RCFC welcomes our speakers for June 19th, Kristin Candella, CEO and Executive Director of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity (“Habitat”), and Bruce Hendee, PLA, to fill us in on the recent Habitat project at the southeast corner of Taft Hill and Harmony Roads. They come at the invitation of Jeanne Fangman, who will do the introduction, in concert with Mara Johnson, the Philanthropy Director at Habitat.
Kristin Candella has had what she describes as…” the distinct privilege of working with a group with of philanthropic investors and a “best and brightest” design team to develop the Harmony Cottages”. Kristin and Bruce will tag-team to tell us about the investor model and the approach of the design team in creating this 48 unit development, which is not only efficient and creates a beautiful neighborhood, but which is also affordable.
Bruce Hendee is a landscape architect and planner who has been practicing in Fort Collins for over 30 years. He is the former founder and president of BHA Design Inc. He has substantial experience in residential planning and urban design. He became involved with the Harmony Cottages project at the request of Habitat and has worked for the last few years to lead a multi-discipline design team through the planning and design process. He has specifically focused on creating an extraordinary neighborhood by using a Pocket Neighborhoods and New Urbanism approach.
Community Grants Chair Kathy Nicol presented a Youth grant for $2,760.00 to Break Free, Free our Girls. Free Our Girls provides support to victims of sex trafficking as they escape commercial sexual exploitation. Our grant will support “Being the Key”, a sex trafficking prevention program operated in partnership with the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Megan Lundstrom, Executive Director, accepted the grant.
At our meeting June 12, Dr. Stephen Smith, founder and former CEO of Aqua Engineering, outlined for us the background, organization, and goals of the Irrigation Innovation Consortium (IIC). IIC was founded some 15 months ago as a joint initiative by a collection of private, public, and university organizations to address growing water scarcity in the western US and worldwide, addressing both agricultural and landscaping needs. Some of the organizations included are the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR), the Irrigation Foundation, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Fresno State, and Kansas State universities.
IIC is already enjoying significant success and is open to being joined by other, especially private, organizations. They are working with other groups (e.g., the Ag-Chemicals industry) to optimize the interaction of water usage with usage of other products and procedures. Funding is secured by a matching grant from the FFAR for $5 million, matched by the other participants.
IIC focuses on three areas: 1) development of more efficient and lower-cost hardware and software for management of water; 2) training of users in both the agricultural and landscaping community in more efficient usage of water; 3) certification of users in more efficient water practices. They are being encouraged by FFAR to embrace “white-space” research (research in the gaps between other established areas of interest).
In the area of development, some of their interests are in developing lower-cost moisture sensors (so they could be deployed more widely); emphasis on ease of data capture by embracing IOT (internet of things) technology; remote sensing (e.g., use of drones and infrared sensing); and development of standards for flow measurements.
Training includes technology transfer of not only hardware/software developments, but also procedural developments from, for example, a 50-acre research plot near Fort Collins.
In response to questions, Dr. Smith commented that increased water storage seemed to be the easiest short-term answer to increasing water-supply issues. He also commented favorably on efforts by different farm groups to adopt procedures to reduce depletion of the Ogalalla aquifer. He qualified his comments about efficient use of water by pointing out that some through-put is necessary to reduce salt buildup in the soil and to satisfy historical “return flow obligations”.
Please complete and turn in your 2019-20 Financial Commitment form ASAP to Assistant Treasurer Bonnie Titley.
The Rotary Investment Fellowship will meet immediately after the noon meeting June 19, in the foyer or side room. Topic: “Collectables, Autos, Beanie Babies, and Other Investable Stuff.” Martin Nelson will lead. Everyone is welcome
Melanie Chamberlain presented Jim Collinson with his first Paul Harris Fellowship. Jim also joined the Paul Harris Society. Melanie the presented Rob Marschke a pin representing PHF +3.
Club Secretaries Rod Morrison and Cindy DeGroot will work this coming year to update everyone’s ClubRunner profile. See Cindy or Rod if you need help.
Del Benson reported the Fellowship Committee encourages home fellowship evenings. Talk to Del if you are interested.
President Steve summarized the budget for next year, clarifying increases and a change in dues structure. An email was sent to all members. Financial commitment forms will be distributed next week.
Martin Nelson is looking into a tour of the hydraulics lab at CSU West.
Assistant DG Ted Cluett asked for help in getting additional corporate sponsors for the year’s Peach Festival.
PDG Mike Forney invited retired professionals to join SCORE (Senior Corps Of Retired Executives). Volunteers work with small business personnel to enhance their business. Counselors are needed in Ft. Collins. If interested, contact Mike Forney.
Martin Limbird urged members to attend the Rotary International conference in Hawaii next year, June 6-10.
Volunteers for greeter coordinator and front desk duty are needed.
TIPS training for Peach Festival Saturday, June 22, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM -- First Bank Building, lower level (100 South College Ave. -- at corner of College and Mountain in downtown Fort Collins).
If you need help signing up for King Soopers loyalty card, see Sally Lee.
Melanie Chamberlain announced the club now has its own storage facility. Members harboring appropriate materials for our archives should contact Melanie or Bonnie. If you loaned some archival material for our centennial displays and it has not been returned, please contact Bonnie Titley. All materials are in storage to be inventoried. Workers will watch for and return anything reported.
All members are encouraged to join the newly established Peace Fellowship. Remember—peace leads to solutions. Bill Timpson reported the Peace initiative is starting a book discussion group. See Bill for details.
Bill Schaffter urges participation in Fort Collins Read Aloud. For information, go to Fortcollinsreadaloud.org.
Marty Bachman reminds all to report special occasions/events/illness that the Care and Recognition Committee should acknowledge. Call Marty, Susan Brand, Melanie Chamberlain, or JeanneFangman.
RCFC welcomes our speakers for June 19th, Kristin Candella, CEO and Executive Director of Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity (“Habitat”), and Bruce Hendee, PLA, to fill us in on the recent Habitat project at the southeast corner of Taft Hill and Harmony Roads. They come at the invitation of Jeanne Fangman, who will do the introduction, in concert with Mara Johnson, the Philanthropy Director at Habitat.
Community Grants Chair Kathy Nicol presented a Youth grant for $2,760.00 to Break Free, Free our Girls. Free Our Girls provides support to victims of sex trafficking as they escape commercial sexual exploitation. Our grant will support “Being the Key”, a sex trafficking prevention program operated in partnership with the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Megan Lundstrom, Executive Director, accepted the grant.
At our meeting June 12, Dr. Stephen Smith, founder and former CEO of Aqua Engineering, outlined for us the background, organization, and goals of the Irrigation Innovation Consortium (IIC). IIC was founded some 15 months ago as a joint initiative by a collection of private, public, and university organizations to address growing water scarcity in the western US and worldwide, addressing both agricultural and landscaping needs. Some of the organizations included are the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR), the Irrigation Foundation, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Fresno State, and Kansas State universities. 
