January 26, 2023 Meeting Summary

Presiding: Randi Downham

Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan & Ron Van Ekeren

Inspiration: Tom Wolfe

Introduction of Guests: Amanda Paul

Guests: Tom Wolfe introduced prospective member, Natalie White, and guest, Dan Klepacz; Tony Hoch introduced prospective member, Holly Dyer; Keith Downey introduced Jack Settlemire; Hanna Eslinger introduced Roberta Eslinger

Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA: Amanda Nilsson; Sophia

Rotaract/Interact Students:

Humor: Paul Montoya

Foundation Drawing: Ollie Walter won $10 with $428.50 in the jackpot.

O’Dwyers Drawing: Steve Morgan

 

Rotarian of the Week: Dave Hansen nominated Amanda for getting to the track finals; Todd Pearson nominated Dave Hansen for his Outstanding 4-H Leader award and for driving to Gillette to watch Amanda compete.

 

Special Presentation: Holly Dyer was inducted into the club. Welcome Holly!

 

 

 

Introduction: Murray Schroeder

 

Ann Marie Root and her family adopted their daughter AJ when she was 17. AJ came from foster care. She had 6 homes in 1 ½ years. When she was a freshman in high school, her dad died and her mom was unable to care for her, since she is an addict.

 

AJ is now 22. She is part of the 3 percent of children in foster care to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. In her first college year, she had a 4.0 GPA. She is now a high school art teacher.

 

At any time, there are 100,000 kids waiting for adoption. The Reel Hope Project tells the stories of these children, giving them a voice and allowing them to share. This makes them more than just a file and a photo to prospective parents.

 

The project also strives to reduce the number of kids that are going into the system by increasing foster families.

There are opportunities for Wyoming families. In Wyoming there are 1,000 kids in foster care and about 40 kids waiting for adoption. This is similar to other states when factoring in population.

 

Most of the kids in Wyoming do not get adopted by Wyoming families, but end up leaving the state with other families.

 

The age out rate is 18. Children who age out without finding a family have a difficult time moving forward. Twenty percent are instantly homeless; 80 percent become incarcerated; 80 percent are sex trafficked; and 2/3 of the females become pregnant. Most of the time the babies born from these situations go on to enter the system.

 

Children in the system can remain in the system until they are done with high school.

 

The Reel Hope Project started in Wyoming in2021. Social workers are using the videos as recruitment tools.

 

The project has filmed more than 300 reels, covering 325 children. Over 50 percent so far have been matched with forever families.

 

There are 10 reels from Wyoming. Three of these children have been matched, and one child’s match is pending.

 

A single reel is $600 to make. Learn more at: https://www.thereelhopeproject.org/

 

Response: Ron Van Ekeren

 

 

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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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org