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:
Guests:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students:
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Eric Feurstein won $10 with $1,300+ in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Kerry Greaser
Announcements:
- Don’t forget to volunteer to work the greeting table!
- Our lunch arrangements with O’Dwyers will end on July 31. The board is looking at alternative locations. For our August meetings, the club will meet at the Train Depot.
- Murray Schroeder gave a few board updates: Financials are looking good, and the board is working on final Taste of Laradise numbers. For this year, Dave Hansen is heading up fundraising, Terry Moss is in charge of membership and entertainment, and Keith Rittle will handle service projects.
- Terry Moss announced that the club will have a social on the fifth Thursday this month at the Alibi.
- Kelly Neville told the club to come early for the Rotary Park dedication to find parking.
- Kelly Neville visited Olafur and his family in Iceland.
Upcoming Programs:
- August 14: District Governor, Karen Morgan
- August 21: Wyoming Rate Inc. (rare metals mine), Joe Evers
Rotarian of the Week: Caitlin White nominated Rotarians that donated to a nonprofit during WyoGives; Caitlin White nominated Ron Van Ekeren for covering the Spoke.
Special Presentation: Kerry Greaser celebrated a birthday with a donation to the Club Foundation.
Songs: Happy Birthday, Oh What a Beautiful Morning
Program: Laramie Chamber Business Alliance
Introduction: Terry Moss
The Laramie Chamber Business Alliance continues to work on challenges, but things are getting better with help from individuals and the community.
Current challenges include economic changes. With federal government funding changes, UW is experiencing changes to grant funding and it is still be determined how this will flow and impact the state. At the state level, there are many impacts that have a ripple effect. One of these is the changes to property tax. Every city and county are cutting costs. In Laramie, Albany County Government is the third largest employer. The Wyoming Business Council is also rewriting rules to focus on eliminating barriers to growth.
There is a lot of instability, practically at the retail level. This uncertainty ripples down and causses less money to be spent.
Outside of challenges, Laramie has a plan for the future. LCBA is focused on continuing to add jobs. We want to recruit jobs that increase the median income. Saffron is a current example that has 37 positions and wants to grow to 200. LCBA is also focused on growth and networking with local businesses. Finally, LCBA is working on providing the best service to the community with its new building and program growth.
The Leadership Luncheon, Leadership Laramie, Laramie Young Professionals, and the Welcome Wagon Barbecues are all boing well. LCBA will also kick off a capital campaign for the new building and to build a fun to rehab other projects and old buildings.
Response: Keith Downey
‘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!
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.
Thanks to Ron Van Ekeren for doing the Spoke this week!
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org