Rotary Foundation Centennial Celebration Draws Large Crowd

 

Some 140 Rotarian families, friends, Interact club students and prospective members from Steamboat Springs and Craig participated in a dinner and celebration of The Rotary Foundation Centennial November 10^th in Steamboat Springs.  A private reception for Paul Harris Fellows was held beforehand. 

            Rotary Peace Scholar Jeff Runyan and RI Director-Elect Larry Dimmitt were the featured speakers.  Runyan, a Colorado native, received a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and a Rotary World Peace Fellowship in International Peace and Conflict Resolution.  He shared his experiences working with groups in Thailand, Malaysia and India. 

            “Rotary has given me both the inspiration and the wherewithal to make a difference in the world,” he said.  Runyan and his wife Emily now work for The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) based in Genesee, Colorado.  Runyan directs their international mission program which has mobilized thousands of university students to participate in service trips in 45 different countries.

            Director-Elect Dimmitt congratulated the three sponsoring Rotary clubs in Steamboat Springs and Craig for putting together the event.  “The turnout tonight is absolutely fabulous, “he said.  He spoke about The Rotary Foundation’s amazing achievements over the past 100 years, including one of the Foundation’s “gems,” a peace scholarship program which resulting in more than 1,000 graduates from 120 different countries.  “Last year alone 89 peace scholars from 39 countries received program awards totaling $3.8 million dollars through the Foundation,” he said.

            The idea for the dinner came about at the 2016 President Elect Training Seminar in Denver.  Then Presidents-elect Steve Hitchcock (RC of Steamboat Springs), Scott Parker (Ski Town USA RC) and Assistant Governor Randy Looper (RC of Craig) agreed to stage some form of multiple club celebration to commemorate the Foundation Centennial.  Scott Marr, Past president of the noon Rotary club chaired the event.  Although Craig president Leif Albaugh was unable to attend that first meeting, he was enthusiastic in his support and joined the other club leaders at the centennial dinner.

            Ten members of the Steamboat Springs Interact Club also attended the dinner and helped with ticket distribution.  Following the formal presentations they gathered around peace scholar Runyan and his wife Emily to learn more about his work with Rotary and conflict resolution.

            “We made a conscious choice to make this a ‘celebration’ rather than a fund-raiser,” Steve Hitchcock said.  The $50 admission included a full three-course dinner, music by a well-known jazz group, and dancing.  All three Rotary clubs contributed additional money to support the event. 

 “We wanted our Rotarians, friends and prospective members to share in the rich history and accomplishments of The Rotary Foundation,” Hitchcock said.   On the other hand, he expects the excitement generated by the dinner to increase contributions to the Foundation.  He also plans to launch a matching program to encourage Rotarians to reach their first Paul Harris Fellowship or attain the next Paul Harris Fellowship level.