Rotogear for March 26, 2008

RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson's Website

The Rotogear
of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins

March 26, 2008

Steve Fairchild

As only the 19th head coach in the program’s 115 year history, last December CSU appointed Steve Fairchild, a former Ram quarterback and assistant coach. In his first Rotary appearance as head coach, Coach Fairchild will discuss … well, uh… football. Fairchild first came to CSU in 1978 as a junior-college All-American quarterback. In 1980 he earned second-team all-conference honors, behind BYU’s Jim McMahon. Steve graduated from CSU in 1981 with a BS in economics, and earned his master’s in education from Azusa Pacific.

In 1993 Fairchild rejoined CSU when Coach Sonny Lubick appointed him quarterback coach on his original coaching staff. Four years later Fairchild replaced Dave Lay as offensive coordinator. During Fairchild’s tenure, the Rams were a combined 37-12, and experienced unprecedented offensive success, including: the school’s all time scoring record (442 points, 59 touchdowns in 1997); 5 of 6 conference championships earned during the Lubick era; 5 bowl games; three end-of-season Top 25 rankings (15th, 16th and 14th); three conference offensive players of the year; four NFL draft choices; and multiple1,000-yard rushers in consecutive seasons (1996-97), making CSU the first Division 1-A school to achieve that milestone.

In 2001 Steve joined the NFL’s Buffalo Bills as Running Back Coach, coaching Travis Henry to a Pro-Bowl season. In 2003 he joined the St. Louis Rams as offensive coordinator/quarterback coach, achieving three straight offensive Top 10 rankings and consecutive playoff appearances. He rejoined the Buffalo Bills in 2006 as Offensive Coordinator.

Coach Fairchild is known for developing young players to reach their maximum potential, and clearly builds strong relationships, having been part of the Buffalo organization twice, and now returning to CSU for his third stint. In 1999 Coach Lubick nominated Fairchild for the Frank Broyles Award for the nation’s outstanding assistant coach, and recommended Fairchild as his own replacement.

Steve and wife Nancy have two daughters, Lindsey (20) and Jill (17).

Presiding at Last Weeks Meeting

Larry Kunter

Bill Moellenhoff

Marge Norskog

Presiding & Introductions: Chuck Rutenberg

Invocation & Pledge: Larry Kunter

Song Leader: Bill Moellenhoff

Greeters: Lenn Motta, Marge Norskog & Jim Harper

Introductions: none

Microphone: Garth McCann

Guests Last Week

Martin Shields, Kris Boesch, Peter Farquar, guests of the club

Michelle Sankel, guest of Tammy Nieman

Todd Zahn, guest of Max Getts

Jean Lamm, guest of Betty Brown

Visiting Rotarians

none

Announcements

Phillis Abt

Jan Bertholf

Bob Meroney

1. Chuck Rutenberg reminded members of the second potluck dinner on March 28. Judy Boggs has the list of locations. The host/hostess will be in touch to inform members what to bring.

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2. Phyllis Abt recalled last year’s “Talent Show”. Back by popular demand, This year’s big show will be on April 9. Those wishing to perform should contact Phyllis, Melanie Chamberlain, or Bonnie Titley no later than March 26.

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3. Jan Bertholf encouraged members again to consider taking the Russian Rhapsody river trip. It is a fund raiser for the club. Information is available from Jim Mucklow. Don’t miss this chance to see blue whales—a bonus not included in the printed description.

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4. Bob Meroney asked the Scholarship Committee to gather after the meeting to continue to review the applications.

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5. Max Getts: First, he asked that new members sign up for the April 3 Four-way Test Program. We need more participants; they will find the experience exhilarating. Next, he referred members to the sheets on the table that portrayed “Rotarians Older Than Dirt”. His gadgets this week included a 48-star flag, a postage scale that looked like a ruler, and an old-fashioned waving hairclip. Finally, he asked members to pick a number between 1 and 75. With 29, Bill West won a brown bag filled with who-knows-whats from Max’s garage.

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Your Announcement Right Here!!!!!

Want more members aware of your announcement? Get it in the web and print Rotogears before the meeting.

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Board of Directors Meeting Notes

The Board of Directors at its regular monthly meeting received membership applications for Kris Boesch, sponsored by Bill West and Bill Moellenhoff and for Carl Hammerdorfer, sponsored by Dave Schump and Paul Hudnut. Kris is CEO of Exodus Moving and Storage and her classification will be Moving and Storage - Management. Carl is the director of the GSSE Program at CSU and his classification will be Education - Business. If club members have any comments on these applications, please address them to the Club Secretary, Donal Johnson, within the next seven days after the announcement in the print Rotogear.

The board approved the ten grants recommended by Marj Walsh and the Community Grants Committee. The total amount of the grants will be $16,000. The board thanked Marj and the committee for their work. The grants will be formally awarded at our meeting on April 2.

The Board granted leaves of absence to Jeanne Fangman, Tara Zeleny and Judy MacDonald and a medical leave for Lloyd Thomas. The board also acknowledged the resignation of Rex Smithgall.

Special Paul Harris Fellowship Award

Matt Rankin

Bonnie Titley presented a Paul Harris Fellow to Matt Rankin in recognition of his contributions to the Club. The award was sponsored anonymously by a member of the “Circle of Paul Harris Fellows”. Matt thanked both his sponsor and the club for being an inspiration to him.

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action." -- Frank Tibolt

"The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions." - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Committee Spotlight

CSU Student Athletes Committee

Co-Chairs: Shelly Godkin & Bill Schaffter

Meeting time: Call of the Chair.

Purpose:

1. To recognize and honor the Colorado State University Student Athletes and Coaches from each Inter-Collegiate sport.

2. To acknowledge specific team and individual "special" accomplishments during the academic year.

3. To continue the traditional annual "MVP" Awards luncheon at a Rotary Club meeting for the selected Student Athletes. The "MVPs" are determined by the coaches/teams, as appropriate.

4. To enhance public awareness of the Colorado State University Athletic program.

Guidelines:

Shelly Godkin

Bill Schaffter

During the academic year, student athletes and coaches from the university will be invited to attend the weekly Rotary Club meeting for lunch, introductions and brief remarks.
Invitations will be extended on the occasion of "out-of-the-ordinary" accomplishments in any inter-collegiate varsity sport. Examples of such accomplishments are: Conference Player of the week; setting a school, conference or national record; being selected as tournament "MVP," and numerous other possibilities.
The annual Awards luncheon at Rotary will take place in mid-April of each year. Each "MVP" will be presented an appropriate engraved plaque.
Team trophies for each team, sponsored by the Rotary Club and individual Rotarians, will be displayed at the meeting and engraved with the "MVPs" name after the Awards luncheon.

Members can find information about all committees by visiting the online list of all of the club's committees on the web at: FC Rotary Club Committees

Last Week's Program

Maury Dobbie

The program last week was about the regional economy. Maury Dobbie of Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. and Martin Shields, the regional economist at CSU were the speakers.

Maury talked about her organization. The purpose of NCEDC is to "sustain and enhance the economic vitality of Northern Colorado while maintaining our environmental and quality of life." She said that the two questions most asked by corporations potentially locating in the region are, "what is the educational level of the work force and is the work force skilled in the global economy?"

Martin Shields

Martin Shields gave us a review of the past, present and future economit picture of the region. The region covers Larimer and Weld counties. He gave four factors that keep the regions economic outlook more positive than that of the U.S. First the regions economy is diverse. CSU's steadying effect through enployment, student population and new businesses is a the second reason. The region's educated workforce is the third stabilizing reason. And the fourth reason for optimism is that the local housing market is on firmer ground than much of the U.S., meaning less exposure to the nation's credit market woes.

Martin said that county job growth remains modest, with preliminary numbers showing a 1.8 percent increase for 2008 and about 2.5 percent for the next few years.

Calendar

Mar 28 - Second Pot Luck Fellowship Dinner, members signed up will get a call about times and places.

Apr 03 - 4-Way Test at Weber Junior High, see Max Getts for details

May 15 - RYLA, deadline for clubs to submit signed applications to registrar

Jun. 5-7 - District Confernce in Cody, Wyoming, see Don Johnson is interested

Jun. 15-18 - Rotary International Convention in LA

Future Meetings

Apr 02 - Community Grants, Marj Walsh

Apr 09 - Second Annual Talent Show

Apr 16 - CSU Athletes Recognition, organized by Shelly Godkin

Apr 23 - Service Above Self Awards Dinner, evening program

Apr 30 - open