Rotogear for April 2, 2008

RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson's Website

The Rotogear
of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins

April 2, 2008

Community Grants Awards Program

Marj Walsh

Today our Community Grants Committee will announce 10 local organizations selected to receive grants for 2008, and hear plans for using the money directly from those organizations.

The Community Grants process can best be described as ‘the agony and the ecstasy’. Even living in "America's Best Place to Live," Rotarians find many unmet needs, and in living our motto “Service Above Self”, those needs are brought to Rotary's attention. The Community Grants committee is responsible for reviewing and selecting the most compelling needs among the many worthy opportunities.

Requests for proposals are made in February with a deadline of late February or early March. Interested 501(C)(3) organizations may access information and application forms on the Rotary website. Proposals are limited to five pages, and each proposal is categorized with other similar proposals and then read by a team of two Rotarians who become their interpreters and often their advocates.

The final selection process begins with each proposal being presented to the full committee. After review and discussion of all proposals, the committee decides whether to "cut" or "hold for further discussion”. In 2008, 41 proposals were received for a total of over $85,000, and while Rotarians would like to fund them all, like any ‘family’, priorities must be set – the agony part. Fort Collins Rotary’s $16,000 budget becomes ‘seed’ money for those organizations selected, and like ‘talents’ is multiplied through the recipients.

During today's award ceremony, hosted by Marj Walsh, we are able to share in the committee’s ‘ecstasy’ when we host the 10 organizations chosen for 2008, distribute the checks, and hear how the grants will be used.

Presiding at Last Weeks Meeting

Larry Kunter

Bill Moellenhoff

Kent Sutherland

Presiding & Introductions: Chuck Rutenberg

Invocation & Pledge: Larry Kunter

Music: Steve Busch

Song Leader: Bill Moellenhoff

Greeter: C. J. Streit

Introductions: Kent Sutherland

Microphone: Garth McCann

Guests Last Week

Kris Boesch, Herb Hart, Phoenix Morning-star, Jerry Kendell, James Brooks, Andy Greoger, Wade Troxell guests of the club

Paul Kowalczyk, Steve Fairchild, Bill Neet, Doug Max, Mike LaPlant, Nick Olson, Karen Taylor guests from CSU

Sam Salt, guest of Bob McCluskey

Forrest Boggs, guest of Judy Boggs

Tom Sutherland, guest of Bill West

Tim Weisser, Tess and Elizabeth Harris, Tajae and Evie Moscato, guests of Henry Weisser

Susan Groeger and JJ Bertholf, guests of Jan Bertholf

Betty Ann Martell and Aloma Godkin, guests of Shelly Godkin

Visiting Rotarians

Nigel Dower

Charlie Peterson, Diane Knight and Andrea Henson of the Breakfast Club

Nigel Dower of the Aberdeen, Scotland Rotary Club

Bill Trewartha of the Foothills Club

James Brooks from the Waco, Texas Club

Nigel Dower presented a club flag from the Aberdeen, Scotland Rotary Club

Announcements

Chuck Rutenberg

Omnia El-Hakim

Charlie Peterson

Melanie Chamberlain

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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Chuck also reminded board members and past presidents of the Past Presidents Dinner is tonight at 7 p.m. at the Café Columbine.

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Omnia El-Hakim introduced Phoenix Mourning-Star as one of our candidates for the Ambassadorial Scholarship. He and Claire Pepper are both CSU students and will interview in Cheyenne for final selection.

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Charlie Peterson said the Breakfast Rotary Club is hosting a Four-Way Test program at FRCC for 75 automotive students two weeks from Thursday. He asked members with automotive experience to help them out.

Chuck Rutenberg followed Charlie's announcement with the announcement that Charlie Peterson, a past president of this club, was honored last week with a suprise party to celebrate Charlie's 50th anniversery in Rotary.

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Melanie "No-talent-last-year" Chamberlain said there were still slots in the Second Annual Talent Show on April 9. See her or Phyllis Abt about joining this year's show.

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Max Getts Show: He first asked for additional members to help on the Webber Junior High Four-Way Test program on April 3. Then he showed off a collection of pens: a "scratchy" quill type, a pen using an inkwell and blotter (required for mistakes only), fountain pens with a bladder, pen and pencil sets, and ballpoints . Ballpoints were first invented in 1888; a Gimbel 's ad sold them selling for $12.50 in 1945-crowds lined up to purchase them. The original ink made them unreliable, so steel balls were used. Finally, he showed several more modern pens, including one with a laser and a "large" one for large people.

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The Rotary Club of Ft Collins invites you to join us on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise in Russia. Sign up now for great discounts. For more information, click here: Russian Rhapsody Cruise

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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. Email to:
Rotogear Editor

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Past Presidents Dinner

Every year the incomming club president hosts a dinner for the past presidents of the club. This is to recognize the service of these members and to get suggestions from them about how to make our club better. The following are past presidents that are still members of the club.

72-73	George Mock	89-90	Max Getts	98-99	Lynne Baker
73-74	Neal Carson	90-91	Bill Moellenhoff	00-01	Frank Lutes
75-76	Ken Teumer	92-93	Bob Beckwith	02-03	Donna Chapel
81-82	John Matsushima	93-94	Dean Johnson	03-04	John-David Sullivan
84-85	Bill Schaffter	94-95	Bob Powell	04-05	Judy Boggs
87-88	Shelly Godkin	95-96	Bonnie Titley	05-06	John Roberts
88-89	Jerry Megilligan	97-98	Ron Stoops	06-07	Susie Ewing

When you see these members, thank them for their service to the club.

Last Week's Program

Paul Kowalczyk

Steve Fairchild

Shelly Godkin introduced CSU Athletic Director, Paul Kowalczyk, who in turn introduced the new football coach at CSU, Steve Fairchild. Steve thanked the club for the invitation. He said he was honored because he respected the work Rotary does, especially with children and young adults, because it is similar to part of his job of making a difference in young peoples lives.

Steve said that the head coaching job is bigger and broader based than he originally thought it would be. He said that he knew two things were clear about his job. First, he must produce winning teams or in a few years there would be a new coach speaking to us. The second part was to “serve the kids.”

Steve briefly listed some new resources that would help him do his job, like the new indoor practice facility, and some upcoming events that members could attend. He finished by answering in detail several questions about the team, about his job, about some of his experiences, and about his challenges. Answers to similar questions can be found at this site: Fairchild Press Conference

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