At our recent Longmont Rotary meeting, John Ricks, Executive Director of Visit Longmont, presented an overview of the city’s growing visitor economy and strategic tourism initiatives. Visit Longmont operates as a 501(c)(6) non-profit funded by a 2% lodger tax and a 2% Longmont Tourism Improvement District (LTID) assessment, generating roughly $1 million in annual revenue for destination promotion.
Elaine Waterman, Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Center, gave Longmont Rotary an engaging overview of the organization’s role as a creative and cultural cornerstone of the community.
Waterman highlighted the Firehouse’s three key areas of work: exhibitions, education and cultural events, all underpinned by a strong commitment to community.
Longmont Rotary was proud to present the Longmont Concert Band with an $800 contribution to support its work bringing free live music to our community. What began with just 15 musicians in 2003 has grown into an ensemble of approximately 70 volunteers of all ages.
Longmont Rotary was proud to take part in Unity in the Community, spending the evening connecting with Longmont residents, sharing the work of Rotary, and having plenty of fun along the way. From a very popular face-painting station to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, our booth stayed busy throughout the evening!
Longmont Rotary is partnering with Born to Read and the Longmont Community Foundation to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to families throughout Longmont. Launched locally in May 2025, the program provides every registered child with a free, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their home every month from birth until their fifth birthday. Families can choose English or bilingual English-Spanish books, and there is no cost or income qualification.
Neil Barker's presentation on the 2026 FIFA World Cup outlines his comprehensive tournament experience. The talk details key facts about the expanded 48-team competition, featuring 104 matches played across 16 host cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Barker explored various tournament elements, including marketing branding, host city posters, the official "Trionda" match ball, mascots, and the volunteer program structure.
Hope Bartlett, Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Longmont, provided an overview of Longmont’s water supply, current drought conditions and the importance of conservation. She explained that Colorado’s growing population, limited and increasingly variable water supplies, and climate change make long-term water efficiency planning essential.
Dr. Scott McIntosh Chief Scientific Officer of Lynker Space presented Longmont Rotary with an engaging look at space weather and its growing impact on modern society. He explained that space weather describes changes in the environment between the Sun and Earth, including solar radiation and eruptions that can disrupt satellites, communications, power systems and other critical infrastructure.
When Jason Vallery took the stage at our recent Rotary meeting, he brought both a big personal announcement and a eye-opening look into the world of artificial intelligence. Vallery shared that on August 3, he is officially launching a Front Range AI consulting firm alongside his son, a computer science student at CU Boulder, to help regional businesses roll out and scale AI technology effectively.
Longmont Rotary members welcomed an engaging presentation on the remarkable success of NextLight, Longmont's municipally owned fiber internet service. Valerie Dodd, Executive Director, credited former Mayor Leona Stoecker and community leaders whose vision in 1996 laid the foundation for a city-owned fiber network, despite legislative challenges that initially prevented municipalities from providing broadband services. Their perseverance ultimately helped pave the way for communities across Colorado to build their own fiber networks.
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Service Above Self
Longmont, CO 80501
United States