Presiding: Murray Schroeder
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Crew
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote: George Gill
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests: Dave Hansen
Guests: Dave Hansen introduced prospective member, Andrew; Terry Moss introduced his daughter, Hailey.
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students:
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Tom Wolfe $10 with $1,400ish in the jackpot.
Announcements:
- Don’t forget to volunteer to work the greeting table!
- The board is still working on a permanent meeting location. Watch your email for location and food ordering reminders.
- Keith Rittle announced that there are plans for a fall picnic in September on a Sunday. Stay tuned for more details.
- If you are not receiving reminder emails, contact Shaun Bullock to make sure your info is correct.
Upcoming Programs:
- September 11: Jonah Field Renovation Field Trip
- September 18: Laramie Soup Kitchen, Ted Cramer
- September 25: Jason’s Friends, Christine Robinson
Rotarian of the Week: Dave Hansen nominated Shannon Polk, Sarah Brown Mathews, and Justin Christenson for stepping up to serve on the membership committee.
Songs: Ragtime Cowboy Joe
Program: Albany County Commissioner, Terri Jones
Introduction: Tony Hoch
Commissioner Terri Jones talked about the county budget and the upcoming Specific Purpose Excise Tax. The county budget was short at the beginning of the process, but the one-time tax from the wind farm was helpful in ensuring the budget could be completed without too many cuts. Albany County did make some cuts but no cuts to current employees.
Specific Purpose Excise Tax is in planning stages for the upcoming vote. The county has been having ongoing discussions. You can go to these meetings or watch online. Recently, the county met with the City of Laramie and Town of Rock River to discuss options for SPET.
Rock River’s requests are about $1.5 million. The city is still working on their request. The county ranked its priorities. The highest priority is a new building for county services. This building is expected to cost about $30 million. This building does not have a location yet, but is expected to need several acres, as the county wants to establish better parking.
Outside of the building, the Sheriff’s Office is requesting patrol vehicles, body camera equipment, video storage, search and rescue vehicles, as well as other upgrades.
The fairgrounds have aging grand stands. Their request is for new grand stands, a new crow’s nest, and concession stands. They would also like to fix the sheep and swine barns.
The requests from the airport and Pilot Hill are still in the works.
The three governmental institutions are working out how much the cap will be for SPET and how that funding will be split. The cap should be around $90 million.
The current SPET is to be paid off by May 2026. This is ahead of the 10-year schedule. SPET has to be for specific purposes related to capital campaigns. The county is exploring the legality of building a trust for building maintenance.
Response: Tim Sullivan
‘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!
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?
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
•FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
•SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
•THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
•FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org