Your periodic review of the latest activities and more from the Rotary Club of Fort Collins.
Thank-you Rotarians!
It has been a great winter in Rotary, starting with our many opportunities for fellowship and service. This season we welcomed numerous new Rotarians, enjoyed wonderful social time, celebrated indoors at our holiday party, and worked together on incredible community projects. We also met and honored local teachers and local cadets who provide so much to our community.
I wanted to take just a moment of your time to reflect on the last few months. Please enjoy the pictures and stories below of our winter in Rotary.
Yours in Rotary Service,
John Trone
Rotarians in Action
Food Bank Mobile Pantry
Rotarians helping others!
In February, our Club had the opportunity to work at the Food Bank’s pop-up pantry on Thursday evening. They assembled food items to be given to patrons’ cars at this drive-thru Pantry in the Poudre High School parking lot. We appreciate these Rotarians helping outside in the cold weather to help our fellow citizens who are food insecure.
Continuing the legacy of our founder, the Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
The honor was established in 1957 to show appreciation for contributions that support our Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.
Congrats to Phyllis Abt: PHF +3 and Harry Mueller: PHF +5
On March 2nd, at our club’s evening meeting, members of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins held a service project at SpeedPro of Fort Collins and Northern Colorado where we repackaged 1,310 pairs of womens, girls, and boys underwear to donate to Homeward Alliance. Spearheaded by member Kathy Hawkins, this project was funded through a $1,000 District Grant from Rotary District 5440 and $1,000 from our own club’s Charities Community Service budget which is generously funded by club members. Thank you to everyone who showed up and to everyone who continues to donate to our club’s charitable efforts.
A Saturday morning in March Rotarians worked at the Food Bank’s Food Share location to help provide food for those with food insecurity. We sorted donated produce by category (in the very cold storage room!), stocked the refrigerators, coolers, bread area, etc. to provide a “shopping” experience for clients of the Food Share. It was a great opportunity to interact and help out those in need
In February, these 10 energetic Rotarians re-wrapped over 8,600 diapers for the Nappie project. These were distributed through the Food Bank to families in need.
The Community Grants committee in February awarded and Health and Welfare grant to the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship. They will use our $2,500 grant to establish a new local Community Center within their building to provide food, showers, laundry, a community closet and support for some of the unhoused people of Fort Collins.
Community Grants awarded a $2,500 Health and Welfare grant to Larimer Court Supports to fund their new Sober Wellness Project. This project will help approximately 150 clients in their Problems Solving Courts. Problem Solving Courts have been shown to be an effective means of reducing substance abuse, managing mental illness, increasing the likelihood of remaining in recovery, and reintegrating into communities as productive and contributing members. PSC also reduces jail and prison costs.
The Community Grants Committee reviewed and selected agencies to receive funding under the Health and Wellness Category. On Wednesday, January 12th, the Fort Collins Audubon Society accepted our $1,600 grant to publish 500 copies of their mindful birding booklet. This will be used by patients at the UC Harmony Cancer Center Patients will practice mindfulness while they connect with nature through birding. Accepting the award is Barbara Patterson.
In March, our Community Grants committee awarded $3,000 to the Fort Collins Symphony to support their “Lost in Space” pops concert and specifically the presentations by Dr. Erin Macdonald, an astrophysicist, who serves as a technical science consultant for the Start Trek franchise.
CSU Cadet John Henselman is a sophomore majoring in Construction Management and will commission in 2024 as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. John hails from Colorado Springs and he is interested in serving in the Infantry or Chemical Corps. This semester he is a team leader in Bravo Company and his interests outside ROTC are the Ranger Challenge, Orienteering Club, Shooting Club and trying out for the Poudre Muskets. Over the summer John has interned with Gracon, LLC to hone his construction skills. Congratulations to John Henselman being selected as Rotary’s Cadet of the Month for January 2022!
CSU Cadet Jeremiah Jones is recognized as the Rotary Cadet of the Month - February. He is a sophomore and will graduate in 2024. Jeremiah is majoring in Mechanical Engineering and hopes to place those skills to use in the Civil Engineering career field upon entering the Air Force. Jeremiah hails from Longmont, CO and is involved with Arnold Air Society, which develops future leaders through community service, professional development and education about our national defense. He feeds his athletic passion through intramural sports and other fitness venues. Congratulations and best wishes for success!
CSU Cadet Riley J. Bally is the Rotary Cadet of the Month - March 2022! Riley is in the final few months as a freshman in the Ram Battalion and is majoring in Wildlife Biology. Her hometown is Dixon, Illinois and has fallen in love with Colorado. She keeps busy with tennis and painting as hobbies and immerses herself in Colorado outdoor activities! A truly redeeming quality is her desire to “leave a positive legacy.” She has her sights on commissioning in 2025 in the Military Intelligence branch of the Army. Congratulations and Rotary’s best wishes for success!
The January, 2022 Teacher of the Month is Bethke Elementary School teacher Kambri Luna. After teaching 5th grade and 2nd grade students, Bri earned a masters degree in reading. Now she is an accomplished literacy interventionist and instructional coach who works with struggling students and also supports the reading and literacy efforts of other teachers.
Sarah Filkowski is the February Teacher of the Month for the Rotary Club of Fort Collins. Sarah is a second grade teacher at Linton Elementary. She is proficient at using all of the resources and tools available to meet the needs of each student. She leads the schools literacy committee and also serves on the district committee.
Ben Berry is recognized as Teacher of the Month for March by the Rotary Club of Fort Collins. Ben has distinguished himself as a teacher of mathematics at the Lincoln Middle School, as the schools debate coach, and debate coach at Rocky Mountain High School.
Our club is helping support this project in Nepal led by Denver Southeast and Dhulikhel. From Ranjeev (host club), "Work is going very fast and most of the piping has been done. Around 70% work of the pipeline from source to collection tank is completed. I think next week we are checking the water flow. From Saturday we are conducting the awareness program. I think we can complete the drinking water system before our timeline as the company is using more workers."
The Barron Clinic is in rural Sinaloa Mexico outside of Mazatlán, Mexico. The Mazatlán Rotary club and the Rotary Club of Fort Collins, CO, USA are partnering to fund some basic medical equipment for this clinic. The Barron Clinic NGO has been working for over 5 years and has achieved substantial success in serving the underprivileged in this rural area. READ MORE...
On Sunday February 6th, we gathered at Chipper's Lanes, for the annual Purple Pins for Polio Event. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. We've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. This event raises funds to End Polio Now!
On Wednesday, our annual lunch Holiday program (thanks to the Fellowship Committee) began with a seasonal inspiration - the famous speech by Linus to Charlie Brown and others on the true meaning of Christmas from the 1965 animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Our guests today included children, grandchildren, and Santa Claus! Check out some pictures of the festivities.READ MORE...
Over one hundred Rotarians and guests attended our holiday party: great entertainment, delicious food and drink, and wonderful fellowship. We enjoyed live cello music, a commedian and some amazing prizes.
Please read about these new Rotarians and introduce yourself when you see them at a meeting, service opportunity or social event. Please also let them know about the opportunities to serve in our various committees, projects, fellowships, and events.
Sara Megna
I moved to Fort Collins in December of 2020 with my husband, Luke, and our dog, Penny. We are originally from upstate NY and moved to Denver in 2014. We wanted to move to a smaller community as well as find a dental practice for me to purchase. We were ecstatic when both of our wishes led us to Fort Collins. After a partnership period, I finally completed my goal of owning my own practice in January 2022. READ MORE...
I grew up in a small town near Albany, New York. After meeting my wife Sara, we decided we wanted to move somewhere that better suited our hobbies once we completed our educational goals. That is what led us to Colorado. I enjoy fly fishing, skiing, camping and playing soccer, among other outdoor activities. Moving to Colorado provided us the opportunity to have a better chance to enjoy the benefits of the being closer to nature. READ MORE...
My name is Tanner Massey, and I am a 27-year-old, Colorado-born, Christian man who, in recognizing the privileged/blessed life I’ve lived up-to-this-point, wants to, not out of shame but gratitude, do everything in my power to improve the lives of those around me. READ MORE...
By profession, I am an attorney. However, I also have a small hand in real estate (which I am trying to grow). The real estate side mostly includes rental properties, flips, and being an investor in investment syndicates. I’m also currently funding an inventor’s path to the market for his device. I love working with startups and have done so since college. READ MORE...
I have been married to Susan for 53 years. I was raised in Grand Haven, Michigan and graduated from Calving College and the University of Michigan Medical School. I completed an OB/Gyn residency in Ann Arbor Michigan and then served two years in the U.S. Army in Alabama. I moved with Susan and our two daughters in 1978. I was in private practice as an OB/Gyn physician until 2012. I have had a passion for the medically underserved throughout my career.. READ MORE...
I am so thrilled about the opportunity for Colorado State University to become more active with the Rotary in Fort Collins. As a product of northern Colorado, Rotary has always been special to me. I remember participating with the lunch Rotarians (too many years ago) when I was the student body President at Fort Collins High School, and then throughout all of my years when I was working in the CSU Athletic Department. READ MORE...
Cody is interested in becoming a Rotarian for a few reason. First, because of the heavy efforts the organization takes towards bettering the community. He is a strong advocate for positive action and that starts with community involvement. Second, he enjoys being around individuals that have a like-minded goal and purpose. Being around those who enjoy helping others makes him feel fulfilled. Cody states, “Lastly, it is a distinguished organization that will lead me to personally bettering myself through the people I meet.” Cody further comments, “The four-way test is applicable to all situations in life and applies to folks from all walks of life.” READ MORE...
Trudy was born and raised in Michigan. She received her Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Eastern Michigan University and Wayne State University. She later received her Doctorate from the University of Denver. Professionally Trudy has taught and worked in Michigan, Florida and Colorado. She has taught/worked with students from first grade to doctoral candidates. READ MORE...
After serving 24 years in the Air Force as an intelligence officer and retiring from my final assignment at the Pentagon this summer, my family and I have relocated to Fort Collins. I am working remotely for eSimplicity, a digital services company in Maryland. I am eager to connect with the Fort Collins community and serve in new way. Why Fort Collins?
Chandler believes becoming a Rotarian will grant him the chance to increase positive impact in his community, job, and personal life. Furthermore, being a Rotarian will be an outlet for Chandler to put what he believes about himself into action. It will provide a source for him to serve the community, grow professionally, as well as fulfill the purpose of what it means to be a Rotarian.
It has been a great winter in Rotary, starting with our many opportunities for fellowship and service. This season we welcomed numerous new Rotarians, enjoyed wonderful social time, celebrated indoors at our holiday party, and worked together on incredible community projects. We also met and honored local teachers and local cadets who provide so much to our community.
Rotarians helping others!
and to everyone who continues to donate to our club’s charitable efforts.
I moved to Fort Collins in December of 2020 with my husband, Luke, and our dog, Penny. We are originally from upstate NY and moved to Denver in 2014. We wanted to move to a smaller community as well as find a dental practice for me to purchase. We were ecstatic when both of our wishes led us to Fort Collins. After a partnership period, I finally completed my goal of owning my own practice in January 2022. 
I grew up in a small town near Albany, New York. After meeting my wife Sara, we decided we wanted to move somewhere that better suited our hobbies once we completed our educational goals. That is what led us to Colorado. I enjoy fly fishing, skiing, camping and playing soccer, among other outdoor activities. Moving to Colorado provided us the opportunity to have a better chance to enjoy the benefits of the being closer to nature. 
By profession, I am an attorney. However, I also have a small hand in real estate (which I am trying to grow). The real estate side mostly includes rental properties, flips, and being an investor in investment syndicates. I’m also currently funding an inventor’s path to the market for his device. I love working with startups and have done so since college. 
I have been married to Susan for 53 years. I was raised in Grand Haven, Michigan and graduated from Calving College and the University of Michigan Medical School. I completed an OB/Gyn residency in Ann Arbor Michigan and then served two years in the U.S. Army in Alabama. I moved with Susan and our two daughters in 1978. I was in private practice as an OB/Gyn physician until 2012. I have had a passion for the medically underserved throughout my career.. 
After serving 24 years in the Air Force as an intelligence officer and retiring from my final assignment at the Pentagon this summer, my family and I have relocated to Fort Collins. I am working remotely for eSimplicity, a digital services company in Maryland. I am eager to connect with the Fort Collins community and serve in new way. Why Fort Collins?
Chandler believes becoming a Rotarian will grant him the chance to increase positive impact in his community, job, and personal life. Furthermore, being a Rotarian will be an outlet for Chandler to put what he believes about himself into action. It will provide a source for him to serve the community, grow professionally, as well as fulfill the purpose of what it means to be a Rotarian.