MicroRX, is a first-of-its-kind enterprise to speed the transition of life-saving research on infectious diseases from laboratories into the global marketplace. MicroRX is just the first of the university's "Superclusters" - alliances of academic researchers, economists and business experts designed to expedite the move of research to the marketplace.

A technology transfer specialist working for a division of CSU Ventures seeks opportunities for patents, licenses and startups, as well as equity investors. Additional support staff facilitate increased funding from foundations and the federal government. For instance an International Collaborations in Infectious Disease Research grant and accompanying Fogarty Center training grant are focused upon defining the virus and vector genetic determinants of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Mexico. A new NIH Emerging Virus Disease Unit contract and a CDC Fellowship Training program focus upon research and training needs in emerging viral diseases and vector-borne diseases.

Other research programs include longitudinal field studies on Hantavirus epidemic potential in Colorado and surveillance for West Nile virus introduction into Mexico.

"People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built."
Eleanor Roosevelt

Induction is the conscious mental process by which we pass from the perception of particular phenomena (things and events) to the knowledge of general.

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you."
Oprah Winfrey

"If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius."
John Quincy Adams

"Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance."
Samuel Johnson

Chuck asked the audience to take the same perspective that he asked the development team to take; first keep an open mind and second, don't be afraid to think big. The Power Point presentation started with a slide showing all of the activities our club is doing at the present time and Chuck said that these make ours a very good club. He suggested that our club could become an outstanding club by overcoming a few challenges and taking on some specific initiatives.

The challenges that the club faces are similar challenges that are being encountered by all Rotary Clubs and are, membership, demographics, vitality and visibility. Chuck described some specifics of each of these. For example, in the last several years our membership has fallen from about 210 to 185 and that over 30 % of our membership is over 70 while only 17% is under 50. He said that none of these results are bad; they are what they are, but may not be in line with the things we want to do.

From an initiatives point of view the strategy called for three, expansion of resources, alignment of activities and emphasis and integration. Since our club already has outstanding member resources, an increase in membership and effectively using them plus carrying out the strategic plan will cover the first of these initiatives. Chuck used Rotary's most successful program, Polio Plus, as a guide to describe what the team meant by the alignment of activities initiative. He said that Polio Plus was focused, was a highly active program, used collaboration well and was very visible. The suggestion is that if our club would use these same criteria, our club and our programs will be more successful. The strategy suggests additionally that with emphasis and integration, the third initiative, our efforts will also be enhanced. Emphasis would mean the possibility of emphasizing some programs versus others and integration would mean using some programs like the 4-Way Test, Scholarships and International Work to enhance another program.

The strategy suggests that we take one of our current programs and follow these initiatives so that we can get a feeling of how they would work and how effective they will be. Matthews House, a current recipient of one of our community grants, was the suggested program to use as the example. Chuck described specifically and in detail how the initiatives would work with Matthews House.

He suggested that there is a major question that needs to be addressed if we use this strategy to enhance our efforts and results. Since changing the way we finance service and charitable projects has not changed over many years and since inflation eats into the amount we apply to these projects, we are really being less and less effective. The strategy team suggested four ways to change this:

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Copyright © by Warren Garst, Lannie Boyd and Alan Ashbaugh for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, Colorado, October 17, 2007

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