November 16, 2017 Spoke
Today’s Program:
Project SEARCH at IMH, Kayla Kukowski & Megan Fredrick
November 9, 2017
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Tim Eisenhauer
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan
Inspiration: Esther McGann
Professor’s Quote:
Guests: Tony Hoch introduced Melanie Arnett
Exchange Students: Izzy Bonner & Barb Furkova
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians:
Rotaract Students:
Humor: Terry Roark
Foundation Drawing: Oliver Walter won $10, with 51 cards in the deck.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Don Prehoda won a $20 gift card from ODwyer’s.
Upcoming Programs:
Nov. 30 – Laramie Soup Kitchen, Ted Cramer
Announcements:
- Noel Welch will be passing around donation cans for the Christmas family. Please contribute to the family of seven that our club is supporting this holiday season.
- John Vandel encouraged all members of the club to become part of the Paul Harris Society. He will match everyone’s monetary donation up to 500 points. Members should turn their donations in to Nicole Nelson. Two members have already signed up.
- Nicole Nelson announced that spring invoices will be coming next month by email. Check in with her if you do not receive one.
- Caitlin White announced that the club is hosting the Youth Exchange ski weekend. The Youth Exchange committee needs help with hosting kids and finding UW basketball tickets.
- Caitlin White announced that the Friends of the Library will hold a book sale through Nov. 18.
- Tim Eisenhauer noted that Rotary will be helping with Salvation Army bell ringing from Nov. 20-December.
- Tim Eisenhauer passed around a thank you from United Way of Albany County.
Rotarian of the Week: Nicole Hauser nominated John and Joyce Vandel for their generous help encouraging members to become part of the Paul Harris Society.
Rotarian of the Month: Tom Mangan for his diligence setting up the meeting each week.
Rotary News: Tony Hoch updated the club on ShelterBox. The organization has been coordinating aid in six countries since the Caribbean hurricanes. ShelterBox served 29,000 families in 2016 and received $4 million in donations.
Introduction of Program: Paul Greaser
Albany County Commissioner Terri Jones told the club more about the possible land purchase of the Pilot Peak parcels. The land is 5,528 acres.
The land acts as 13 percent recharge for the aquifer. It creates an unbroken strip of land up to National Forest. It’s rugged land that is suitable for recreation. The land is a critical winter habitat for wildlife. It has a shallow depth of ground water.
The commission hopes to see if remain open space. Albany County must raise $14 million by September 2018 in order to make the purchase happen.
The county has assigned a funding oversight committee. Members are: Chris Rothfuss, Wyo. Sentate; Dan Furphy, Wyo. House; Kermit Brown, UW Trustees; Bryan Shuster, City of Laramie; Tony Hoch, Laramie River Conservation District; Marilyn Kite, public representative; and Terri Jones.
The committee will meet next week to establish three sub-committees: economic development, recreation, and aquifer and wildlife protection.
Commissioner Jones said they are just getting started on finding funding. The committee will look for trusts, grants, private donations, state/federal funding, and potentially help from voters. She said there may need to be a vote to close the gap.
An appraisal of the land is in the works. In the land purchase, there would be a provision that there would be no economic development such as housing or businesses on the land for a period of 50 years.
The land could be used for trail development generating more tourism. It may also attract new businesses.
If the county is unable to purchase the land, there are developers that are interested in the land. The land would be sold for more money and the community would have no control over what the land is used for.
Responding for the Club: Amanda Givan
Response: The Rotary Club of Laramie will make a donation to the public library children’s book fund in the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
Meeting News: There will be no meeting next week, Nov. 23, due to Thanksgiving.
Rotary 4-way Test:
Of the things we think, say, or do
- Is it the Truth?
- Is it Fair?
- Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?
- Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White