Meeting Notes - November 13 & 20, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!!
On November 13, club members gathered at the Steamboat Springs Middle School where we facilitated the 4 Way Test exercise with all of the 8th graders. The students were great and all attending Rotarians had a wonderful time chatting with their group of students. Many thanks to Leslie Gamel for all of her work and energy on the 4 Way Test Program. Also thanks to the Interact students who came to assist.
At our meeting on November 20th, Leslie Gamel read comments from the 8th graders for thought for the day, Debbie Aragon and Leslie Gamel served as greeters, and Brian Harvey was our Good News Guy. The club sang “For S/He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” to club members celebrating anniversaries for membership within the club, including Rick Bear (19 years), Paula Cooper Black (18 years), Kathy Elliott (1 year), Kris Hammond (25 years), Sam Haslem (31 years), Tom Kern (1 year), Brad Meeks (1 year), Randy Rudasics (6 years), Kerry Shea (5 years), Jim Steinberg (27 years), and Ron Thom (2 years).
Holly Larson talked about the Interact Trip to Agua Prieta, and reminded Rotarians that instead of doing a white elephant gift exchange at the holiday party, the club has chosen to purchase necessities for the orphans in the four orphanages in Agua Prieta. Anyone who wants to contribute, please sign up – the interact students will shop for the gifts and deliver them in January, and your contribution will be billed to you in February. David Lamb noted that he is still accepting applications to the Summer Youth Exchange Program. Jane Denning noted that the club had received a literacy grant from the district for $529.20, and that the club’s grants committee would determine how to spend the funds. Alice Klauzer passed around sign up sheets for thought for the day, and also reminded the club that the club’s holiday party would be held on December 11 at McKnights Pub from 5pm – 8pm. There will not be a meeting on that day – instead, the Christmas Party is a family of Rotary event and Rotarians and their spouses or significant others are encouraged to come celebrate the holidays with the club.
David Lamb, Grant Fenton and Erik Gripentroeg brought the club up to speed on the Community Holiday Party, which will be held at Howelsen Hill on Sunday, December 16. The party is a combination of the 34 year old sledding/holiday party that was previously sponsored by the City, as well as the adoption of 60 families through the United Way Holiday Wishes program which was previously sponsored by Rex Brice and Grant Fenton. The Community Holiday Party is FREE!!! Club members are asked to attend the event (FUN!!!), as well as to sign up to help organize or carry out the various aspects of the evening’s festivities. Facilitating community purchase of gifts for the United Way families has already begun – in addition to the firefighters standing in front of Wal-Mart, an on-line gift registry is in process and should be available soon.
Our program focused on the Old Town Hot Springs. Rich Lowe provided information on the nonprofit that runs the facility, their 100 history (with cool historic photos) and vision for the future (with nice architectural drawings). The Old Town Hot Springs (formerly Health and Rec) serves 70,000 people each year, has 5,000 members, and offers a plethora of programs and classes to residents, visitors, and their dogs (during the poochy paddle) each year. Their vision for the future includes renovating the kiddie pool and lap lanes, a facility expansion over the existing parking lot that would provide additional space for fitness rooms, a climbing wall, meeting rooms.