Wheel Spinner (Jul 17, 2018)

THIS WEEK - Diane Messamore, Mental Health Presentation

Greeters - 7/19 - Elaine and Phil Calderbank

7/26 - Mary Kay Hasz and Tamie Fennell

Inspiration - 7/19 - Sue Bramley

As last week's winner, Bob Larson, will be responsible for $2 ticket sales this week.

THE NEW ROTARY YEAR IS HERE

WELCOME CONNIE GOLAS, PRESIDENT

Barry Rassin's, the new RI President, theme for this 2018-2019 Rotary year is Be the Inspiration. District 5450's new Governor, Sandy Mortensen, theme is Making Connections. And, Connie's theme is Engage; "do something different, something not done before". Connie's goals include continue supporting other clubs as we did with the Memorial Garden in Castle Rock, continue our powerful community service projects expanding those services and earn the Rotary Citation with Presidential Distinction (achieve the Rotary Citation plus one of the following: support & strengthen clubs; focus & increase humanitarian service; enhance public image and awareness). We will be the inspiration this year as we continue to make connections and engage!

Connie presented a new "hard copy Facebook", a bulletin board, sharing information from our Club and other clubs where we'll always know what's going on without having to join social media.

Club Announcements

Hosts needed for Up with People for 2-4 week spans, July 27th - August 26th. See prior email sent to each member or http://www.upwithpeople.org

New opportunity to serve visiting elders. Our Community Service Committee has coordinated with Rocky Mountain Assisted Living to provide visiting volunteers at 2 of their Highlands Ranch locations. These are smaller sites with 12-30 residents & many have families who live far away therefore few visitors. The volunteers will provide monthly visits, simple activities & the pleasure of human connection. To learn more see: http://rockymountainassistedliving.com/. Gabby Coburn, their Volunteer & Recruiting Coordinator; has offered to provide volunteers an orientation class Wed, July 18, from 10 am-noon. Contact Natasha Nola if interested in attending ASAP.

IFCS SCHOOL SUPPLY DAY - donate school supplies and/or gift cards, July 19 & July 26

LAST WEEK - Joe Roos, HIPS (Hide in Plain Site) Scholarship & Mentor Programs

To recap, HIPS provides stability to homeless students & families across Colorado breaking the cycle of poverty. There are over 24,000 homeless students in Colorado. Joe updated the Club from his May 24th discussion of post-secondary student scholarships programs. Joe described a new pre-K to 12th grade scholarship program covering extra curricular fee based programs and providing emergency financial assistance to students & their families (funds for everyday life issues).

Conor Vogel, Castle View High School, described the challenge kids have coming forward with their needs & the impact his school has had with homelessness. CVHS provided to students in need: math class calculators, Target gift cards, Technical Student Association state conference fees and supported 2 homeless Veteran's families. This program will now spread to other schools. The second new project this year is to provide certified mentors equaling friendly support when there is no family structure or support systems available.

Their programs would not be possible without support; as Joe stated, "not a handout but a hand up". The state of Colorado provides a $ for $ matching grant as well as support from local businesses & organizations including our Club & Christian Brothers Automotive.

The post-secondary scholarships began in 2015 in Douglas County expanding to metro Denver in 2016, statewide in 2017 with the current goal of 90 scholarships, a $340,000 goal they hope to meet with this year's "Evening of the Heart Event", 11/3/2018, CU Denver Wildlife Experience. Their gala this year will honor our Highlands Ranch Rotary Club.

Congratulations Mindy Hendrick

Mindy received her blue badge from mentor, Elaine Calderbank. Mindy exemplifies what it means to be a Rotarian; she is already involved at the District level as Rotaract Chair. We look forward to Mindy's years of involvement.

More than serving coffee ….

On Saturday & Sunday, July 14 & 15th, members of the HR Rotary visited the 244th Engineer Battalion in Denver in support of the US Army Reserve Unit's Family Readiness Group (FRG). Rotarians helped the FRG serving coffee & bagels during the unit's monthly drill assembly. The FRG also hosts a food bank for Soldiers in need. This will be a monthly occurrence; let's get more Members out there supporting our local Soldiers! The 244th Engineer Battalion is one of the largest battalions in the entire US Army with over 1,000 Soldiers in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico & Texas. Our Military Committee has also supported the 244th's summer Family Day.