Year 37 Volume 21 (Dec 03, 2018)

CLUB NEWS

SANTA CLAUS (a.k.a. PP DARRYL HARVEY) HAS FILLED HIS SLEIGH (a.k.a. VAN) FULL OF 42 GIFTS for the kiddos from Century Elementary School. Santa Darryl is seen getting ready to load the gifts with one of his many elves, PP Craig Essex, and standing outside with the sleigh full of gifts with another elf, PP Jeff Kaes. The gifts are now spread around the living room of Santa Darryl's home at the North Pole (a.k.a. East Aurora), are being sorted by family and will be delivered to the school sometime this week. Darryl and President Talee Crowe thanked the club for all the gifts and the joy of seeing all of them under Talee's beautiful Christmas tree at the holiday party this past Saturday evening.

It's not too late to purchase $25 gift cards for Gateway Domestic Violence Services from King Soopers, Safeway, Target, Walmart, etc. and get them to Darryl in the next week or so! PP Bill Maclay will let us know when the gift cards will be delivered to Gateway.

President Talee thanked Club Services Chair PP Terry Remigio and Linda for arriving early at the party and making 1,400 trips, give or take, to and from their car to unload the libations, etc. She also pointed out how great it was to see Kyle Hammer and April Rasmussen and their spouses and yes, Sue Engelstad at the party! The appetizers + drinks + socializing with fellow Rotarians and their spouses was fabulous! Thanks to Talee for sharing her beautiful home with everyone!

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE … PP Jim Suss reminded Rotarians that today, December 4th, was the day to prepare and serve food at The Ronald McDonald House. More will be reported on this next week by PP Betsy Jansen and/or others, but 15 Rotarians, spouses and friends of Rotary were on hand today to cook Cheesy Ground Beef & Rice, a garden salad and cupcakes for the families at the House. The front desk said all rooms except for one were occupied for the night. It was fun to watch everyone maneuver they way around the kitchen! It was also great to see Rich Johnson, Tamila Bauer (our speaker from last week), Colleen Ferrell (subbing for PP Jeff Kaes from his office) and as always, Jason Harvey!

THE PEACEFUL SCHOOLS PROGRAM will be held on Tuesday, December 11 from 1pm to 2pm at Century Elementary School. It will be presented to one first grade class and two second grade classes. The Peaceful Schools Program promotes and supports safer, more respectful, bully-free environments for our children and youth by teaching important skills for thoughtful problem solving and healthy relationships. Using Rotary's 4-Way Test as guiding principles, along with selected books, activities and songs, the program teaches important social and emotional skills including expressing feelings, building community, resolving conflicts, and celebrating diversity. High school students will mentor, read and lead the kids through the activities. PE Hugh Radke needs at least two volunteers from Rotary to help him out on December 11. If you are inclined to help, contact Hugh as soon as possible. The next Peaceful Schools programs will be held on January 8 and February 12.

SMOKY HILL ROTARVARIETY OF NEWS … It great to see PP Bill Maclay today. President Talee acknowledged Bill and said a donation to Polio Plus will be made in the memory of Bill and Leigh's son. January 25, 2019 is the RI President's Dinner and Prez Talee Crowe would like to see Smoky Hill occupy a full table. RI President Barry Rassin will speak. The cost is $65 per person and you can go to the District's website for more information and to make reservations. The Charter Night Dinner is being held on Saturday, January 19 so there will be no meeting on Monday, January 21. Program Co-Chair PP Dave Maxwell is hosting a White Elephant Gift Exchange as the program for our meeting on December 17. Dave passed out 9 gift exchange rules and 3 types of gifts (no Rotary golf shirts!) you can bring, but one wrapped gift only. Serious gamers should memorize the rules and bring a "nice" (not "naughty) gift for $25 or less because you win a prize if it gets re-gifted 3 times!

When you break a wine glass, any glass, at a party it is hard to be inconspicuous. Just ask PP Joe Hughes. Apparently President Talee was on the scene within seconds after hearing the sound of glass breaking at the holiday party on Saturday. Joe was very kind to present Talee with a new wine (did I hear plastic?) glass on Monday. There was another, much smaller, innocent incident when an unnamed Rotarian's overcoat, brushed against a glass of red wine, placed by someone else way too close to the edge of a table, causing the wine to gently cascade to the floor. No broken glass. But Holy Cow, as you can see in this picture, The Woman in Red (a.k.a. Prez Talee) was there in about 3 seconds despite no sound of breaking glass! Fortunately, the Editarian happened to be at the scene, and after seeing The Woman in Red approach, removed his overcoat so he could capture this picture showing the red wine beading up on the impermeable wood floor. No harm, no foul ... right?

THIS WEEK'S THOUGHT … "Helping others is one of the simplest ways to fill our life with joy and fulfillment."

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

Donna Ralston is a trained home economist from Ohio University, worked in the landscape industry for over 20 years and then started the South Metro Medical Equipment Loan Closet (SMMELC) in April 2016. SMMELC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Prior to 2016, there were organizations who loaned out medical equipment but they put many restrictions in place. The first challenge was the collection of donated medical equipment and now SSMELC has over 900 pieces of equipment. Its mission is to provide used durable medical equipment to persons age 18 and over who need it for a short term loan in the south metro area of Denver.

They are 100% volunteer organization (no government funding) and are open every day from 8-5pm except Sunday. From July 2016 to July 2018, SSMELC operated out of a 10'x10' outdoor shed, now they have a warehouse facility near Arapahoe Road and South Dayton in Greenwood Village. Their new entrance conveniently has a loading stoop for trucks! SMMELC does not pick up or deliver medical equipment, clients and donors are met at the warehouse by appointment six days a week. They will assist anyone who calls regardless of the reason or where they live. Clients come from many types of situations and 49% are from Arapahoe County (the rest from Douglas, Jefferson, Adams & Denver counties). All of the equipment is loaned out for free on a short term basis, up to 3 months. They do ask for donations to help pay for overhead costs and on average, they receive a donation of $25-$30 for each loaner. Overhead expenses (rent, insurance, cleaning, repair supplies) run about $1,000 per month.

Equipment available includes ambulatory aids, bathroom aids, bedroom aids, hygiene aids and some bariatric equipment (no breathing or blood equipment). Volunteers have to be trained on how the use the equipment so they can assist customers. SMMELC finds permanent homes for some of the large equipment like lift chairs, and other excess equipment or equipment not suited for their operation is passed on to other organizations such as Project Cure.

SMMELC needs more volunteers and financial support to defray its overhead costs. 720-443-2013; info@medicalequipmentloan.org; www.medicalequipmentloan.org

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