house for Friday's Golf Tournament!
PEv and Day of Event Boss Talee Crowe showed off her leadership skills today by confirming everyone's Golf Tourney Duties. Smoky Hill doesn't do everything great (OK we do darn near everything well) but we sure as heck know how to run events! Talee once again modeled the official SHRC uniform of the day, and comforted our server, Shauna, that she was feeling great, she was just dressing in the uniform of the day the past few weeks for the Golf Tournament! Talee promises 78 degrees for a high and no rain on Friday--a perfect Colorado day. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and maybe a light jacket for that 6AM arrival at CommonGround! See ya there!
Sarge Paul Urtz contemplating telling the Colin Firth joke...
President Nancy announced that the next Board Meeting is September 7th, 5:30 PM at Susan Aubin's office. Board members, should, of course, make every effort to attend.
PP Darryl Harvey sent two sign up sheets around the room, the first for our Century Elementary Special Things Walmart buying trip on Saturday, August 12th with the families, and then a Rotarian only school supplies shopping spree after the meeting on Monday, August 14th. Let Darryl know if you, your spouse, and your kids can attend the Walmart shopping trip.
Sgt. @ Arms PPX2 Paul Urtz announced special birthday greetings for our President Nancy, on August 2nd. Happy Birthday, Nancy! Getting the last word as our speaker got the first words today, Paul gave out lottery prizes to PP Bill "2 in a row" Maclay, a "Middlin" prize to Pat Pogue, and the "Big" prize to PP Lloyd Gottman. Oh, and then there was the Colin Firth joke...
Erin Gangloff was back to tell us all about the Colorado Golf Association and CommonGround Golf Club's commitment to youth in Aurora and Denver. They host a Caddy College for 8th Graders. These students need to keep a 3.0 grade point in school and then caddy for two summers at CommonGround, receiving a grant and the opportunity for paid caddying at public and private clubs in the metro area and for scholarships to college. Included in their curriculum are some leadership skills including The Cowboy Code!
The CGA also works with the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program to work with Elite Junior Golfers both on the course and with the mental game. They also bring golf to 4th and 5th grade classrooms, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, and other community organizations to promote the game of golf. Juniors (under age 18) can play the Par 3 course for no charge at any time.
As President Nancy said, "Erin, you are a perfect combination of talent and passion!"
.png)
PP Craig Essex just spent a week with 135 Middle Schoolers at Young RYLA.
PP Clay Fell re-introduced Ashley Barber to SHRC.
PP Gary Frisch happily reported that we are just a few golfers short of a full house for Friday's Golf Tournament!
PEv and Day of Event Boss Talee Crowe showed off her leadership skills today by confirming everyone's Golf Tourney Duties. Smoky Hill doesn't do everything great (OK we do darn near everything well) but we sure as heck know how to run events! Talee once again modeled the official SHRC uniform of the day, and comforted our server, Shauna, that she was feeling great, she was just dressing in the uniform of the day the past few weeks for the Golf Tournament! Talee promises 78 degrees for a high and no rain on Friday--a perfect Colorado day. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and maybe a light jacket for that 6AM arrival at CommonGround! See ya there!
Sarge Paul Urtz contemplating telling the Colin Firth joke...
Erin Gangloff was back to tell us all about the Colorado Golf Association and CommonGround Golf Club's commitment to youth in Aurora and Denver. They host a Caddy College for 8th Graders. These students need to keep a 3.0 grade point in school and then caddy for two summers at CommonGround, receiving a grant and the opportunity for paid caddying at public and private clubs in the metro area and for scholarships to college. Included in their curriculum are some leadership skills including The Cowboy Code! 
