Ms. Funke’s book, “Dancing in Combat Boots” was a 2007 Colorado Book Award Finalist, and winner of the 2007 EVVY Award for fiction. Based on true stories…”When the going got tough during World War II, America's women got going. By the millions, they stepped into factories, offices, hospitals—anywhere capable hands were needed.”

Teresa Funke tells how an amazing World War II story launched her writing career. Her first book, “Remember Wake”, based on the heroic efforts of a small band of marines and civilians determined to hold Wake Island right after Pearl Harbor, was the 2003 EVVY Award winner for Historical Fiction. Her “Home-front Heroes Series” books “Doing My Part” and “The No-No Boys” are also award winners.

Her current mission is to bring World War II education back into the elementary classrooms and to preserve the little-known stories of the war.”

Teresa Funke writes for children and adults. Her short stories, articles and essays have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers and anthologies. Two of her essays were listed as Notable Essays by the prestigious Best American Essays series. All of her award-winning books and many of her stories are based on real people and actual events, often set in WWII. Her Home-Front Heroes collection is written middle grade readers, and her fifth book, “V for Victory”, is due out this fall. Teresa is also a popular speaker, presenter and writer’s coach.

Sue Wood, from the BBB Board of Directors, thanked all partners in supporting the ethics in business scholarship. Lorna has chaired the project for 3-4 years and has seen great growth in the number of clubs involved and the number of entrants.

Special Fundraiser Opportunity
The club is still asking members to participate in the "gift card" fundraiser. Dawn, Tanis and Barbara all have said that we need all members to participate in this program that will bring the club income with no additional costs to members and just a little extra effort. Please join the effort and remember to bring your checkbooks.

Canning for the Food Bank
Members of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins and of the Breakfast Club traveled to the Later Day Saints Canning facility in Aurora to can tomato sauce for the Food Bank of Larimer County on Wednesday June 24th. The group left the park and ride at Harmony Road and I-25 at 7:30 am, canned 2300+ cans of tomato sauce and arrived back at the part and ride at 12:25 pm. A good mornings work. Members attending this effort were Phil Murphy and wife of the Breakfast Club, Jim Harper, Kathy Nicol, Betty Brown and Alan Ashbaugh of our club. Betty Brown and Alan Ashbaugh were able to attend the last part of the club's meeting. In all, a worthwhile and fun time had by all who went. Please join us on July 27 for another opportunity to have a unique experience, enjoy the fellowship of other Rotarians and do a great service for the Food Bank.

Dr. Ryder defined PTSD as "an adjustment to a life situation where no one is functional," and he cited various works by Jonathan Shea and Eric Dean that consider PTSD from the early Greek ages to the present. Not until Vietnam, he noted, did the term become repeatedly used, but the symptoms have been continuously present. Some of these symptoms (both in war and civilian life) are, because all trust and innocence are gone, reexperiencing, having dreams that distress and feelings that the event is recurring, and having severe psychological distress and reactivity.

He then noted other persistent symptoms of increased arousal such as sleep problems, outbursts of anger, difficulty in concentrating, hyper-vigilance. and exaggerated startle response.

Referring again to past examples, he discussed the importance of having the PTSD victim join and be associated with a group in order to gain a "posse of support." He praised Seaborn's book "Tears of a Warrior: A Family's Story of Combat and Living with PTSD" and ended with some comments about the suffering person who usually does better by getting (or being given) a perspective that "it was done to me. I didn't do it," then achieving trust by helping others. Should any of us know someone who is experiencing PTSD,

Dr, Ryder's talk will be immensely valuable.

Warren and Genny Garst Wildlife Collection at CSU Click here or on the "tiger."

Rotary District 5440 Home Page - We recommend browsing this page, particularly the links to other Clubs in District 5440 as your time permits.

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Copyright © by Lannie Boyd and Alan Ashbaugh for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado, July 1, 2009