Jason Stewart, Flight RN and Jairo Quiej, Membership at Care Flight
Care Flight Brings Critical Care to Communities Across Nevada and Northern California
Since 1981, REMSA Health’s Care Flight has connected rural, suburban and mountain communities across northern Nevada and northeastern California with advanced emergency medical care when every minute matters. Care Flight began as a shared helicopter program among regional hospitals and was the first helicopter emergency medical services program west of the Rockies. What started with one aircraft, one pilot and one flight nurse has grown into a comprehensive critical care transport program serving a vast two-state region.
Today, Care Flight operates a fleet that includes four rotor-wing aircraft, one Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft and a critical care ground transport ambulance. Together, these resources allow the team to respond across approximately 50,000 square miles, with bases positioned to support communities including Reno, Carson City, Fallon, Truckee and surrounding areas. Helicopters are typically used for rapid regional response, while the fixed-wing aircraft supports longer transports to specialized care centers in places such as Las Vegas, Utah, the Bay Area and other destinations when services are not available locally.
Care Flight’s strength is not only in its aircraft, but also in the experienced professionals who staff them. Each mission includes a highly trained pilot and a medical crew, typically a critical care nurse and a paramedic. Nurses bring hospital-based emergency and intensive care expertise, while paramedics contribute extensive pre-hospital experience. This combination is especially valuable in the varied environments Care Flight serves—from highways and remote roadsides to alpine terrain and rural hospitals.
Clinical capabilities on board are designed to bring intensive care-level treatment directly to the patient. Crews can manage critical medications, ventilators and advanced procedures, and they are trained for urgent interventions such as airway management and trauma care. A major recent advancement is the addition of whole blood on Care Flight aircraft, allowing clinicians to begin transfusions during transport for patients with life-threatening bleeding, shock, internal injuries or other serious emergencies. This capability can be especially important for patients in rural areas who face longer transport times to definitive care.
Safety and quality remain central to the program. Care Flight pilots must have significant flight experience before joining the team, and crews operate in challenging high desert and mountain conditions where training and judgment are essential. The program also voluntarily participates in rigorous accreditation review through the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, which evaluates areas such as patient care, safety practices, training, quality management and aviation standards.
For community members, Care Flight also offers a membership program that can help reduce out-of-pocket costs if transport is needed. The membership helps cover costs remaining after insurance pays its portion, providing added peace of mind for individuals and families who live, work, or travel in the region.
REMSA speaker was Jason Stewart - flight RN for 10 years now in operations.
Jairo Quiej - membership. Contact him for the discounted $45 membership sign up link. membership@remsahealth.org
Thank you to Heidi Saucedo for the great article this week!
Past President Sam Steele roasts President Graham Rogney at Graham's demotion party at the Minden Rotary Gazebo bandstand
Graham provided us with many amazing memories this past year - including his dancing skills!
Minden Rotary Past Presidents Howard Vipperman, Skip Pardee and Jim Hales ponder whether their presidential years even come close to the active year Graham laid out for us! Ten new members and 100 community service projects - AMAZING!
President Graham officially becomes Past President when he put the Rotary Club President pin on incoming President Pat Garrahan
Minden Rotarians celebrating an amazing year with President Graham Rogney
Our outbound exchange student for 26-27,, Madi Francis, expresses appreciation to the club for sponsoring her and giving her the opportunity.
Madi has a fundraising goal for this outbound exchange, to the tune of $2,500, then another $5,000 she must fund herself for the program and she has already paid towards the program. She will be working on community fundraising this summer. Please consider giving a donation to assist Madi. Madi will join us at our meeting on July 9th.
2026 Giving Cup Winning Team METCALF BUILDERS; Travis Lee, Bob Leighton, Bryce Clutts and Frank Torres
Metcalf Builders Defends Title at the 5th Annual Giving Cup Golf Tournament Beneath brilliant blue skies and perfect spring weather, the 5th Annual GivingCup Golf Tournament, hosted by the Rotary Club of Minden on May 16 at Genoa Lakes Golf Course, once again proved that a day on the greens can change lives. With 124 golfers taking to the course and an enthusiastic crowd gathering for lunch to celebrate the day’s accomplishments, the tournament blended friendly competition with an even greater purpose — supporting the youth of Carson Valley. This year’s coveted GivingCup was proudly claimed once again by the outstanding team from Metcalf Builders — Travis Lee, Bob Leighton, Bryce Clutts, and Frank Torres — who successfully defended their championship after capturing the title in 2025. Their back-to-back victory cements their place in Giving Cup history and adds another memorable chapter to this growing community tradition. More than just a golf tournament, the Giving Cup is one of the Rotary Club of Minden’s signature fundraising events. Thanks to extraordinary generosity of sponsors, players, volunteers, and community supporters, this year’s event raised more than $45,000 to benefit Carson Valley youth. Such remarkable success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of major sponsors including The Wray Family Foundation, Black Dog Companies, VIP Rubber, Raymond James Rogney Wealth Management, Carson Valley Health, Kolbe Custom Builders, Metcalf Builders, Michelle Francis Intero Real Estate, and, Eastside Memorial.
This year’s primary beneficiary, Family Support Council, provides vital education, intervention and prevention services that foster healthy families and brighter futures throughout Carson Valley. In addition, proceeds from the tournament will continue to support local nonprofits, educators, and community organizations dedicated to serving at-risk youth — extending the impact of every swing, every putt, and every generous contribution far beyond the fairways. The Rotary Club of Minden extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, volunteered, sponsored, and celebrated this year’s Giving Cup. Together, you demonstrated that when a community comes together with purpose, compassion and generosity, remarkable things happen. Mark your calendars for May 15, 2027, and join us for another unforgettable day at the 6th Annual Giving Cup Golf Tournament, where great golf meets an even greater cause.
The Rotary Club of Minden is happy to welcome the following new members:
Ric Casper is a graduate from Carson City High (but is quick to add his 3 kids all graduated from Douglas High). He attended BYU as an undergraduate and Yale Law School. He worked for the US Attorney's office for 4 years before coming back home and working for the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
Loral Langemeier from Live Out Loud Publishing. Loral has 2 kids (Logan age 25 and Tristan age 18). She is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan, has an MA from Omaha and is a writer. AND she's dating President Graham.
Eric Barter from Bad Boys Bail Bonds (Past President from the Rotary Club of Arcadia). See the October 23rd newsletter for Eric's craft talk.
Daniel Crawford, sponsored by Howard Vipperman. It was said he is the first native American to become a member in the Rotary Club of Minden. He is a Douglas County native, spent time in Diamond Valley, graduated from school in Douglas, served on tribal council, works for Washoe Native TANF as the project and resource specialist, and attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence Kansas. Craft talk about his current occupation done at the December 4th meeting!
Mark Gardner, sponsored by Dick Schwabe, was inducted into membership on March 12. Mark is the current Chairman of the Douglas County.
Kathy Morales received her badge and Rotary pin March 5, 2026.
Warner Quon is the father of a current Rotary President (in Colorado)! Warner was inducted at the Rotary Foundation Dinner on April 9, 2026.
Jill Borggreve found out about Rotary through Sam Steele and the Pickleball Pancake Breakfasts. Jill was inducted at the Rotary Foundation Dinner on April 9, 2026.
Andy Sheppard received his red badge on May 7, 2026. Andy has an Electrical Engineering degree from Sac State and spent time in the Navy. He has been involved with startups in California - and is very glad to be out of that state.
Wes Brogran has lived in the Carson Valley his entire life - with the exception of time in the Air Force. He has a 5 year old son and is a Commercial Real Estate Agent.
We look forward to hearing the rest of the craft talks soon and getting to know you better!
Nominate the Minden Rotary for the Best Non-Profit Organization and the Best Service Organization!
Nominations for Best of Carson Valley 2026 are open!
Nominate local businesses that make Carson Valley home! It only takes a moment to support local businesses and organizations.
You may nominate once per day for each category. Organizations with the most nominations will move on to the final voting ballot.
Nominations run through July 12. Voting on the final ballot will start July 29th and run through August 16th. Results will be announced in The Record-Courier on October 3rd.
Thank you for helping find the Best of Carson Valley!
