As the seasons begin to change, it’s a good reminder for us to slow down and notice what’s happening around us.
Here in the Yampa Valley, we’re fortunate to live in a place where the changing colors, crisp mornings, and beauty of the mountains make it hard not to stop and take it all in. But in the busyness of work, family, Rotary, and everyday life, it’s easy to rush right past it.
This week, take a moment to be present. Look around. Appreciate where we live, the people we share it with, and the opportunity we have to make a difference in this community.
Sometimes gratitude starts simply by slowing down long enough to notice how much we already have.
Weekly Meeting Recap - September 22, 2026
Good News: $604 collected for our scholarship fund - Thank you, David Box, for leading Good News and all Rotarians for contributing!
Attendance: 46 Rotarians, 5 Guests
Greeters: Shawn McPhee and Jeff Wingate
Lunch Provided By: Mazzola's
New Member Induction: It was our pleasure to induct Kristin Drury as the newest member of our Club. Kristin is the new Superintendent of the Steamboat Springs School District and is going to be an excellent addition to our Club. Welcome, Kristin!
Announcements:
Rotary Community Grant – We're currently accepting applications for our Community Needs Grant round. Applications are due October 1st. See more information below if you know of an organization that would like to or should apply. Also if you want to join the committee, please reach out to Tara.
Opportunities for Service: Our Third Grade Dictionary Project is happening soon. Our Club gives a dictionary to every third grader in Routt County. Be on the lookout for the volunteer sign-up coming electronically to your email.
Program: We learned about the Healthy Hearts & Minds program from UCHealth's Matt Rapeski. This is a school-based education and prevention initiative that empowers local youth with heart-healthy habits. If you missed the meeting or just want to learn more, check out: https://www.uchealth.org/services/community-health/healthy-hearts-and-minds/
Next Meeting: Presentation from the Yampa Valley Airport Commission marketing committee. We'll be meeting at the Community Center as usual.
Upcoming Non-Profit & Community Events Shared By Rotarians:
Each year, to promote literacy, our club provides a hard-copy dictionary to every third-grade student in Routt County. Our members personally visit each local elementary school and distribute the dictionaries to the students. Our club has been doing this project for 20 years and has distributed over 6,000 dictionaries during that time.
To volunteer for this project, please use the signup link by clicking here.
Rotarian Shout-Outs:
Everyone who showed up and helped with Flower Barrel Pick-Up! Love seeing our Club come together like this in getting our hands dirty and for grand fellowship. An extra special shout out to Gillian Morris and Angela Cosby for leading the efforts!
Steve Shenert - At the meeting on Sept 1 we learned that the Rotary laptop was no longer operable. Steve took on the project to figure out what was going on and get it out for repair. Thanks for stepping up Steve!
Dan Austin and Bill Steelman - Hosted a get-together with the students that recently went to RYLA to brainstorming session to see if they might have the capacity to develop and champion a project they see as important. They had some great ideas and want to do something around literacy.
ProDo Rotary Volunteers - Big shout out to Jim Steinberg, Michelle Ganci, Jane Toothaker, Steve Dugan, Jeff Wingate, Tara Weaver and a whole slew of Interact Students who volunteered at the LiftUp ProDo drive in September. During the drive, we helped raise $686 cash and collected 1,350 lbs of food for the Food Bank. Kuddos!
Rotary Grant Round Happening Now:
Help spread the word!
The Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs has a long history of supporting local non-profit organizations. Since 2004, the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs alone has distributed 271 grants to 87 non-profits, totaling $432,328!
The charitable needs of our community are great, and annually the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs distributes community grantsup to $2,000 each to deserving local organizations.
The Community Grant program focuses on activities that primarily serve youth and seniors in the community but is not limited to these activities. Applications for programs benefiting the overall community are also welcome.
Applications Open From:
September 1 - October 1
For more about our Grant program or to access the grant application, visit our website:
If you're interested in joining the Grant Committee, please reach out to Grant Chair Tara Weaver.
Rotary Monthly Meet-Up:
If you're interested in participating in the Meet-Up for October and you haven't previously participated, email Kim Hix at kimhix.sb@gmail.com.
If you're already signed up, you'll continue to be matched each month unless you tell Kim something different. Keep in mind this is a fun way to get to know fellow Rotarians, but if any given month you are too swamped, you can meet your match another time or decline and ask them to reach out to another Rotarian.
Save the Date:
World Polio Day is October 24th. Our Club, along with the Ski Town Morning Rotary Club, is going to come together on that date to help promote and raise awareness and funds to help continue to eradicate polio through PINTS FOR POLIO.
What: Pints For Polio
What: Rotarians & Community come together to raise funds and awareness about the eradication of polio
When: October 24th 4pm-6pm
Where: Mountain Tap Brewery
A little more: A portion of every pint or pizza purchased at this social event will go towards the eradication of polio thanks to the generousity of Mountain Tap Brewery.
We also plan to have some fun door prizes, etc, so SAVE THE DATE and plan to bring a family member, friend, colleague, etc with you. More to come!
Rotary 5440 District:
Check out the District 5440 Fall Assembly. This is event is free and via zoom so you can attend and learn from the comfort of your couch.
