Posted by DG Bill Downes (Mountain Foothills) DGBill2016.17@rotary5450.org
Just one way our District supports economic and community development is through our District Indian Committee. This committee is chaired by Jim McGibney and is under District Service Resources (Chair Mike Hitchcock). The District Indian Committee ‘is entering a time of year when to help the Denver Indian Center (DIC) is quite literally, life changing’. Through the committee, Jim is asking for our help with:
Winter clothing drive. The DIC distributes very clean or new coats, hats, scarfs, gloves, boots etc. to children and adults starting as early as mid-October. Families can come to the Denver Indian Center and leave with clothing that is critical to their wellbeing throughout the winter. If a club collects the winter clothing, it can be delivered to the Denver Indian Center any time from today forward to Christmas.
9 News Health Care Support. Just before Thanksgiving, there will be 9 Health Fare at the DIC. Rotarians can help in many areas, and if we have volunteers across the District the committee can put them in contact with the Health Services group managing the fair. For many families this is a critical day in understanding the health of their family.
Thanksgiving Baskets. In past years, the Denver Indian Center has distributed Thanksgiving baskets to Indian Families. That basket includes lots of fixing’s and a coupon for a turkey that can picked up at the local market. Last Year this Rotary District provided coupons to 270 plus families. That can be done for $12/ coupon. Again, if a club decides to help, $12 can make an amazing difference for an Indian Family.
Christmas Giveaway. In past years, the District Committee has asked for toys, clothing, etc. contributions for Christmas presents for the Children. The giveaway this year is on December 17th, and Rotary will be providing, again, both Santa and Mrs. Claus in the giveaway. Incidentally, the committee checked and the inclusion of Santa and Mrs. Claus is quite accepted within the Indian community.
DIC Christmas Dinner. December 17th is also the DIC Christmas Dinner, which includes fresh buffalo from South Dakota, flat bread and a salad. The buffalo carries very little seasoning, but is quite good. It is also a chance to understand the breadth of the community being served. It is a unique mix that represents the changing and evolving neighborhood and the community writ large. There will be families in attendance that come from many parts of Indian land.
Thank you Jim and your committee for all your hard work and we will strive to help in any way we can.
Posted by Debi Bush (Denver Cherry Creek) membership@rotary5450.org
Flexibility is a wonderful word and concept for all of us in Rotary. Meeting times and locations for Rotary clubs have become more flexible. No longer do we need to submit attendance reports; HOWEVER, attendance is important for Rotarians as it is one aspect of being engaged and participating. In our District 5450, we continue to be supportive of innovation to bring in more Rotarians who want to serve and be part of a larger cause. That’s where satellites (or alternative meeting times for a group of members) can play an instrumental role.
Katherine Hentschen of the Centennial Rotary Club is a liaison between the “host/parent” club and the newly formed AlloSource workplace satellite. She has contributed the following so we can understand the appeal of establishing workplace or corporate satellites in our District.
AlloSource Starts First Company-Sponsored Rotary Club
Posted by Beverly Mendel (Carbon Valley) office@rotary5450.org
The Carbon Valley Rotary club had the honor to participate in September 11-18 Week of Remembrance. The week began Sunday morning with 500+ community members joining the "Miles of Smiles" Line-up along I-25 Frontage Road as the Northern Colorado Honor Flight took four bus-loads of veterans to DIA to travel to Washington, DC.
Carbon Valley Rotary hosted several events to honor 1st responders and military that week, including showing the movie "The Guys" honoring fallen 9/11 firefighters, two talks by Steven Tudor of his experience guarding the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington, and presentations to school children by Firestone's K-9 Unit, the Weld County Bomb Squad, and Larimer County's Search and Rescue dogs.
Posted by John Logan (Highlands Ranch) johnlogan3712@outlook.com
District 5450 received approval for a grant to have a VTT exchange to hospitals in the Philippines. The VTT will be studying how to improve the incidence and severity of Hospital Acquired Infections in community hospitals. Our team of 6 active health professional and 2 Rotarians left August 26th for Manilla for 8 days. The exchange team of professionals from the Philippines will be traveling here the second week of November and will be staying with local Rotarians while here. The team will be studying local conditions that lead to Hospital Acquired Infections and will be working with the local hospitals to develop cost effective means to decrease HAI’S. The exchange will be studying our issues and anyway they can improve the home infection rates. The team hopes to develop a digital manual that can be used by other hospitals and Rotarians.
Pictured: Gretchen Heinrichs MD DTMH, Dan Hershberger Rotary Coordinator, Ann Christine Nyquist MD MSPH, Tammy Wolley RN, Richard Parker MD, Jaime Yrastorza DMD MS, Jisebelle Tizon RN MS, and Wendy Bamberg MD (not pictured).
Respectfully submitted by Kimberly Armitage - on behalf of Connor Baldwin:
The service above self-experience I have been able to experience have truly been life changing. My first service above self-project was about three weeks ago, and I can say truly changed my outlook on life. Here are my thoughts:
"I do not know how to begin other than I'm speechless. The day I had in a remote village in Peru has opened my eyes and heart in ways I didn't think were possible. I got to spend my Saturday in a village 4 hours from home helping and comforting the people of Achoma and Chivay, affected by the recent earthquake. These people live in houses constructed of mud and rocks, not strong enough to withstand these earthquakes. When we arrived we were kindly greeted by a man who wanted to show us around. Despite his house being destroyed he had a ginormous smile on his face! Happy we were with him and happy he survived! The amount of inspiration and joy this brought me was amazing! This man has been sleeping in the street for the past 2 days at a city of 16,000 ft. where temperatures drop below 10 degrees in the night. As I walked around I pondered… No matter what you have, how your life is, and who you have with you; the most important thing is a strong spirit! Which clearly these people have! We spent a mere 3 hours of our day giving out water, food, and clothes to people who don't even have a roof over their head! The smiles on their faces was nothing less than authentic appreciation and love! Peru, you just keep getting better. Life is good."… Now, this was my first service above self-project that got me really inspired in authentic workmanship and aiding people in need.
About 2 weeks later my next service project came. I spent 3 days in a row helping at hospital, with a health expo. 1,000+ elderly people had showed up for a health screening. And because this was free, and we are in Peru, many people took advantage of this. It was amazing, I got to guide people from station to station, interact first hand with doctors, enter patient information into the computers, and most importantly; interact with these people as they were already nervous. I hope to complete more service above self-projects during my time in Peru and am constantly seeking more.
Posted by Laura Smith (Boulder New Generations) satellites@rotary5450.org
Believe it or not, the Boulder New Generations Rotary Club celebrated its fifth birthday on Friday, September 16th. Rotary District 5450's first satellite club was established in 2011 and has since been joined by dozens of other satellites across Colorado, around the country, and even internationally. At the same time, dozens of clubs have attempted to establish a satellite to have it fail for one reason or another.
So, what makes a satellite successful?
Well, there is no one right answer. Establishing and maintaining a satellite is a balancing act. The host club must allow the satellite to find its own place and set its own rhythm, traditions, and procedures, and the satellite must look to the host club for guidance, and remain visible and connected to the host club. It is important to create a strong sense of collaboration and symbiosis. Satellites have the opportunity to breathe new life and vibrancy into an existing club. The addition of an alternative meeting time or group of members allows the host club to become innovative in integrating novel projects and ideas into the traditional Rotary framework.
Think it sounds like work? It is. But the establishment of a satellite or alternative meeting group can be an amazing addition to your Rotary club. Interested in learning more or looking for someone to bounce ideas off of? Email the District Membership Team at Satellites@Rotary5450.org.
Posted by David Talbot (Mountain Foothills) c4a@crutches4africa.org
Crutches 4 Africa and Mountain Foothills Rotary Club (home club of District Governor Bill Downes) invite you to collect mobility devices as part of the club’s signature project. We are asking every club in District 5450 to collect mobility devices from now until the end of January 2017.Then to bring them to Mount Vernon Country Club on Saturday, February 4th for consolidation and preparation for shipment to Pakistan!
As you know, Pakistan is still working hard to eradicate polio. Governor Downes and Rtn. David Talbot, founder of Crutches 4 Africa, have been planning this shipment for quite some time. Please help us to help those in Pakistan that have been disabled by polio and make this a successful District grant effort.
Distribution will be handled in Pakistan under the leadership of the Karachi Rotary Club.
Mountain Foothills RC also invites any club in our district to participate at any level in obtaining a District matching grant to fund this shipment. For more information, please contact Rtn. David Talbot by email at c4a@crutches4africa.org
Posted by Gail Lehrmann (Parker) glehrmann@aol.com
The Rotary International Foundation has been given a perfect score of 100 by Charity Navigator - one of only 3 organizations to receive this recognition this year out of over 8,000 of the best known charities in our country. Charity Navigator uses collected data to develop an unbiased, objective, numbers-based rating system with 100 being a perfect score.
The rating system examines two broad areas of a charity's performance: 1) financial health and 2) accountability and transparency. The ratings give donors information on how efficient the charity and how well it sustains its programs and services over time as well as its level of commitment to good governance, best practices, and openness with information.
Posted by Mary Jean Ewing (Boulder Flatirons) maryjeanewing@earthlink.net
World Polio Day is Monday, October 24th.Rotary International will have a live stream podcast on which can be viewed at 4:30 pm our time: www.endpolio.org/worldpolioday. This same link will take you to promotional materials and other world polio day suggestions. The Podcast will be recorded if you choose to see it at a later time.
Small group viewing with snacks could be considered a "World’s Greatest Meal” (WGM) which could be registered at the following website www.wgm.org, with a minimum donation of $10. For example, Denver Mile High’s Rotary Peak Hike raised donations of $620 for Polio, served as a remembrance of 9/11, and because snacks were offered at the summit, it was registered as a WGM. Pictures and report of this event can be found on our District Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Rotary-International-District-5450-149654251729461/
If your club would like a program about polio here are some possibilities: The World Health Organization has published six short YouTube videos which can be shown individually or together lasting approximately 1/2 hour. These videos bring you up to date on the steps needed to complete the job of polio eradication. The link to these videos Is: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9S6xGsoqIBV57rPub7OmBUl3FOFcgoNA&feature=em-share_playlist_user. The District Polio committee also has a speakers bureau if you would like to have one of us present. Contact Mary Jean Ewing at 303-449-4795. You may find other videos of interest on our District Facebook page.
Speakers include: Donna Lynne, Colorado Lieutenant Governor and Dr. Geetha Jayaram, Senior Faculty Member of John Hopkins Dept. of Psychiatry, Public Health, Nursing and Patient Safety
The Rotary Club of Parker hosted five delegates from Ukraine and a Ukrainian Facilitator who participated in the Open World program during September 10-18 in Parker, CO to examine the theme of "Environment and Energy" at the Municipal, County and State Level in Colorado. Managed by the Open World Leadership Center, a support agency of the United States Congress, the Open World program is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America's democratic, accountable government and free-market system. The Open World program works to link Members of Congress to Eurasian leaders and is an instrument for Americans engaged in citizen diplomacy. Since 1999, the United States has hosted over 19,000 Eurasian leaders in this program.
Pictured from left, Nelia Maslova, Maria Ibrahimova, Olena Tretiak, Mayor Mike Waid, Natalia Holovata, Yulia Hurtova, and Oleksi Pydochenko.
Posted by Jim Brook (Summit County) jimbrook22@gmail.com
More than forty Rotarians, Interactors, families, and friends representing several D5450 clubs made the hike to Rotary Peak on Sunday Sept. 11. The event included a brief memorial at the peak for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, followed by sandwiches and fellowship upon the group's return to the trailhead at the top of Loveland Pass. Participants ranged in age from 2 to 81 years of age, and enjoyed the tremendous views along the Continental Divide with dry sunny weather. Despite the strong winds, the young Interactors reported that they loved it! PDG Peter Ewing encouraged participants to donate in the name of this Rotary Peak hike to Rotary's "World's Greatest Meal" fundraiser to help end polio, and to share their adventure through Facebook and other social media.
Arrangements are in process for interested D5450 Rotarians to partner with the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District and the US Forest Service, to serve as Trail Stewards in the vicinity of Rotary Peak on Saturday mornings beginning next summer. Please contact any of the following members of the Rotary Peak Committee for more information: Jim Brook, Rick Clark, Bruce Ward, or Finn Knudsen.
Posted by Gail Lehrmann (Parker) glerhmann@aol.com
Rotary Direct - Help Set the Stage for The Rotary Foundation’s Second Century!
Thank you to all Rotarians who have helped our Rotary International Foundation become a premier humanitarian organization, recognized and respected worldwide for its good work and its effective use of donations.
The RI Foundation turns 100 years old during this Rotary year, a major milestone that only a few organizations have ever achieved. Rotarians have achieved major success in the first 100 years; now we must prepare for new challenges in our second century. We must continue in our efforts to eradicate polio; to continue with our efforts to provide access to clean water, health care, basic education, and economic opportunity to communities in need; and to promote peace around the world.
November is Foundation Recognition Month! Your support is needed more than ever. Rotary Direct, a recurring giving program, is an easy way to support Rotary’s theme of “Doing Good in the World” via a monthly, quarterly, or annual gift. Use the attached form to sign up for Rotary Direct today. It’s easy, quick, and helps the RI Foundation invest our dollars quickly!
Posted by Brandye Miller (Mountain Foothills) irisheyesaresmilin@me.com
The 2017 Rotary International Convention June 10-14 is going to be fun-filled! Come early and stay late to explore all there is to do in this benevolent city. Here’s a preview of what you can expect: https://youtu.be/pQNZQhNGNYo
The City of Atlanta has made it easy and cost efficient for you to see many of the premier attractions via their Atlanta CityPass. The pass includes:
Georgia Aquarium
World of Coca-Cola
CNN Studio Tours
Zoo Atlanta OR Center for Civil and Human Rights
Fernbank Museum of Natural History OR College Football Hall of Fame
Don’t forget to check out the “Discover Atlanta” page on the Rotary International website at the following link: http://www.riconvention.org/en/atlanta/discover-atlanta. Here you can find more things to do while visiting Atlanta along with information about exploring Atlanta’s neighborhoods and dining. Also, don’t forget to download the Host Organization Committee’s Atlanta Visitors Guide for much more information about the city.
Posted by Peggy Halderman (Golden) pjhalderman@comcast.net
Did you know that Rotary International decided to update the monthly themes to reflect the areas of focus? Here is a chart of the old and new monthly themes during the Rotary Year (July – June). They give you more flexibility if you use this structure to develop your schedule of programs.
Posted by Carolyn Schrader (Denver Mile High) schrader407@gmail.com
Did you know that the District has set aside $120,000 this year as matching funds for Club-sponsored service projects? District Grants are small, local or international, and match funds that Clubs contribute to the project.
Here are a few of the District Grants that have been awarded in the past two years:
Sponsoring a festival and fair for low income kids in Breckenridge
Supporting a summer camp for special needs kids
Setting up small library kiosks in city parks
Equipping a Café where special needs adults can work
Sending a dental group to Central America
Protecting water springs in Kenya
Documenting Latino history
Furnishing guitars for troops
Participating in a weekend retreat for wounded veterans.
Serving weekly meals to a mountain community
Shipping crutches to Africa
Teaching economic skills to women in Nepal.
Almost any activity that helps an underserved group of people can qualify. One Club can get up to $3,000 in Matching Funds. If three Clubs collaborate, the maximum match is $5,000. There is a separate pool of money for international District Grants.
Posted by Brandye Miller (Mountain Foothills) irisheyesaresmilin@me.com
The next 5450 District Conference is going to be so much FUN! It will be held at the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs on April 28-30, 2017. There will be an exciting line-up of speakers, events and entertainment to look forward to. Click on the following link to check out the beautiful venue at this four-diamond rated resort: http://www.cheyennemountain.com.
Please mark your calendars today for this exciting, entertaining, educating and inspiring event! District Governor Bill Downes, his wife Karin, and the Mountain Foothills Rotarians (Bill’s home club) are all looking forward to meeting and fellowshipping with you in the not too distant future!
Rotary's member benefits program gives Rotary and Rotaract club members access to discounts on a variety of products and services selected with their interests in mind.
Discounts & Special Offers
Rotary Global Rewards offers discounts on vehicle rentals, hotels, dining, and entertainment. Products and services from companies around the world are being added every week. Check back often to see what’s new in Rotary Global Rewards – the vendor list is updated monthly. https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/member-center/rotary-global-rewards
How to Redeem Offers
Anyone can view the offers and discounts on Rotary Global Rewards. But onlyRotary and Rotaract club members who are signed in to their My Rotary accounts can redeem them. You can access and redeem rewards from your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
The attached reportshows Membership, Annual Fund and Polio Plus goals entered by each club into Rotary Club Central, and the numbers and per capita achieved by each club (arranged by Area.) The District 5450 goal is to have an increase in Membership, and for Every Rotarian to give something Every Year (EREY).
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE DISTRICT, CLUBS & THE GLOBE!
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The service above self-experience I have been able to experience have truly been life changing. My first service above self-project was about three weeks ago, and I can say truly changed my outlook on life. Here are my thoughts:
10th Annual State of the State Luncheon 
