Satellite Members met on Wednesday, September 19th at CooperSmith's. We enjoyed a view of an intense rain and hail storm and discussed our upcoming Community Service Events for September and October. There was also a brainstorming session for a potential beneficiary of a Centennial Grant. The next meeting is Wednesday, October 3rd at 5:30pm at the Lirano Wine Bar, 3600 Mitchell Drive (lower level of The Cellar wine store).
Wednesday September 19, RCFC hosted Fort Collins City Manager, Darin Atteberry to discuss the City's recent Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and what it means for residents. Atteberry started by taking about the change to focus on "budgeting for outcomes", using community safety as an example. While the data can show how safe city residents actually are, the necessary outcome must be "how safe do you feel"?
Atteberry spoke of his personal journey after hearing a speaker challenge "What's the one thing you believe that on one else believes. That is your opportunity." Atteberry's belief is that government at all levels, can be great and he is working to prove it at the city level. As part of the Malcolm Baldridge process, the city developed the vision "to provide world-class municipal service through operational excellence and a culture of innovation", and carefully chose benchmarks against the the best rated cities across the US. The Malcolm Baldridge, he noted, is a process about continuous improvement, not a destination of perfection. The key is to "shine a flashlight" into all areas, encouraging and expecting continuous improvements.
Wednesday, September 12, Past President Jeanne Fangman inducted our newest member, Jill Maasch. Jill is a senior account manager for Mantooth Marketing Company, and is sponsored by Justie Nicol. Welcome Jill!.jpg)
September 12, Yolanda Schlabach, Executive Director of Zoë Ministries, Inc. and member of the Human Trafficking Coordinating Council for Delaware started by stating that Delaware's program to address human trafficking is based on the program developed in Larimer County. Larimer County's programs are focused on reducing 'demand' through sting operations and helping victims via non-profits such as Free Our Girls and First Responder Response Initiatives. Schlabach also showed and read several news articles, showing the results of sting operations in Northern Colorado. According to Schlabach, all prostitution is human trafficking. She also noted that human trafficking happens in other industries such as agricultural workers, where migrant workers are legally imported, then kept in virtual slavery, charged exhorbitant fees and kept from returning home.
Focusing on the sexual aspect of human trafficking, she noted the pattern of recruitment, and the psychological and physical trauma experienced by the victims.
CSU Symposium 2018:
https://source.colostate.edu/csu-to-host-first-northern-colorado-human-trafficking-symposium-feb-22/
Beth's organization:
Larimer County:
http://larimerantitrafficking.com/
Free Our Girls:
September 5, Past President Jeanne Fangman inducted RCFC newest member, Kathy Hawkins, sponsored by Kathy Nicol. Hawkins is a retired Controller for the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District. Welcome Kathy - Live long and serve well!
Wednesday September 5, STEM and Community Grants combined to give a $6000 grant to Pretty Brainy, and female-focused STEM organization. Accepting the check was CEO and Founder, Heidi Olinger, presented by STEM Chair Robin Steele.
The CSU Cadet of the Month for September, Colin Gahmnkos, was introduced by Captain Jon Parker, hosted by Warren Wilson. Gahmnkos spoke of his goals, and thanked RCFC. .jpg)
Last week John L Coleman, Jr., CEO of Boy Scouts of American, Long Peaks Council, spoke on the "Evolution of Scouting". The audience included many former Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and one Eagle Scout. Coleman was introduced by BSA LPC Development Director Dawn T-Baumgartner. There are currently 2.3 million scouts including over 10,000 in our region.
The big news is the start of "Family Scouting", currently available in the Cub Scout age range (K-5) and starting next year, available to ages 11-18. John addressed some of the misunderstandings regarding changes (eg, this is not a "co-ed" organization but separate and equal activities for both genders i.e., dens are all male or all female). This new concept is apparently well-accepted as indicated by the number of girls and women signing up.
A bit of BSA's history was shared. Rotary was congratulated for it's BSA support (Paul Harris was a highly decorated scout). The values and goals of scouting remain unchanged - character building, leadership skills, service to the community - to name a few. A recent focus has been to target recruitment to multicultural, underserved communities. Scouting's focus on the outdoor experience for youth from all socioeconomic levels has become more important in this age of electronics.
Finally we saw pictures of the many local Scouting facilities starting with Red Feather Scout Ranch (many of our members were familiar with this site).
The evolving organization will continue it's mission and teach values which remain as pertinent today as they did almost 108 years ago.
The question and answer time provided excellent expansion of today's presentation.
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Wednesday August 29, RCFC celebrated an annual ritual with the Johnny Matsushim
a Centennial Flat Iron Steak Fry at the Farm at Lee Martinez Park. Steaks were obtained by John Matsushima, including a sampling of the famous Wagyu (Kobe-style) beef.
Wagyu (meaning "Japanese Cattle") steaks are prized worldwide for their astounding marbling, tenderness and juiciness. While the name "Kobe" is reserved exclusively for Wagyu cattle raised in region of Kobe, Japan - cattle raised in the US must be referred to as Wagyu or Kobe-Style.
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Sid Fahsholtz, CPA, of Brock and Company, presented his analysis of the recently passed 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. His high-level summary was that, for both individuals and businesses, individual circumstances will determine whether they will be winners or losers. Summary of some of the significant changes:
Most tax brackets have been lowered by 1% to 3%; Personal Exemptions have been eliminated; Standard Deduction has been approximately doubled; Alimony: not deductible by payer, not income to recipient; Medical Deductions: threshold 7.5% of AGI in 2018, 10% of AGI after; Property, State, & Local Income Taxes: deductible up to $10,000 if MFJ; New Mortgages: interest deduction capped at $750,000; Home Equity Debt: no interest deduction through 2025 except if $ is used for improving your home; Charitable Deductions: limited to 60% of AGI; contributions from IRA RMD not counted as income and not deductible; Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions: eliminated; Moving Expense Deduction: eliminated; Estate/Gift Tax: now $15,000 per year; $11m total for life; Pass-Through Income: treatment seems to have gotten more complex; Child Tax Credit: up to $2000 for each child with higher phaseout levels; Casualty & Theft Losses: no deduction; Kiddie Tax: earned income at rates for singles; unearned income at brackets applicable to trusts & estates; Net Operating Losses: limited to 80% of taxable income, no carryback option, indefinite carryforward period; Obamacare Individual Mandate: permanently repealed; Corporate Tax Rate: flat tax rate of 21%; Alternative Minimum Tax: effectively eliminated; Fringe Benefit Expenses: entertainment deductions disallowed except 50% for meals; Employer-Paid Family/Medical Leave: at least 12.5% credit if rate of payment is 50% or greater of normally paid wages.
.jpg) Nationwide, 65% of fourth graders are below proficient in reading. Colorado and Wyoming are only slightly better.This year's District 5440 theme is literacy. What is the District doing about literacy?
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On August 15, Dave Boon, member of the Fort Collins Rotary After Work club and Past President of the Rocky Mountain Youth Leadership Board of Directors gave an interesting presentation on the History of RYLA/YRYLA and the current status, followed by short talks by two recent awardees.
RYLA was started in Queensland, Australia in May 1960, and brought to the Rocky Mountain region in 1987. At a formation meeting in District Governor Charlie Peterson's house, apparently Susan Peterson, overhearing a conversation regarding who would attend said, "I think this is a fabulous idea to have a RYLA, Charlie, but you WILL allow girls!" RYLA and YRYLA have been coed since the start, and were so 1 year prior to Rotary inducting it's first woman.
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) includes 11th or 12th grade students; Young RYLA (YRYLA) targets students entering the 8th grade, and RYLA+ focuses on physically challenged students. Rocky Mountain RYLA's current $300,000 budget provides camp for 372 RYLA participants, 283 Young RYLA participants, and 9 RYLA+ participants. The three groups run 5 conferences each summer, facilitated by 143 volunteer Senior (Rotarian) and Junior (past participant) Counselors donating 20,000 + hours.
Rotary's annual Peach Festival is August 18 - don't miss out on the fun! Volunteers still needed, urgently! To sign up, go to http://signup.com/go/rbRPOoJ
President Steve Laine announced the establishment of two new scholarships, funded by Ada Chen. The scholarships, named in honor of Ada's late husband, Dr. Yung Hai Chen, will provide yearly $3000 scholarships to CSU and $2000 scholarships to Front Range Community College. Both scholarships are funded for 5 years by a generous gift of $30,000 from Ada. Ada told an emotional story of coming to the USA and CSU, the many blessings she has received since, and recounted how much Yung Hai loved Rotary. Ada received a standing ovation for her comments. Thanks for your leadership and caring, Ada. Editor's Note: In a previous version of this story, Dr. Yung Hai Chen's name was misspelled. We apologize for the error.
Bill Timpson introduced Lindsay Pointer, who has been studying Restorative Justice in New Zealand on a Rotary Peace Fellowship. 
Last week we were treated to the soothing and familiar radio voice of Neil Best, President and CEO of Community Radio for Northern Colorado, when he presented a topic on everyone's mind, "Fake News" and it's history in the US. Perhaps there is comfort when we consider the problem is not new. George Washington told Alexander Hamilton in 1796 he was leaving office primarily because of the effects of a hostile press. In the 18th century it was clear that reporting in the NY Sun was designed for the sole purpose of increasing circulation. In the early 19th century the terms "yellow journalism" and subsequently "tabloid journalism" were needed to describe the current journalistic content. Totally fabricated stories persist: fast forward to gunshots fired because of "the child slavery ring run by Hillary Clinton and associates out of a pizza shop", and we were reminded such misinformation can have "real world" consequences.
Locally, the fight for subscribers and survival lead to "yellow journalism" in the 1920's when the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News fought for reader share. Next, Neil highlighted the importance of the economics of the news business and it's influence on what we hear and read. Staff have been cut at most news outlets as the internet supplies information at lightning speed. News organizations debate whether readers are "citizens" or "consumers". A pivotal change in our view of the validity of federal government supplied information took place during the Vietnam War and the Nixon administration. Journalists could no longer take such information at face value and became more investigative.
We were given some tools to use to search through the "information" for the "knowledge". For example, we can check to see if the material has been edited. We can look for the "center" when we see extremes in reporting (think Fox vs MSNBC). It behooves us all to do the work to find the facts and teach our children and grandchildren to navigate the morass of information that bombards us daily from so many sources. Finally, in his only political comment, Neal stated "we (journalists) are not the enemies of the people". The "newsroom" is most often staffed by dedicated honest people; some are giving their lives in this cause.
During the Centennial Celebration August 1, new members Susan Brand and Allan Kirkpatrick were inducted. Susan was a Nursing Manager, Fresenius Kidney Care, and is the spouse of Rotarian Harry Mueller. They met while both were living in Saudi Arabia. Allan is a returning member of RCFC, and CSU Professor of Mechanical Engineering. 
On our 100th anniversary, RCFC celebrated 100 years of Service Above Self by welcoming over 200 guests to the Stadium Club at CSU. Centennial co-chairs Lynne Baker, John Roberts and Jan Bertholf, President Steve Laine, Past President Jeanne Fangman, Mayor Wade Troxell,
CSURF President Kathleen Henry District Governor Chuck Rutenberg, RI Zone 27 Director Larry Dimmitt, Legacy Fund Trustees chair Jud Harper and the Diamond Raffle team, Susan Harrison, Cindy DeGroot, Carrie Baumgart and Bonnie Titley all contributed to make it a memorable evening. 
Special thanks to Horse and Dragon Brewery, CEO Tim Cochran and Jewelry Emporium owner Susan Harrison, as well as every member who contributed to the Celebration and the Legacy Fund for making this all possible. 
Rob Marschke and Sally Lee presented a Community Grant to Teaching Tree at the Early Childhood Learning Center. The $1350 will fund the education of 200 children a year in the curriculum that develops social and emotional skills in preparation for kindergarten.
On July 25th, Tim Cochran, co-owner of Horse & Dragon Brewing Company, presented an overview of the craft beer industry in the United States and Colorado as well as a brief history of his company.
In 2013, there were some 2700 craft breweries in the United States; in 2013, craft beer made up some 6% of the beer market; by 2017, there were some 6500 craft breweries making up some 13% of the beer market. Currently there are some 350 craft breweries in Colorado and the Craft Brewers Association is headquartered in Boulder. Craft brewers are small and independent (if a brewer is more than 25% owned by a non-craft brewery, it is not craft), producing less than 6 million barrels per year. Craft brewers have business models ranging from part-time through on-site sales (typically associated with a restaurant) to more-or-less wide distribution.
Tim and his wife, after a number of years working for the Miller Brewing Co. at locations worldwide, moved to Fort Collins and founded Horse and Dragon in 2013. After a year of getting the company up and running, they produced 418 barrels in 2014, with volumes increasing every year since. Their main emphasis is on distribution to local establishments/restaurants for over-the-counter sales. The pillars of their company are: produce great and interesting beers; run an ethical operation, treating people well; minimize their environmental impact; and be pro-active members of the community.
Wednesday, July 18th, began the official kickoff for your Rotary Club’s centennial celebration with the dedication at the Café Grove at the Gardens on Spring Creek. This event celebrated all four Rotary Clubs in Fort Collins along with the gratitude to Bob and Joyce Everitt for inspiring us to make this another great service project to the City of Fort Collins. Bob and Joyce's daughter, Claudia Gillum joined, representing the Everitt family.
The Gardens on Spring Creek is a spectacular community effort, and Rotary’s role will be a legacy for the next century. Members of the four Rotary Clubs in Fort Collins have much to celebrate. After all, this celebration has been 100 years in the making.
The raffle for a 1 carat diamond will be held August 1. Don't miss out on your, and your friend's chance to win a diamond with an estimated worth of $14,000. Just $25 per ticket, or 5 tickets for $100. See Bonnie Titley for details.
July 11, Committee Co-Chairs Rob Marschke and Kathy Nicol awarded two Community Grants. Accepting a $4000 grant for the Poudre Heritage Alliance were Kathleen Benedict, Executive Director and Bob Overbeck, Board Chairman. The Poudre Heritage Alliance builds a deeper understanding of the Poudre River’s national significance including its role in shaping water development, water law, and water management. Our $4,000.00 grant will support field trips to the Poudre River for ten Larimer County Schools, enabling 600 students to experience hands-on, inquiry-based learning. The budget for our grant funding includes $2,500.00 for field trips, $1,000.00 for professional services, and $500.00 for program coordination.
Accepting a $1150 grant for CSU's Camp Kesem were Sarah Whipple and Celia Adams. Camp Kesem helps children living with a parent or guardian’s cancer by providing a free week of camp fun where they can interact with other children going through similar experiences and process their grief. Colorado State University students organize and participate in Camp Kesem. Children experience a marked increase in ability to express their feelings, confidence in handling challenges, and improved self-esteem.
At the end of the camp week a picnic is hosted for campers, their families, and the staff in Fort Collins. Our $1,150.00 grant will fund a bus trip back to Fort Collins so that the children and their families can participate in the picnic.
Wednesday, July 11th, our speaker, a Ft Collins native is Melisa Esposito, now Director of Grants for Project C.U.R.E. This organization is the world's largest distributor of donated medical supplies and equipment. My experience in medicine reminds me there is an abundance of durable, usable items from our medical system because of Federal regulations requiring disposable and single use. Multiple hospitals participate in this program including ones in Northern Colorado. Distribution is based on expert assessment of needs in locales. Specific donations were illustrated for a few of these projects-eg, OB delivery tables, hospital beds, water purification, and surgical supplies. Rotary International currently provides grants for 6 projects in this organization. Highlights with photos were shown for a few active projects. For example-
"Saving Mothers" partners with other NGO's and local governments to improve perinatal care in a number of countries (think AIDS) and has resulted in a 40% decrease in infant/maternal mortality where this has been in use.
A project in Tanzania addresses the needs of medical provision in prisons (often neglected in African countries) with supplies for in-house dispensaries.
The needs (eg, 6 deliveries per day) of a large refugee camp in Rwanda seemed overwhelming where there are 3 medical doctors per 50,000 inhabitants. (Melisa listed the UN definitions for the terms "migrant", "asylum seeker" and "refugee"-terms all too familiar to us on the daily news reports).
Seemed to me, a David and Goliath story, in this world of seemingly overwhelming problems. Organizations like this remind us that "David" can prevail.
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HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!! No RCFC Meetings this week. We'll see you all next Wednesday, July 11. .jpg)
"When in the course of human events it becomes necessary... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
